Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Topic: Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?) (Read 1282 times) previous topic - next topic

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

April 12, 2014, 09:04:58 PM

So i had a very busy and productive day today, fixed a few annoying issues and some broken interior parts. I changed out my passenger A pillar trim, and removed 3 screws. One towards the lower dash by the door, and 2 screws above the door frame. I went to replace with a un-broken one that was just sent to me, but this one, although the exact color, had 4 holes not 3. I checked the part number, and sure enough they are the same except for the first digit for the year. I drilled out a hole for the 4 th screw, just thought its a very odd change for one year only of car production in 1988. T-bird owners, you have the same anomaly?

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #1 – April 13, 2014, 06:48:16 PM

Got a picture? I'm pretty sure my Thunderbird only has three screws in the A-pillar trim. It's a very early build '88 (September 87).

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #2 – April 13, 2014, 10:43:45 PM

X2. I looked at my 86 cougar and 87 bird and didn't see what you were talking.about.

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #3 – April 13, 2014, 10:51:45 PM

I will snap a few side by side pics for you guys to compare.

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #4 – April 14, 2014, 12:17:17 PM

I looked at my Thunderbird and the A-pillar trim has 5 screws: three above the door, one near the windshield, and one where the A-pillar trim meets the kick panel trim. So apparently this was a running change. I'm guessing the 4 screw one you have is the same as the one in my car.

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #5 – April 16, 2014, 01:28:33 PM

So i was wrong in that its a 4 vs 5 screw issue. Both pillars i am posting here came out of 87 Cars with blue interiors. Mine (4 holes) XR-7 and the Other is from a clean LS (5 holes) My pillar trim have a little leather style sheath around the bottom where it makes contact with the side of the dash, the 5 hole versions don't have this peel off material but have a round rubber bumper in place. Both version have a hole for the rubber bumper.

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #6 – April 16, 2014, 03:46:15 PM

Hmm. Must have been a running change. Perhaps the earlier one is pr0ne to cracking or warping?

Odd 87/88 Cougar Curiousity (Thunderbird too?)

Reply #7 – April 16, 2014, 04:50:10 PM

That's what I'm thinking also. As there was a propensity for the panel bubbling out at that area, that's probably why the extra screw was added.
Are the part numbers embedded on the backside the same?