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Topic: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS (Read 144241 times) previous topic - next topic

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #195 –
Those gauges are gonna cost. I'd personally hold off on them until most everything else is done....especially if yours are working pretty good. That's a lot of cash that could be applied elsewhere. I've seen a couple of these cars with aftermarket gauges. Nice stuff. I'll keep the factory stuff for now. Maybe one day I'll swap them all out.......maybe.
'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 #196 –
Yeah, I know, believe me $300 is not something I want to spend on  simply cosmetic changes right now. But, its  too exciting just to ignore:rolleyes:
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #197 –
Quote from: sarjxxx;351387
Yeah, I know, believe me $300 is not something I want to spend on  simply cosmetic changes right now. But, its  too exciting just to ignore:rolleyes:

Please, enlighten me as to where you are gonna get a complete gauge set with senders for $300!  I'm looking at basic Autometer's for ~$500.
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 #198 –
Every once in a while,there are some decent prices on Ebay if you buy them all separately.although $300 for 6 gauges does sound pretty cheap. If you're on a mission to do it,then I wish you good shopping,and I'm really interested in the results..
'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 #199 –
uh heh heh heh yeah.... I meant $400:dunce:

And that's not including senders, most of the stock senders will work, with the exception of oil which I have to install since I only had a warning light. I'm not sure about temp sender but I think its ok.

And yes, that's a number gathered from e-Bay scavenging. IF you're interested, the set I'm going with is AM's Street Rod Designer Black I series. And of course they're going to be getting a red backlighting.


On another note, I'm pretty sure the car will be running before the end of Feb. I've got a massive overtime week ahead of me this week and prolly another good sized week next week so I've got a few immediate debts to take care of and then its going to be full on to get this trans in and everything working.
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #200 –
Ok so I got a new battery today and she fires right up like a champion. The JY is pulling the trans out of the donor bird tomorrow morning. I'm waiting on the shifter to get here and then first thing in the morning I'll be cutting that into the floor and installing it. Then I've gotta get the car jacked up and get that tranny swapped out. More progress tomorrow.
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #201 –
Making progress....Congrats !!! Measure a lot before you cut into that floor. I can't wait to hear more. I remember when I did the floor shifter upgrade on my second Bird about 12 years ago. Loved it. Good luck !!!
'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 #203 –
heh, yeah. me too.:(
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #204 –
Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;352662
All that cutting makes me nervous!

 
Shoot, you're not trying if you aren't cutting!:welder::D

Sounds like good progress.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #205 –
******sigh********

So I've pretty much accomplished nothing today. Due partly to my own laziness, partly to a lack of proper planning, and partly to cirspoogestances beyond my control.

First, I have no shifter. Not my fault, not sellers fault. UPS's fault. Oh, we'll deliver it by the end of Friday. (actually we're gonna change it to monday at the last second, but we're not gonna tell you that:D):flame:

Second, I have the wrong TV cable. Anyone who decides to pull a AOd from a 89/90 Tbird/Cougar, for the floor shift conversion, know this: The TV cable IS NOT compatible with your current setup. Even if you have an 88.:mad:

Third, it sucks working on your car in the cold.

Fourth, make sure you have a pair of jack stands BEFORE you begin your job.:rolleyes:


Now, I did accomplish a minuscule amount of work though. I did manage to get the hole cut in the floor for the shifter, and I got the new trans ready for installation. But, I do still have to get the old one out. Which I will begin promptly, just as soon as I procure a set of jackstands......................
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #206 –
Scissor jack? I haven't used one of those in YEARS. All floor jacks for me. and jack stands....always. The TV cable from a Stang will work,also mark VII and of course our 5.0 cars with EFI. One piece at a time. It'll get there. Did you already swap the tail shaft seal and the seal around the front?
'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 #207 –
Yes, floor jack. I have the scissor jack from my bird that I used at one time to hold the car up for about a week and I thought about it but I would rather have two stands to hold it up since I'm going to be doing some serious (heavy) work. I would just use two jacks but of course I'm going to need my good one to help lower the transmission safely. I wanted to go out and buy a set of jack stands, which I really should have in my possession by now, but it just wasn't in the budget for this week. Unfortunately, I think I missed a few things when I planned this out. And its really starting to look like I won't get anywhere for a couple more weeks again:mad::punchballs:

As far as the TV cable goes, actually 5.0 and stangs won't work. They use a whole different type of connector from what I've read, not to mention there are no 5.0 anything around here that still has a motor/trans in it. There is a 88 3.8 cougar in the yard where I got this one from but the trans is gone. I think (hope) they left the TV cable. But I still don't know even if that one will work because they are set up for column shift and of course the location of the TV lever is different in that case. Were there ever factory floor shifter 3.8's?

As far as the tail seal I'm not sure if I have to or not, I was going to wait until I got the other one down and check and swap then if I had too. And I don't know about the front seal you are referring to?
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #208 –
Mine came from a Stang (When I had an AOD). I've seen two different kinds, and they both worked for my car through 4 AOD's. My original TV cable (when my car was a column shifted) was left as is when I did the floor shift swap. It worked on mine.

Is there a rental place around there? If so,rent a tranny jack. Makes the job wicked easy. Cost me $15.00 for the weekend. Makes placing the tranny a breeze...like two extra hands. Something for you to think about. Sometimes spending a few dollars for a LOT of ease is well worth it.

Be very careful under there.
'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 #209 –
I think you misunderstood me. The cable that I have connects to the tranny just fine, but the connector that goes to the TB arm is different, and it is different with all 5.0 cars. We (3.8's) have a metal piece up there already IIRC, and don't have the same problems that you guys do with it breaking or whatever. Its a whole different thing.

As far as the tranny jack, I don't really need it as I have a floor jack and will have about 2-3 people over here doing absolutely nothing except catering to my every command to help me out with it. They all owe me for fixing their stuff lol. Besides, all the rental (store)s around here are closed on weekends anyway. I might be able to get a loaner from AZ though, and get my money back after I'm done.......

And yes, I plan to be very careful. I'm a real cooch about working under 3000 pounds of metal for some reason;)
--SteveN 👍
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L