Thanks, I haven’t actually checked it yet, it’s been running perfect. It had a ballast resistor that I eliminated but I need to make sure it’s correct.
I installed the Autolite 24 plugs. They came highly recommend for the Cleveland. Ford installed these from the factory but will work with points and electronic ignition.
i'm turning my cougar into a hotrod. i lifted the front end 2" with coil spring spacers, i shackled up the rear suspension 2", i installed drag shocks on the front suspension, otherwise, my car is stock and has a original arizona body no rust.
@@wallysworkin823 well.... i am 53 years old, so it isn't old school to me. This is what all my buddies did to their 73 chevelles, olds cutlass supremes, and pontiac grand prix, and monte carlos back in the mid 1980's (when i was in high school) and earlier into the 1970's. I'm not installing the 1970's era sidepipes, However, i am painting the car black, and adding 1970's style white racing stripes down each side. everybody had racing stripes, pinstripes, or billboards on the sides of their cars in the 1970's.... and hood scoops
JUST REMEMBER you are working with a few disadvantages here. THIS COUGAR IS heavy, and will need an in crease of torque, which suggest a long tube 34" custom header made for it. The compression was dropped down on this model to 8.5 to 1. To use a bigger performance cam in this the compression will have to be raised up.
Thanks for the tips! The manifold definitely killed some low end torque. I’m looking for a dual plane. This engine was rebuilt but I have no idea what pistons they used or its compression, I’m assuming it’s a “stock” rebuild.
@@wallysworkin823 Single plane manifolds don't work well on street Clevelands. Unless you are racing, you want a dual plane. Someone commented how low the compression was in these engines. They don't breathe as well as people say without major modifications. The intake runners and intake valves are large; but the exhaust ports are very restrictive. Exhaust has to go over a hump and straight down. If you buy an engine is an air pump, this is where things go awry with the Cleveland. I had headers on my 72 cougar (2V heads) and hated them. The car is better suited a cruiser than hotrod. Do your homework. I've had several. They can be sweet, but there's always limitations. What always works on a 350 or 440 won't necessarily work on your Cleveland.
hello. i am in chandler arizona, i am restoring a 1973 mercury cougar xr7 convertible with a 351 cleveland. if you are going to replace your front coil springs, i have the w.c.c.c. coil spring removal tool made especially for this car, which is way different than the 67-70 cougars.
@@wallysworkin823 the rear suspension has 4 leafs in each leaf spring. the rear axle housing is mounted on top of the leaf springs. maybe the cheapest way to lower the rear is to remove the shortest lower leaf (overload leaf) in each leaf spring, that may lower the rear at least an inch, maybe more. PLUS, the lower leaf is not banded to the 3 other leafs, so you don't have to re-band the other 3 leafs. the shackles are very short, so i'm assuming that you can't make them any shorter. otherwise, you may have to completely change out the entire rear suspension to lower it.
I never had an overheating problem with any thermostat and never heard of what your doing, and I am that old timer, also that doesn't look like an ac car to me but I can't see everything.
It seemed to be common from the research I did online, but you now how online is. I think people are just using the wrong parts. It is an AC car, air worked great before it was taken apart.
Still binge watching the videos
You have inspired me to start on my sons project Chevy Luv
Good deal! I had a Luv in high school, always wanted to v8 swap it.
@@wallysworkin823 They are breeding at home have 1 good one and 2 parts cars . This one is a4x4 they are called an Isuzu KB 40 in Australia 🇦🇺
nice job don't forget that igniter 111 requires 12v minimum to work correctly I learned the hard way
Thanks, I haven’t actually checked it yet, it’s been running perfect. It had a ballast resistor that I eliminated but I need to make sure it’s correct.
I want see updates as you have them,my favorite body of cougar
Working on part 3 now. Should be up by the weekend.
Hi thanks for the video. I also have a 73' Cougar. I was wondering what are the right spark plugs. Do you please have a part #. Thank you.
I installed the Autolite 24 plugs. They came highly recommend for the Cleveland. Ford installed these from the factory but will work with points and electronic ignition.
Thank you very much.
i'm turning my cougar into a hotrod. i lifted the front end 2" with coil spring spacers, i shackled up the rear suspension 2", i installed drag shocks on the front suspension, otherwise, my car is stock and has a original arizona body no rust.
Sounds like you went old school, all you need is side pipes!
@@wallysworkin823 well.... i am 53 years old, so it isn't old school to me. This is what all my buddies did to their 73 chevelles, olds cutlass supremes, and pontiac grand prix, and monte carlos back in the mid 1980's (when i was in high school) and earlier into the 1970's. I'm not installing the 1970's era sidepipes, However, i am painting the car black, and adding 1970's style white racing stripes down each side. everybody had racing stripes, pinstripes, or billboards on the sides of their cars in the 1970's.... and hood scoops
JUST REMEMBER you are working with a few disadvantages here. THIS COUGAR IS heavy, and will need an in crease of torque, which suggest a long tube 34" custom header made for it. The compression was dropped down on this model to 8.5 to 1. To use a bigger performance cam in this the compression will have to be raised up.
Thanks for the tips! The manifold definitely killed some low end torque. I’m looking for a dual plane. This engine was rebuilt but I have no idea what pistons they used or its compression, I’m assuming it’s a “stock” rebuild.
@@wallysworkin823 Single plane manifolds don't work well on street Clevelands. Unless you are racing, you want a dual plane. Someone commented how low the compression was in these engines. They don't breathe as well as people say without major modifications. The intake runners and intake valves are large; but the exhaust ports are very restrictive. Exhaust has to go over a hump and straight down. If you buy an engine is an air pump, this is where things go awry with the Cleveland. I had headers on my 72 cougar (2V heads) and hated them. The car is better suited a cruiser than hotrod.
Do your homework. I've had several. They can be sweet, but there's always limitations. What always works on a 350 or 440 won't necessarily work on your Cleveland.
hello. i am in chandler arizona, i am restoring a 1973 mercury cougar xr7 convertible with a 351 cleveland. if you are going to replace your front coil springs, i have the w.c.c.c. coil spring removal tool made especially for this car, which is way different than the 67-70 cougars.
Thank you for letting me know. No plans to change the front just yet, I do want to lower the rear a little bit though.
@@wallysworkin823 the rear suspension has 4 leafs in each leaf spring. the rear axle housing is mounted on top of the leaf springs. maybe the cheapest way to lower the rear is to remove the shortest lower leaf (overload leaf) in each leaf spring, that may lower the rear at least an inch, maybe more. PLUS, the lower leaf is not banded to the 3 other leafs, so you don't have to re-band the other 3 leafs. the shackles are very short, so i'm assuming that you can't make them any shorter. otherwise, you may have to completely change out the entire rear suspension to lower it.
I never had an overheating problem with any thermostat and never heard of what your doing, and I am that old timer, also that doesn't look like an ac car to me but I can't see everything.
It seemed to be common from the research I did online, but you now how online is. I think people are just using the wrong parts. It is an AC car, air worked great before it was taken apart.