1967 Mercury Cougar

[Huzer]

Well, but arms I received are for a Mustang. They strut rod mounts aren't the same. Nobody makes Cougar specific '67 LCAs anymore, so I will have to return these and order a set of '68. They changed the strut rods for '68, so I will have to order a set of '68+ strut rods. Not a huge ordeal, it's just more money. The '68s are a better functioning unit as they are adjustable, whereas the 67 are articulated. The bushings are the same at least, so I'm not out anything for the bushings, aa I'll just use those on the new rods.

The bad news? I have to disassemble the passenger side, as I'm not going to use different parts on different sides. Ugh.

[Shadowden]

That is too bad, but good you discovered the issue. Passenger side should be easy now since you've done it once already. Keep up the good work.

[Huzer]

I should have the LCAs tomorrow. Strut rods will arrive early next week. So I should have the front end back together by the end of next weekend. I went with '68 arms and '70 Mustang strut rods. The '70 rods are a simpler design.

[Huzer]

Wow, amazing how much better quality (and correct) parts fit. I should be able to get everything together tomorrow, with the exception of the strut rods and the master cylinder (ordered an adjustable pushrod designed for disc conversions). Once the pushrod arrives, I can install the master, bleed the brakes, and see how it feels. I'm still shooting for the end of next weekend to have it buttoned back together and ready for a test drive. If all feels good, I'll move on to the rear.

[RX-7 Chris]

How did it go?

[Huzer]

It went well! Now I need to do the master cylinder, pushrod, and strut rods.

[RX-7 Chris]

looks good

[Huzer]

Strut rods, sway bars, and endlinks are on. Now it's time for the master. I'm getting closer. Obviously, I'll have to get the car aligned, but it's getting closer to being driveable. So it took about a month, without a dedicated schedule, to get the front rebuilt. I haven't worked more than about a couple of hours during any given stretch. And I lost a couple of weeks waiting for replacement parts for things that either broke, or for the wrong parts being sent in the first place. (hard brake lines, correct control arms, camber bolts, strut rods, pushrod)

I'd say all in, I'm somewhere near 8 hours of garage time, and some of that includes having to redo a couple of things after I had them assembled. Obviously, I'm not breaking any speed records, but it's been a comfortable, non hurried pace. I'm going to go with this brake setup for now and see if I feel the need to upgrade to rear discs. I've read more than my fair share, and a lot of people are happy with a manual disc/drum setup. If it works out, that saves about $800 for springing for a power disc/disc setup.

[Shadowden]

Looks good as Chris said. Hopefully the driving experience is much improved.

[Huzer]

Well, life got in the way, so no work on the Cougar for a few days. I have the original master out. I need to make a silly little 1-2" line to plumb in the proportioning valve, to mount it in the spot I want it to go. It's tight by the distribution lock because of the steering column and the Z bar clutch rod (what a funky setup that is). For everything I do have, I don't have a tubing cutter, so I need to go pick one up. Once I get my line made, I'll get the proportioning valve in, bench bleed the master, install, then bleed the brakes. After that, it's off for an alignment. I bought a lock out kit for the camber bolts, and I've heard some places aren't too keen on doing an alignment with the lockouts. I'll have to search for an alignment place, I guess.

[Shadowden]

I don't understand the lockout kit (what it does), so am curious why an alignment shop would have an issue.

I've yet to try an alignment shop I really liked. Seems like everyone I have been to has a "close enough" attitude or "we only do oem specs" policy.

[Huzer]

The lower control arms aren't A arms, just a single arm with a single mounting point to the frame, Where it mounts to the frame, there is a square cutout. Instead of an eccentric bolt/washer combo, the lockout kit fits squarely in the stock square area preventing the alignment bolt from moving once alignment is set,

First picture is stock with the eccentric washer, the second is the the lockout installed.

[Shadowden]

Interesting!

[Huzer]

Time to regroup. The pushrod I bought doesn't fit, even thought it's supposed to work for the exact application I have. I have leaks in the system (proportioning valve at a minimum).

Not gonna lie, it's got me quite frustrated at this point. I should've bought a better kit. The Wilwood kit has everything for the hub, but that's it. Other kits had the master, premade lines, etc, etc. Live and learn. It's got me thinking that the level of project I want to put in the Cougar has decreased. I'm sure that once it's back together and functioning, I'll be happier. But it does have me thinking twice about other things I might do on the car.

I think I'm more of a tinkerer, and not a restoration type of guy. I like the Cougar, but I'm getting closer to seeing myself parting ways with it and picking up just a drive around fun car. Where's that Miata when I need it?

[Shadowden]

Those miatas are all over the place.

I would challenge you to finish the cougar though. I do understand upr mindset. I'm very similar. I like trouble free projects.

Simpler, but similar, I tried to put my garage back together and discovered that they did not do the drywall around my receptacles/switches as I had asked them (some of the cuts were too loose), so I still can't put on my plates...partly my fault for the cuts. Similar issue was me setting the boxes based on the marks on them...they are all too shallow, so need different ways to space them out. What I am fighting now is the feeling of settling for less than what I really want. Already have to a large extent.