The Next Level *** UPDATED 1-27-06 WITH PICTURES ***

[BigBalledOX]

I've decided I want complete documentation of the transition of the car from its current state in to Version 2.0. My plan is to stockpile parts for the next couple of months and then when the weather permits (hopefully March 13-20th as that is spring break for me) assemble the car.

In its current state the car is a 1999 Mercury Cougar with sport and convenience packages.

Cosmetically, the exterior of the car is indistinguishable from any other Cougar except for smoked sidemarkers, tail light covers and tint.

The interior is leather with a carbon fiber dash kit as well as a pillar pod with Autometer Lunar Series gauges in it. There is also a B&M short throw shifter.

The brakes are currently Bendix Metallic pads and rotors.

The suspension is Roush springs with ST200 struts, an OMP Front Strut Tower Brace and a Fast Track Rear Strut Tower Brace.

In car entertainment consists of a Pioneer CD/MP3 deck and aftermarket 5x7's.

Performance is obvious, a 3L Hybrid engine swap combined with a Haines Motorsports transmission with LSD, along with Trubendz dual exhaust.

I plan on photographing the car from several different angles, both interior and exterior, over the next day or two, depending on when I get the chance. I'll post these up as a reminder of how the car once was.

I'm also going to post up pictures of parts as they come in, before being sent off to storage until the time has come. That way anyone who is interested or cares can follow my progress, add comments, call my car purple (:tongue:), whatever turns them on. So, without further delay, here are the plans for Version 2.0.

Exterior: Visteon front, Roush sides, rear and spoiler. Relocate exhaust as needed and switch to Roush exhaust tips. No Limit grill. OEM carbon fiber hood with sides painted Melina Blue. I also want to explore painting the grill insert, center part of the front bumper and center part of the Visteon lip to match the carbon fiber hood so the car will flow better. Shave badges and door mouldings. GrandMasterKhan front-flip hood hinges. Paint headlights Melina Blue with clear reflectors. Paint tail lights with TeamNECO paint masks.

Interior - Delete rear seats and build false floor a la GMK in trunk/back seat. Corbeau VX 2000 racing seats with four-point harnesses. Convert all tan parts to black. White-faced indiglo speedhut gauges. Roush floormats. Sparco CF pedals. Complete LED conversion. Optima battery with relocation to trunk. Remove passenger airbag, extra seatbelts, anything not truly needed. Stand-alone shift light.

Suspension/Wheels - Centerline Vantage 18" wheels in Black Pearl finish. D2 coilover suspension. Roush rear sway bar. BAT Inc Wilwood four-piston caliper brakes. I will be running both high performance summer tires as well as drag radials for track nights.

Performance - GMK HP CF CAI. Zex dry 75 shot.:evil: 80mm MAF and Mustang TB, and my secret weapon that will not be revealed until March 17 at Logan Motorsports.

In car entertainment - This is all pending completion of the remainder of the car. Eclipse AVN 2454 CD/DVD/GPS HU. Upgrade speakers to components (suggestions anyone?). One Kicker Solobaric L7 in ported box.

I'll update at some point with pictures, it may not be until Sunday as I'm going out of town tomorrow. If any changes happen I'll also update as they occur, and as parts flow in, so that everyone can see what I think will be the birth of one of the hottest cats on NECO. :biggrin:

EDIT: As you can see, a good number of stock parts will be available upon completion of this project. While I can not yet provide a specific date when, if there are parts you are interested, keep them in mind. This will include: Stock hood, tail light covers, stock spoiler, ST200 struts, Roush springs, Tubendz exhaust tips, steering wheel, passenger airbag, Pioneer CD/MP3 deck polished 16" wheels, leather interior (which I may already have an offer on), trunk carpet, etc. I will not be accepting dibs at this point in time, but I when things do become available I will offer them first to Midwest and a select few who I would like to see the parts go to first.

EDIT: 1-23-06 - Made several significant changes to current plans. Pictures tomorrow night.

[Ronrazz]

And how do you plan on photographing your car? Camera phone?

[BigBalledOX]

No poon, with my 3.2 MP digital.

[Frosty]

This is a sweet idea Ryan. Can't wait to see the progress pics.

[SlowKitty]

those are some hefty plans ryan... looking foward to seeing the finished product

[NascarSigEp]

Wow, good luck with all of those plans man! That's a lot of work.

[Whiskey]

yeah good luck cant wait to see it

[BigBalledOX]

First up are some shots of the exterior . . .

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20843&d=1131122771

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20840&d=1131122771

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18974&d=1120967431

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18973&d=1120967422

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18972&d=1120967395

Next comes the engine bay as it currently stands.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20845&d=1131122771

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20844&d=1131122771

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20841&d=1131122771

I only have one shot of the interior right now, I will take more when I get a chance.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18975&d=1120967441

Now for some pretty new things . . . :evil:

What do we have here?

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22575&d=1138421261

THIS is what we have here. :biggrin:

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22576&d=1138421261

Roush spoiler, tips and swaybar.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22577&d=1138421261

Mustang throttle body.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22578&d=1138421261

Remote bottle opener.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22579&d=1138421261

HID kit.

http://newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22580&d=1138421261

[Frosty]

Sweet Ryan!

Hey where did you get the HID kit, and how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

[BigBalledOX]

A place on eBay, it was $234. I will dig up the guy I bought it from momentarily. He had it to me in like two days :crazy:

[Frosty]

hmm. not too bad. I was looking at a kit that was about $150 on ebay. What is the output on that kit?

[BigBalledOX]

6000k I wanted something with some color to it without getting too ricey. The $234 was including shipping and I'm pretty sure the guy had perfect feedback. Plus he didn't require a confirmed PayPal address which is nice because PayPal is being retarded with me.

[BigBalledOX]

I also think there's some kind of irony in the fact you can see a pack of Marlboro's in the same picture as my remote nitrous bottle opener is . . .

[Frosty]

I also think there's some kind of irony in the fact you can see a pack of Marlboro's in the same picture as my remote nitrous bottle opener is . . .

Yeah I just noticed that too, haha.

[Ronrazz]

Looks like you paid a ton for a bunch of mustang crap that you didnt need, wonder how much more that cost you in shipping.

[BigBalledOX]

Looks like you paid a ton for a bunch of mustang crap that you didnt need, wonder how much more that cost you in shipping.
:rolleyes: What has been your problem lately Mr. ****ty Attitude?

[Ronrazz]

:rolleyes: What has been your problem lately Mr. ****ty Attitude?
:disgust: I can be as grouchy as I was.

[Ronrazz]

:rolleyes: What has been your problem lately Mr. ****ty Attitude?
Plus I was just saying that you really only need that one proption and you got all of the rest that you didnt need.

[BigBalledOX]

Well knock yourself out but don't expect me to tolerate it. There is very much a purpose for the "mustang crap i don't need", thanks for asking. And if it doesn't pan out, I can resell it on eBay and get back a portion of what I lost.

[BigBalledOX]

oh! Ok, thats a little different. Eh. I got it for $38 shipped. I can probably get that back if I sell off the elbow.

[J-Man]

needs more roush kit pics.

[J-Man]

:biggrin:

[Logan Motorsports]

He needs a pic of the front wheels being turned into molten goo....

[Moraki]

No poon, with my 3.2 MP digital.

kinda small resolution... but i guess it will work.

[BigBalledOX]

kinda small resolution... but i guess it will work.

It does the trick for now. I want to get a higher-res camera at some point, but priorities are priorities.

J-man, nice to see you back, the kit won't be getting mounted up for a while though.

[J-Man]

it's good to be back. my roush kit should be here in the next few days.

:wiggle:

[NascarSigEp]

Nice start Ryan.

[J-Man]

needs more roush kit pics.

ahem!

[BigBalledOX]

ahem!

What do you want poonstalk? You got your kit, why don't you post up your pics? :tongue:

[fordrule]

nice centerlines

[BigBalledOX]

Christmas in February! BF Goodrich KDW G-force's, wheels go on today, AND my harness bar and lower control arms arrived today. Pictures update tonight! :biggrin:

[Ronrazz]

Christmas in February! BF Goodrich KDW G-force's, wheels go on today, AND my harness bar and lower control arms arrived today. Pictures update tonight! :biggrin:
ITS POTHOLE SEASON
OPEN SEASON ON RYANS WHEELS :)

[BigBalledOX]

More fun things today. :biggrin:

Car full o parts on the way to the garage.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22826&stc=1&d=1139442653

Harness bar.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22827&stc=1&d=1139442653

Garage getting full.

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22828&stc=1&d=1139442653

BF Goodrich KDW G-force's :biggrin:

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22829&stc=1&d=1139442653

Corbeau VX-2000

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22830&stc=1&d=1139442653

ZEX dry kit

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22831&stc=1&d=1139442653

[Frosty]

I bet you love all those styrofoam peanuts all over the place :rofl:

[BigBalledOX]

I bet you love all those styrofoam peanuts all over the place :rofl:

Oh I was so pissed about that. Those are gonna be a ****ing joy to clean up, let me tell ya. :disgust:

[Frosty]

Oh I was so pissed about that. Those are gonna be a ****ing joy to clean up, let me tell ya. :disgust:

I have to deal with that shizz once in awhile at work, because I handle returned goods. I swear I want to shove them down whoever's throat who put them in the box...I mean seriously...there's is no need for them.

[BigBalledOX]

Its hard to complain TOO much, I mean, there's no way in hell any of that is getting damaged, but still, kinda irritating.

[Ronrazz]

Whast only one seat? thats all I see.

[Frosty]

Whast only one seat? thats all I see.

Ha, yeah I was going to ask about that too.

[BigBalledOX]

The other one's in the box, I only took the one out for pictures, though I'm tempted to bring it in the condo and use it as a chair.

[Frosty]

The other one's in the box, I only took the one out for pictures, though I'm tempted to bring it in the condo and use it as a chair.

Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.

[Ronrazz]

Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.
You'll have one seat worn more then the other.

[BigBalledOX]

You'll have one seat worn more then the other.

:crazy: I'm gonna have that anyways, I can't sit in both seats once they're installed.

[bensenvill]

The other one's in the box, I only took the one out for pictures, though I'm tempted to bring it in the condo and use it as a chair.

thats what I've been using my cloth seats for the past 2 years. they make awesome videogame chairs

[Catwoman3700]

Yea man, Porsche makes office chairs with a 911 seat...they're friggin awesome. Do it!

[jaged]

ryan at the store "I need nitrous. The big one. No, make it two of em!" looking good though

[Frosty]

ryan at the store "I need nitrous. The big one. No, make it two of em!" looking good though

Yeah, that and an underglow kit that he plans on getting :poke:

[SlowKitty]

...and while you're at it, forget the roush tips and just weld on some folgers cans at the end of your exhaust... in fact, **** the welding, use duct tape:biggrin:

[azbobbybooshay10]

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22831&stc=1&d=1139442653

So you've got your nitrous bottles to match the outside of the car, huh? :rofl:

lol, j/k man, thats gonna be an awesome looking car when its done, purple or not! Oh, I may be kinda interested in the rear carpeting if you ever replace it. Mine was missing when I bought the car, and it pisses me off to not have anything back there.

[MaverickFlyer]

Are you done yet?

[SlowKitty]

not even close:rofl:

[BigBalledOX]

Here's some more car pr0n . . .

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24119&stc=1&d=1145255218

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24120&stc=1&d=1145255218

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24121&stc=1&d=1145255218

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24122&stc=1&d=1145255218

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24123&stc=1&d=1145255218

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24124&stc=1&d=1145255218

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24125&stc=1&d=1145255218

[bensenvill]

wheres my rear LCA pics????

[BigBalledOX]

wheres my rear LCA pics????

Christ you're demanding! :rofl:

I had like, two hundred pictures to sort through last night, and I got about half-way through them and just said **** it. I'll post more tonight when I get home. :tongue:

[J-Man]

lookin good ryan. whyd you choose to mount the harnesses like that and not just wrap them around the harness bar? isn't that waht it's there for?

[BigBalledOX]

lookin good ryan. whyd you choose to mount the harnesses like that and not just wrap them around the harness bar? isn't that waht it's there for?

:crazy: They do go around the harness bar . . .

[J-Man]

This is what I am speakin of:

http://members.shaw.ca/cponce1/DSC00380.JPG

[BigBalledOX]

Oh . . . because mine retract, so there's a cam that bolts in the where the harness goes below the false floor.

[J-Man]

Oh, that's cool. I was just wondering.

And uh, where are the rear lca pics?? :tongue:

[BigBalledOX]

Oh, that's cool. I was just wondering.

And uh, where are the rear lca pics?? :tongue:

:disgust: Ok Terry.

:rofl:

I'll go through the rest of the pictures when I get home shortly.

[J-Man]

im off to work, so wait till 10 pm to post them. :tongue:

[bensenvill]

:disgust: Ok Terry.

:rofl:

I'll go through the rest of the pictures when I get home shortly.


_wheres my dancing banana_

:wiggle:

never mind, this is more of a wiggler event

[J-Man]

ahem!

[BigBalledOX]

:rolleyes: Cubs are on, deal with it.

[jaged]

how bout some jaged racing parts since you have one of everything i make....

[BigBalledOX]

I haven't gotten 'em in yet poonstalk. :tongue:

[jaged]

you havent even installed the antenna:eek: that ones easy to do

[bensenvill]

:rolleyes: Cubs are on, deal with it.


game ended 20 minutes ago.


are you dead?

[bensenvill]

cubs are coming for you St. Louis

[BigBalledOX]

you havent even installed the antenna:eek: that ones easy to do

Whoops. :flushed: Yeah, thats on. I just haven't done the other two. :tongue:

[NascarSigEp]

Did I miss the lca pics?

























:rofl:

[BigBalledOX]

No, I actually went through them and don't have any.

I'll get more the next time I have the car up on the lift . . . which will be soon. :wiggle:

[NascarSigEp]

schweet.

[BigBalledOX]

Hopefully Thursday, April 27 when I return to Logan for some fine-tuning of the engine before Canadian takes possesion of it, because they're hopefully gonna do subframe connectors that day. :biggrin: