67 cougar AWD conversion
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#67
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The lower control arm is setting on the rubber bumpstop here. It is gonna need to be lower than this.
The bravada section is even with the top of the cougar frame ends here. I think I'm gonna need to raise it another couple inches. That part isn't the issue.
1- The higher I raise the differential, the more I'll have to cut into the foot well for the driveshaft.
2- The top of the transmission tunnel might need to be raised also.
3- The steering shaft angles get worse. I'll need to add a couple of steering u-joints as it is.
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I'm getting a couple of like sized tires (that I have on the rear) mounted on the bravada wheels so I can bolt those on and get a better idea of where the frame needs to be.
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You can see where the transmission will need to be widened to provide room for the front driveshaft. The foot well area isn't cramped, so I have some room to reposition the gas pedal and or brake pedal. I'll need to change throttle operation to cable anyways.
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I think I will get a junk LS with aluminum block and a th400 to gut and use for mockup. I will cut out the bulged section of firewall, and insert a flat panel to give more room in engine compartment. I want to mount the engine as low and as far back as I can.
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Did a little more trimming on the frame, and went to tack it in place. But, the welder wasn't allowing the shielding gas to get to the welding lead. Two o-rings broken and the aluminum housing is worn. Bonus! Oh well. I put a couple ugly tacks in place to make sure nothing shifts. The snap-on guy comes to work tomorrow, so hopefully he can get parts coming quickly.
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I'll trim a little more of the cougar "tin" in front of the awd section, and weld in a piece of 2"x2" square or 2"x3" rectangle to tie the front together.