Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

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Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

July 04, 2010, 03:15:57 AM

EDIT: For a complete backstory on this car -since I've had it- (with pics) go here

And then to make sense of the first two lines of this post, go [thread=28463]here[/thread]

Well, the time is finally here.

Now that the AOd finally let go, and license and insurance have been dropped, the ol' cat can finally take a rest and get worked on properly.

I've done a lot of work to this car since I got it, probably somewhere in the $2500 range,(no, I'm serious). but now that it is to become my fun car, no longer a DD, there are a lot of other things I have in mind.

Here is what we are working with:

1988 Cougar LS, 3.8L V6, base model, mileage unknown due to multiple speedo changes (apparently somewhere over 200,000 though based on carfax report)

And here is some work that has already been done:

Rebuilt v6
New motor mounts
High torque starter
Electric fan
MSD coil and dis cap, Bosch platinum +2's
Custom CAI
Glasspack ler
New radiator, hoses, water pump, ps pump, alternator, fuel pump, and battery
Sway bar addition in rear, new bushings/links up front
New tires and brakes-both already toast, new u-joints
Headlights restored, and marker light/turn signal mod
Fog lights added
LED taillights, dome light
trunk pop switch and glove box light addition
JVC HD radio, jensen speakers, audiopipe 12" sub
Faux aluminum dash trim swap

Thats the majority of whats been done. Course there's always a couple of here and there's, and maybe some other things I forgot about too.

However, there are still many many many other things that need to be done. Most are simple wear and tear repairs that need to be done. Such as:
[LIST=1]

Working transmission. Working AOD with floor shift conversion installed 02-19-11
Tires.
Brakes. Fixed (for now...)
Front-end Alignment.
Front struts.
Broken taillights. Replaced 09-28-2010
Interior headliner has a couple holes.
Rear package tray carpet is worn out.
Interior carpet is not so great.
Window crank handle is broken on DS, and window arm tabs are broken on PS. Fixed 07-24-11
Window trim is rotted out fixed 12-27-11
DS door lock is broken. Fixed 07-24-11
Rear window chrome trim is gone.
Exterior paint has seen better days.
HUGE dent under PS quarter glass.
AC does not work. System completely removed, 08-24-10
Nor does the heater. Fixed, 10-29-10
Dash top is awful.
All front-end lights need to be de-yellowed/de-fogged/de-cracked. Again.
New dew wipes Installed 12-29-11
New seat belt sleeves

As my car was as base as they come, there are many things that need to be added. Seriously, the only option I have are power mirrors. That don't work.
[LIST=1]

(Working) Power mirrors.Fixed 01-08-11
Power door locks.
Power windows.
Full center console. Installed, 01-08-11
Underhood light. custom LED set complete 09-06-11
Underdash/floorboard lights. custom LED setup installed 11-15-11
Sunroof. Installed 03-10-12
Cupholders. Project started 07-24-11
Lighted sunvisors. Installed 01-08-11
Needs sport bucket seats
Aftermarket keyless entry (keyfob)

And others are things that just need to be upgraded:
[LIST=1]

Bigger sway bars.Installed 03-07-12
Bigger front discs.
Rear discs.
3.73 rear.
New exhaust/headers. Headers installed 03-31-11; Single 2.5" system installed; Thrush Welded ler 12-27-11
Turbine rim swap. Installed[/B/] finally
Full buttstuffog gauges. Installed 02-27-12(fully custom set designed for later, just have to get guages)
Racing seats?
Full LED conversion on ALL lights.
Sequential tails. Installed 03-09-11
Performance 15:1 steering rack.
TC Hood Installed 02/13/14
But the biggest, most time (and money) consuming, things that are going to be happening to this car are these:
[LIST=1]
T-5 going in soon
Split port heads + 4.2 internals.
MAF ECU conversion.
~350hp turbo setup
Forged internals and SC block... for more boost of course!

Yes, all of those can be done.(Don't worry, I've done the research)
No, none of those will be entirely practical or easy.(Again, done the research)
And yet, I still do not care!

3 things that WILL NOT be happening:
- 5-lug conversion (just don't want them)
- Leather and/or power seats.(can't stand them)
- 5.0, 2.3, 5.8, or any other engine swapping.(maybe someday, in another car)
There. Now we have the basic starting point of any project: What is wrong, and what are we going to do about it.

There is no particular order in which things will be happening.

Most of anything that happens during this project that dives into a deep technical subject will get its own thread in its respective forum category, and will be discussed there. When a particular project deserves this, a link to the corresponding thread will be provided, so that all discussion can happen there. This is to better facilitate any searches for particular information later on, and also to keep posts on this thread to its topic.

As items are knocked off the list, they I will be updating the thread, both in the title as a dated update, and on the lists above, as completion dates. All the items above will have links directed to the post(s)/thread(s) that they were involved in.

Hopefully when this project is completed, it will be a very original project. It won't be your nice clean stock interior rebuild, but it won't be ricey. It will be a v6 under the hood, but it won't be slow. I have decided to call this Project Black Panther. You'll see why soon. I hope that when this is all completed, it will be something that people will have to take a step back and say "woah... that's quite different". It will be something truly unique and something to be proud of. I realize there are far more practical solutions to some (if not all) of the work I'm going to be doing, but I don't mind that. This is going to be what it will be for a good reason.

This is my first project car. It's going to be a lot of work, and will no doubt be a long drawn out pain in the ass, but I hope to have fun with it. And I hope you guys can have some fun in it with me, and be able to help out along the way if I need it.

Updates will begin soon.:D

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #1 – July 04, 2010, 05:00:42 AM

You want power windows, and I want manual...hmmm.

I'd skip a sunroof....wish my Sport didn't have a piece of glass overhead.

I'd do all the mechanical stuff first, esp. the T5 swaparoo.
What's the use of having a pretty car that can't move?

Good luck!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #2 – July 04, 2010, 05:24:03 AM

It's a long redo, keep motivated and keep your goal in sight.
Good luck.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #3 – July 04, 2010, 06:50:19 AM

I wish my list was that short when I started.LOL. I agree with the above post,do the mechanical work first.Get it running how you want it then get busy on the rest (unless those "other" pieces show their face early).Headliner,lights,trim,etc....all super easy stuff,and if you really look around,cheap.Make a list on paper of what you have,what you need,and what you want (there IS a difference).Make a list of what you need to do.Check things off as you get them,and as progress is made.It lets you see progress.I did a lot to the Sport but because of the amount of work needed,I couldn't really see progress.The list helped me.Good luck,and as you know,pics will be required.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #4 – July 04, 2010, 09:16:51 AM

Now that's a project. What parts do you need to complete it? And of course we will need pics of the progress!

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #5 – July 04, 2010, 11:11:18 AM

hell i could sell ya some solid motor mounts that should fit your v6. they came off my SC.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #6 – July 06, 2010, 06:04:20 PM

You need a 5.0;)

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #7 – July 06, 2010, 06:23:50 PM

Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;327240

You want power windows, and I want manual...hmmm.

Considering a trade off?....

Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;327240

I'd do all the mechanical stuff first, esp. the T5 swaparoo.
What's the use of having a pretty car that can't move?

Quote from: sarjxxx;327232

There is no particular order in which things will be happening, but, the t-5 will be the first and most important thing to happen, since the car currently has no way to move itself.

Quote from: vinnietbird;327244

Make a list of what you need to do.Check things off as you get them,and as progress is made.It lets you see progress.I did a lot to the Sport but because of the amount of work needed,I couldn't really see progress.The list helped me.

Quote from: sarjxxx;327232

However, since we are looking at a considerable amount of time and money to accomplish such an undertaking, there are other things which require no money that can be accomplished now.
...
As items are knocked off the list, they I will be updating the thread, both in the title as a dated update, and on the lists above, as completion dates. All the items above will have links directed to the post(s)/thread(s) that they were involved in.

Come on guys, I'm on the ball!!:D

Quote from: Cougar8775;327265

hell i could sell ya some solid motor mounts that should fit your v6. they came off my SC.

Quote from: sarjxxx;327232

And here is some work that has already been done:

-Rebuilt v6 and new motor mounts

Got 'em bro!;)

Quote from: thunderjet302;327493

You need a 5.0;)

Quote from: sarjxxx;327232

3 things that WILL NOT be happening:

1. 5-lug conversion
2. Power seats.
3. 5.0, 2.3, 5.8, or any other engine swapping.

I knew this would be coming anyway:flip:

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #8 – July 06, 2010, 06:35:57 PM

I'm considering doing the tempo/topaz mirror trick. Has anyone here done it? If so can you provide me with a pic or two? Eric's site was more for fit and finish and didn't really show how it looks against the car.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #9 – July 07, 2010, 09:22:39 PM

Well, since Cougar Funds is still at rock bottom, I decided to do something that would cost absolutely no money, and try to work out the dent under the ps quarter glass.

As you can see, some of it came out, but I'm not done yet, I need better tools cause I just cant get to it good enough with a hammer now.

But it is much farther out than it was before...

On another note, I went by the transmission shop today. Since I am unsure of whether or not I am mechanically qualified to completely take on the swap out by myself, I went to see if he would handle all the technical stuff after I put pedals in and pulled the AOd. Well, thats all fine and dandy, and for roughly $300 which is about what I was expecting anyway. Idk, I might do it myself anyway if you guys can help me out here and there...

But thats beside the piont. When I was explaining to him what would be going on, I told him it was going into a fox body cougar. I explained it had a AOd, and he says,

"wait, what year did you say that was?"

88.

"well thats not a fox body!"

I was like WTF???

"that after they switched to the single headlights right?"

...well yeah...

"well thats not fox body. The true fox bodies had four headlights up front":hick::hick:

GD'd four-eyes:flip:

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #10 – July 08, 2010, 07:47:12 PM

Ummm ... not to make you mad at me ... 'cause I bruise easily ... but I am told that "technically" it's "fox chassis" and not "fox body" ... but either way you like it is fine with me ... 'cause you're probably bigger than me ... and hey, I think "fox body" sounds better anyway.

It's cool to tell people that you got a "fox body."

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #11 – July 08, 2010, 10:31:56 PM

Quote from: ShowBoy;327715

... but I am told that "technically" it's "fox chassis" and not "fox body" ...

...well that's true though :(

Btw, I am bigger than you:D

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #12 – July 09, 2010, 06:45:04 PM

The body is the chassis...

Just so you know, the 4.2 is not worth it. I have driven two f 150's with the 4.2 and around 100,000 miles. No balls. Freeway speeds with a flat bed and no weight = 4th gear. 5th the truck can barely maintain speed with no hill. Every small grade turns into a down shift and is pointless.

I liked the 3.8 cars that I have had, and they are adequate for around town. I think a t-5 would make them feel much peppier. If I ever drove a sefi instead of cfi v-6, I might be able to see where your coming from.

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #13 – July 09, 2010, 06:45:43 PM

Project Black Panther: 1988 3.8L Cougar LS

Reply #14 – July 09, 2010, 08:49:19 PM

Yes, I did not have a 4.2 in mind at all. Even with a little hp gain, it probably gets less torque due to the increased stroke range, which is why you said it sucked on hills...

Besides, I'm proud of my 3.8 anyway. I plan to get custom valve covers with "3.8" etched in there...along with a few other things...

And yes, you are right. The MFI and SEFI are definitely smoother and more powerful than the CFI 3.8s. I own one of each of the direct injected engines...my 88 is the MFI speed density setup with a dizzy, and my 96 is SEFI with MAF and DIS. The 96 definitely feels more powerful, (but the extra 700# on the MN-12 doesn't help it get out...)

However, my friend has an 84 bird with the CFI 3.8 and I have driven it. The engine has undergone almost a complete rebuild, so its on par with mine mechanically. However, the get-up-and-go is just not there compared to my 88. I think this is due in part to the earlier heads being so inefficient.

My plan for the 88 now, though, is to do the split port head swap, which produced a drastic increase in power, (from 140-190bhp), but to throw a 4 barrel carb on there instead of going SEFI and MAF. This is in part to significantly reduce the amount of bs involved in ECU and wire swapping, but also just for the plain cool factor that goes along with it. I know of no one with a carbed 3.8. (yes, I know they did exist, but don't know of anyone who still has one).

Also, it will be much easier to install the supercharger late on this way. This is partly why I'm going with the t-5 swap also, just do give it that added feel, partly because its so much more fun to pass people with, and partly because I don't know of anyone who has ever had a v6 fox cougar or tbird with one in it, and I would love to be the first.

This is going to be one serious Frankenstein mahine.