View Full Version : Newbie
FrostyCat
07-23-2003, 05:36 AM
Hello, I've had my Cougar for almost a year now and I met a fellow Cougar owner (Adrian Outlaw... has a black lowerd XR) coming out of a parking lot and we talked about me lowering my car. He mentioned me needing some 99 cougar strut seats. Currently he is away at boot camp for a while, so I can't really ask him for some help. But if anyone could help me out on what I need to buy and how to do it I would greatly appriciate it. Thanks.
tnkgurl
07-23-2003, 10:47 AM
Welcome newbie! I haven't done any mods to my car otherwise I'd help you out! Good luck with your lowering!
Lowering the car's easy- It's just how much you want to lower that's the decision. If you use lowering springs or "coilovers", it is all but mandatory to get new struts, since the stockers cannot take being lowered for more than about 10-15k miles. I have Koni adjustable struts, and Eibach springs. 1.5" drop in the front, 1" in the rear. Add a ground effects kit, and you must be very careful when going up parking garages or other inclines. I'm about 3" off the ground. I have done between 10 and 15 spring/strut installs, including my own car.
I would really like to get memebership in the chapter back up, and begin having meets again. Usually it's me, gamiller, and Trevor (FastCougar) that are active 'round these parts. Others don't visit the boards much or have sold their kitties...
tnkgurl
07-23-2003, 11:24 PM
I'm all for meets in this area so I don't have to keep going down to VA Beach! :biggrin: Actually, I usually happen to be in the area when they are doing meets, but I'm game for meets up here. I'd suggest my house, but I live in a condo with assigned parking and I'd hate to see anyone get towed! :mad:
MercMobile
07-24-2003, 05:43 AM
Originally posted by: DanG
I would really like to get memebership in the chapter back up, and begin having meets again. Usually it's me, gamiller, and Trevor (FastCougar) that are active 'round these parts. Others don't visit the boards much or have sold their kitties...Just cuz we don't live there doesn't mean we aren't active! :(
carchck7
07-24-2003, 12:14 PM
Originally posted by: MercMobile
Originally posted by: DanG
I would really like to get memebership in the chapter back up, and begin having meets again. Usually it's me, gamiller, and Trevor (FastCougar) that are active 'round these parts. Others don't visit the boards much or have sold their kitties...Just cuz we don't live there doesn't mean we aren't active! :(
What he said :)
gamiller
07-25-2003, 12:40 PM
geetings, frosty!
my cat is lowered with Roush springs, which are meant to work with stock struts. in theory, that means all you gotta do is swap springs and you're golden. however, rule-of-thumb is to replace both springs and struts at the same time, if you have the money. so, i went ahead and replaced my struts with the (now unavailable) Euro-spec (a.k.a. ST200) struts from Ford. HTH
RiceRanger666
07-28-2003, 06:10 AM
Welcome Frosty. Where in SpringHel* do u live? im about 10mins from the mall myself.
FrostyCat
07-30-2003, 02:32 AM
Near the mall sorta...you know where where South Run Rec. Center is...South Run is literally my backyard...If you're near me get your coug and i'll meet up wit you somewhere. Nice meetin you
skater
09-14-2003, 01:45 PM
Originally posted by: tnkgurl
Welcome newbie! I haven't done any mods to my car otherwise I'd help you out! Good luck with your lowering!
I thought I was the only one that hadn't done any mods! :)
Thanks for making my day!
RJ
This is an old post- She may have modded by now!
tnkgurl
09-16-2003, 12:20 AM
Weeelllllllllllllll, maybe a couple. :shrug: Maybe a strut bar, some sidemarkers, and my back up lights! But that's it, I swear! :biggrin:
skater
09-16-2003, 10:39 PM
Originally posted by: tnkgurl
Weeelllllllllllllll, maybe a couple. :shrug: Maybe a strut bar, some sidemarkers, and my back up lights! But that's it, I swear! :biggrin:
D'oh!
No, wait, that's not right. I like how it looks stock, and I don't really have any inclination to modify it. Maybe I'm too old. ;)
Besides, with everyone else modifying their Cats, mine will soon be unique...without any work on my part! :)
Okay, I have done ONE thing to it: a K&N air filter. But I put those in all my cars, including my daily-driver Cavalier. Even if there's no performance or efficiency gain, in the long run it's cheaper and I don't have to remember to replace it! :)
--RJ
tnkgurl
09-17-2003, 12:29 AM
Yeah, and the problem is, once you do one modification, that's it! You're hooked! My air filter is next.
Spade
09-17-2003, 02:17 PM
I still haven't done any mods to mine yet, unless the aftermarket Sony stereo counts, which it probably doesn't. Then again, I've only had it a month, and lately I've been concentrating on the sudden appearance of an orange fountain under the hood...turned out to be a broken radiator hose.
Although, certain people have told me the merits of a strut bar, and I may very well have to get one.
tnkgurl
09-17-2003, 03:28 PM
STRUT BAR!!!! STRUT BAR!!!! Dude, I love my strut bar! Turning corners is sooooo much sweeter! I can't wait to get the rear strut!
skater
09-18-2003, 12:10 AM
I like the factory stereo--the automatic volume correction (for speed) is a feature I love. Of course, I have the 6 CD changer option. If I didn't have that, I'd probably have already changed the stereo.
The only thing I've considered doing to the sound system in my Cougar is new speakers. But my Cavalier has worn-out factory speakers, a cheap Blaupunkt head unit, and gets daily usage (as opposed to the once a week I drive the Cougar). Guess which one will get a new stereo system first? :)
One downside is trying to find the magazines for the CD changer (I have a 1999, and the changer is in the trunk. I understand newer ones have an in-dash changer). Anyone know of a source?
--RJ
skater
09-18-2003, 12:11 AM
Originally posted by: tnkgurl
STRUT BAR!!!! STRUT BAR!!!! Dude, I love my strut bar! Turning corners is sooooo much sweeter! I can't wait to get the rear strut!
What precisely does it do? Make the body even stiffer in corners so it doesn't roll as much?
Thanks.
--RJ
It doesn't make anything stiffer, really- But it ties the two shock towers together so they move as a pair. This keeps your wheels, for better or for worse, coupled and sitting at the same angle during maneuvering. This keeps the same contact profile on both tires and helps you get around corners without losing control. It's not infallable- Ya canna change th' laws 'o physics, Cap'n!
tnkgurl
09-18-2003, 02:26 PM
Well said! You can feel the difference. You are welcome to try mine if you'd like. That is, try driving my Cougar.
skater
09-19-2003, 09:12 PM
Originally posted by: tnkgurl
Well said! You can feel the difference. You are welcome to try mine if you'd like. That is, try driving my Cougar.
Good clarification. ;)
I would like to try that, if that is a serious offer. With the condition of the DC metro area roads, I'm not convinced that removing flexibility from the suspension is a good idea, but I am curious.
I hope everyone--and their Cougars--made it through the storm okay.
--RJ
tnkgurl
09-19-2003, 11:48 PM
It's an offer I stand behind!
skater
09-20-2003, 10:35 PM
Originally posted by: tnkgurl
It's an offer I stand behind!
Cool. Maybe I can try it at the next meet or something like that.
--RJ