What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

I have the cubby/lighter surround recently arrived from across the pond; you will know (which I didn't when I ordered it) that although LHD and RHD Cougars have the ashtray to the left and the socket to the right, opposite sides are tapered due to the way the centre console twists to face the driver.
Once I've taken measurements from it for my custom designs it will be available for a LHD owner.
 
Norman, I can honestly say I'd never noticed any difference when fitting the previous ones I'd bought from the US.

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Thanks for the offer but I've got one on the way. (y)
 
That reminds me, I really must double-check when Wildcat and Tiger are both due...

...Hmmm...


...Well I hope that subframe is actually okay because Wildcat is due on the 1st of July. Oops. Tiger's due on the 1st of August, so if there's any chance of them both failing (which I sincerely doubt) I have a month's grace to get Wildcat's underside sorted.
 
Well, I had a hunch that the difference in performance between KRM and KGV was more than just 'character'. Fortunately, Tony had given them both a drive and confirmed a dramatic difference between the two - 'Needs some work' I think were his words. Today I believe I may have found an answer. Low torque at low revs AND no 'kick' at 3,500 rpm both seemed IMRC related to me. So I had a little poke around, I wasn't even sure if the secondaries were wired in fact.

Well, an initial look inside the IMRC itself seemed to show it had not been opened and therefore I will be looking to check and properly heatsink the transistor at some point. However, a simple test of applying power to the motor showed something further on was jammed. Also, when trying to apply 12V to the motor, I found that I had to go a long way to get an earth. IMRC case ? No. Mounting bolts ? No. Engine block - NO ! I had to go right back to the battery terminals - further investigation required.

So I decided to have a look under the throttle body and around the IMRC linkage. Having gained some access I could immediately see something odd with the linkage. Look carefully at each picture before moving on to the next - a keen eye may spot it on the first pic. If you can't see it on the last pic, an appointment at Specsavers is recommended.

Now this is good - not only is the rear bush broken and the link arm dropped out, but the link arm is jammed under the rear secondary actuator that attaches to the cable and the rear actuator is being held in an intermediate position. Therefore both are suffering from 'Grand Old Duke of York syndrome', neither open nor closed and not even the same as each other in this case...

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Now where the heck did I put those spare plastic bushes ?
 
I could not find the spare plastic bushes anywhere. But all is not lost, I have a spare engine after all ! Let me tell you at this point, I found it nigh on impossible to remove either one of them. In the end, having of course first removed the linkage, a 5mm 1/4" square drive socket did the trick, but needed much fiddling and a cloth underneath just in case it fell. Here is the correct setup with plastic bush and linkage back in place :-

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Please note the spring has also been refitted - If you compare to the 2nd photo below, it seems to have jumped over the cheek of the plastic guide at the end of the spring. Its back for now, but I don't know how long for.


Here is the computer slot bracket, complete with sticky tape that I used to fit it :-

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...and here is the next problem that might have led to the issue. Looks like I am going to be revisiting this to replace the old and fragile cable protection at some point. For now I'll just heave it up out of the way of the linkage with a few tie-wraps :-

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Claus has gone and passed his mot again this morning.
Chuffed to bits!!

Minor advisories, slight pitting on front brake discs.
Front tyres worn on insides (already knew about) and a nail in one of the rears (had no idea) and its out of the repair area. So 3 tyres needed, wheels need a refurb too so debating whether to get another set of used wheels, or get these done (I do like them)

He also mentioned it's a good job I'm keeping up with the undersealing as the metal plating used to patch up the sills was too thin. Car is still safe but will rot quicker if not kept an eye on.
 
Great news mate. I think that advisory for discs has been there as long as I have known the car as I don't ever remember putting any on. Would be great to have those wheels redone - the nearside ones I scraped down a Cornish kerb about two weeks after fitting them AAARRRGGGHH:cautious:

As for the sills I guess it's had several sets of amateur repair with whatever materials were to hand (galavanised conveyor belt covers and stainless cooker hood if memory serves), so I guess it will only last so long. It shouldn't rot out from the inside though as the sponge has been removed and a good coating of Bilt-Hamber applied both inside and out.

Great she's still on the road though, it's amazing its over five years now since I first went to buy it and only did that because it had tax and MOT - it was that or a Rover 45!
 
I'll make sure she stays on the road as long as humanly possible Matt.
I always said I'd never sell her (same with my last one which sadly died of severe rot) as I have no desire to drive anything else.
I like the look of the Cougar even more now than I did in 1998, I think they've aged really well.
 
I want to know how he knows that the metal in the outer sills is too thin. Seems a very odd diagnosis with absolutely no basis on data, unless he dismantled the inside of the car, or went along them with a tapping hammer? Nevermind, you've got the ticket so the car is judged safe and that's all that matters. Well done in keeping her in shape!

Funny that Matt and I both ended up here after we both reached a Rover/Ford crossroads, (though in my case it was a 25/ZR). Can't speak for Matt but, without exaggeration, meeting Mako, Tiger, Wildcat and all you reprobates has significantly changed the course of my life. How about that?

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Anyway... on topic for me, that silver trim which shaped and adhered so well (it really did) did not enjoy travelling along on my private test track at 90 while chasing down an errant-and-slightly-lunatic Tracey piloting Tiger and who was looking for three figures on the clock*. Some of you - such as John - will have seen it lifted at Gaydon.

The good thing is that the adhesive is two strips at the edges (actually that's probably the issue) so there's room to run a strip of high-temperature 3M gel tape in the middle. This is the stuff that was designed to hold glass fronts on cooker doors, so I can guarantee it works.

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*I am not at liberty to say whether she did or not.
 
Mako said:
Funny that Matt and I both ended up here after we both reached a Rover/Ford crossroads, (though in my case it was a 25/ZR). Can't speak for Matt but, without exaggeration, meeting Mako, Tiger, Wildcat and all you reprobates has significantly changed the course of my life. How about that?
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I would agree absolutely. I had actually come from a blown-up Mk3 Mondy, but in my local paper the two nearest cars to me were the Cougar and a 45, and I just happened to be able to go and see the Cougar first. Plus as I'd owned Probes before it seemed the natural choice. How I laughed when the part-time car dealer selling it told me they came with 205 front and 225 rear tyres from the factory:LOL:
 
Those tyre sizes wouldn't even make sense on a FWD car. Excess grip at the back is going to cause massive and unpredicatable understeer under braking, where the weight transfer is throwing everything up there.

Anyway, I'm off-topic.

Back in 2011 I was looking at a lovely little ZR (private sale, £1100) and Mako (back-street dealer, £1600) at the same time. Mako's dealer got back to my request first, so we went over there and I got T to take her out for a run before I had a play. The rest, as they say, is history.

Just did an oil check on both of mine (again) and the levels haven't changed after the 100 miles to Gaydon and back. I do owe Wildcat a change though. She's fine, but with her MOT coming up, it's the best defence against emissions problems.
 
Mako said:
Those tyre sizes wouldn't even make sense on a FWD car. Excess grip at the back is going to cause massive and unpredicatable understeer under braking, where the weight transfer is throwing everything up there.
Click to expand...

:LOL: car dealers eh?

- - - Updated - - -

Mako said:
Iwithout exaggeration, meeting Mako, Tiger, Wildcat and all you reprobates has significantly changed the course of my life. How about that?
Click to expand...

Just went back and found my first post:giggle:

Going to look at a V6 Cougar tomorrow - no preconceptions, it's just after my Mondeo Ghia's recent demise I need something comfortable and good at long distances for not much money, and this one is close by and has tax and mot!
I've previously owned both 2 and 2.5 litre Probes and it would be nice to get back into a coupe. I would class myself as a Ford man having also had sporty Escorts in the days when when they didnt command classic car prices ​
:eek:
Looking forward to exploring the forum, I'll keep you informed.

Been a while since then!:cool:
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