First look inside my new 68 cougar!

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Maintenance Restoration and Repair
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So I finally had the chance to look in detail inside my 1968 mercury cougar GT.a few things wrong : the spark plugs will be a nightmare to remove once i find the right socket. (What socket should i use?)

Down below is a picture of the driver side head. Its got some corrosion but cant figure out why

IMG_1712
IMG_17123024Ă—4032 3.65 MB

i also have leakage from the power steering system and power brakes system so I might have to change all of that.

While im at it with the master cylinder off I think I could access the steering box to adjust it because its sloppy.

Also the exhaust manifold gasket needs to be changed because it leaks pretty bad.

Further inspection incoming but so far still very happy with the car as I knew i’d have wrong things going.

Any help or advice would be appreciated Thanks :blush:

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Good video on steering.

I ended up going with a Borgson unit, never got the leaks to stop… :slightly_smiling_face:

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Thanks ! I did check this video out and found that indeed I have to adjust the steering box with the screw. Now having a big block means I will have to remove the master cylinder to reach it!

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You just need a crows foot I think it might be 5/8 inch and a long extention and a screw driver to reach the nut. Evan on a big block. I have done this many times.

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Thank you ! I’ll get one of these :slight_smile:
Any idea for the corrosion on the heads btw ?

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Exhaust manifold gaskets don’t belong on vintage Ford engines.

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You mean i should just get rid of 'em ?

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Look up crows foot wrench set at amazon $19.
Don’t know about the corroison might be a head gasket leak.

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Likely the steering box is cooked. Every 1968 GT has a 390 so a Borgeson box won’t fit. I would send the steering box to Chockostang and replace the hoses with Blue Dot. No leaks after that.

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How do you tell if the steering box is shot? Just got a1968 and there is no play in wheel but the power steering is very stiff. My friend has a 1971 ranchero the steering is easy. I was hoping it was the power steering pump

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In a big block if it has over 5000 miles it is shot. The box is up against the LH exhaust manifold. Chockostang will rebuild the pump, the box and the control valve for a very reasonable price and you will be done.

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Puma
I stand corrected. I thought the Torino line had also changed over in 1970 to the internal power steering box like the Mustang and Cougar did in 1971.

Old incorrect info: The Ranchero uses a different P/S system. It’s done in the steering box. 1970 and earlier use a power ram system that is external of the steering box. They are usually a little harder to steer then what is on the Ranchero. But only a little.

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1971 Ranchero also has the power ram steering system.

Beginning in1972 the Ranchero/fairlane/torino/montego had a separate frame and power steering gearbox with integral assist.

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Be careful in adjusting the steering box. Remember, most of your steering is done at the “12 Clock” position so that is where the gear set wears the most and where you feel the slop. If you adjust that out, you will most likely bind the gears in both directions of travel.

I rebuilt my control valve and ram this past winter. It wasn’t that hard.

Jim

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One other thing. I have a 67 GT, so I know what you mean about the spark plugs. I have learned that it’s best to just pull the valve covers when changing them and to also plug in the plug wires before you put the valve covers back on. It is nearly impossible to get the boots on positively by the shock towers. I drove around with a weird miss that would come and go and took me forever to figure out is was due to not having the plug boots on all the way.

Jim

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Good call ! This will save me tons of headache !