Cougar Dash Surgery - Clock & Speaker Install - Don't Break Stuff!

After my last video, which involved installing an upgraded stereo in my classic 1968 Mercury Cougar, I was bummed out that my "new-a-few-years-ago" dash speaker was already blown. I knew it would be a big job to replace it, so I needed at least one other good reason to take the whole dash apart. That's when I remembered I had a rebuilt quartz clock to install! So, out came the tools, and out came the dash.
Getting to the clock and the speaker means removing the dash face pad (on a base model, non-XR-7 Cougar at least), the gauge cluster, the ashtray, the radio, the glovebox, and the plastic dash bezels. Many of these things are fragile and nearly irreplaceable, so it's important to be careful.
Note that this job is a little different on a XR-7; for that I recommend checking out West Coast Classic Cougar's video which goes further into restoring gauges, lighting, etc.: • Dash Removal & Restora...
In the end, the surgery was successful, and I now have a working dash speaker and a perfectly-running clock! Seemingly minor things, but very satisfying to have all of that working in a car of this age.
Useful links:
West Coast Classic Cougar - Any and all parts for 1967-1973 Mercury Cougars: secure.cougarpartscatalog.com
Rocketman - Gauge services for classic Cougars, and other Ford/Lincoln/Mercury: www.rccinnovations.com
VIDEO CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
2:09 - Dash Face Pad Removal
4:13 - Gauge Cluster Removal
7:11 - Passenger Dash Bezel Removal
9:51 - Dash Speaker Replacement
12:17 - Clock Installation
14:28 - Reassembly
19:23 - Conclusions

[@bmt336]

Super cool with that classic white interior

[@boilerhousegarage]

Nice work! Now you've got some quality sounds in your Cougar, you can cruise around and pick up another type of cougar--and remind her of her youth in the back of it! 😆

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Nah, wouldn't want to mess up the upholstery. Sometimes wish they would have named this car something else...

[@mrbookends]

So glad for another upload! You know you're onto a winning recipe when the actual content doesn't matter!

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Well I'm glad to hear that! Sometimes I wonder if the content is too niche or boring for a video. Glad to hear that's not the case.

[@gearhead9828]

Love your videos, great work. And the music is really cool 😎

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Glad you like them!

[@toomars1301]

Excellent! Looking forward to more content! Thanks!

[@donrush5690]

Too bad you did not know about the reproduction clips for the 68 dash face pad we have coming out in a few weeks.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

That is too bad. What about the face pad itself, and/or surrounding trim? Any hopes for that?

[@michaelwitas9482]

Did you install the kick panel speakers too? Or, are you just using the dash speaker with the twin drivers?

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Yes, I show all that in the video before this one. Kick panel speakers as well as rear package tray 6x9's, all hidden.

[@michaelwitas9482]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff I guess what confuses me is why you need the in-dash stereo speaker if you also have the front kick panel speakers. Is there an additional set of outputs in your converted radio for an in dash stereo speaker that can be used simultaneously with the kick panel and rear deck speakers? Anyway, I enjoyed your video and you have done a beautiful restoration.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

@@michaelwitas9482 I don't "need" all of them, it just helps add to the soundstage in front, having something up closer to ear level rather than just the foot-level speakers. They all add something to the mix. The upgraded radio technically just has 4 speaker outputs; I wired the 4 front speakers together, then the rear ones on their own. It works fine and sounds good! Thanks for your comments.

[@michaelwitas9482]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff OK, thank you for the explanation. Now I understand.