Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Topic: Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS (Read 144385 times) previous topic - next topic

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #225 – February 19, 2011, 07:35:30 AM

Congrats! I would like to put a floor shafter in my car.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #226 – February 19, 2011, 08:07:21 AM

Just an fyi, just to be safe. Fords can sometimes still be able to back up, even with the e-brake on.
Congrats on the progress !!!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #227 – February 19, 2011, 08:45:07 AM

Congrats Steve it's looking good!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #228 – February 19, 2011, 09:46:56 AM

Awesome!!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #229 – February 19, 2011, 03:23:26 PM

Hooray!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #230 – February 19, 2011, 04:30:03 PM

Nice work. Progress feels good doesn't it?. I'd space the shifter up a little so it's not as flush with the console. That's just my opinion based on my floor shifted cars. Keep up the good work.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #231 – February 19, 2011, 09:52:18 PM

[COLOR="darkred"]It works!!!!![/COLOR]

Black Panther is go for launch. Got the shift brackets rigged up for now and test drove it down the driveway and back a few times. (long driveway...apartments)

For the first time since July, the cat has moved itself under its own power:D

Everything seems to be fine. Seems to shift into gear just fine, the shifter is free and feels good, and don't feel any kind of slippage. Unfortunately, I still don't have a tag so I couldn't take it out on the street and really test it. I would have just swapped tags for a bit but I have no tailpipes on it, just open headers, so its LOUD, and I did not want to risk attracting the attention of those blue and red lights.

Here are some daytime pics of the new insides. Now I just need to clean up and get some sport seats:D

Much credit due to 1bad88tbird jay for supplying about 95% of the parts for this whole console and shifter swap.

I feel like I'm mostly over the hump of this project now. Save for the turbos which will be going on much, Much, MUCH later, all the hard stuff is done. The next part of the hump will be to get the exhaust fixed up which will not really be that hard, just a LOT of money. I'm looking at over $400 to get everything finished up geezus. But, after that its all down hill from there.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #232 – February 19, 2011, 10:12:01 PM

That's awsome Steve! Thanks for the props! I agree with Vinnie your shifter looks like it's sitting a little low. Or is that how you decided to set it up?

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #233 – February 19, 2011, 10:16:53 PM

That's how I wanted it. Its about 1/8" below the top of the plate. I like it like that, plus it worked out that I didn't have to shim it any.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #234 – February 19, 2011, 11:18:50 PM

That's cool then. Did you get the linkage to work? You mentioned it wasn't quite right earlier.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #235 – February 20, 2011, 12:25:41 AM

Yeah. It took a little bit of rigging but it'll do for now till I can get the right part. What happened was the MN12 shift lever was setup differently from the fox AOD lever. It's made to accept a different type of fastening bolt. I just had to file mine down a little and shove it through, then I made a zip-ties shim.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #236 – February 20, 2011, 12:51:05 AM

Quote from: sarjxxx;353393

. I just had to file mine down a little and shove it through, then I made a zip-tie shims.

Lol, I love zip-tie shims! I've definitely done that before!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #237 – February 20, 2011, 04:42:53 PM

I'm happy for you man! A trip here is in order!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #238 – February 20, 2011, 07:17:57 PM

Hah! As much as I would literally love to, there's no taking that thing out on the real road for about another $350. Still needs a tag. Oh and then I gotta get exhaust.... and brakes.... and tires.... and a whole bunch of other stuff but those are the necessities.

I did take it out on the closest road though, do drive it up and down the block basically. I took it up to about 40 and got into 3rd gear and it feels great. It is SOOOOO LOOOOOUDD though! oh its funny how loud it is. But it shifts smooth, and downshifts right when it should, and I don't feel any slippage or clunking or anything out of place really.

I have to get used to the floor shifter though. I like it, but I'm used to the feel of the one in my bird and they're totally different. They pull through the gears a little differently, and of course they're shaped different and its further away. And my 4R70W doesn't have a TV cable so I have to get used to the feel of the heavy pedal again.

Right now, I can't decide whether I want to spend my next money on the exhaust or get it licensed so I can drive it while its still super loud lol. As much as I would like to drive it now I think I will go for the exhaust since it will be the biggest financial hit and then I will be completely over the hump.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #239 – February 20, 2011, 07:29:56 PM

It works great, and you got it from where? No way a junkyard trans actually works correctly!

I'm actually kinda mad at my setup right now, it just doesn't seem as smooth as I had imagined. Oh well, more "adjustments".

And if I have to take this trans out again, I am definitely having the exhaust redone! But I should probably figure out what to do with the manifolds, whether I leave them stock or switch to shorties.

I'm really glad to hear it's all smooth after the work you put in. Good job man!