Skip to main content
Topic: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS (Read 150541 times) previous topic - next topic

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #180
the motor looks lop-sided now....lol
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #181
Lookin' good dude. I can't wait 'till I get rid of the air pump in my Lincoln (gonna do it and the new exhaust at the same time) to free up some room on the pass. side.
FOXLESS!!

1994 Lincoln Mark VIII


Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #182
Quote from: vinnietbird;350098
Man,that is an UGLY alternator. In a few days,you'll be able to fix that with something a lot prettier.LOL.LOL.
Oh I can't wait:D:D:D
 
Quote from: daminc;350099
the motor looks lop-sided now....lol

Yeah, it really does. :wtf:
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #183
Got some stuff today from hcor:D....

Lid and auto bezel::grinno:



Dash trim with intact screw holes:D



And, even though I got the factory "PY sound" I installed my own "PREMIUM sound", so... they fit:headbang:

--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #184
Looks good Steve! She's comming along nicely.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #185
Thx bud! There's gonna be a shifter in that hole in a couple weeks;)
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #186
Gee, I wonder where that's going to come from? haha! I just hope the weather straightens up before I have to climb under it to unhook the cable. We're expecting 3-6 inches of the white stuff by friday.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #187
I love when I get stuff in the mail:banana:

Thanks Vinnie:D:D:D

New Alt. and dis boot:



And a few (slightly clean) enging pics:







And I just coulnd't help but to take this random pic:



Now on the two unfortunate sad side notes, it seems the alternator wasn't my whole problem. Apparently the FPOS alt that was draining my battery before, actually ruined my 4 month old battery. Time to get rid of this  wamart battery and get a real Duralast.

AND, the alternator pulley won't stop squealing. I thought it was cause the bearings were bad int the old one, but aparently thats not the problem since this one is a brand new reman. I think maybe its got something to do with the new belt configuration but really the angle of the belt is not much different than before. This is upsetting to say the least. I'm definitely going to have to do some playing with it to figure out whats going on. I'm kinda thinking maybe I will have to get a shorter belt and change the angle of the tensioner so that it gets more downward deflection out of the belt from the alt.
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #188
For the squealing,make sure the tensioner is tight enough. Mine was doing that after I had installed the smog delete pulley and the a/c (after having a/c delete for years),and I had forgotten that the tension was moved over a tad bit (I drilled a new hole for the mounting peg),and all I had to do to fix the issue was to put it back in the factory spot. Good to go.

Looking good under the hood.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #189
Quote from: vinnietbird;350779
Looking good under the hood.

lol you rhymed. All thanks to you buddy:D

Yes, I'm thinking about trying to change the tension. I'm also toying with the idea of a longer belt to change the deflection angle, and maybe get more belt coverage and a lower angle so its pulling more in the downward direction instead of just to the left.

I've got a few things to test out. I need to get a battery first though, cause having to jump it every time I test it is a real pain in the ass.....
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #190
Ok so I got the squealing fixed. Turns out my P/S pulley was about 3/4" out of line with the rest of the pulleys and it was causing rubbing. It was actually causing my belt to shed fibers, that's how I noticed. Anyway, tightened it up correctly and all is well. Now I just need a battery and the thing will be good to go. 
....oh yeah, and a transmission and a shifter and some exhaust. But we're getting close! I'm reeeaaalllly hoping to have this thing ready and on the road in time to make it up to DynoDay this year, and I think its going to happen. Btw, its going to cost me ~$360 to register this car again here in FL.:yuck:

Also I got ahold of the guys over at AutoMeter and got some finish dimensions for my guages so that I could design the proper setup for them on my cluster. Well, as it turns out, it is impossible to fit 4 2-1/16" and 2 3-3/8" gauges without losing part of one somewhere. The dimensions given are for the holes to be cut, not the finish face dimesnsions. So I got a template drawn up to the best I could. Turns out the top two are going to have to be cut out of the bezel a little bit for them to properly fit and be seen. Trust me, I worked on this for hours, with 3 different designs, it is impossible to get them to all fit in there.

Here's what it looks like inside of the bezel:

--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #191
I just think you're having way to much fun! You're doing a good job with it!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #192
haha thanks! Yes, I am having fun, but not as much as I would like! Unfortunately the funds dried up for a little bit so any real progress is getting pushed back but I'm supposed to get slammed with overtime next week and for a few weeks so maybe I'll be able to put this thing in D before Feb is over:D
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #193
So, did you leave room for the trim rings on those gauges?!  I'm glad someone has checked this out, because I'll have to get some gauges before long since I had to unhook the speedo for the trans swap. Got those cards today, they look great! Thanks again!
1983 Tbird with '03 Split Port V6 motor swap done! Headers, dual exhaust, 500CFM Edelbrock, 3G upgrade, Electric fan. 3.73 Gears and an FRPP Limited Slip. Five lug complete! 5-Speed conversion complete! Standalone Fuel Injection in progress...

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #194
Cool glad to hear you like em:D

Yes, thats what I was saying, the template I drew up there is for the finish dimensions of the guages. Thus - Yes, I did include the room for the trim rings;)
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L