[neatochris]

Well, it is finally in my driveway....up on jackstands, but in my driveway nonetheless. I got my high school friends 68 xr-7 GT. It is in a lot better shape than I had anticipated (I hadn't seen it in 10 years...we graduated in '93) These pics show it today right before I yanked the C-6 to have a rebuild...I think I may sell my charger (the one in the garage) to fund the restoration of this one....VERY tough decision, I'll think a lot more about it.....QUESTION...I pulled the flywheel and am getting another one (this one was chewed up)...does anyone know the torque specs of the flywheel to engine bolts? (it is a lot, I know that)..thanks!

 

[leonbray]

Nice find. If you can - take longer for the rebuild and keep the Charger as well. You will always regret selling it

 

[badcatt]

Toys, one can never have to many. Try and keep both. Looks like a nice car.

 

[Logan]

Please just send the charger to me.

 

[edsel]

sell the charger? let me know,i'm always looking for more toys!!!!!nice find on the cougar!

 

[MunchE]

Don't sell the Charger!

You can have that as the fun car to drive around while you build up the Cougar.

 

[Cougar Kitty]

Sale Not!

Keep both! The Charger is also an awesome car!:ylsup:

 

[SixFootFive99]

OR

Or you can donate the new cougar to me and just enjoy the charger knowing somebody else is enjoying your cougar

I can't wait till I am ready to purchase my cougar. I read these boards everyday just to read your problems and read everybody elses reply. This site is like no other I have found for any car. Very awesome people that contribute to this site.

Jason

 

[428cj]

KEEP 'EM BOTH

As far as i can see it is a 69 charger. Keep that car. you will definatly regret it when you sell it. It took me years to find one, and the price will keep on going up. You will always find a way to find some extra cash for the cougar. Everything on his time. Be patience KEEP BOTH CARS !!!

 

[72cat]

Keep them both, we NEVER sell ours . They are selling a 70 charger here if anyone wants to import one, we can't afford it.

66 Ford Fairlane - no engine/g.box/diff
69 Ford Ranchero I.6 200cui Parts car for 71 ranchero
70 Holden Monaro V8 308cui Project eldest son
70 Ford Mercury Cougar V8 351cui
71 Ford Ranchero V8 302cui Project No 1
72 Ford Mercury Cougar V8 351cui
73 VW Bus/Kombi 4cyl Chev 2.5l Project No 3
74 VW Bus/Kombi 4cyl vw 1.8l Project No 2
81 Ford Escort 4cyl 1.6l Project No 4 [for 3rd son]
83 Ford Sierra V6 2.3l Due for overhaul
86 Mercedes Benz 4cyl 2l daily driver
86 Renault 9 4cy 1.6l 2nd Son's 'project'
86 VW Golf 4cyl 1.6l 2nd Son's daily driver
89 Toyota Corolla 4cyl 1.6l 1st Son's almost totalled daily drive
98 Nissan Bakkie 4cyl 1.4l daily driver
80 900CBF will be finished one day
89 Yamaha DT125 3rd sons daily driver
1 ski boat - will use her --one day

 

[my69ragtop]

torque the flex plate to 75-85 ft. lbs. keep the charger

 

[neatochris]

I thank you all for the input...I bought the 69 charger 6 years ago and put alot of blood sweat and $$$$ into it...I probablly would be really p.o.'d after selling it...I will hang onto it...and hope that the fundage can keep up with the demands for restoration. I have already pulled the tranny and will be getting it done this week, then I'll have to sit tight for a while...Thank you ragtop for the flexplate specs...will be going in soon!
Chris

 

[NoKitten]

So you have a Mopar machine and a nice Motorcraft machine. Any plans for a chevy to round out the collection? My dream is a muscle car from each company. And I'll probably get a Ford truck as a daily drive later on. What would be your ideal set of toys?

 

[Cougar Kitty]

American Classics

I want one of each American make too.
Have:
Mercury/Ford
Chevy
Dodge

Use to have Pontiacs and still love 'em. (GTO, LeMans, Firebird, Trans-Am)

 

[Ian69cat]

i consulted my chilton manual for late model stangs and cougars, the only torque specification i could find was the flywheel housing. It says torque that to 40-50lbs, but i'm not sure that's what you're looking for.

 

[neatochris]

I was looking for the flywheel to engine torque....I think I got the response of 75-85 ft lbs, which I did today...learned a very valuable lesson about auto transmissions....even if towing in neutral...PULL THE driveshaft.....TOTALLED my trans...I am seriously not retarded...but now ($750 later) I know better...well it was a numbers matching car until Chris got his hands on it...live and learn....damn.
Thanks for all the replies!
Chris

 

[Cougrrcj]

The reason you totally trashed your trans is that when you tow the car in Neutral with the driveshaft attached, just the back half of the trans is turning. The front pump of the trans turns with engine rpm. Without the trans fluid being distributed throughout the trans, you'll fry the bushings and such in the back half because no lubrication from the fluid, or cooling. With extended towing you'll generate a lot of heat and that will destroy the rest.

I believe the only exception to this is the old FMX. IIRC it has a rear pump driven off the tailshaft in addition to the main front pump, and therefore has fluid moving. This will help some, but it is still not recommended for extended instances of being towed. Best to remove driveshaft. Use an old driveshaft yoke inserted into tailshaft housing to avoid losing trans fluid and dirt contamination.

What was wrong with getting your numbers-matching trans rebuilt? A full rebuild kit generally run around $100, then you'd still have to get all new bushings, thrust washers and such at around another $100. The toughest part of the rebuild would be to get the bushings pressed in to their prospective pieces-parts and determining thrust washer clearances, but it could be done.