This engine is painted blue if that’s an indication.
That’s a 351C, alright.
I have something to do…give a few and I’ll get back under that car and look for numbers again. I didn’t find a single marking on it yesterday
Speaking for the way things were done in the 90’s and early 2000’s, cars were ordered up or pulled for testing all the time. In particular where noise vibration or harshness was an issue, they would spec out the exact combination that needed to be evaluated. There were also drivability issues. Things like hot start, cold start, and cooling issues are always being looked at. In one case a Jeep vehicle had issues with body flex that could be so bad the doors would not open. I actually rode in the vehicle and they demonstrated the problem by parking the vehicle part way on top of a snow pile in a parking lot. (My product was attached to the rear interior roof and we had to design in a bit of compliance to make sure it would not break when the vehicle flexed.)
Product Development had their own budgets and their own ways of doing things. For Jeep products they would cut up a vehicle and just ship you the part that you needed to develop your parts. So the spoiler vendor probably got a trunk lid not a car. Styling would have been in charge of putting those parts on a car and they too have their own budget and way of doing things.
I also worked with Ford and they did things in very much the same way. None of this speaks to this particular car, but when you hear hoof beats, don’t first think unicorns.
Honey. Rainbow, butterflies & unicorns!
I’m still researching.
But how cool!!
Here is what I will say…
Ed bought that car May 1990.
It was only 21 years old. I know of one owner, Lindsey…
Possibility is a 1st owner.
No one would buy a factory installed CJ 428 AND THE turn it into an Eliminator. You would have just ordered it!
29 years ago Ed changed a few minor things but I know for a fact the interior has never been touch. So, that shit is original to this car.
Fact: Ed bought it with the 351 Cleveland.He put a Hurst Shifter in it.
He was 19 when he bought this Cougar.
I know for FACT how much he made just out high school 
Who would have spent THAT much NEW stuff for a new car?
To this day it only has 80,000 miles. That Cleveland is BARELY broke in!
Unless the old boys of the Engineering Staff…
(imagine all you guys reading this post, working for Ford, and with your OWN budget)
You would have pulled a car, fixed, and one of you “bought” it. AND the rest would have coveted it
My nephew attends a performance racing school. He’s working on his OWN Mustang…for FREE!!
Call it a “test car” one of them said afte 10 Schlitz.
I had a good conversation with Michelle yesterday. So far I don’r see enough evidence yet that it was used for the Eliminator package. I’m having her investigate the possibility that it was a test mule for the 351 Cleveland that was coming out for 1970. If I was going to get a test mule for engine testing I would want the 8,000 rpm tack installed. Michelle is looking for the numbers on the 351 block to determine build date and possibility a vin stamp. We’ll see what the Cougar tells us. Michelle is also looking for the numbers on the transmission.
RUG-AE1 = 31 spline close ratio for the 69 Cougar 428CJ
Michelle = give us a picture of the underside of the hood to see if it was cut for the 428CJ ram air setup.
regardless Michelle has a rare Cougar with a cool story that she is having a ball with investigating. She didn’t know that was such a cool Cougar she walked past in her garage for 20 + yrs and plans to get it back on the road again.
This is a great story and a real interesting car, but the problem with this kind of thing is you can’t substantiate a statement like that. The car existed for 21 years in someone else’s hands. There’s no telling what has been done to it.
Fair enough.
Hi Michelle, and All -
This has been a fun one to follow! As many have said, it’s a very cool car and story no matter the outcome.
Ockham’s razor has the 428 blown up or pilfered for a Mustang, and replaced by the 351 sometime in its 1st 21 years.
But if you become convinced it left the factory with the 351C, I wouldn’t replace it for all the tea in China.
If you decide to put a CJ in it, be sure it is a real Cobra Jet engine. Lots of good info on the 428 Cobra Jet Registry:
https://www.428cobrajet.org
Good luck with your continuing “mission!”
So, you like my theory.
A bunch of guys after a bunch of beers.
Still equals a one of a kind car.
…common sense goes a long way.
Back to the basics.
I have the numbers on the CJ 428…
BUT! Just to prove a point I might leave the Cleveland in it! Sometimes, as I grew up, the story is the best part!
I see a quick cat in the underside pictures…sorta…does he/she always photobomb? G
Her dog also thought he/she needed to get under the car. I think hervpets are a great story them sales.
Good luck w/the car, thx for sharing the pics & congrats on preserving a very rare car. It would be killer restored to original. That said, it looks like a fun ride the way it sits. Enjoy.
So, the hood isn’t cut for the ram air setup. If it’s the original hood that poses another question. Did it get delivered to Product engineering without the 428CJ knowing that the new 351 Cleveland was going to be installed for testing? I’m guessing here but I think they might have wanted the 428CJ equipped car for all the other supporting components, springs, shock, staggered rear shock etc… to test the 351 C.
