My slow-build '67

Cougar Community The Project Forum
1

Well, I guess it’s time for me to start a built thread. I picked up my Cougar late last summer.The owner needed it gone, and after a few weeks of back and forth, it finally got down to a price I (well, my wife) was comfortable with. For $3,000, I ended up with a running/driving car. Since that time, we’ve moved, so work on the Cougar took a back seat until we finally got settled into the new place. I finally have the garage in order as of this past weekend. I also needed to pick pick up a bunch of SAE tools. I have a bunch of metric, but few in the way of standard. Ugh! But hey, it’s a good excuse to buy tools. Now, I have a handful of additional tools to get me started.

My Cougar is an original Colorado car, according to the Marti report.

I haven’t done much of note to the car since I bought it. The gas tank was replaced, a couple of window molding strips replaced, rebuilt the shifter, and a new oil sensor/idiot light was installed. The wire for the light was hanging loose in the engine bay. I don’t like random wires. The PO installed the Edelbrock intake and carb. I set the timing. I’ve also noted the vacuum for the headlights is not connected to anything, the hose is just flopping unconnected. There’s an engine rebuild tag riveted to the block, Bore .060, Rods/mains .010.

I recently located replacement hood trim, a passenger side headlight/grill assembly, and new rear interior panels to replace the ones with giant holes in them. As I find used parts locally that I know I’ll need, I’ve been snapping them up, even if I’m not ready to put them on the car. I’m missing all of the Mercury and Cougar badging for the car, except for the rear fender extension. I have a replacement fender and fender extension that came with the car when I purchased it. Eventually, the paint color will be changed, but for now, it’s a decent looking driver. I’ll get all of the mechanical in order before body, although I think my first major purchase will be wheels/tires. The PO installed the hood scoop and cut a whole in the hood for some wonderful ram air. :wall: I bought it before he had time to run the wires for the lights he as planning to install in the scoop.

Plans? Resto-mod. Nothing wild. No huge power build, no street touring car. I’m not concerned about being 100% original. Just a fun family cruiser that can get out of its own way, that’s my goal. I’m just a guy with a car and a garage. My (now) 6 year old will help turn a wrench on occasion. I don’t have any body experience. My mechanical experience with vehicles is decent, but not all-knowing. I’ll screw up along the way and make things worse, and will hopefully/eventually make 'em all better.

A few pictures, if you’ve stuck with me this far. Pictures are from the day it was pulled into the driveway. Appearance-wise, it looks the same, other than throwing out the ratty seat covers.

A few of the problem areas:

Interior:

2

It’s a much better start than most. Welcome to the gang and good luck with your project. You’re in the right place.

3

Thanks. I thought it was pretty decent overall. Now, I just need the weather get better. Chilly and rainy here for a bit, but nice for the weekend. Now, if I can get my wife to stop spending money on the house, I can dip into the budget and order some stuff for me! Ha.

4

Nice starter. The fact that you can actually get in and drive it for 3Gs is great.

5

I like it. Actually for $3000 I love it. You have some challenges there, but it will all come in time. Welcome!

6

3K is a nice starting point. FYI, I have most of a 67 Standard Parchment interior I’m willing to part with. Any of it your interested in let me know and I’ll PM you pictures and prices.

7

Thanks all. I figured posting a thread on here might get me kickstarted on doing a little work! Once I get through a busy week of house guests this week, I’ll get crackin’!

badcatt, I’d be interested in some interior bits. Send me a PM with your info and I’ll definitely take a look. I’ve sent you a PM as well.

8

Looks like you got a good one! Have fun making it the way you want.

9

Welcome to the Classic Cougar Community. You’ve got a great Cougar for $3K. I like the parchment interior, when it’s together it will look awesome. I’ll send you a welcome letter a little later that will have a lot of valuable information in it.
Steven

10

I sent you a welcome message. Check your PM box.
Steven

11

For some reason when I see the thread title I start singing, “Slow build, take it easy…” to this diddy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrAiGSA1PHg

12

Thanks, and thanks for the PM. I like the parchment interior as well. I’ve had a couple of people telling me it’d be easier to switch colors, but I prefer to stay with parchment.

I’ve picked up some replacement interior panels for the rear. When the PO put the speakers back there, he shattered the plastic, as well as putting 2 giant holes in the panels. The ones I picked up aren’t the correct color, so I’ll have to vinyl spray, or keep searching. I do wonder, though, is it possible to reinforce those panels somehow? Fiberglass? That 50 year old plastic sure is mighty brittle.

I figure I’ll also add what started by blue oval disease. This was my '67 6cyl auto convertible, circa late '80s.

My dad was a dirt tracker when he got back from the war. This is what he ran around in northern NY:

Anyway, looking forward to getting the Cougar getting back into shape. It’ll be the second Cougar in the family. In his later years, my dad had a '90, dark blue, that he eventually trade in on the '93 T-bird that’s in the background of that Mustang picture above.

13

What’s your dads name?

14

My dad is John Hughes. Died in '99, he’d be 95 today. He was a top turret gunner in a B17. Here’s a shot of his crew from Rattlesden. Pretty proud of the old man.

He and his brother Joe used to race. I’m not quite sure when he stopped, as that was a bit before my time.

15

I rolled around under the car for the first time last night (usually I do that on the day I get something home, so this truly is a slow build). Passenger side floor pan rust, the spot welds on the inner fender are the worst of it. I’m pretty sure the floor rust is from a leaking windshield. The cowl is rock solid. Rockers are solid, and I don’t see any signs of collision repair anywhere. I have to fix the passenger front where the PO dinged it, but nothing major there.

My current plan is to have the mechanical where I want it within 3 years. My family travels back to my childhood camp in NY every other summer, and I’d like it to be in reliable, safe driveable shape for the next, next time we go. If I wrap that stuff up early, I can move on to bodywork a little sooner.

16

I replaced the nasty old wheels yesterday. It was also the first time I’ve had the wheels off since I’ve owned the car. I already knew this, but pretty much everything needs replacing. With wider tires up front, I rub when I hit and type of bump, as the shocks are blown. When I let the car down off the jack, the front end stayed in the air until I pushed it down. Ha! So, next up…suspension and brakes.

image.jpeg
image.jpeg800×600 173 KB

image.jpeg
image.jpeg800×600 165 KB

image.jpeg
image.jpeg800×600 147 KB

17

Rims look good with that color red.

18

Thanks. The gray matches the stripe as well. I already managed to sell the old wheels. Guy that picked them up is going to use them to roll his project Mustangs around as most of them have flats. I thought that was fairly resourceful of him, I didn’t think I’d get any bites on those wheels.

19

That is a very sharp looking car, great choice for wheels and tires and thanks for sharing the historic photos!

20

Love the new wheels and the old photos. My Grandad (I never met him as he died in a plane crash when my Stepdad was 9) was a b-29 pilot in WWII, and we have some amazing photos taken from the bomber as well as beside it. Those guys were absolutely fearless, and in my opinion probably our toughest generation. Thanks for sharing the old photos. That car is a great buy for 3gs, and looks great with those wheels.