[jetenginedoctor]

Howdy all. . . .

My father has a '94 4.6L Cougar that he's had since 1995 that I'm thinking about "buying" from him. I'm reasonably sure the engine is shot thanks to him driving it for a couple years with the PCV/idle motor inlet T caved in and sucking nasty dirty NW Kansas air. I found the unmetered/filthy air leak a year or so ago and fixed it with new parts, but he says that the fuel economy and engine oil consumption have come to the point that he doesn't like to drive the car. I know I can grab a used 'bird/Cougar/C-Vic engine to toss in there for $400-$500 and get the car back to where it ought to be given its age and miles on the odometer. My question is aimed toward you guys that really know these cars, whether you think it'd be worth buying/fixing for myself, whether it'd be smarter to swap in a later PI engine (and what I'd need to complete the swap,) etc. I've always liked those cars, and buying this one cheap and turning it into a daily apeals to me for a number of reasons. I just wonder if you learned ones think I'd be worth the time and money, or be a matter of pissing in the wind.

Thanks in advance. . .
BK

[jetenginedoctor]

Heh, I guess from the lack of responses, I should take that as a "NO." :) I think this car would be awesome with a GM LS1 swap.

[Bradone]

I am a TBird driver and had a '97 Anniversary Cougar while I was looking for the 5.0. Strong, fun car. If you like the car, keep it. Chances are strong it is not an engine problem. If it is still easy to fix. My kids call mine the "Fatman's Mustang". I do ride in soft leather comfort. You get hooked on a MN12 chances are you will never lose that.

Have fun
Brad

[jetenginedoctor]

Funny how the mention of an LS1 swap is what it takes to get a response. . .

Seriously, I'm tempted to grab the car from Dad, toss in a PI engine from a Mustang or whatever, and get to driving. Barring that, an LS1 really does tempt me.

[cgrey8]

...about to show my ignorance here, but what is a PI engine?

[jetenginedoctor]

"Performance Improved." Evidently, Ford got smart at one point or another and improved the flow of the cylinder heads, upped the mechanical CR, changed the intake, cams, etc. I'm not a modular motor type of guy, so I don't know much about it myself. THAT is why I'm soliciting the thoughts of the folks around here who know these cars. I realize that the Cougar is a belly button car now, the trailer parks are full of them, etc. Frankly, the paint on Dad's car looks so bad, it'll probably be a trailer park taxi soon if I don't grab it. The car is straight, and other than the clearcoat coming off and the engine being more or less crapped out, it'd be a worthy staring point for a sleeper (or so goes my thoughts.) There is a pretty interesting thread on LS1tech about a guy tossing a 6.0L GM engine in the car, though I'd be more inclined to do a PI 4.6L engine swap (because I'm lazy and have a FFR Roadster I should be working on, not this crap.)

Cougar/Tbird folks? Hello? Talk me into or out of this thing!

[dsblk93gt]

And engine should be pretty cheap if in fact it needs one. I ran 14.28@97.5 with my 98 GT with the non-PI 4.6 and still stock 2.73 gears. There are plenty of sources for the PI motor, Crown Vic..Lincoln...Mustang..etc. With the Crown Vic you need to check the engine data sticker on the valve cover or look at a few other things in the engine bay to know. They are not like Mustangs where all 99-04 had them I guess.
http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbt ... 05&fpart=1

[FinnCobra]

Wife drives/loves 90 SuperCoupe and next car she wants is definitely Cougar because we don't have those in Finland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland