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Topic: Newbee here, need some advise (Read 2377 times) previous topic - next topic

Newbee here, need some advise

Hey guys.. I'm new to the world of Cougars, but not to cars and could use some advise..  My father-in-law has an '87 Cougar he would like to fix up for his son to use as his first car..  I'm gonna be honest, it needs work.. But its not hopeless.. It has a bonestock 3.8l v-6 with 143,000 miles.. Has been sitting for like a year.. I'm going to do the mechanics & he is going to do the body..
Anyway, its gonna be a driver-car.. Got a budget of $1,000..  Basically, I would like to wake it up a little bit for the kid so I was just wondering if anyone makes an exhaust kit for this motor.. set of headers??  I doubt it, but wanted to look into it anyway..  It also has a throttle-body injection.. Anyone make a cold-air kit for this type??  That's probably the extent of the mods I woulda liked to make..
any help or advise appreciated..

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #1 –
For the exhaust you can use an 88 cougar or tbird dual exhaust setup. I did this on my 3.8 and it sounds good. Did almost nothing performance wise but I just wanted the sound. The pipes cost about $150 and then I used dynomax ultra flow lers. As far as the intake they don't make anything but you can use a K&N and try to make you own intake using a turbo coupe hood. I was going to do this on my car but I decided it would be too much work and I probably would get no difference out of the engine.

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #2 –
just get the car a good tune up, and make sure its solid, if its a first car, the 3.8L as it sits will be a great learning tool, i appreciate my car more for what it is because its slow and not because its fast
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #3 –
Gears. That's the cheapest (and one of the only) way to wake up your CFI 3.8. A set of 3.73's would give the car a much-needed kick in the arse. Other than that you can use just about any aftermarket air cleaner since your throttle body has the same top dimensions as a standard 4-bbl carb. Stock Mustang 3.8 headers will fit and may free up a horsepower or two, and perhaps a custom 2" dual exhaust setup (2-1/4" would be overkill for a stock 3.8 and may cost you low end power).

If you want to open up the engine I know you can get aftermarket cams for the 3.8, and you can port & polish the heads, but I don't know how effective this would be on a CFI 3.8.

Welcome to the Fox Cougar/T-Bird family :D
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #4 –
2.25 wouldnt be overkill as long as you run cats and some super turbo lers
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #5 –
I'd first address the brakes on the car. Make sure everything is up to snuff - the kid's going to have to stop at red lights and whatnot!

Outside of the standard fluids/belts/hoses replacement, I'd do all new engine sensors as well.  I list all the part numbers for the 3.8 on my webpage, so check there for them.

You can get cheaply priced shocks and struts and install those too. 

A brand new exhaust is a must - replace the entire thing. The catalytic converter is ancient I bet. Keep the exhaust manifolds that are on the car - they'll do the trick for now.

I think going stock for right now would be enough for the kid.  You did say it's his first car - that's a wake up as it is.

Chris
"I put my foot in my tank and I began to roll." Chuck Berry

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #6 –
Hey guys.. thanks alot for all the responses..    I already made a list of the "must-do's".. plugs,wires,full tune up..  front & rear brakes.. Shocks,struts, Already did a tranny service, got new belts, fresh oil, gonna do the u-joints, fresh gear oil, wheel bearings..Already got new rubber.. Its got a fairly new ler, and the exhaust looks decent.. I'm gonna look into the dual setup & see what it will cost.. If not, just put on a different ler to give it a little bit more of an aggressive tone.. Like a thrush turbo or something..  I told my father in law about the gears, but he doesnt wanna go that crazy.. I told him, it would "feel" like he added 50 horses to it, but he doesnt wanna bother.. And we gotta change the oil pan gasket b/c its leaking.. Needs inner & outer tie rods, gotta inspect the ball joints, and I noticied that the rubber on the back-side of the harmonic balancer was a little chewed up and starting to come out, so we gotta price a new balancer..

Its probably just gonna stay stock.. Just make it run better & look better. We already tore off the vinyl top and are starting on the body work.. Thinking about painting it white with 2 black racing stripes.. (b/c we already got the paint sitting here to use.. lol)
thanks again

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #7 –
oh, ya know what.. anyone know where i can get aftermarket headlights & taillights.. they are cracked & need to be replaced.. Would like something like the Ultra-clear lenses they make for the Mustangs.. (I know b/c I own a mustang). Just dont know if anyone makes them for the cougars..

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #8 –
There's no such thing as a new harmonic balancer.  You'll have to go to a salvage yard.

If you do find a source for a brand new one, please let me know.

Chris
"I put my foot in my tank and I began to roll." Chuck Berry

Re: Newbee here, need some advise

Reply #9 –
For the tail lights you can do this
http://www.coolcats.net/stockmod/modified/taillights/index.html
For the headlights you can get new ones from ford but they are very expensive. The guy that owned the car before me paid $252 for new headlights. There are ways to clean up the lights and make them look new again but I am not sure how to do that.