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Messages - tbirdsps

377
Lounge / Feds raid pot-laced-candy factory in Calif.
Holy !  You mean all that stuff I've been eatin' has mary-j-wanna it it?  No wonder my eyes are red all the time....I thought my 82 Cougar Wagon could only do 30 mph.:hick:
378
Lounge / OK let's get with the program
Actually California makes it a little difficult.  I personally like the inline 6 but if I were to change it out per Ca. I can install any engine of the same year available in the car model that year without a problem which are 2.3 four, 3.8 V6 or the 4.2 V8.

I can install a newer engine which is computer controlled and the limitation is that it has to function fully as designed i.e. All controls, sensors and dash lights (check engine) must function.  For example I could go with a 5.0 TPI from a 94 Mustang and it could be approved by a referee, who for me is in Lancaster.  But, from what I understand the emissions test must pass 1994 standards and can only be tested at the referee facility every two years.

For me the work alone is a deterent.  It's a bugger to transplant all the wiring harnesses the exhaust, O2 sensors etc. etc. etc. and make it work.  I'm pretty good at mechanical skills but that kind of work is a bit beyond my skill.  I could hire it out for $75 and hour.  Ouch!

There is no option to go with a crate engine and aftermarket sensors and controls like you see on "Overhaulin".  That show was filmed in Huntington Beach, Ca. and you'll notice the newer cars were never re-engined.  It's simply too hard.  California likes to tout cleaner air but they can't figure out to what standard to test to.  My car actually pollutes 37 time more that my 92 Ranger and it passes.

Just for some more info on customs.  The state allows 500 cars to be built per year.  You know the kind.  The type that Boyd Coddington builts where he starts with a custom chassis and builds a car from scratch.  All 500 titles were sold by January 3rd this year.  Those cars do not have to comply with emissions standards as the state simply doesn't believe that they'd actually be used on the street as most are above a quarter million dollars each.

Year One gets away with selling a brand new 57 Chevy because they use original firewall/cowl assemblys from 1957 thus retaining the 1957 GM serial numbers.

I know I go on.  I am happy with the low horsepower as I'm not a hot rodder myself.  And tires tend to last me 10 years before the rot.  I don't think I've ever replaced a bald tire.:D

Also in 2004 Ca. changed the emissions inspection law from 29 years or newer to 1976 and newer require emissions inspection.  So, mine will always require inspection unless I were to sell it to a person in a state that doesn't require inspection on older cars.
379
Body/Appearance/Interior / Suggestions please!
Some day you'll wish you had the wheel covers.  Hang on to them and the steel wheels.

I've witnessed quite a few folks ask owners at car shows if they still had the original wheels and covers.  I still have mine on the car.  They are unique today.  Now all you get is plastic. 

So, go for the new alloys but keep the old.
382
Lounge / OK let's get with the program
Unfortunately I have to deal with California emissions rules and none of those options are possible except for the valve cover.

The only other possibility is to transplant in the 4.2 liter V8 available that year.  Or the 3.8 V6 which I don't care for.
383
Drivetrain Tech / Strange...my car is sticking....
Bad news.  When my 82 did that, and my 85 did that and my daughter's 86 did that within a few months the trannys all needed overhaul.  In my case they are all C5s. 

It first started on cool mornings then they would do it more often than not and pretty soon they wouldn't go forward at all.  In all cases it's interesting that they all continued to work in reverse but it's hard to get around that way and the police frown on it.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention all three C5 had these symtoms at 101,000 to 105,000 miles.
384
Engine Tech / Engine surge-not miss
I'm isolating individual systems.  The first I've isolated is the EGR valve.  So far no surge but I'll know for sure later today when I get it all warmed up at lunch.  The original one failed at 22 years.  This one is only 3 years.  I think the diaphram may have a small hole alowing it to cycle open and close instead or remaining open above 2500 rpm.  I was too lazy last nite to test it with the vacuum tool so I just have the vacuum hose disconnected and plugged.

I checked the check valves and they all work.  I eliminated those last week.

I'll keep you all posted.
385
Engine Tech / Engine surge-not miss
A couple of weeks ago I replaced all the vacuum hoses for the emissions systems under the hood on my 82 Cougar with the 3.3 six.  I've verified that it's correct per the schematic (twice).

Now when at full operating temp. I feel a bit of a surge during steady speeds above 35 and below 65.  It's almost not noticable, it is slight.  Since my car is an 82 there is no computer controls at all.  I think they added computers controls at the same time they added 02sensors and I'm not sure what year that was.  My previous Cougar was an 85.  It didn't do this with the hoses routed wrong!  Maybe that's why they were routed wrong.

I was thinking of isolating the various individual systems individually for example disable the EGR and test,  then the distributer vacuum advance and test etc.

Good idea or do you all have the easy fix that you've already experienced?
386
Lounge / OK let's get with the program
Thanks for all the welcomes.  I'm glad there is a sense of humor here as I thought after I posted that I could of peee'd everyone off.

I bought the car in January 2003 when some crazed woman in Bakersfield totaled my son's car and I lent him my Ranger for a year.  My thought was to use it and throw it away after a year.  I ended up liking it and when the tranny went south I had it overhauled.  I couldn't part with it but it's been a pain over the last few years.  New carb, new smog pump, new vacuum hoses for the emissions controls, new high pressure line for the power steering, new headliner (home made and looks great by the way), took all the interior out and cleaned and painted the plastics, shampoo'd the carpet and discovered that the floorboards are like new,
,
Installed a new heater core which as you all know requires the dash to be removed.  Converted the A/C to run on 134a but have not serviced it yet as I haven't got a vacuum pump to vacuum the system down and leak check.  A few weeks ago I replaced the valve stem seals on the cylinder head as they were all broken.  I discovered the engine is not original as it had a TAM Engineering serial number attached.  I think they are out of buisness because I can't find any info on them except that they were licensed by Ford to remanufacture their engines.  They also sold engines to NAPA.  I was hoping to find out when it was sold to determine actual milage.  I know that the car had 99k in 1999 by the pile of receipts I got with the car.  I got tires of the 85 (RIP) Cougar standard that I retired to a wonderful salvage yard.

My plans are to leave it as is for now and maybe repaint at some point.  I have the aluminum air cleaner that's atop the screamin' 200 six with the 1bbl carb that produces.......88 hp.  It also has the optional vinyl seats!  Tilt, p/s, p/b, PDL and miles and miles of aluminum and stainless trim which is near impossible to find replacements for.

Now that the daytime temps are below 110* I drive it to work pretty much daily.

Thanks for the welcome and this forum and Cool Cats are great!  I've definately received more from these sites than I ever expected.  I used the 85 Cougar for 19 years and now the 82 along with my daughter's 86 T-bird.  And I'm so glad Chuck W is restoring the XR7 as I think it's a great car and reading those 25 pages was definately enjoyable.

Oh yea the hood emblem is missing.
387
Lounge / OK let's get with the program
Eric,

I've been looking at CoolCats for years now.  So much great help.  Now I've been looking here for quite a while too.

So, let's get with the program. :beatyoass:  1980-1982 T-Birds and Cougars are Fox bodies too.  The chassis' are pretty much identical to the 83-88.

Now not to shock anyone but I've got the 82 Cougar GS Station Wagon! :cougarsmily:  That's right...STATION WAGON and I must say I'm feeling a little left out.

Otherwise this is a great site.