Got a free car! (Pics)

[Finn]

*Puts on protective gear*
Its a ford...yes yes I know, but who am I to turn down a free car?!?
Found On Road Dead...almost literally lol.

I just picked up a 99 cougar 2.5 v6 auto. My GF's dad had bought this car from his nephew with a blown engine. His intent was to fix it and use it as a commuter. He bought a salvage motor with 80,000 miles and swapped it with the blown motor...and by swap I mean he got it in the engine bay...and connected to the trans...by one bolt...and that's where he stopped.

Several years went by and the car sat unfinished. Come this past xmas, I was at his house and he turns to me and says "hey you want that car? I'm just going to junk it if you don't want it". At the time, I thought he was talking about his 69 chevelle SS project so I said yes in about .05 seconds, haha. Anyhow, I got the Cougar and I'm pretty excited about it since it will be the first car I have owned to get above 14 mpgs...if it runs.

I decided to re-pull the engine, just so I know what I'm working with. I'm completely new to ford/mercury and apparently this engine was designed by British engineers. Ive seen what they've done to Land Rovers/Range Rovers so I prepared myself to find everything done ass backwards. Anyone have any experience with cougars or the 2.5? 








This last picture of the flexplate shows some damage to the teeth. It seems minor to me but is it something I should replace as long as I have it out? Keep in mine I haven't got it running yet and Im not sure if any more problems will be surfacing.

[tan top]

yeah would replace the flex plate  ,  had one like that 11 years ago on a daily driver !!  but   a smaller amount of  chewed teeth &  was right where the starter would engauge  , the motor stopped in the same spots every four times , the starter buzzed & would not engauge ,   thought it  must be the starter  at first  , ( although it did sound like the unmistakable starter on chewed ring gear teeth ))  but the  the car only had 29 thousand  miles on it & two year old  ,   not a quick job changing a starter on the duratec 2.5 V6 as it was  ,    yours  maybe ok , but mine was only 3 or 4 teeth chewed on the edge !!  , but just as easy to change it now    , good idea to do the water pump too &  its drive belt  , thermostat & tempreture sender  , these  motors are prone to cooling system problems if not kept in tip top condition

[Troy]

My friend used to have a v6 Cougar. It was a fun car - but I never had to do any work on it. Can't beat that price though!

Troy

[BananaDan]

Free = good.  Way to go!   

[maxwellwedge]

A 13 year old Cougar is illegal in almost every state....

[bobs66440]

Free is GOOD!    Awesome find!!

[Fred]

A 13 year old Cougar is illegal in almost every state....

:

[Chryco Psycho]

I think you may have overpaid 

[Fred]

I think you may have overpaid 

Probably because in the end, nothing is ever for free!!

[A383Wing]

well, at least it has 2 doors.... 

Bryan

[Silver R/T]

Not a bad commuter

[Cooter]

Hate to rain on your parade there FINN, but I think your buddy was correct in doing what he did with it. Just wait ill the trans goes. Ever pulled one in those cars?



OMFG!! You'll be making up cuss words for that thing if it does. GOOD LUCK!

[Finn]

well, at least it has 2 doors.... 

Bryan

A 13 year old Cougar is illegal in almost every state....

hahaha!

Just wait ill the trans goes. Ever pulled one in those cars?

I went out and took a look at it and it doesn't seem TOO bad, what was the problem in getting it out?

Man I hope it's alright, I was really looking forward to those mpg's since Ill be commuting to school soon.