Cougar & Probe - Ford's Aussie Orphans?

[Dshibi]

I think I've seen a Cougar in the recent months with Lenso CF 18's on it... I can't remember the colour though...

I too am waiting for the weather to clear up! It's been a pain lately, and driving a black car is the worst.

Bodykits are expensive, and I'm not sure how easy to locate they are these days. I think Carmate sell a front bumper replacement, and you could probably source an Eibach kit from Ford at a hefty price. Any others (like mine) would have to be imported from either the US or the UK and that would depend on whether they're still made or not. Once you've sourced a kit, there's a little bit more money involved in getting them sprayed and installed too.

For some inspiration though, check out www.cougardb.com

Dan

[TheCougar]

ah ok thanks yeah been looking around think ill have to import one looks like i need to save up some more money!, Im going to lower her soon also. anyone get caught out in the hail last sunday?? i came very close to it, got hit with a few ice balls but no damage.

Jesse

[STANG_V6]

I got the 2nd last front spoiler from Ford for the Eibach, (so i'm told) so i don't like your chances for an Eibach kit, was $700 alone for an unpainted front spoiler.

[GotheProbe]

Hi All - jeez it's been a while since I've been on & haven't things changed!! Had to search for this small thread lol.
Anyway my Probe is still going strong & continue to love it. I thought I'd hop on to see what people were doing/recommending in regards to tyres. I sorted through the copious options last week and finally decided on the Traxxis MAV1's. So far I'm impressed with them in the dry but wet conditions will be the clincher. So many people told me the big brands are in name only so I decided on these middle of the range type tyre. They came 3rd in some Motor review last year so I figured they can't be all that bad. I looked at going bigger (18") but in the end I didn't want to start down that path to find I had to get other things adjusted also - wife would also have killed me if that was the case.
Anyway glad to see some of the name I remember are still around & hope all are well. Have a great Christmas & New Year - & be careful in those Probes/Coug's.
Cheers,
Ben (aka GotheProbe)

[DRU842]

Welcome back!
Went with the BF Goodrich option after the Pirelli P6000s, which were shot after 40,000km.
Grip is great but the thing I've really noticed is the lack of tyre noise compared to the Pirelli's, all in all very similar (& why wouldn't they be) to the OEM Michies.

[GotheProbe]

Mate I almost went the Goodrich option so interesting you've found them great..something to remember down the track. The hard thing about reading forum opinions is for everyone that loves a tyre someone else will hate them. Similarly the Traxxis tyres are a lot quieter than the previous set I had - I didn't think I would notice or care to be honest however after travelling quite a bit on the freeways it's noticeably quieter & makes for an improved, more enjoyable, ride.

[TheCougar]

hey guys thought i might chuck a pic up of my cougar, so here it is

[Dshibi]

Awesome car you got there! Does it have a sunroof too? I spy something up on the roof. (Yes, it is, I just read your signature!)

Any other plans in the making? I'd suggest to change the side indicators and probably lower it for the cosmetic side of things She looks real clean too!

Dan

[TheCougar]

yeah i want to get clear side indicators but still tryin to find them?, i went to the ford dealer and they told me to go to holden??! strange.. im droping it after christmas i dont want to be tight for cash threw the holidays. going to put a new sound system in it soon also,

Jesse

[Dshibi]

Ebay is your friend
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FORD-COUGAR-C...QQcmdZViewItem

or these...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FORD-ESCORT-M...QQcmdZViewItem

Commodore ones are the same shape, but they don't have the same clips to fit.

With the springs, make sure to get the right ones. I bought a set of Kings originally, but they didnt' fit the rear. Pedders do direct replacement (what I have) for the 01 model shape.

Dan

[TheCougar]

cheers for that got crystal clear on order, where abouts did u get your k&N air filter from???

Jesse

[Dshibi]

Hey Jesse,

Initially I bought a panel filter from www.ybfilters.co.uk. This filter is now in CougarBoy's car and it does pretty good.

I upgraded to a K&N AirCharger kit which is a pod instead, I bought mine from ebay, but ProfessorSabre sourced his from South Australia, a shop called CarToys www.cartoys.com.au I think is their address. Get a proper kit rather than just bolting a pod on, otherwise your engine warning light will come on in your dash.

Depends what you want. For just better airflow, get the panel filter, it cost me about $100AUD from YB Filters and arrived in about a week or so. Autobarn Penrith offered one to me for $120AUD and it would've taken about 2 months to get it!

If you want the whole pod thing, and the induction noise, then the Air Charger kit is the way to go, but can cost upwards from about $350AUD to $500AUD.

Dan

[TheCougar]

ah alright cheers fof that you a huge help dan, dose anyone know the best way to run a new wire from your battery to the boot i cant work out the best way to get threw the engine fire wall?

Jesse

[XR5-Boy]

hey dude,
get yourself onto the new edge cougar owners forum www.newcougar.org. There's a whole section for moving the battery to the boot as many of the guys and girls overseas have done it. The site is jam packed full of mods and ideas. Just register and the search field is your best friend

Some links
http://www.newcougar.org/forums/audi...ing-route.html
http://www.newcougar.org/forums/grou...tion-kits.html
http://www.newcougar.org/forums/audi...questions.html

[TheCougar]

hey thanks cougar_boy that site is great,
Dan ive decided to go with the K&N AirCharger kit im having troule finding one, is their any information you can give me to help me out? How much work is involved in installing it? you do it yourself or have a profesional do it?

Jesse

[Dshibi]

Hey Jesse,

You can try www.cartoys.com.au to help you out. They could have got one in for me if I wanted them to... I think they may have some on their shelves. They're in Adelaide and will post Australia-wide.

Otherwise a search on Ebay (particularly, Ebay-Motors) should turn up some options, but make sure they'll ship internationally and everything else. This is the sort of thing you're after: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/K-N-A...spagenameZWDVW

Installation isn't too hard, took a couple of hours, but the K&N kit comes with everything you need.

I see in your signature you have 'Demon eyes' listed - have you modified your headlights?

Dan

[TheCougar]

thanks for that appretiate it, yeah i have;




ive only got one side done at the moment i had to order another one in. As i was puting the left side in a broke the cathode so now i have to wait till the other one gets deliverd. I also got the clear side indercators they look so much better.

Jesse

[Dshibi]

Jesse,

That is very cool and very unique, especially in Oz! Way to go!

Keep us informed with your updates hey

Dan

[FumDuk]

Those headlights are insane, was I hard to do ?
Cost much ???
Love it

RicK

[TheCougar]

hey, the hardest part was probly trying toget the head lights apart i used this "How to" to help me out abit i couldnt work out if their were more screws i needed to take out before you pull them apart,(which there isnt)

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/how-...dlights-4.html
this one might help to
http://atomicinternet.homeip.net/tea...sp?RecordID=18

I didnt put them in the oven tho i just used screwdrivers and wedged it apart.
(you will need a torque bit to remeove the screws in the headlight)

the lights themself are cheep as $10.00 each you get them from:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/8CM-ROUND-COL...sid=p1638.m118

Be carefull with them they are Brittle and will break easy

Jesse

[FumDuk]

Thanks mate, I didn't think it would be that cheap :P
But knowing my luck.... I'll break the lights in the process and it will cost me a packet, lol
(but that wonts stop me :togo: )

[FumDuk]

Hey do you guys have ur Cougar pic's linked anywhere? I'd love to see em ...

[Dshibi]

http://www.cougardb.com/car.php?id=Abraxas
But the photos are old...

http://eurofordclub.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7404
Again, it's old.

I used to have more recent photos posted up on the dedicated EuroFordClub forums, but those have since been taken down :(

Dan

[FumDuk]

Ah, nice... Man I love these cars

[pcperfection]

Originally Posted by FumDuk

Hey do you guys have ur Cougar pic's linked anywhere? I'd love to see em ...

Hey FumDuk, good luck with your search, seems like Dan has covered most of the common issues with the Aussie Cougars, the trouble is as with any car you don't know what's lurking around the corner and with most mechanics not familiar with the workings on our cat's getting any kind of mechanical pre inspection usually only results in a fluids check-brakes-etc, just the very basics, things to watch for in Cougars with higher mileage would be IAC valve - struts & mounts, if the opportunity exists jump in the try all the buttons/switches for function also check the A/C as this can be a big ticket item to get repaired/replaced.
Some pic's here
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/OzzyCougar/Chippo40D
Cheers
Mark

[FumDuk]

Cheers Mark, I'm pretty mechanically minded and should be able to find any issues, and yeah, the guys here have pointed out common issues to beware of.
I'm glad I found this forum
I love your wheels, sweet as.

[TheCougar]

I built my own sub box today and put a 4.2 inch dvd player in today what you guys think?
Im going to put some apline splits in the front soon and change the backs over to alpine also.



would love to see what some of you other guys have done

Jesse

[Dshibi]

Wow, no photos of my interior since 2005! Sheesh... well, it's basically stock looking except the shortened gear stick and the screen. Kenwood 6.5" screen.



In the boot I just have Rockford 12" Sub in a box and an amp vertically mounted against the rear seats. I want to change my boot install soon though.

Jesse, how does your sub sound in that location? That's one of the place I'm considering for relocating my sub to as well.

Here's a recent (last year) photo of the car. But she looks about the same at the moment in any case, only the brakes are different.



Dan

[TheCougar]

I love the screen i wish i had of went with the bigger screen but i rushed into it, i bought the plastic bit that surrounds the screen it cost me 55 bucks i wish i had of just got the bigger screen and not worried about the boarder, ahwell i can always replace it, the sub sounds pretty good their im happy with it, i just need to change the speakers to get a better sound, you car looks great by the way, makes me want to save up and import a kit even more!!

Jesse

[FumDuk]

Hey Jesse, check out http://www.mp3car.com/
Thanks where I got my instiration for my old XY...