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Topic: Ever see this weird combo? (Read 3706 times) previous topic - next topic

Ever see this weird combo?

I was outside taking pics for another thread, so I figured I would take a pic of this too.

I had never seen a plain XR-7 wheel with no cruise buttons. And I had never seen a turn signal lever with the cruise controls on it. This 85 XR-7 I have has this weird combo.

In all the 9 other cougars I have owned, and all of the ones I have seen in the junk yard, I have never seen this combo.

I assume it was cruise that was added later, but the lever does have the ford logo on it...

(pardon my dirty car, and yes my glovebox has a tan handle...)

CoogarXR
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #1
my 85 xr7 has the same wheel with no cruise whatsoever, then again my cougar's 5 speed too

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #2
I thought that was a later style wheel? My 86 has the A frame type wheel

 

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #3
Maybe dealer added cruise?  I'm more confused about the turn signal and wiper controls being on the same side!  Seems really akward.  My TC had the wipers on the the right, out of the way.
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #4
That is a factory non-cruise 2-spoke sport wheel with the dealer-added cruise control system. I don't know if I'd call either of them "rare" but they're both not real common.

FWIW I'd tend to think the Ford dealer cruise control system might be a tad more reliable in the long run, due to its standalone setup (no contact pins on the steering wheel, etc.). Fewer wires to get pinched. ;)

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #5
Quote from: EricCoolCats;278043
That is a factory non-cruise 2-spoke sport wheel with the dealer-added cruise control system. I don't know if I'd call either of them "rare" but they're both not real common.

FWIW I'd tend to think the Ford dealer cruise control system might be a tad more reliable in the long run, due to its standalone setup (no contact pins on the steering wheel, etc.). Fewer wires to get pinched. ;)


Thanks, I figured it was the dealer-added cruise, I just had never seen one. This car seems to not have a lot of options. It has power windows and mirrors, AC, and that's about it. No power locks, manual seats, no intermittent wipers, etc. I'm glad to have power windows again, leaning my fat ass over the console in my 83 to reach the passenger window crank is getting old :hick:

I don't know if that cruise works yet. I still have only rode around the neighborhood (no highways). I need to get off my lazy arse and get some plates for it, heh.

CoogarXR
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #6
Yeah, definitely let us know how that works. I'm hoping it's not as jerky as the factory cruise control can be when you set the speed.

Your car didn't seem to have any preferred equipment package (PEP) so all options were either standalone or part of the XR7 package. Still, you could get a rather stripped-down XR7...I've seen them before and it always confused me LOL.

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #7
Mine is a non cruise car as well. Yours looks to be similarly equipped as mine is.

Side note: Do you have dual power seats? Mine does. Thats about the only thing that looks special on mine.

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #8
wow,
talk about "not in the EVTM".  I wonder if its in a shop manual somewhere. 

Nice to know stuff.

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #9
Quote from: EricCoolCats;278043
That is a factory non-cruise 2-spoke sport wheel with the dealer-added cruise control system. I don't know if I'd call either of them "rare" but they're both not real common.

FWIW I'd tend to think the Ford dealer cruise control system might be a tad more reliable in the long run, due to its standalone setup (no contact pins on the steering wheel, etc.). Fewer wires to get pinched. ;)


Seems like the solution to use that 85-86 Capri wheel as I've always wanted to do...

Too bad I sold the PRISTINE one I had...:mad:
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #10
Quote from: EricCoolCats;278043
That is a factory non-cruise 2-spoke sport wheel with the dealer-added cruise control system. I don't know if I'd call either of them "rare" but they're both not real common.

FWIW I'd tend to think the Ford dealer cruise control system might be a tad more reliable in the long run, due to its standalone setup (no contact pins on the steering wheel, etc.). Fewer wires to get pinched. ;)


Quote from: EricCoolCats;278047
Yeah, definitely let us know how that works. I'm hoping it's not as jerky as the factory cruise control can be when you set the speed.

Your car didn't seem to have any preferred equipment package (PEP) so all options were either standalone or part of the XR7 package. Still, you could get a rather stripped-down XR7...I've seen them before and it always confused me LOL.



I saw an 87 base 3.8 T-bird at the yard once with the same dealer cruise set up. It had power windows and locks but that was it. The rest of the stuff was manual. Hell I don't think it even had a tape deck just an AM/FM radio.

On the jerky factory cruise control: I thought it was just mine :hick:. Every time I set the speed it jumps up about 2-3 mph. Now I know it's not just my car.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #11
Quote from: booksix;278042
Maybe dealer added cruise?  I'm more confused about the turn signal and wiper controls being on the same side!  Seems really akward.  My TC had the wipers on the the right, out of the way.
Really? I've never seen that, every Thundercat I've owned (an 85 T-Bird V6, an 88 Cougar V8, an 87 Sport, an 88 T-Bird V8, and an 87 TC 5-speed parts car) had the wipers and turn signals on the left. The only lever on the right in any of my cars was the column shifter in cars so equipped (all but the Sport and TC)...

CoogarXR, you do have an oddly optioned one, don't you? I note it also doesn't have pulse wipers...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #12
Quote from: thunderjet302;278080
On the jerky factory cruise control: I thought it was just mine :hick:. Every time I set the speed it jumps up about 2-3 mph. Now I know it's not just my car.


I've had quite a few Fords over the years and it seems like the late 80's to the mid 90's Fords had this prob but maybe it was just me.

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #13
You can have cruise with a manual. My grandma had a 91? tracer with crusie and a stick.

Is the wipers on the right hand side a 83-84 thing?
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

Ever see this weird combo?

Reply #14
Of course you can have cruise with a manual. Most 87-88 TC's have cruise. In fact my 88 5.0 with the swapped-in T5 still has cruise, including the clutch-kill feature. My just-bought daily-driver Saturn has cruise and a stick as well.

As for the wiper stalk thing, according to this image from Coolcats the wipers were on the left, just like the 85-88:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣