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  1. #1

    Default Who owns a 1980 to 1982 Thunderbird or Cougar?

    The boxy birds and Cougar's are an acquired taste, but for those of us that have one it grows on you.
    I have a 1980 Thunderbird, that I have extensively modified over the last 15 years, into what I think Ford should have done with the boxy birds from the factory. Well...actually its a work in progress and never really finished.

    How many of you own them? I didn't really see a thread for the 80-82 and thought I would start one.

  2. #2
    FEP Member
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    Mechanicsburg, PA
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    You can't post that statement and not include some pics...

    Lon

  3. #3
    FEP Supporter 75coug's Avatar
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    1982 Cougar wagon here.
    Robert

    1986 ascMcLaren SC 5.0 -red
    1985 Capri GS (w/ 5.0) - red
    1985 Capri 5.0L - black
    1984 ascMcLaren SC 5.0 - white
    1984 Capri GS (w/ 5.0) - white
    1983 Capri RS Crimson Cat - red
    1982 Capri RS Black Magic - white
    1982 Cougar wagon
    1982 Mustang GT - red

  4. #4

    Default

    I have a Zephyr boxtop, but you could hardly like one of those and not like a boxy bird! Count me among the interested in pics. But if your screen name does in fact indicate that you have a "BBC", you can skip pics of that...
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  5. #5

    Default

    I'll have to post some photos of the work I've done so far. My T-bird was somewhat easier on the eyes but I've since stripped most the trim, to go into the body shop back in September. It's never had a full body restoration and I was ready to plop down about 8k to have it done.
    Well, the shop inspected it so it can be legally on the road but the body shop was so backed up (with cars from deer accident) that its been pushed back till early March. The only good thing is I was able to bring it back home and drive it legally with state inspection and then park in again in my yard.

    My user name BBCFORD isn't anything weird. Years ago a coworker said it reminded him of a lyric from the song "Highway Star" by Deep Purple. --"Nobody gonna take my car, I'm gonna race it to the ground". He changed it to "I'm going ridding in my BIG BLACK CAR car, I'm gonna race it to the ground.

    Anyway...the name for my car stuck at work and one guy said I should be BBCFORD. Stupid but that's how it happened.

    I'm terrible for taking pictures as I do stuff to the car but I have been meaning to do it...guess I can take some today and post them. I haven't posted any photos here. Any issues doing that?

    It would be cool if everyone for this thread would post one body side photo, one under the hood and one interior shot.
    Last edited by BBCFORD; 11-30-2014 at 12:14 PM.

  6. #6

    Default

    Glad to hear it! Posting pics here is pretty easy. If you hit the "go advanced" button, a little down the page there's a button, "manage attachments". Then another window opens. hit the "add files" button, find the photos on your computer and add each one. then the "upload photos" button, then they will appear in the lower left. Then hit the "insert inline" button, and they'll appear in your post.
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  7. #7

    Default

    Or while you're composing your post, whether quick reply or advanced, you can click on the Name:  upload.jpg
Views: 864
Size:  8.1 KB icon
    up in the tool bar, and upload directly from there.
    Cheers,
    Jeff Cook

    '85 GT Hatch, 5-speed T-Top, Eibachs, Konis, & ARE 5-Spokes ... '85 GT Vert, CFI/AOD, all factory...
    '79 Fairmont StaWag, 5.0, 62K original miles ... '04 Azure Blue 40th Anny Mach 1, 37K original miles...
    2012 F150 S-Crew 4x4 5.0 "Blue Coyote"... 65 coupe, 289 auto, Pony interior ... '67 coupe 6-cyl 4-speed ...
    '68 Vert, Mexican block 307 4-speed... '71 Datsun 510 ...
    And a 1-of-328 Deep Blue Pearl 2003 Marauder 4.6 DOHC, J-Mod, 4.10s and Lidio tune

  8. #8

    Default

    I have an '82 Cougar wagon also.

    These pictures are the best I can do since the car is currently up on jack stands slightly dismembered in a crowded garage.





    Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of the interior before I removing the dash and front seats and stuff. So the following two pictures are the best I have.



    Proud owner of the one and only Friggin' Futura

  9. #9

    Default

    That's a very clean Cougar wagon. I miss the days when these cars were more plentiful on the road. It looks to pretty rust free. I see your in southern CA. Everything up my way in PA is a rust nightmare, due to winter time and heavy spreading of road salt.

    I had to do the same thing with by 80 bird with interior pieces. They get so dry and brittle over time. I wish there was a good way to prevent the plastic from breaking down from the suns UV rays. My interior panels were so bad you could use your fingernails and just scrape into them, which then really makes them look bad. Your carpet doesn't seem to show any fading. If that an original carpet?

  10. #10

    Default

    I used to own one. Lemme see if I still have a pic. Yeah I still have a few

    1981 bird, burlap upholstery









  11. #11

    Default

    I've had 2 '80 XR-7's. Kinda want another, or to get one of them back.
    83 TC "Clone"
    85 Marquis LTS
    86 LTD Wagon

  12. #12

    Default

    I still own my 81 Cougar XR7. All original other than the wheels.






    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  13. #13

    Default

    I also had an '81 box top too but I have since sold that one. Sorry I don't have any other photos other than this one in my phone.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  14. #14

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BBCFORD View Post
    That's a very clean Cougar wagon. I miss the days when these cars were more plentiful on the road. It looks to pretty rust free. I see your in southern CA. Everything up my way in PA is a rust nightmare, due to winter time and heavy spreading of road salt.

    I had to do the same thing with by 80 bird with interior pieces. They get so dry and brittle over time. I wish there was a good way to prevent the plastic from breaking down from the suns UV rays. My interior panels were so bad you could use your fingernails and just scrape into them, which then really makes them look bad. Your carpet doesn't seem to show any fading. If that an original carpet?
    Heh heh. It looked good because the previous owner's father kept it in a garage for over 20 years and it only sat outside for about 9 years until I was able to move it into my garage after it sat outside for another year or two.

    The interior is apart due to some "interesting" rust issues.

    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...dy-in-Progress

    I will get back to this but at least it will rust much more slowly inside the garage. I need to pull the windshield and if I do that I might as well get a new windshield and use the old one for my '78 2dr Fairmont.
    Proud owner of the one and only Friggin' Futura

  15. #15

    Default

    Anyone else have a "boxtop" they wold like to share? I can't help but to love all these cars.

    I took a look at your thread Dean...covering the wagon... rust repair always stinks. I haven't ever tried POR15 but I can see its usefulness in certain cases.

  16. #16

    Default

    Couple pics of the two '80 XR-7's I had.



    83 TC "Clone"
    85 Marquis LTS
    86 LTD Wagon

  17. #17
    FEP Power Member LTDScott's Avatar
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    Oct 2004
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    San Diego, CA
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    2,182

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    I still say Ford used the box top Cougar as inspiration for the '99-'04 Mustang's tail lights.
    85 Ford LTD LX: Four eyes and Four doors

    EFI swap, AFR 165 heads, 5-speed conversion, Cobra brakes, etc.

  18. #18
    FEP Senior Member
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    Location
    Detroit,Mich
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    Default

    I'm a former owner, too. Having owned an '80 Silver Anniversary 'bird (which I regret selling and looking for another one), and an '82 Granada wagon.
    I call them "Alterna-foxes".

    Chuck

  19. #19

    Default

    Here is my '80. I need to update my thread on this. Not that you can tell but since that pic i've changed to a t-5 and put a performer intake and a 600 Edelbrock carb.
    Last edited by KevinD; 12-27-2014 at 03:34 PM.

  20. #20

    Default

    82 Town Landau, soon to transplant an 88 LSC 5.0 w/GT40 goodies in it, and 15x10 - 15x3.5 Centerlines

    Name:  t-bird82.JPG
Views: 776
Size:  37.3 KB
    Last edited by GDuncan; 12-29-2014 at 02:11 AM.

  21. #21

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by GDuncan View Post
    82 Town Landau, soon to transplant an 88 LSC 5.0 w/GT40 goodies in it, and 15x10 - 15x3.5 Centerlines

    Name:  t-bird82.JPG
Views: 776
Size:  37.3 KB
    Very cool! You should start a build thread!
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  22. #22

    Default

    I second a build thread...

    I wish I would have taken the time as I worked on mine from the start

  23. #23
    FEP Senior Member E2ZZGLX's Avatar
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    Her is ours...81 Town landau. Sn95 swap,lowered,Running 265/50/15 on 8's up front
    And 295/50/15 on 10's in the rear. Roller motor and 5-speed are nextAttachment 79598
    Current keepers...
    77 Cobra II

    80 Bobcat Sport
    82 GT-first new car is back home!
    85 ASC Coupe
    86 SVO
    86 Escort GT
    88 Ranger GT

  24. #24
    FEP Senior Member
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    Default

    Oh, that's just plain sexy.

    Chuck

  25. #25

    Default

    How much trouble did you have squeezing 295/50/15 on 10's in the rear? What backspacing and center-line does your rim use?
    You have a section width of about 12.2" and 26.7" diameter, based on a 9.5" rim (I was too lazy to do the math so used a chart that showed your size tires on a 9.5" rim)

    I have 275/60/15 tires on the back, but on a 8" rim.

    I'd love to go with 10's. But in my case, according to BF Goodrich...my T/A radials are only designed to be used on a 7.5-9.5" rim. My section width on a 8" rim is 11" wide, with 8.9" tread, and 28" tall.

    You managed to get another 1.2" width squeezed in there some how. Actually... more like 1.4" wider I believe, based on your 10" rim, as opposed to the chart I used showing them on 9.5".

    I'm looking for 9.5" rims but that really limits choices, 10" are so much better...lots of options. I'm really wanting old school type aluminum slots...or maybe Cragar SS wheels, since I also did a 5 lug conversion. Mine was done with Ranger axles on the rear and 87-93 Mustang front brakes up front.

    We should start a separate mods thread for the 80-82 boxy cars.
    Last edited by BBCFORD; 02-01-2015 at 11:18 AM.

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