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I bought my first Mercury Cougar when I was 14, sold it off when I was 16 in favor of a more reliable car. I've regretted it ever since. It was always in the back of my mind that I needed to pick up another one, though I wasn't actively looking. Just happened to stumble upon an identical Cougar to what I had in High School on marketplace, though out of my price range it had a picture of a parts car. I made a deal with the guy for $400 plus he had to help me load it. Got it home and immediately grabbed some wheels from the junkyard to get it rolling. Then it sat the last two months and I was just not willing to sink $$$ tons of money in it to make it right. After going to Cuba last week, I have a new outlook on the car. I'm going to build it cheap and keep it fun. **** anything else. Its not worth it to do any kind of high quality restoration, its just too rough. I grabbed a 2003 Suburban last night for $860 and I'm taking that 5.3 LS and the 4L60 to put in the Cougar. This morning I grabbed a cheap $400 MIG from HF and I started tackling the rusted floors.
I shot some quick video of the car and slight progress today.
Just knocking away at it. Got the drivers side pan in place. Also scored some nice seats out of an NC. Not really looking for fans or trying to be cool lol, no AMC for me.
I still lust after a 68 cougar. During the mustang hype of my high school years (80’s) I always admired the cougar as > Mustang. Sad story of me happening upon a clean rust free 68 last year in Mendocino on the side of the road. This car was cherry! Rust free OEM floor boards etc. The girl friend at the time gave me MAJOR attitude as to the distraction of our planned day. We had a blow out and I lost the car. Kicked her to the curb a year later. If the significant other can’t appreciate the passion we don’t have a good fit. May spend another 10-20 years looking for that unicorn.
On a brighter note post GF I grabbed a CLEAN 2003 Lightning. I was given a free 5.4 4V Ford GT dry sump engine to install in the truck. No GF to kill the dream this time around! Newest GF prospect loves the idea! Think I found my keeper.
Floor pans are done! That was a job. I used patches from the Suburban, old motorcycle fenders, and some sheet steel. The cars name is now "Patches". I'll have a video up soon.
1967 Cougar + LS Swap: Ratty Muscle Car
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