1978 MERCURY COUGAR XR7

April 09, 2008

This is alittle late update but I have repaired rust damage on the passenger side quarter panel behind and under the vinyl top trim. I also repaired a scrape and dent on the front passenger side fender along with rust hole repairs to the under side of the trunk. All of the paint that was used was a correct factory Chamois Poly mixture from a local auto paint shop that supplys all the paint to the body shops in the area. The paint was put into a spray can and cost $25.00 for one can. One can did most of the passenger side quarter panel, trunk lip and front fender before running out. I started repairing rust damage on the front fenders that stick under the hood. This fender lip is already smoothed out with bondo and is just waiting for me to get the time to pick up another can of the Chamois Poly to paint.

April 05, 2007

A little update. I got some OEM trim black spray paint and I repainted the black inserts on all my rims. Started on the fourth but was tired by then and stopped 1/4 ways through Will work on it tomorrow though.

Also I changed my mind about the engine rebuilding specs. Desided the car isnt going to be a good race car or performance car due to the 2.50:1 rear axle (which I wont change) and the fact that the car is just under 4,000 lbs. So I desided to run a 1973 - 1974 4bbl 351w intake manifold with a factory EGR valve plate with a factory 470 cfm 4bbl, World Products Windsor Jr. heads rated at 170 cc intake runner, and a Crane Cam street cam with a power band of 600 - 4200 rpm and a valve float of 4800 rpm, 19.50cc dished pistons to keep compression under 9:1 with the 58cc combustion chamber heads. Instead of looking at $5,800 to build up my orignal stroker trq monster version im looking at $1200 to rebuild the engine with all new parts but might be cheaper since I might be able to reuse the stock crank and connecting rods not sure what shape their in though.

January 08, 2007

Did some paint restoration on the frontend of the Mercury. I also sanded down and repainted all rusted area`s.

January 04, 2007

Got car inspected and got new plate tags so the car is good for another year. I also started buying parts for building my 351w into a 387.5 cube stroker that dd2000 estimates to have a 490 lb trq output and a 395 hp output not taking into consideration of blueprinting and balancing the engine.

October 14, 2006

I got in the mail a restoration book that has interchangeable parts between 77-79 Thunderbirds, Cougars, Lincoln Mk V`s, and LTD II`s. Im going to be ordering very soon new dashboard gauge pod and replacing the orignal circuit board for the lighting and gauges with new since the old broken plastic will be replaced. Im going to also be getting alot more parts all the way down to the color keyed body side molding and new windows and the correct Center Caps for the Turbine Rims.

October 13, 2006

Havent done many updates recently but the only update that I can give is that the timing was set back to factory specs since I finaly found the very faint shallow timing marks on the balancer and the fact that the engine specs has changed, Now I found out the heads I already picked out would not work with the camshaft, the camshaft comes with the pushrods and rockers that are recomended for the camshaft and the rocker arm stud size arent the same. DD2000 estimated that with slightly lower compression due to running the stock 67cc combustion chambers over the 64cc I wanted to run that pocket porting the stock heads will give me about the same power out put minus 5 to 10 hp/trq. The torque converter is going to remain stock thats the only converter that will work best on the street with a mild street performance roller cam kit.

August 17, 2006

Custom Modifications page added. Got email from TCI transmissions, which in turn they recomended a Breakaway Trq converter with a 2,800 rpm stall. Which is what they recomended based off my future engine specifications and vehicle weight and final gear ratio.

July 28, 2006

New Ford Racing 351W sparkplug wires came in. Old universal 8mm wires removed and replaced with the new Ford Racing 9mm Performance sparkplug wires. Still waiting on the back ordered Black Ford Racing Sparkplug wire Valve cover harness.

June 2006

Fixed broken Alternator Bracket
Flushed radiator, Replaced Thermostat (180* over stock 192*-195*)
Replaced Engine Temperature Sending Unit.
Added one bottle of Royal Purple Purple Ice to coolant.
Fixed repaired broken Alternator Bracket (Welded nut sheared off, Rewelded nut in place)

December 2005

Engine oil was changed at 158,327.0 Miles.
Sparkplug gap reset to within factory specs listed on valve cover.

November 2005

Oil Pressure sending unit replaced, Orignal was leaking.

October 2005

I put money down on a 1966 Dodge Charger 383 and he took and sold it out from under me so i got my money back plus more and a few weeks later I found this 1978 Mercury Cougar for $500.00 and picked it up and started fixing her up.

PAGE 1 : INTRODUCTION (UPDATED 04-05-2007)(YOU ARE HERE)
PAGE 2 : HISTORICAL INFORMATION (UPDATED 10-02-2006)
PAGE 3 : EXTERIOR (UPDATED 04-09-2008)
PAGE 4 : INTERIOR (UPDATED 06-29-2007)
PAGE 5 : ENGINE (UPDATED 01-08-2007)
PAGE 6 : RESTORATION STATUS (UPDATED 10-14-2006)
PAGE 7 : PLANNED MODIFICATIONS (UPDATED 10-13-2006)
PAGE 8 : STREET COMPETITION (NEW)
PAGE 9 : PART LIST (NEW)
PAGE 10: CUSTOM MODIFICATIONS (NEW)(UPDATED 8-17-2006)