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Topic: Side view mirrors (Read 1226 times) previous topic - next topic

Side view mirrors

New member here.  Happy to see there is still interest in these beautiful and well-designed cars.  Can anyone point out the difference between 83-84, 85-86, and 87-88 Cougar side view mirrors?  The year ranges are listed separately when looking them up on ebay and other parts sources.  I absolutely need a right one for my 85, but the chrome finish on my left one isn't great.  Will the newer or older style fit in their place?  I don't care if they are year correct or if the electrical plugs are the same, only if both sides match and will fit onto the door properly.  I found someone parting out an 87 Cougar on Craigslist and would just buy both mirrors if I was certain they would fit.  Thanks for any info that can be provided on this.

Side view mirrors

Reply #1 –
Mine on my 84 were starting to show some blisters in the chrome. I ended up just doing a good prep and blacked them out as well as the trim.
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing:

Side view mirrors

Reply #2 –
This should help as well.
https://www.coolcats.net/restoring/mirror.html
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing:

Side view mirrors

Reply #3 –
"It is possible to convert a 1985-86 housing to a 1987-88 style by adding the splitters. Likewise, removal of the splitters from a 1987-88 housing and adding earlier mounting bolts should allow it to bolt to earlier cars"

You lean something every day !

I sent a guy 100 miles this summer, to get a set of mirrors off a fresh 1986 at a wrecking yard for his car.

And all along, I could have sold him a set of 88s
Original 1988 Cougar XR7 owner 200,000 miles and counting.

Side view mirrors

Reply #4 –
It was a lot of trial and error, a lot of finding and testing older and newer housings...but yeah, they mostly interchange. Only issue is if you need the 1987-88 style; you can't use the 1983-84 housings to mount the splitters. Otherwise everything else retrofits. I really didn't find any changes to the mirror motors throughout the 6 model years either. Wiring was the same as well. In fact, Ford used that same harness wiring configuration across other car lines from the era, that's why the Tempo mirrors can be modded in.