Well Guys,
I have 2 teenage boys, and it is time to get them to be "car guys."
I will update this thread as we progress. Anyone wants to comment, great. If you want to just look, that's great as well.
If anyone has gone thru a '68 Cougar, well, I would like to talk to you, to get some pointers, and suggestions, and tricks.
Anyway, here is our starting platform, which I drove home last night.
Enjoy...

Dam she looks good. Looks like a solid car. Some of the best memoris I have from growing up was helping my dad build his cuda's and duster's. You should get a lot of quality hours with your boys working on that.

Theirs a older guy where I hunt that has a malibu chevelle all covered up in his barn with a 427 vette engine in it. I've been trying to buy it from him for years so me and my dad could fix it up.

Thanks, she seams to be very solid...and the guy had 4 15 x 7 alloy rims, that went with it.
Also, when I inspected the car, I pulled the air filter housing off, and found a 4 barrel under it, not the 2v, the sticker shows!

Looks nice :)
My first car at 16 was a 68 Cougar XR7
You a have 68 XR7 on your hands :cool:
I have had at least a half dozen cougars since.
Right now I am sitting on a 67 shell I have had for a long time.
Look were the fenders bolt on for rust bubbles it will start were seams are....pull the trunk mat out and look at the rear quarters there is a compartment there by the rear frame rails if its been mudded you will see the bondo.
Floor boards solid ?
Car is from Washington right ? It should not have much for rust.

Here is a place with some slick stuff.

http://critesrestoration.com/mustang.htm

Here is the place you need to go the guys can answer any question you might have.
http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/

I am not a member there but its a good place.

id say thats one hell of a starting point, nice lookin cougar

Doesn't the "2V" stand for 2 valves (per cylinder)?

Either way, the exterior of that car looks pretty damn nice!! Can't wait to hear that motor run (post videos :D)..should sound a lot like my '87 LSC!!

Looks nice :)
My first car at 16 was a 68 Cougar XR7
You a have 68 XR7 on your hands :cool:
I have had at least a half dozen cougars since.
Right now I am sitting on a 67 shell I have had for a long time.
Look were the fenders bolt on for rust bubbles it will start were seams are....pull the trunk mat out and look at the rear quarters there is a compartment there by the rear frame rails if its been mudded you will see the bondo.
Floor boards solid ?
Car is from Washington right ? It should not have much for rust.

Here is a place with some slick stuff.

http://critesrestoration.com/mustang.htm

Here is the place you need to go the guys can answer any question you might have.
http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/

I am not a member there but its a good place.

I will definatively be picking your brain!
Thanks for the references!
Thankfully, the rust is superficial, and there is no bondo, anywhere. This car has never been hit.

I will update this as significant changes take place, and I am high tech savy, with 2 teenage boys who are as well, so nice vids will be forthcoming, as we get them.

Doesn't the "2V" stand for 2 valves (per cylinder)?

Either way, the exterior of that car looks pretty damn nice!! Can't wait to hear that motor run (post videos :D)..should sound a lot like my '87 LSC!!

If it had the correct sticker for the car, it would say "4V".

Vids will be coming!!!

We cant wait!...:D:D:D:D:D

Doesn't the "2V" stand for 2 valves (per cylinder)?
2v=2 barrel carb 4v= 4 barrel carb....its the 60s my boy.

Bug me anytime Garbone your car looks like a older resto that stoped when they got to the Int.
If you dont mind me askin how much did it cost ?
The engine compartment was redone when the motor was out of the car.
Is it a 302 ?
What motor is on the stand ?
If your going to change motors a stroked windsor is the ticket. :cool:
Does it have the 8 inch rear ?

I have sooooo many parts its not funny.
I was just kickin around unloading all my Cougar stuff to fund a gen 2 project.
Talk nice to me and I might dig around and find a dash pad thats in good shape ;)

love it I just love that car you lucky sob

2v=2 barrel carb 4v= 4 barrel carb....its the 60s my boy.

Bug me anytime Garbone your car looks like a older resto that stoped when they got to the Int.
If you dont mind me askin how much did it cost ?
The engine compartment was redone when the motor was out of the car.
Is it a 302 ?
What motor is on the stand ?
If your going to change motors a stroked windsor is the ticket. :cool:
Does it have the 8 inch rear ?

I have sooooo many parts its not funny.
I was just kickin around unloading all my Cougar stuff to fund a gen 2 project.
Talk nice to me and I might dig around and find a dash pad thats in good shape ;)


Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh ....I think you just became my best friend!!!!

It is original paint and interior...some sort of special XR7 "gold" package...I havent decoded the door code yet.

The motor in the car is in fact a 4V 302.
The motor on the stand is a mustang 5L, poked 40 over...now it is 308ci.

Yes, it is an 8" diff...I will probably go with a 9" crate rear end, with disc brakes.

If you get a chance, please PM me with a list of stuff, that we may be able to do business on.

love it I just love that car you lucky sob

I'm lucky to have 2 teenage sons willing to hang with their old man!

2v=2 barrel carb 4v= 4 barrel carb....its the 60s my boy.


Sorry..I was born in the early 70s. :D

Sorry..I was born in the early 70s. :D

Don't worry, you're still old as hell to me. ;)

I'm lucky to have 2 teenage sons willing to hang with their old man!

I hope when my son is in his teens I will have the money for a poject like that and that my son will be willing to hang with me

Well, we got a little further...

another interior pic

lookin good keep the pics coming

Great car, love those year Cougars.

beautiful car. cant wait to see updates

Update!
We have the rear end re-sealed, and bearinged.
The trans has been re-sealed...and looked brand new inside(only 127K on the clock)
The rear springs, shocks, and u-bolts have all been updated, with a 1" drop.
The front has recieved the "Shelby Drop", with a coil out of the front springs...dropped too low, so I added a 3/4" insulator at the top.
Brakes have all been gone thru, and are ready for the street.
Rust has been chased as far as we are going to, at this point...only surface...only 2 small holes that got fixed.
The glass is finally in, after we installed the new headliner. We are ready to finish the interior.
All new door, and belt line weather stripping in installed, and all windows have been adjusted for a weather tight fit, with NO rattling!

It will be back on its wheels and tires, this weekend, and by the Saturday after tomorrow, it will see its first road trip, since I drove it home.

We are very jazzed. We will chase whatever arises this school year, and then jump into it again, in the spring.

The new wheels will get new skins in the next 2 weeks, so it will be functionally, mechanically sound...but wont look like much, until next spring when we paint it.

Thats it for now...

I didn't see if you searched the rear trunk along the sides where the fenders connect to the floor on up to the fender wells, as this is a favorite spot for rust in these cars. Project looks great, I did one with my sons and they are now grown up and better for the experience.

That Shelby Drop took it down ALOT !
I love the lower look though.

Its nice to see to boys out there working on it.

Nice work!

Now where's the motor pics :shifty::D

looking great
kinda sucks that next spring you will have to take it all apart
to paint it

Nice My son has a 68 parts car setting up in the field No motor or interior keep up the good work.

We re-modded the front and rear suspension...
It went up 3/4" in front, and down 1" in the rear...you guys will be amazed at my side - by - side shots of the Cougar, and the LS. Its virtually the same sized car. I will post them tonight.

As to rust areas, we will be chasing some of that this year, and yes we will tear everything down for paint. But, we put it all together, and to be honest, some of it has been done twice anyway...you know, "oops, gotta do that after all"...or..."oops, should have done that first"...you know the drill.

Nice work!

Now where's the motor pics :shifty::D


As soon as the car is back on the road, we will start back on the engine.
Just have to get a new driveshaft, and then it will have the go.
We need to finish the interior, then we will be able to actually drive it.

That Shelby Drop took it down ALOT !
I love the lower look though.

Its nice to see to boys out there working on it.

...and a full coil out of the new springs...it went down too far, and I have inserted some 3/4" insulators at the top...looks allot better. I also added 1" drop blocks to the rear and that went along way towards the right appearance...the pics will be up tomorrow.

My oldest finished the Dyna-mat yesterday, and we will be fitting the carpet tonight...its been great to have a common project to connect over. When I was his age, my dad worked in a different city, and I saw him on the weekends...bummer.

I didn't see if you searched the rear trunk along the sides where the fenders connect to the floor on up to the fender wells, as this is a favorite spot for rust in these cars. Project looks great, I did one with my sons and they are now grown up and better for the experience.

Yes, we did.
I have a small amount of cancer behind the right rear window corner, and on the same side down low, behind the wheel opening. about a "quarter" in size, and not eaten clear thru. It is in the area where the metal comes together, between the wheel tub, and the edge of the wheel opening.
It will get some sheetmetal patches when it comes time for body, and paint. In the mean time, we will chase it a bit, by making sure it doesnt get any worse.

Yes, we did.
I have a small amount of cancer behind the right rear window corner, and on the same side down low, behind the wheel opening. about a "quarter" in size, and not eaten clear thru. It is in the area where the metal comes together, between the wheel tub, and the edge of the wheel opening.
It will get some sheetmetal patches when it comes time for body, and paint. In the mean time, we will chase it a bit, by making sure it doesnt get any worse.
Howdy 'G'---
I got a '67 XR7GT from my Dad when it was about a year old. I pulled the 390 and put a 427 in. By the way, you KNOW you hafta put an FE engine in, don't ya? Check out 332-428 Ford FE engine forum. Check with me with any questions.
KenS from Ben's Place

...and a full coil out of the new springs...it went down too far, and I have inserted some 3/4" insulators at the top...looks allot better. I also added 1" drop blocks to the rear and that went along way towards the right appearance...the pics will be up tomorrow.

My oldest finished the Dyna-mat yesterday, and we will be fitting the carpet tonight...its been great to have a common project to connect over. When I was his age, my dad worked in a different city, and I saw him on the weekends...bummer.

Its hard to tell when the engine is out.
your going to have to wait untill the drive train is in to see were the suspension is going to wind up.
When the drive train is in...loosen everything then retighten to specs then you can set the ride height.
I would do that before painting the body, less chance if doing damage to new paint.

I always wanted to go this route.

http://www.rjays.com/Front_End/early-must-frt-end-01.htm

Spendy but nice for your car.
I might get it for the falcon.

The great thing about getting the boys out there is teaching what hard work can bring.
What it can accomplish and the feeling of pride which each step that is finished.
Have fun with it :)

Howdy 'G'---
I got a '67 XR7GT from my Dad when it was about a year old. I pulled the 390 and put a 427 in. By the way, you KNOW you hafta put an FE engine in, don't ya? Check out 332-428 Ford FE engine forum. Check with me with any questions.
KenS from Ben's Place

20+ years ago, I did a 450+hp 390, in a '66 Fairlane GTA...
One of my oldest friends is a car guy, and he keeps saying ...big block...big block...big block.....I am going to think about doing another BB for this, but for now, a 17yo is going to be driving it, and he will need some driving experience before we turn him loose on something like that!

Once the new 302(308-40 thou over) goes in, we will be putting around 300hp to the ground, and for now, that is enough...

...but...the new rear springs were made for the "E" code '68...:D

Its hard to tell when the engine is out.
your going to have to wait untill the drive train is in to see were the suspension is going to wind up.
When the drive train is in...loosen everything then retighten to specs then you can set the ride height.
I would do that before painting the body, less chance if doing damage to new paint.

I always wanted to go this route.

http://www.rjays.com/Front_End/early-must-frt-end-01.htm

Spendy but nice for your car.
I might get it for the falcon.

The great thing about getting the boys out there is teaching what hard work can bring.
What it can accomplish and the feeling of pride which each step that is finished.
Have fun with it :)

We are having a blast, and it is so addicting...I havent been to bed before 11, for the past 2 weeks.

Actually, the entire driveline is in, except for the new driveshaft I am getting for it...today!

Sorry for no pics, I was too busy working on the car...I promise tomorrow. It really amazes me how close the Cougar is to the LS, physically.

very nice... I dont think that is the orignial paint.. but great project car.. what cam and heads are planed for the 5.0... I would go with the compucam 2031, with the holley systemmax EFI intake and GT40P heads... that thing will move... somewhere around 350 crank HP!

GT40P heads don't work with all headers or manifolds, spark plugs are located different.


Cool project Garbone.

It is the original paint. It was the gold, with gold interior...we went black interior, but what the hey.
Original paint is cool, as there will be less in the way of a complete paint job.

Not sure on the top end yet...depends on budget.
What i do know, is, we will be doing a 4bbl induction.

The cam is a Comp Cams .512" lift, and 286Deg duration w/roller lifters. In a B&B lower end, this cam will sing from 2500 - 6K rpm, provided I add the right heads, and intake.

Here are the pics...

Ha!
We let the Cat out for a short prowl last night...we will get pics of it tomorrow, in the daylight.
Geoff(my 17yo) was so excited, I had to send him off to bed to get him to quit for the night...that was at 11!
Monday it gets new tranny tube connections, and on Tuesday, it goes in for alignment.
Once these 2 chores are done, we will tweek the engine tune, and drive it!

oops, its been several tomorrows, but here you go...the Cat is now a daily driver.
the things I've touched to get it on the road;
Tranny resealed
rear diff re-bearinged, and re-sealed
new drive shaft
new rear springs
new 1" drop blocks
new modified front springs
new brakes on all four corners
shelby drop mod, for front end
complete new/re-done interior(sans final upolstery)
new light switch
new drivers side grille(after sons best friend backed into it)
re-built the carb...man she runs nice now!

I am sure we will have lots of nights and weekends to keep this on the road!

Nice work

Car looks great, dude!

Bump for requested picture viewing...

Wow looks great!