I haven’t done a Parking Lot Spotlight in a while and this is a great car to pick the series back up with. Check this one out!!!!!
Wheels look great!!!!
Love the chrome work and the wrap around backup lights. That two tone paint is pretty good looking too!!!
I find these to be such a great looking vehicles and dare I say in some cases even better than some of their Mustang cousins. The hidden headlights and the full (nearly full) length tail lights make these so distinct and much more difficult to restore then the Mustang – as far as getting NOS parts.
I’m not alone in thinking that the new for 1967 Cougar was unique and that first year through 1970 were the best years. After that they became cross-bred with a Marauder and then by the mid 70’s virtually indistinguishable from the squared off T-bird not to mention it’s overtly plushiness.
In 1969 you could get the Cougar with a 302, 351W in either a V2 or V4 configuration or Boss 302. Previous years a 289 was available and in early 70’s the 351C, 351 CJ, and 351 Boss were options. Those are the best engine Ford had to offer at the time!!! (May be ever!!)
For 1969 you could get the Cougar in the Coupe, Convertible with a standard trim, Eliminator or XR-7 packages. Production numbers totaled just over 100k units broken down like this:
I enjoy seeing readers’ cars. Here is a 1982 Mercury Cougar Stationwagon…..YES!!! That’s what I said…”They did what????” Submitted by Steve Sears. There were 19,254 Cougar wagons built, in GS and Villager trim, in 1982. The only other year there were Cougar wagons was 1977 when 9,700+ built. I’d be willing to bet that …
So I’m going to warp up the articles on the Fords on 4th Ave car show and getting ready for live tweets from Good Guys show in Scottsdale, Az tomorrow.
In a previous post I mentioned the lack of Mercury’s (other than Cougars) at the show, there were only a couple Thunderbirds and sadly only one Torino. I love the Torino! I should have kept my 1974 GS with Cobra Jet engine!
1974 Grand Sport Torino
So as a warp up I thought I’d share my (non-Mustang) favorites from the show.
First up is the one and only Ford Torino.
Very Nice 1973 Torino. Love the body style! This one didn’t have any of the badge and I couldn’t tell if it was a Grand Torino. It appeared to have a 351 engine.
Can’t say I like the grill.
Nicely done and mostly stock!!!
Here is the oldest Ford in the show:
1915 Ford Model T.
Doodlebug – defined as vehicle used for work around the farm. My Grandfather had one (1930’s Ford) and we called it the Doodlebug.
This Falcon is amazing!! Nice V8 (351 I believe).
Yes I know it’s a wagon!!! But check out the quad exhaust exiting in front of the rear wheels. Now that’s very cool!!
Interior was so nicely done!!!
Fairlane 500 Retractable!!!!
This Fairlane GTA was the bomb!!!
The Econoline had a V8 wedged between the seats!!!
Hope you enjoyed this recap of Fords on 4th Ave, here in Tucson, AZ.
While there were an abundance of Mustang and other Ford products at Fords on 4th Ave, missing was the Ford sub-culture of Mercury’s. For the past few years you could find a small group of Montereys, Montclairs, Park Lanes …
‘The most wonderful time of the year!!!’ No not Christmas – BETTER! It’s car show season!!! From March though Oct here in the southwest is prime car show.
Although the newer Mustang are awesome, you still can’t be the those of the 60’s and early 70’s, you just can’t! Check out these fine specimens!! Nicely restored.
I love engines!!! Not just the big block, but some of the off beat, lower production/limited use, power plants. Of course that’s one of the great things about our hobby – there is a wide variety to choose from.
I haven’t writing a post in this series in some time, but just the other day, while on my hunt for a new project car, I ran across a Mercury project that had a 410 as the engine. I bet even if you are a die-hard Ford guy, you might not have run into this engine. This prompted me to do a little research which further prompted me to write what I found.
The 410 from a 1966 Mercury.
Most engines are derived from an engineered design that came before it. The 410 came in two different series. Produced from 1958 to 1968 it was part of the MEL series. MEL was Ford’s designation for Mercury, Edsel and Lincoln. From 1968 through 1976 it was in the FE series. The early MEL series 410 was used exclusively in the 1958 Edsel Corsair and Citation. It was also called the E-475 for it’s 475 foot-pounds of torque. It sported a 4.20 bore and a 3.70 stroke and a compression ratio of 10.5:1. Top that with 4 barrel Holly and it would produce, finish it off with dual exhaust you’ve got enough power to pull around those big Edsels.
The FE Series 410 was essentially Ford’s 390 (as was the 406) only given a bump in the stroke length (0.20″) to 3.98″ from the 390’s 3.78″. It used the same heads as the 390 (2.04 intake and 1.57 exhaust valves). Topped with a cast iron intake manifold and a Ford carb, it produced 330 horse power.
The MEL Series 410 was, as stated above, only installed in Edsel’s Cosair and Citation and that was only for 1958. That would make it an extremely limited use engine. It was a 4v Carb, produced about 345 horse power and 475 ft-lbs of torque with a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
The FE Series was also used in just two years, 1966 & 1967 and in just one sub-brand, Mercury. For those years the 410 carried a 4v carb produced 330 horse power and put done 444 ft-lbs of torque using 10.5:1 compression.
Production number for the 1958 Corsair was 9,987 units. For the Citation 9,299 units were produced. Together those tells you that there were about 20,286 for the 410 engines produced in the MEL version. I wasn’t able to find true production numbers for the FE series.
I haven’t check into the availability of parts for either 410 Series, but the MEL would seem unique and difficult source, however the FE shared most of the FE 390 engine. I do know that the MEL series engines had unique cylinder heads. The heads and block were milled at a 10 degree angle, giving them a wedge-shaped combustion chamber.
I did, in fact, pass on the project that prompted this post.
Thanks for reading. And if you have any additional information or want to share your project. Post here or on twitter (@AGCarRestore) or Facebook Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing.
I dont really want to pull the engine out of the car because i got an estimate on machine work, and the numbers are to high for my salary, Is there anything i can do to flush out the coolant ports(im not sure what the technical …
With the introduction of the FE and MEL engines in 1958, lessons had been learned in regards to exhaust valve placement and the new engines remedied this issue by either placing intake valves next to each other at the …
I haven’t done a “Wrecked” piece in a while. These are fun articles to do. They include some history and specs for the highlighted car and a look at one that has quality parts still available.
You can find this featured car over on www.Parting Out.com. They have a unique system that pulls together quality used parts from all over Texas and U.S.
In 1972 the Mercury Cougar (rich cousin to the Mustang) took a different path from is roots as a classy coupe and began the move to the luxury side of the auto market.
By 1972 the Cougar series to flavors the Cougar and the Cougar XR-7. Body styles were 2 door hard top Coupe and 2 door convertible for both the versions. If you say “…hmmm I don’t recall seeing a convertible!” There’s a good reason for that. In 1972 only 1,240 Cougar verts were produced and only 1,929 for the XR-7.
Engine for the 1972 was the Ford work-horse power plant, the 351. It had a cast iron block, overhead valves, bore and stroke 4.00″X3.50″. Compression ratio was a low-ish 8.5:1 and topped with a two barrel carb it was able to knock out 163HP.
There isn’t anything that great to see is a donor car like this one:
Lot of parts on this car. Hard to find glass and any of the light lenses.
Good fenders and doors and intact rocker molding – a huge plus
Here is the best part. Rear bumper..will need re-chroming but the taillight lenses took to be in good shape!!
1971 429 XR-7 on E-Bay. A bit tired but has some nice options. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercu…item4ac46cf6e3. 1972 Cougar,XR-7. My Cougar 2003 Focus SVT My SVT …
I love just about any car in a 2 door configuration older than 1975. This two door Monterey is no exception.
1963 Monterey – you can see my newer than 1975 two door in the pic.
Tail light configuration. Love the over hang on the rear electric window.
The Monterey was a large heavy car, even the two door configuration, nearly 4000 lbs. It came in 4 door and 2 door body styles with only about 8000 combined production between the 2 door sedan and the 2 door coup. (The Monterey Custom had 3 separate 2 door models – the Mar fsback coup, hard top coup and convertible.)
Engines were V8’s, mainly the 390 with a bore and stroke of 4.05 x 2.94. Compression was 8.9:1 and managed about 101 hp with a ford C3OF-9510 two barrel. (1963 Mercury used the 427 in their NASCAR offerings, grabbing 1 Grand National win. It was the first appearance of the 427 in a Merc.)
This one will need a little work before it’s ready for the track!!!!
I have an acquaintance in the great state of Texas and contacted me and wants to sell his 1949 Merc Coupe. So I’m going to list here and you can contact me directly for any more information.
I think this car is a beauty.
1949 Merc Custom For Sale
Some spec:
1972 GTO Frame, Front end, Drive train and rear end.
Bagged suspension that rises and lowers – on board compressor and tank
Power steering and Title Iddit steering column and custom steering wheel.
Rebuild 350 GTO engine with Tri-Power 3 Duce Carbs) and Lunati street/strip cam.
Rebuild 350 Automatic Trans w/2600 stall converter – column shift with oil cooler
Custom PPG Black Hot Rod flat paint with flames and pin striping.
Full set of gauges
AC
and a lot lot more!!! (see the image below).
Great looking coupe!!!
Art Work
Rear Art
Very Unique details!!!
Ok…..hold your breath for this next pic!!!!
OH….YES!!!! That’s Tri-POWER!!!!! Art on the hood and art under the hood!!!!
Custom Interior – On comfy Lincoln Seats – Diamond Tuck Upholstery
Here is the entire list of EXTRAS!!!
Many details here like Dual Electric Antenna, Dual exhaust w/Flo Masters mufflers, Lake pipes – still need the Y to connect up to the exhaust….read on!!!
You can contact me directly at timsweet@cox.net. (I’m filtering out the ‘crazies’ before I pass them on.)
I hope you can view this article. Has some great cars – although the saying “keep the shiny side up” doesn’t really translate – these just don’t have one.
I’d love to spend time wandering around Cuba, just to look at the cars.
Here is the second part of this ’73 line up for the V8.
There were 7 V8 in 1973 (not including the Mustang engines) and the ranged in numbers from 302 to 460 (big number to be sure). Just reading those you think..OH…THE …POWER…NOTHING BUT 100’s RUBBER BURNING, FISH-TAILING HPs!!!…right….uh…NO….these ain’t 60’s engine and they aren’t 2010 engines..nope..they the 70’s engines. Here’s how they ponied up.
The 302 – Overhead valves, cast iron block with a bore and stroke of 4.00 x 3.00. Compression ratio of 8.0:1 with 302 cubic inches displaced. Top that with an awesome 2 barrelMotorcraft carb and you are knocking out 135 hp’s!!!! Those are number only a grandma could love. Compare that with the 302 sold under the hoods of Fords in 1970 which yielded 220 hp with a two barrel carb. (Take that 302 bore it .030, toss on a typhoon intake and a 4 barrel Holly you’ll have exactly what currently have in my ’70 Stang.)
My Mustang's Enhanced 302
Next up is the family of 351s, the Windsor, the Cleveland and the CJ Windsor.
All three had overhead valves, cast iron blocks and all displaced 351 cubic inches. They shared the same bore and stroke which was 4.00 x 3.5 and the compression ratios ranged from 8.0:1 to 8.6:1 and the horse power varied by rpm 3800 to 4000 between 156 up to 177, the Cleveland and baby Windsor were choked with a 2 barrel carb while the CJ managed to steal a 4 barrel of the assembly line shelf and had a compression ratio of 9.0:1. The 351 CJ was able to come in a little more respectable with 266 hp at 5400 rpm.
I will tell you this there were very few 351 CJ Windsor made in 1973 and 1974. I owned a 1974 351 CJ and my researched showed that less than 100 of these engined were produced that year.
All of these were used in the Torino, Montego, Mustang, Cougar and other Ford and Mercury models. The 351 CJ was used in the Mustang and Cougar.
1973 Cleveland 351 2 barrel under the hood of a Mustang.
These are some of the best styled cars for that year. ( I really like the convertible for 1963 Merc as well). The ’64 Comet looked like it was moving, while standing still.
1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone
The engine line up for the 1964 Mercury came in 3 flavors. The Comet, the Cyclone and Mercury versions.
The Comet engine was a 6 cylinder, overhead valve with a cast iron block. 170 cid with a bore and stroke of 3.50 x 2.93 and combined with a compression ratio of 8.7:1 it produced 101 hps. Well not actually a powers house with the one barrel carb, C3YF-9510E.
Now the Cyclone engine was a bit of a bump. It was a V8 with overhead valve and a cast iron block displacing 289 cubic inches. The compression ratio 9.0:1, bore and stroke of 4.00 X 2.37 and hooked up to a 2 barrel carb (C5MF-9510A) helped produce 210 hps.
The 3rd option was the most powerful, producing 250 hps and matched up to the cyclone engine, except where it matters. Displacing – 390 cubic inches with the bore and stroke 4.05 x 2.37, 9.4:1 compression ratio and topped with the Ford C4MF-9510D two barrel carb.
Fords 2 Barrel C4MF-9510D Carb
1964 Mercury Colony Park Station Wagon - carried the 390.
