just a little bench racing...

[Kalyx]

Hey, Cowboy!

My current car that I drive, is also my project car. It's a 1977 Mercury Cougar XR7. (I'll post a pic later, when I can find it at home.) It's black with a white vinyl roof and maroon interior. It's not in too bad of shape for being 32 years old.

After I purchased this car and provided some routine maintenance, I did have some major work and upgrades done.

- had the 302 cu. in. V8, bored out .06" with new interior and exterior parts

- new transmission installed

- new stereo, CD palyer w/changer installed; with remote for alarm/door locks & trunk release

- new wheels and tires

- new windshield installed

- new tailpipe and mufflers; changed from one to two

- re-undercoated and reproofed the car (it was Ziebarted years ago and has the old, original window sticker to prove it!)

But, with all the bills and responsibilities I have, the my ongoing maintenance, upon this vehicle, has lapsed quite a bit. (And the crappy econony here, doesn't help, neither.)

But, with my meager tax return coming, I hope to alleviate some of these newer and continued problems...

- faulty rear end (want to replace)

- a problem with the proper mating of the engine to the transmission (may be a flywheel/fricton plate problem, supposedly common for these models)

- leaky oil pan gasket (dripping a quart of oil every few weeks)

- blown gasket from the exhaust manifold (making the car sound like its missing it's tailpipe)

- faulty or broken gauges (only one that works is the fuel gauge)

- faulty dashboard wiring (used to work, now most all gauges are dark at night, including speedo & tach)

- new rear tire or tires (my left rear has been riding on the spare for almost half a year now; the newer tire was slashed beyond repair (damn road debris!) )

- eventually a new paint job, but it doesn't look too bad now with the original paint and a few touch-ups.

There are other things as well, but either I've forgotten them or they are too minor to mention.

I don't plan on getting rid of the vehicle in the foreseeable future, so I'm going to do my best to preserve this beautiful piece of old-school automotive engineering,. Even though, this car may be an old, loud, gas-guzzler and my attempt to renovate and refurbish this "junker", futile; they just don't build these awesome steel-bodied, chrome-bumpered, sturdy American automobiles any longer...and it's too bad.