Having some issues with my stock 1985 Cougar LS V6 charging system. Looking for ideas on what my be the problem.
When Accelerating and or at a speed around 40MPH or more my voltage gauge drops to around 10(On the digital dash gauge its one bar above the Very Low cutoff). I also get static interference coming thru the stereo speakers when the voltage is low like that. As soon as I take my foot off the gas/come to a stop/ coast etc, the voltage jumps up several notches to the normal level. I can see the dash lights dimming and brightening when in these stages as well. When I drove on the freeway at 65MPH for 10 miles the gauge stayed very low and the battery icon even started blinking at me. So it doesn't seem to be charging unless the car is idling or or the RPM's are low when driving at slower speeds.
A few weeks back before any of this was noticeable the battery died on me so I got a new one (after the store charged it they came back saying it had a bad cell). Car ran for 2 days and died again. At that time I put on a new external voltage regulator and new alternator. Since then its ran but I've noticed this voltage drop issue and the static interference thru the speakers. The stereo is aftermarket and has a older amp hooded up, none of which I installed, not sure how much if any that may have to do with it.
Can anyone that's changed the turn lens's on the front bumper(below headlights) tell me what changing them entails? Does the entire bumper need to come off the car? Would like to swap out my the existing orange for the clear/white lenses. Thanks
Its been quite some time since I posted, since then I've added to the fleet with a 83 Cougar LS 5.0. Its up too 132,000 miles but really well cared for, single owner had it until I bought it in 2011. Its completely stock with the 5.0 throttle body setup,not my preference for sure.
-Recently I've had problems with the engine dying for no apparent reason. It's happened at speeds of 65mph on the freeway and mostly 20-40mph when on city streets. It wont restart right away either. Typically I coast off to the side and it takes 5-10 minutes for it to start again. Ill try cranking it over 4 or 5 separate times and it if it doesn't work I let it sit a few minutes and try again. Needless to say, its a scary situation when it happen in a large city like I live in. I'm needing to use the car as my DD for a while since my other vehicle was totaled in an accident(drunk driver). Once it does restart it seems to run normal. My drive is only 12 miles one way too and from work so its not like the car is being run long hours before this happens. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Hello, I'm looking to replace a damaged cradle from an 1986 cougar. Does anyone know if other fox body cars use the same cradle or does it need to come from an 83-86 cougar/Tbird? Its a V-8, also not sure if a V6 cradle would be any different but assume it isn't?
Hello again. I havent posted much on here the past few years. I check in often and read allot of threads but havent had my car in my hands. Well all thats changed because I finally got my 86 cougar to Arizona! I've lived here the past five years while the cougars been stored in my hometown state of WI. In the last 5 years its went to cat Jam twice(05 and 06) but thats the extent of its roadtime.
This past summer my brother Matt who still lives in WI got the car into his shop and started the drivetrain upgrades. I bought an 85 t-bird as a parts car. The t-bird engine and trans were in great shape, but the body was a rust bucket. He replaced the C4 in my car for the AOD out of the Bird and installed a TransGo shiftkit. I'm really happy with that shiftkit, it really gives the AOD some much needed power. You can floor the gas and it will shift at 5500rpm for you instead of manually going through the gears. I had bought an 8.8 rear end years ago, that was installed along with new Ford 4:11 gears. From there we had to find a slightly shorter driveshaft. Once all that was finsihed we swaped the rack and pinion from the bird into the cougar. It made a world of difference! I can stear with my pinky now;) The engine block was originally out of an early 70's mustang. Thats never been gone through on our end because it had been overhauled shortly before I bought it. Its a strong runner with less than 50,000. However the AC was left off from the previous owners during the swap. I had to buy some new lines but the T-bird provided the guts of the AC conversion. So now the car has AC and a serpentine setup!
From the outside all that looks different are the Cobra R's but the drivetrain is completely overhauled. The cougar has allot more power with the 4:11's and with the AOD the engine isnt screaming at high speeds. Its really the best of both worlds.
My brother delivered the car to me over thanksgiving weekend. He drove it nearly 2000 miles from WI to Tucson AZ. Last weekend the dragstrip held a carshow/test and tune day. I posted a few pictures from that below.
My 86 cougar has been in storage back in WI for several years. My brother and I are getting it ready to make the drive down to AZ where I now live. He's installed an 8.8 rear end with 411 gears, AOD tranny with Transgo shift kit, new drive shaft, rack and pinion and so on.
The last major work to be done is getting the AC system up and running. It was originally a V6 car, but the engine was swapped for an early 70's 302 carb engine. The serpentine setup was left behind and so was the AC. I bought an 86 t-bird parts car that had the all the AC stuff(compressor, lines ect). Thats all been installed but the problem is the wiring isn't exactly like the 86 t bird. On the bird the AC compressor line was routed from the passenger side, on the cougar however he hasn't found a connection on either side. So if theres an v-6 cougar owners I'm hoping you can offer some insight as to where the AC Comp. line is routed from- passenger side, drivers side, is there a plug in?
If you have any questions please ask, I tried to repeat the questions he had when we talked earlier.
Im looking for the rectangular shaped clear lense covers that are located in the left and right front bumper. I have seen several cougars with these but havent been able to locate any myself. I have the ugly yellow lenses.
I have entertained selling it for a few years now. About 2 years ago I had it listed on here but didn't get much serious interest. 2 years later and I have to do something with one of my cars. Although I really want to keep this one it's the least practical for me. I would like a fellow member to have it but again I can't afford to keep it much longer, thats why I went with ebay off the bat.
It's no cougar but I figured some of you would enjoy. Below is a link of my brother and his 68 torino taking part in a burnout contest this past summer. He did the paint and body work on my black 86 cougar. After he finished that he slowly began picking away on this torino in his free time. Although it's street legal it's main objective is for the strip. It was a complete restoration starting with sand blasting of the entire car and then moving it onto a car rotisserie for the overhaul to begin.
Hi everyone, I've been patiently waiting to find me a cougar daily driver to go along with my other 2 cougars. One of my cars is across country in storage and the other is low miles so therefor I dont use them as my daily driver. I'v wanted something I wasnt afraid to drive everyday and worry about someone stealing, vandalizing ect. Tucson is very bad when it comes to theft. Well I stumbled across a pretty nice 85 ls. Its got 127,000 miles, v-8 and most the power options. The bodys in very good shape. It appears to have lived in az its whole life, no signs of rust anywhere from what I can tell. The underside is clean and dry. The interior looks to be in good condition. He has seat covers over all the seats so who knows what there really like. It's a nice gold color with tan interior. It has a few minor dings in the drivers door. Probably could be pushed out paintless dent repair style. The paint looks suprisingly good. The car was owned by an elderly man who was put into a nursing home. To pay for assisted living they took all his assets except the cougar. Soon after that he wasnt allowed to drive because of his condition so it's been sitting ever since december. As far as the guy I spoke to knows(the car is parked in a mechanics parking lot, he gets storage for it every month) there isnt anything mechanically wrong. He said the brakes could be replaced and it needs the usual tune up/oil change ect. The tires cant be to old, allot of tred left.
SO heres my question. What do I offer for this beast? If it doesnt need anything major(as it appears at this early stage) whats a fair price? I'm not even sure the old man will sell but then again what good is it doing him right now! My other thought is I dont want to low ball him and intern upset the guy resulting in him not wanting to sell.
Hi everyone, its been a while.... Just woundering if anyone is producing fitted car covers for the 83-86 cougars? And if not what's the next best thing? thanks- Dennis
Hi folks how’s everyone doing? I really haven’t been on the boards much since cat jam. I’ve been swamped with work and college. So anyways if you don’t know me, my name Is Dennis, I’m 21, a full time college student and also working 30 hours a week. I love the 80’s cougars and that’s why I own an 86 and this 85 xr-7. I’ve been thinking about selling the xr-7 because of school coasts, the fact that I’ve had to pay storage on both cougars and I didn’t think i would be doing that when I bought the xr-7. I’m also looking to upgrade my daily driver and could use the extra cash for its sake. So here’s the deal, I’m not trying to unload the car unless I can get what I have invested in it back again. The black cougar has a lot more sentimental value and I know more people would want the xr-7 anyway, so that’s why I may part with it. Now about the xr-7. It currently has less than 10,000 original miles; I think it’s at about 9,950. It’s in great original condition. Other than the wheels and car battery it’s TOTALLY original. I do have the original 10 hole wheels and tires(also original, weather cracked pretty bad tho haha). The only flaws are 1.paint chipping away on the windshield moldings (very minor, would be an easy fix)2. about a half inch scratch on the right rear quarter panel that’s minor yet noticeable since the rest of the car is so nice, and 3. The passenger side mirror had the paint scuffed on the outer edge courtesy of the shipping company that delivered the car to me last year. They’re also responsible for the scratch on the quarter panel. It’s basically brand new other than that. Paint is excellent; motor runs great, everything is super clean. I’m the third owner. It’s been stored its entire life. I’ve only put about 300 miles on the cougar in the year I’ve had it. I’ve had several offers from co-workers and friends here in Tucson, but I wanted to post it here first. I’m asking $7,500 for the car the way it is or $6,500 for the car without the cobra r’s. Either way the original wheels would be included. I wouldn’t be making any money on the car, the wheels and tires were $1,200 so that’s why I would ask more if they went with it. I assume most of you probably wouldn’t care to have those and that’s understood. Again I’ve had several friends and even my boss try to buy the car but I’m not sure I want to sell and I defiantly wanted to let you all get first dibs.
Hello everyone. I was woundering if anyone has anything planned for sunday the 23rd? I remember seeing someone talk about going to a drag strip possibly. I looked but couldn't find that thread so I'm not sure if that idea was just that, an idea. Last year I took off because I had to work that night. This year I have plenty of time so I'm open to doing things sunday. thanks- Dennis
