Thanks folks,
Appreciate the feedback on this matter. I’ll probably get it done later today.
I have a spare gasket set on the shelf, so that’s a bonus.
Just finished buttoning up the oil pan.
As predicted, adjusting the pump shaft retainer took all of 3 minutes. Then 30 minutes to reinstall and torque the oil pan.
Was it worth the effort? Yes, if only for peace of mind.
Looking good! My 351c got an overhaul a few years back and had leaky rear main seal. Mechanic was able to pull pan and crank to fix it from under car. So much easier on a stand like yours!
You know it!
I dread having to pull the oil pan on an installed motor. Had to do it on my '87 Grand National and it was a TERRIBLE job.
Fenders are epoxy sealed…
These are NOS pieces, but there are a LOT of dents and dings to repair from years of careless storage & handling! The yellow spots are reflections of the ceiling lights FYI…
Door shells are up next…
These epoxy sealed panels are temporarily hung on the car for safekeeping. Not aligned or adjusted.
But celebrate this moment with me please.
It’s been a painfully long time since the Cougar resembled a car.
This moment feels GREAT. I can finally see ahead to a time when the car is complete!
Fantastic! There is always a huge risk that once apart a car never gets reassembled. Good to see one coming back
Nicely done sir.
Thank you Al, Bill Basore, and forum at large. The ongoing encouragement is a big motivator. You guys are awesome.
I’ve always prided myself on being a “Get Sh*t Done” guy. Starting and not finishing a project isn’t in my nature.
The bodyshop that kept the car for 3+ years and did so little work on it really crushed my spirits though. Really disheartening.
I’m back though.
Motivated, focused, fired up, and 110% committed to seeing this car back on the road!
Jeff,
Many thanks for your significant insights on how Ford did things.
You asked for the build date on my car to add to your knowledge base. Here’s the Marti report with the build date. May 28, 1971. A fairly late build.
As my earlier photos showed, the underside was well covered in the code C dark green paint - or at least something a lot like it. Here’s another photo of the the color from a section of the original trunk floor.
Tom
Doors are epoxy sealed and ready for body work when the epoxy cures. A bunch of very small dings and a couple of dents, but zero rust.
Original passenger side door had rust in the front corner. There was a BIG mouse nest inside the door sometime in the past 50 years, and the Mouse pee destroyed the door corner.
Don Rush and WCCC provided a Grade A door shell. 100% as advertised!
Been a while since my last update.
Bodywork is well underway.
Both doors, fenders, hood and trunk lid are finally smooth. LOTS of little dings to fill but soon we’ll be ready to spray primer/surfacer and begin block sanding.
Although in no spot is the filler thicker than 1/8", it always amazes me how much larger the filler diameter is versus the underlying dent.
I’m hoping to have the whole car in primer/surfacer by mid-May and in paint by July.
I love the smell of body filler in the morning. It smells like VICTORY!
Hi everyone,
Been a while since last posted, but the `71 Cougar project is continuing. Engine, drivetrain, exhaust, dash, column, pedal box is back in.
We finally found a paint shop - but they require the car to run/drive. So, reinstalling the minimum equipment to allow it to yard drive.
4 Likes
Glad to hear you are still at it!
Steady progress on the '71.
As an XR-7 with power windows and convertible top, the solenoid and junction block wiring is REALLY busy. Not happy with the clutter - will see if the wiring fits better with the traditional B6AZ solenoid. I prefer the reliability of the HD style, but the design makes it hard to fit everything…
Much the same mess with the factory solenoid, but maybe a bit less visible. Really kind of funny to look back and wonder how anybody thought that was good practice back in the day. Amazing there weren’t more fires than there were. Enjoying watching your progress!
Ford fans know the hassle of running a non-OEM Holley carb. Fuel line routing with dual feed carbs is a challenge.
Phil Rapala in Illinois makes a nice kit to adapt a dual feed Holley 4150 to a 5/16" Ford 428CJ style driver side fuel inlet, filter, and transfer tube.
Reasonably priced, very complete, and easy to install. Phil is a super nice guy as well.
1 Like
It is becoming a car once again…Hard to believe it’s been 8 years since the fire. We’ve really missed driving it!
1 Like
Like it never happened…
1 Like
