I just want to introduce myself. I am new to the Cougar community in that I have owned my Cougar since this past June 2011. I bought a 1969 XR7 convertible S code 4 speed. It is in very good shape but I have been restoring her as I have time. When I bought her I received minimal paperwork/history from the previous owner. This was sold thru a classic car dealer. I do have a Marti report that says it is 1 of 42 with this motor/transmission combo.
Right now I am in the middle of a clutch/flywheel replacement that is turning into a transmission replacement as well. When removing the trans it was noticed that the top drivers “ear” was busted off where that bolt would bolt the trans to the motor. On the front of the trans there are two plugs, one was replaced with a dime. Pretty common use in that application. When the lower two bolts were loosened there was quite a bit of oil that leaked out. Not good. The clutch is soaked in gear oil.
All of this explains why there is a shudder on acceleration (only 3 bolts, vs 4) the leak that is under the bell housing, and the difference in feel the car has in shifting after it has warmed up (the wet clutch)
A new toploader is hopefully being delivered next week and the project continues.
I have been over on mc.net and am happy to be here now too.
I have another rare Mercury, that being a 2003 Marauder. I am the original owner of that one. That car is a blast and has been modified with a supercharger, big brakes, widened rims, and many more treats.
Thanks for letting me introduce myself a bit, and I am looking forward to hanging out here too.
Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have a pretty rare Cougar. Check the bottom of the trans for the matching VIN stamped on it. It will be on the rear flat surface. If it’s the original trans to the car, it will have the VIN and you should keep it. Good luck
Welcome, Jon Morris has a '69 XR7 390 4 speed convertible that he finished restoring about a year ago. I will try to locate a video of his car as you might like seeing it.
Welcome it is great to have another new member here. Sounds like you have a great car. Hope everything goes smooth with the transmission repair.
Steven
The Vin # should be stamped on your existing trans if it is the original. If it is original I would have it rebuilt so as to keep the car as numbers matching as posible. This will affect the cars value should you ever wish to sell it. What ever you decide welcome to Classic Cougar Community !
This was my thought, however the first 3 letters are HEH wich means it is from a 1966 Fairlane. It is not the original trans which I would much rather have. The new trans will be stamped correctly though.
My vert is the same blue, white top, white seats, blue carpet, some white in the dash too. Blue belts, and it has the 390 on the front fenders and the shortie hood latch. It is a early 1969 model being made early November 1968.
Thanks for posting the video. I never get tired of watching it.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jon along with his wife Meg sometime in 1996-97; while he was the Arizona Jaycee President and I was just some yokel from Yuma. Nicer people I hadn’t met; and I was amazed that he was a Cougar-phile. His comments in that video -regarding taking Meg out and rowing through the gears with the 390IP slamming heads against the seatbacks, and “This is why I bought it”- still sound so out of character for the quiet, deliberate guy I met back then.
But somewhere, in the deep, dark recesses of my mind; I can see it going just that way. Jon is a surprising guy.
When I first saw that video I was feeling like I had to get a cougar like that. Lo and behold I found one on the internet. I had to have it. That is how my story starts. His cars are beautiful and I have a slight prejudice towards mine too.
