Old project

[19Walt93]

I found this in my sent folder, I wrote it years ago to the man who bought this car in answer to his questions about it. It sounded like he thought I built it with a bunch of used stuff, which I did- after I rebuilt everything. The 2.8 turned a 1500cc Alpine with a 2 speed automatic into a snappy little ride.

Hi Dave,
The running gear was completely rebuilt when I installed it.The car was showing about 16800 miles at the time.
The engine came out of a 1978 Mustang,no idea what the mileage was.The block was bored,crank was turned,heads planed .030in,complete valve job with all new valves,new pistons,rod and main bearings,cam bearings,camshaft(Comp Cams 2nd biggest offering),lifters,timing gears,oil pump,water pump,Offenhauser Dual Port intake manifold and Holley 390 cfm 4 barrel carburetor.Joe sold Mark the headers which fit fine but he sent standard thread header bolts instead of metric because he thought they would stay tight better.I threw them away and got some metric stage 8 locking bolts that fit properly.The ignition is 1978 Ford Duraspark and I recurved the distributor.I found the world's last NOS lower water outlet and modified it to change the direction of the lower radiator hose to match.It doesn't leak but I chewed out the guy who welded it for me.I specifically asked to have it heliarced and he stick welded it so it doesn't look as nice.The radiator was recored as a 3 row instead of a single and the hose connections were relocated.The air cleaner is a V6 Mustang II part and I reworked the inlet duct.
The transmission came out of my daughter's 89 Mustang 4 cylinder.It's more than rugged enough for the car and the longer input shaft used in the 4 cylinder Mustang makes it engage the pilot bearing more completely than the V8 unit would.I replaced all the bearings,syncro blocker rings,and seals even though everything looked fine and it was working good when she totaled the car.I used the 78 Mustang bellhousing and turned the bearing retainer on the transmission down so it would mate up.The driveshaft was fabricated to my measurements by Race Metalsmith in WRJ.It uses standard Mustang u joints.The transmission mount is Fox body Mustang,1983-1993.
The rear end is an 8 inch Ford from the late 60s,it was a common rear end under V8 Mustangs,Falcons,Mavericks,Granadas,etc.The ratio is 3.00:1.That sounds like a high gear ratio but the 5 speed has a 3.95 low gear and the original low was about 2.40.2.40 x 3.89 =9.34 multiplication in low,3.95 x 3.00=11.85.That means it will accelerate from a stop better without losing top speed(or mileage if anyone cares).I replaced all the bearings and seals,the gears looked like new.The housing was fabricated by Currie Industries to fit under the Alpine and use the stock attaching points.
The electrical system was switched from 6 volt positive ground to 12/negative.The speedometer and tachometer were recalibrated to read correctly with the new combination and Most of the gauges were upgraded,I think I reused the gas gauge.The electric fuel pump is under the left rear floor and is fed power by an 89 Escort fuel pump relay located behind the left side of the dash.
Both gas tanks were steam cleaned and sealed with an epoxy inner coating.The fuel lines and brake lines are all new.I replaced the original single brake master cylinder with a dual system.If a fluid leak should ever develop there will still be brakes.The parking brake cables and throttle cable are from Lokar-they make a lot of street rod parts.
The rear brakes are 10 inch Ford drums,Mustang,Maverick,Granada,Fairlane,etc.I used a Summit Racing proportioning valve to reduce their effectiveness to match the Sunbeam brakes up front.It's under the hood.
The battery is in the trunk and the right side muffler occupies it's original spot.
The wheels are 14 x 6 Fox body Ford-Fairmont,Mustang,Zephyr,etc.
Joes kit helped but it was far from a bolt in.I had the engine in and out 10 times before I was done fitting things to suit me.The headers are good quality and fit well.The tierod sleeve he sent worked perfectly but I sent his transmission crossmember back and made my own.I was disgusted that he sent standard thread header bolts to go into metric holes.
The car is a blast to drive and I bet it would be even more fun with the top removed.I'm sure it would out run most of the Corvettes from the 1980s.
Let me know if you have more questions,
Walt

 

[19Walt93]

This car was another old project. It's an 81 Mercury Cougar sedan that had an 85hp 200 six and a C4 transmission. I bought it at Carlisle in 2007, thinking I'd build my daughter a hot rod she could put car seats in for the kids. She decided she didn't want it so I built it for myself. I pulled the engine out of my Mustang, overhaulled it and swapped ported E7TE heads for my GT40 heads. I used an 84-85 Musyang GT intake and shorty headers, too. I used the T5 from my son's 84 Tbird along with the 2 1/2" exhaust he had bent up for it, and the Bird's springs and sway bars and the 10 hole Mustang wheels he replaced with later 16 inchers.
We took in a Mercedes under cash for clunkers and I mounted the Mercedes emblem on the Cougar but ended up giving it to a neighbor who put it on his Honda.
I rebuilt and beefed up the C4 and it lives in my Ranger now.
I sold the Cougar to a guy from New Jersey and he brought it to Vt for the Sept 14 Hemmings cruise in, that's where this picture is from. It should be in the next Hemmings Motor News.