My 1967 standard was a non-console car but it came with a console “sort of” installed.
The console itself seems to be complete, but unfortunately with the radio section cut to a single din modern size, so I hate to give it up and just switch back to non-console, although that would seem to be the cheaper option.
I know I need a “Console Shifter,” a “Select Rod Shift Indicator,” and a “Socket and Wiring Shift Indicator Light for Console” to relocate the shift indicator light, but is there anything else I need?
When the console is installed, I have a hard time getting the shifter into park. Does the console shifter have a different angle to it or is that something I need to adjust on the transmission?
How do I tie-in the courtesy lights on the console into the non-console wiring? Should I just splice them into one of the underdash lights or is there a plug somewhere?
First of all, you need to be sure of what console you have. It could be from a 67 or a 68. It could also be from an XR-7. There are differences. It sounds like you may be missing some pieces too. You shouldn’t have to make any adjustments to the transmission itself though. There should also be a plug underneath the dash that the console wiring can plug into. Not sure why you are having a hard time getting the shifter into park. It could be installed incorrectly. Also, not sure how bad the radio section has been cut out. Some pics of what you got to work with will help us give you troubleshooting tips.
I did a lot of crawling under the dash and fitting and adjusting the past few nights. I think the previous owner perhaps installed the metal brackets under the dash in not quite the right place, so I drilled new holes in them further back. That scooted the entire unit more up against the dash and solved the shifter issue. However, the front piece with the radio slot still isn’t fitting quite right, so maybe I moved the entire thing too far forward.
I did find the plug for the lights, so those are working now. However, I just have the panel on the inside of the storage compartment wedged into place. Is it supposed to clip on somehow?
After browsing WCCC and looking at parts, I deduced that I needed some speed nuts for the plastic posts on the back of the radio panel. Hopefully I ordered the correct ones.
Still pretty bummed that it’s going to be over $250 to get the correct shifter, shift indicator light and that little bracket that connects them.
Good pics. You definitely have a 67 standard console. XR-7 consoles had a clock in the center and were somewhat different. The panel on the inside of the storage compartment should fit right into slots in the console itself. There are 5 slots. One on each side towards the top and 3 on the bottom. From the photo you have provided, what you have looks incorrect. Also, the shifter on a 67 had a small hole/connector that is for the shifter rod that connects to the indicator light that slides back and forth. I am unsure if a non-console car would have came with it or not. As for the parts, yes, they do add up. It looks like you are well on your way to getting what you desire though. Good job thus far!
Further inspection of your radio area does show why you may have clearance issues with that cut out. It looks like the previous owner had a CD player. Did it ever fit correctly? Good question. I have a tape deck and it fits just fine, but there is not much extra room back there.
Considering it came piled in the back seat, who knows?
The Sony Xplod CD player was in the pile, but I haven’t tried to re-install it.
I bought one of these Amazon.com for my wife’s old Z3 a couple months ago, and it works fine, so I was considering ordering another one to stick in the Cougar until I can afford the small fortune it takes to get an uncut radio panel and pad to swap in there.
For $100 you can now get an Android head unit with a pop-out 7" touch screen, navigaion and a back-up camera. I thought heck, maybe I’ll do that and make the best of the cut out, but it looks like those won’t work in the Cougar due to the upper protrusion of the radio bezel.
You have lots of options. Some more expensive than others. My radio panel was cut and I had to get one from WCCC for $140. That was for the B grade, since an A grade was unavailable and that still would have been double the price. You need to remember that these cars are 50 years old and not many remain. The days of the $100 parts cars are gone. I know. I have bought two 67 cars for $100 each for parts decades ago. Get what you can get while you can get it. There are repro parts for the Cougars nowadays, but not like the Mustangs and Camaros. Good luck to ya, Brother!
I’m re-awakening this old thread because I finally have my new shifter in, my air-conditioning installed and a new radio bezel piece. I put everything back together, but my shift indicator light does not line up at all with the correct spots. In fact, it just stays on P until I finally get the car shift into drive, then it finally slides into R. Since there’s specific mounts on the shifter base for the indicator section of the console, and because the little plastic linkage piece is a set length, it seems like it would be hard to screw this up.
How much of a role does the black slider piece (https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/19coshslsere.html?attribs=75) play in the display of the gear? Mine is kind of warped and bent, and I’m wondering if it’s not so much where the light is located as much as where that black slider is located.
Anyone have a good design for making an adjustable light linkage?
Ok, good to know. The half moon shape on the end made me think maybe it was shrouding around the light and focusing it into each indicator. I will pull it all apart again tonight and make sure nothing is in backwards or something.
Personally I think the console gets in the way. It’s a curse for any maintenance or repairs that have to be done, often the console must be removed first. Looks nice but function is not there unless you have an XR7-G or 69 - 73 with storage in the raised arm rest.
It sounds like either you have something broken, missing, or not put together properly. What exactly came apart? The white plastic piece that connects the shifter arm to the indicator light?
The white plastic connector piece is supposed to have barbs on each end that hold it in place. Take a close look at it to see that the barbs are still intact. If you are reusing an old plastic piece it is possible that the barbs were broken off or damaged when it was taken apart in the past. If the barbs look good make sure that they are fully seated when you install it. A damaged white plastic piece is most likely your problem. The plastic piece is reproduced since it is the same as a Mustang so if yours is damaged you can easily replace it. The only other possibility would be that the hole in the loop on the shifter arm is too big. Is your shifter arm a factory piece? Or did someone convert a standard arm to a console arm?
