I know of what I believe to be a 1986 Mercury Cougar XR7. From what I understand it has a turbocharged 4 cylinder with a T5 transmission. It is just sitting behind an old restaraunt and does not appear to be running. I am primarily interested in the bucket seats and the transmission. my question is is it possible to make the tranny strong enough for a mild 302, and if so, is it worth it if I can get the car for fairly cheap? Sorry for the long post, but I just am not sure if this plan is feasible or not. -Thanks
I'd rather see if the whole engine and tranny combo can be reused in the new body. THAT would be unique!
Sounds like the same engine/trans combo used in the T-Bird turbo coupes and the SVO Mustangs, I've seen guys get a lot of power out of the little old motor, but I hear they get tempermental when one tries to get too much out of them. If you can get it cheap enough and rebuild it cheap enough it could be worth your time and effort, a new T5 is pretty inexpensive though.
Just to make it clear, I was thinking about swapping the seats and trans and stuf into my maverick with a rebuilt 302. Sorry for any confusion.
Tranny input shaft is not right for the 302 pilot bushing. It's smaller. You have to get an adapter sleeve/bushing. Of all the stock T5s, the ones behind the turbo coupe are just as stout as the ones in the GTs. It's still not the greatest, but they're good enough. You can get Liberty to rebuild your T5 if you like to handle pretty much anything. The Vane Air Meter (VAM) is the biggest draw back to the 2.3 turbo. That and the EEC IV isn't the greatest operating system ever. If you go stand alone on the control system, put an Essy aluminum head on there, and a sheetmetal intake you can beat the wee out of it all day long every day. I love those engines.
One problem I have found though is that this trans is supposed to have a 4.05 first gear ratio, and that is way too low for a 302. Is it expensive to get new gears for it?
Now your talking about getting inside it? That may be a pandoras box of trouble.. If you get in it, rebuild it to your specs.. Or buy a new one for just a little more Maybe.. depends on what the parts off the old car cost ya..
The turbo t5 has a weird set of ratios in it to compensate for the 4cyl.I've seen 5.0 mustang guys run 'em and they do have a short 1st gear.Might be ok w/a 3.00 rear,but a decent used v8 t5 around here goes for about $500,so I wouldn't do it (the 4cyl trans)unless it was really,REALLY cheap.
