'80 XR-7: Take 2

[Chuck W]

Yep, I couldn't be without one evidently.

So I took a trip to Iowa yesterday to retrieve this one. Bought it from a member on the site.





It's not a Recaro car like the old one, but that's an easy remedy. The body is in better shape than the old car and with a little tune-up work, this one can be used as a driver until I get into the mods. It's a 255/C3(?) car I guess.

One interesting oddity. The car has power seats and door locks, but manual windows. I'm going to have to remedy that most likely. The only power item I like is the windows, the rest I can do without.

Will have the car at my place this weekend (at a buddy's at the moment) and I'll get deeper into it and get more pics.

[75coug]

Great job. I love it.

[eeprete]

cool, I remember mine like it was yesterday. Was also a 255 XR7.

[PaceFever79]

Sweet! I'm kinda diggin the split bench seat!

[Chuck W]

Sweet! I'm kinda diggin the split bench seat!

You want it? I don't.

[PaceFever79]

You want it? I don't.

Hah, it's just so rare, it might even be cool

[Chuck W]

Hah, it's just so rare, it might even be cool

Not going to cut it for me.

[CanyonGT]

cool i can't wait 2 see what you do to it.

[fox81]

Nice Cougar. It'll be one heck of a sleeper once you get done with it.

[Durango]

One interesting oddity. The car has power seats and door locks, but manual windows. I'm going to have to remedy that most likely. The only power item I like is the windows, the rest I can do without.

Yup - back from the days when you could go down the option list, picking just the ones you wanted - usually not having to purchase stupid packages...

Made for some interesting cars - like this one.

[Chuck W]

OK, well I got the car back to the house and had a chance to mess with it a bit and look things over. It has a build date of 1/80, and I think that makes it older than my other one was. It's it's 30th B-day this month

I found about 6 vac lines that were either broken or just disconnected, one of which was at the base of the carb. I reconnected that one, and gee...the car ran better. I'll need to dig around on the others.

Half the clamps on the coolant hoses weren't tightened down, so it's good I didn't have to drive it far to get it back to the house.

The brake shoes/pads need replaced and perhaps the front rotors. I'm not too sure how much I really want to put into the 4-lug brakes, so I may just replace pads/shoes and bleed it for the time being.

No real body rot aside from a couple questionable spots on the driver's rear wheel well. The paint is shot on the top, but really this thing is in much better shape than my old car. So far it looks like no body panels will need to be replaced due to rot.

Headliner is shot, and the backer is questionable due to mice. I imagine I'm going to find all kinds of fun when I pull that out. I'll probably just make a new backer out of ABS plastic.


Anyway, a more couple pics...

[75coug]

Thanks for the additional info. Very cool car.

[Chuck W]

Well, I took care of a couple things today.

I needed some wheels and tires to get me through until I 5-lug it, so I grabbed a set of 16" TC wheels and stuck them on. (It was getting dark, so the camera was adjusting...thus the crappy pics)





I also pulled down the nasty, mouse-house of a headliner backer. I needed to do that before I vacuumed the car, so I got that out of the way. It will be bare until I recover another.

Not too much else to report yet. Going to do a couple things to get it roadworthy for registration so I can have it mobile and usable. I'll be working on the swap mock-up once the weather decides to be nice for a longer period of time.

[Chuck W]

Been a bit busy, but I did get the car lowered last month.

The ride height has been a bit wonky, so I figured I'd just get into it quick and drop it down to try and level things out.

[75coug]

Thanks for the update. Keep 'em coming.

[jbishop]

this car is going to be awesome

[mustangracer84]

really a sweet car, that split bench would be pimp in my '84. I'm not too familiar with that era 'mercs, were they fox bodies? Those doors look just like mustang doors, if they are you could probably swap over some mustang door panels w/o the power accessories. I'm not too crazy about the dash and column shifter...but I could definately see a sweet build up of this...and those turbocoupe rims look like they belong on there!

[Chuck W]

really a sweet car, that split bench would be pimp in my '84. I'm not too familiar with that era 'mercs, were they fox bodies? Those doors look just like mustang doors, if they are you could probably swap over some mustang door panels w/o the power accessories. I'm not too crazy about the dash and column shifter...but I could definately see a sweet build up of this...and those turbocoupe rims look like they belong on there!

Yup, Fox chassis (108" w/b).

You want the split bench? It's not staying (nor is the column shift, or the snowflakes)

[mustangracer84]

sure do want that bench!

[arj]

There must be something wrong with me, since I'm starting to like the looks of the '80-'82 Cougar.

[mustangracer84]

There must be something wrong with me, since I'm starting to like the looks of the '80-'82 Cougar.

that and the thunderbird are both kinda forgotten foxes...personally I like them as they are completely different than the usual stuff...notta fairmont, mustang, just it's own beast.

[CanyonGT]

chuck what are your plan's? i wish i could of afforded it when i found it on craigs as a ford cougar. lol. great car can't wait to see what you do with cuz i know it's in good hand's.

[Chuck W]

The plans are for an SHO V6 and a T5. Have a couple other small projects to get out of the way before I work on stuffing that in there though.

Chassis and brakes will come up to at least the level of the old car, and the chassis and rest of the car will be brought up to speed as well.

[CanyonGT]

that would be dirrerent never seen that man glad you saved this.

[Forever]

I couldnt help but notice the T-bird in the garage ... what is going on with it?