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Topic: Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.? (Read 1997 times) previous topic - next topic

Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Well decided enough is enough. Need to get the hell out of Pittsburgh for a few days. My parents have a house on the water down in Hertford North Carolina. Roughly 9 1/2 hours 1200 mile round trip. Belts and hoses are just fine. 68750 actual mileage. Everyone got me freaked out. “Well in 1983 68000 miles was like 500000 miles” “Well you know patty’s sister-in-law’s tempo had head gaskets replaced” you know general BS. What are your guys feelings. My Dad feels the motor and transmission should be pulled and taken apart and full re gasket. “Just because it’s old”  or should I say the hell with worry and rent a car lol.

 

Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #1
I drove my 86 to LA and back 1600 miles round-trip last year. No issues nothing to report. If the car runs and drives fine in the belts and hoses are good why not? Make sure you have a good spare in case you get a flat
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #2
I flew out to North Carolina, bought a Turbo Coupe and drove it home. Car had 225k miles on it. Drove it 6 hours back without a problem.
It's Gumby's fault.

Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #3
I would drive my Sport anywhere, anytime.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #4
A mostly stock 5.0 that's been taken care of, I would(and have) trust 100%. Sure, things can happen, but things can happen to a pretty new car too. A 3.8 I would be slightly less confident, but only slightly.

My only input would be do you want to put that many miles a pretty low mileage car? It's getting harder to find sub 100k cars.
1988 Thunderbird sport
2004 Ford F150 Lariat
2008  Chevrolet Cobalt Sport
2007 Suzuki DR-Z400S dual sport/Supermoto
1988 Thunderbird LX - sold
1988 Mercury Cougar XR-7 with GST kit - gone

Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #5
Well I had a 2nd gen Dodge ram. Failed inspection and needed junked. My wife has a new Explorer and while signing on a new F250. I walked out......live 2.4 miles from work couldnt justify a new payment. Went home saw the cougar for $1000 bucks. So she is a daily until next fall when we pay off hers. If you saw my wife behind the wheel of the Cougar you would understand why im not taking hers. Would be awesome to cruise down the outer banks though. X

Re: Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #6
Been pondering a similar trip myself. Except I'll be going from akron oh to my sisters house in myrtle beach. Did it in a rental last year. Got a fusion hybrid and made it the 10hr ish drive on a single tank lol. Hoping to take my 102k mile 5.0 bird down but I'm leary lol. Car runs and drives good just still has some little things that need done.
85 Tbird 5.0
78 F150 351w
13 F150 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost

Re: Pondering of taking my 83 Cougar long trip.?

Reply #7
My wife looked at me funny when I said I was going to drive mine to the foxbody show and shine in Omaha Sept 14th.  LOL

I think my 88 will make it just fine. We'll see.  Its only 3 hrs away for KC.  Anyone going to it?  It would be nice to meet some of y'all.

https://allevents.in/omaha/midwest-fox-fest-2019/200017517743927?ref=eventlist-l4#
Mike