I’ve been working on restoring my first car, a 1967 XR7. I bought this car in 1994 with the money I earned from my summer job. Over the years I’ve done some good things to it, and a few things I wish I hadn’t. I converted it to a manual transmission, a top-loader 4-speed. I recently put some steeper gears in the rear end and it’s been living in the body shop for about a year getting all the rusty holes patched and crooked metal straightened. This car was my first real love and hopefully I can put her back together in the way she always looked in my head.
Here’s another pic of the front. The lower cowl has been replaced, new floors, the trunk filler panel and the driver’s side quarter panel have also been replaced. I thought I had a solid car until it came apart. I regret leaving it parked under that tree for 10 years.
While my car has been in the shop I’ve been putting together some parts to install when she’s out:
These are some original hinges from a '68 that have been reworked with Zerk fittings added.
This is a power disk brake conversion kit for the front. The car originally had manual drum brakes all around. Since I put the 4-speed in I’d have to push on the brake pedal with both feet to keep from rolling backwards when stopped on a steep hill. Not very comfortable.
I’m going to replace the vacuum headlight system with these electric ones. For most of the time I’ve owned my car my headlights have been of the manual variety with me having to get out of the car and pull open the headlight covers by hand when it was getting dark. It’s ok when you’re a teenager but its kinda embarrassing now.
Misc. parts. A new valance, an export brace, an old tunnel ram and some interior pieces. What else would you store in a garage?
The good news is…I found a hood with only surface rust. The bad news is…it looks like someone was dancing on the hood.The price was right so I’ll take it to the shop and see what the body man says.
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
Good luck with your project. I’m sure you can’t wait to have it all back together and take it for a drive.
Thanks! Progress is slow but steady. It should be a fun car when its all done.
Here’s an update on the Cougar! I have two small kids, so my free time is limited. I was hoping to have the car ready to go back to the body shop this month but that is definitely not going to happen. I work on it when I can. I’d just like to get the paintwork done so I can start putting her back together.
Engine out, need to clean the engine bay and prep for paint.
I pulled the Toploader out and had a look. The internals look good. The clutch assembly, not-so-much. I put this transmission in the car 20 years ago. Now it’s coming back out…for now.
I’ve finally started making some progress on my Cougar. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the front suspension. Someone on this site recommended Opentracker Racing and after I talked with them, decided to go that route. I got new upper and lower control arms, lowering coil springs, perches, a sway bar, a steering rebuild kit and Bilstein shocks. I also did the Shelby Drop and shock tower reinforcement plates.
I used Krylon 1613 industrial paint in a spray can to paint the shock tower and apron. It’s a lacquer paint that looks close to factory but I’m not sure how well it will hold up. It scratches easily and many solvents will damage it. The good news is that touching it up is easy. Time will tell.
I did new seat risers when I replaced the floor but they were the Mustang ones that are 1 inch taller. I found some Cougar ones (1" lower) on the NPD site and ordered them. I’m 6’-2" so with the new risers i keep hitting my head on the roof getting in and out. It will be some work but will be better when completed.
I installed the CSRP front disc brakes and I’m working on the power brake upgrade. My car was originally manual drum brakes all around. I put a 4-speed in it before and the manual drum brakes were a joke to keep the car from rolling back on a hill. The location of the brake pedal pivot is different with power brakes so I’m cleaning up the assembly and I had to file the new brake pedal to prevent it from rubbing on the clutch shaft. Still a lot to do but at least now it’s going back together instead of further apart.
I’m feeling defeated. The body shop that was working on my car is closing. I have a half-done car with pieces all over my house and some at the shop. My car is completely disassembled. I’ve been moving ahead working by myself with mixed results. Today I continued working on a hole in the firewall and just kept burning through every time I tried welding, it seems like my whole car is rust. I’ve had a chance to take a closer look at the work that the body shop did and it isn’t as good as I’d hope. I’ve had this car since 1994 but I’m growing tired of this restoration and this car to be honest. I just don’t have the time and patience to deal with this project anymore. I liked my car a lot more when it was in one piece. This sucks!
Sounds like you need to step away for awhile. Make sure you get all your parts back and take a break.
Thanks Al, I’m taking your advice. I’m getting all my stuff together and taking a break. I have two young kids so I don’t get much time so it sucks when I go backwards on a project. My car was built in San Jose, I live in San Jose and can’t find a shop to work on my car in San Jose. I guess the tech money drove away all the body shops or they only work on Teslas.
Dont lose faith Brother. You got a sick project there and you’ll get it rolling. I live just over the hill in Santa Cruz and im seeing alot of the same stuff here, alot of businesses being bought or forced out. And yeah Al is right, especially about getting those parts back before they go unaccounted for. Alot of the project im doing right now is fixing/discovering cruddy Bondo work covering rust holes so i know what you mean. If I hear of any descent shops taking jobs like yours ill let you know man
I appreciate the comment WilliamsCat. I’m at a the point of either shutting down this project because it doesn’t make any financial sense or doubling-down on the car to finish a dream I’ve had since I was 16. My car probably has 15 Cougars/Mustangs worth of parts on it. The hood I got in Sacramento, the deck lid I got from Arizona, 2 parts cars from when I was younger, interior panels from the Midwest, interior quarters from Fresno, a dash pad from Pleasanton, a clutch pedal from Oregon, window trim from Washington, a toploader from a '65 Mustang in Fremont. I’ve been working on this car for over 20 years and I’m still thousands and thousands of dollars and years away from it being finished. I should do the ultimate sin and bolt all my good parts on a Dynacorn 1967 Mustang body. LOL.
Bryan,
My Cougar was my first car as well and I understand where you are right now with trying to hold onto it. Two days ago was the 25th anniversary of buying my Cougar, but it’s only been in the last year and a half that I have finally been able to work on it. My youngest is 11 years old right now, my oldest is 16. There was a long period when they were little and the Cougar just sat in the garage under a cover for “someday.” There were occasional questions from the wife and in-laws about, “Do you need to hold onto that?” I can tell you that, eventually, you will have the time. And it will be worth it.
I appreciate all the positive vibes. I spent all day getting my parts back from the shop and seeing what I have. I haven’t seen this car together in years. There was no hardware and a few parts missing. At least it looks like a car again.
I hear ya man! I have two little ones as well(2 and 5) and I always struggle for a couple hrs alone in the garage every weekend. I usually take the time when they are napping to get something accomplished even of it’s the smallest thing. Even the simplest project can be very rewarding when you accomplish it. Trust me when I say it will get easier as the kids get older, at some point all they will want is to be in the garage with you working on the “old” car.
If your feeling burnt out take a breather and collect your thoughts then get back at it when your ready. It’s not easy but I think it would be worth it once you get your car where you want it to be.
A little progress on my car. I decided to put everything back together to see what all is missing. Turns out I have most of the parts but almost no hardware. I’ve been putting this car together and taking it apart for 20 years but I always made sure to bag and tag everything. I had to buy assembly manuals to see what goes where. It feels better looking at a car instead of a pile of parts. The last body shop was No Bueno!
Your car looks like a rust free and a very good starting point for a 67 XR7 !