new cougar, stripping out for track use!!!!

D

Dannys782

New user
Oct 3, 2011
6
0
Bulford
hi all I'm Danny,

just picked up a cougar from a lad from this website (Gav) and plan to striip it out completely and make a track day car out of it. so if anyoe is looking for dash part, carpets, seat or anything else i pull out of it while i strip it down then let me know what you want as soon as you can and i'll get it out of the car and to you.

also i could do with advice on what to do with the engine and any hints and tips people may have that will help.
 
hi danny welcome to the forum, there will be a few snapping your hand off for bits, as for engine mods, what size engine you got and has anything been done to it so far , (y)
 
hey, thanks fo the welcome

and so far all i've got is an ST220 throttle body but i havn't fitted it yet with a 2.5 V6 engine. looking at getting some 8mm ignition leads. got most of the drivers sidedash out already just wanting to leave the dials and essential controls really.
 
if it is purely going to be a track car, get rid of the precats and fit some racebit manifolds, also get rid of cat for decat pipe or sports cat, this will allow it to breath better and get more out of it if it has been lightened,

ps if you do remove the main cat let me know how much you want for it, :;)
 
i've already planned to replace the exhaust system with a straight through and cat back system, though i probably will get rid of the main cat at some point, just focusing on the dash nd everything for now, i was thinking get rid of the manifold completely an just put individual throttle bodies on, but then would have to put a hole in the bonnet.

thank fo the tipon the exhaust, that he first thing i'm doing after i strip it anyway.
 
U still need exhaust manifolds for ITB's Racebits for that one mate and Decat. the ITB's replace inlet manifolds (ill show u tomoz mate)
In reference to anyone wanting parts i can bring parts (size dependant) to the RR day on 30th Oct
 
I think he was refering to the inlet manifold, now that would be an interesting project we have been discusing on here for some time the virtues of a track based cougar and i'm sure there will be a few more people on here telling you the V6 is probably not the engine of choice blah blah, but honestly mate go for it and prove them wrong ;)
Throttle bodies would work but you will need 6 and a suitable manifold to mount them to etc. the only one I know is a Jenvey set up but it does cost about £2k not sure on the performance gains though.
If i recall we discused on here that the gear-box ratio's might not be ideal for a track based car either, the cougar being more a cruiser than a racer....however when you concider that the NOBLE M12 used a similar engine then it can be worked out.

Good luck
 
Behave Matt you can't even begin to compare the noble to the cougar, lighter car different ratios in the box oh and the small matter of twin turbos, proper driven wheels etc etc.

The cougar will make a half decent track car with a few choice mods power is fine, but you HAVE to fit better brakes bigger discs and callipers better quality discs and pads, better suspension not just lowering springs but wholesale change roll bars, dampers and springs.

Track day tyres will make a massive difference too.

JJ
 
You'd really want the car weighed after strip down to see what mass you actually had. That would allow calculation of spring and damper rates that would actually work. The Cougar's springs and dampers are intended for a 1.46 tonne car with 4 people and a full tank of petrol - which isn't the same as a track car which may weigh 300kg lighter, have one person, minimal fuel and no need for lots of suspension travel.

Adjustable anti-roll bars would be useful - which look the same as ordinary anti-roll bars but have several sets of holes drilled in them for you to bolt the drop links closer or further from the ARB bushes. A shorter radius (using the hole closest to the bushes - the pivot point of the ARB) gives you the stiffest set up, whilst the longer radius (hole furthest from the bushes) gives the softest set up. These would need to be experimented with (or rather, the balance between front and rear) on the track to get you to an overall set up that gave the car good balance.

A stiff front ARB and a soft rear ARB will give you a Vauxhall Vectra handling experience - where the car goes straight on regardless of what you do with the steering wheel. A soft front ARB and a stiff rear ARB will give you a Ford Orion experience, where you get a good view of where you've been every time you touch the steering. Obviously there's a balance to be struck, and this will be a bit different after lots of weight has been removed from various areas of the car.
 
JJ said:
Behave Matt you can't even begin to compare the noble to the cougar, lighter car different ratios in the box oh and the small matter of twin turbos, proper driven wheels etc etc.

The cougar will make a half decent track car with a few choice mods power is fine, but you HAVE to fit better brakes bigger discs and callipers better quality discs and pads, better suspension not just lowering springs but wholesale change roll bars, dampers and springs.

Track day tyres will make a massive difference too.

JJ
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I know mate but I was trying not to put him off with a think of a figure in pounds and add 4 zero's to the end senario :LOL: as we all know that is the case. As someone stated in a magazine once too, don't junk everything then wonder why the screen mists up and oh....you have no heater :LOL:
 
cheers for all the advice fella's and i know it's not gonna be cheap but i'm happy to hav a good crack at it andspend wht needs to be spent :p. i'm already pricing up new brake lines and discs before anything else, i do agree that brakes are important and then after that i'm goin to start looking at anti roll bars and struts braces etc, i wanthe body work, brake and suspension spot on before i start on the engine properly.

got 75% of a drivers side dash off if anyone needs one!!!!!
 
Dannys782 said:
cheers for all the advice fella's and i know it's not gonna be cheap but i'm happy to hav a good crack at it andspend wht needs to be spent :p. i'm already pricing up new brake lines and discs before anything else, i do agree that brakes are important and then after that i'm goin to start looking at anti roll bars and struts braces etc, i wanthe body work, brake and suspension spot on before i start on the engine properly.

got 75% of a drivers side dash off if anyone needs one!!!!!
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The switches ie headlight switches HVAC etc have been change to blue LED and have the white fascias made by Shagmonkey fitted and dash parts sprayed melina blue.

Let me no when uv finished with my Torx set mate.
 
hey guys, just an update,

I've got the driver's door panel and the glovebox out, trying to get the airbag out but not 100% how to do it on the passenger side, got the front 2 screws off but that it, startin on the passenger seat tomorrow then the rest of the panels. any tips on how to get it done easily guys?
 
Hi Danny, if it's available I'd take the headlamp level adjuster off you with 3 or 4 ins. of the wires attached if poss.

Cheers, Andy.
 
Dannys782 said:
hey guys, just an update,

I've got the driver's door panel and the glovebox out, trying to get the airbag out but not 100% how to do it on the passenger side, got the front 2 screws off but that it, startin on the passenger seat tomorrow then the rest of the panels. any tips on how to get it done easily guys?
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just remember to allow about 15 minutes after disconecting the battery for any initial charge to go, otherwise there is a chance you could set it off! Not sure how you remove it though.

Of interest which tracks are you planning to take it on, in case we are in the area and want to see the car going through its paces?
 
ok guys, got a lot of stuff stripped out now, both door cards and speakers ready to go on sale, as soon as i get the proper adaptor the stadard engine air filter will be ready to go, handbrake and gearstick plastic casing, partly sprayed blue ready to go. traction control panel ready to go, any offers or queries just ask guys!!!
 
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