So I did as my dad would have told me, and paid (as opposed to paided, that would be bad too ;) ) $850 instead of $500 (with the other guy keeping his caprice hubcaps and the car's battery) and got a NICE 80's Crown Vic. This is an '87. So it has the SEFI which is good. CFI would work but I mean hey always a plus right?
Apparently until 1.5 yrs ago it never saw a winter...was his grandfather's car, and he says the guy had a subaru he used for that.
This was totally what I wanted. I would have gladly taken anything that would run and drive, but my far-fetched-idealistic goal was that I would love have another 5.0-powered barge, seeing as I can trust that for sure.
He put a new exhaust on it, WOW is it quiet. I can't stand it LOL. Pipe sounds like a heat register in a house. Secondly, the steering is NOT rack and pinion! Never knew this. An ol' steering box with a pitman arm. Must have something to do with the ridiculous power steering. Holy I guess that's why a lof of old people own em haha.
Finally....a FULL FRAME? Wow. Nuts. I didnt think anything other than....trucks...had a frame after what 1970 or so? Very cool. This is just as much of a tank as the '38! 99% of the frame still has the paint on it, the car is very clean, I feel bad making it a winter car! :rollin: Seriously though, I'll be washing it a lot, as much as I can, I want this one to stay nice too lol. As much as I can help it anyway.
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/paulcougar50/PA010152.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/paulcougar50/PA010153.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/paulcougar50/PA010157.jpg)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p205/paulcougar50/PA010154.jpg)
Looks good.
There was a guy on the Corral I used to talk to often that had one and he installed a GT40 intake,headers,Locker rear,Mass Air,electric fan,etc.Total sleeper from the outside.Nice score.I'd take one myself if I could find one.I actually want a Ford Festiva.Just a little car to take all over locally.A parts hauler.
I hate you for finding a nice car. ;)
Set of Cobra wheels and some FlowMasters and you'll be pimpin'. :D
Oh believe me I'd have fun with this one too if I had $$ LOL.
Im still waiting for thunderjet haha ;)
Nice score. A guy I used to work with had one of those with a 351 in it. I think it was like an '82 model or something. Same color as yours too.
Nice.............I had them back in the day and wish they still made them. They are good cars. In regards to the steering is very possible to "beat" the power assist in fast turning and suddenly loose the power assist. That was the only complaint I ever had about those cars.
Wow, I'd jump on that for $850. That's a great deal. You can find cars like that around here, but they all weigh about half as much. That's because the bodies have rusted away.... Nice score!!
Nice ride, I love all the box cars from the 80s.
I've never seen one of those cars that still had bumpers left on them. but again it never really saw a NY winter.
Nice find...
how about a 4 lug conversion and t bird wheels?
[only a joke] nice find and a comfy ride too--irv
Yep there's another thing lol 8.8 rear and 5 lug! I tell ya I'd LOVE to be able to have my ten holes or even the gold turbines :screwy: haha
the first car I ever drove was a 91 crown vic station wagon. It'd chirp the tires.
Nice old Panther. I'd love to find an early 80's two-door model.
FYI, the Crown Vic didn't get rack & peanut steering until 2003. And they still have a full frame :hick I believe many Mercedes cars still use recirculating ball steering
What I'd keep it stock. That's what DDs are for ;) Well I do have a HO cam kicking around and can easily get cheap E7s.......nah I'd leave it stock ;)
My uncle has a red 85 Crown Vic that looks the same way. It's got 50,000 miles on it and is pretty much mint. The only options it has are A/C (which still works perfect) and AM/FM with a tape. It has crank windows and manual locks and seats. It bet it's the lightest 85 Crown Vic from the factory ;)
No I was waiting for your reaction to the fact that it isnt a..........3.8 :hick: LOL
Well my DD gets better gas mileage :hick:
I dont even WANT to know what this thing would perform like with a 3.8. :rollin: It's going on the road when the cat comes off, but I did test drive it, and it was hilarious going through his neighborhood, at about 25 mph in 3rd probably, easing into it (and it shifted so smooth I didnt KNOW it shifted) and waiting. And waiting. Um nothing happening OH WAIT the speedometer moved like an 1/8 inch LOL. It will be very interesting to be able to basically side by side compare the power I have now with the power I once had before all the modz.
You can kinda compare it. The Vic weighs about 500 lbs more than the Cougar ;)
Well yes that too haha
Well, as much as I like the 80-82 Box Foxes, I've never been a fan of the full-size granddaddy mobiles. Looks like a clean start though :p
Haha hey I'm not lookin to go anywhere with it. Strictly a winter vehicle. We'll see how it holds up with me washing it as frequently as is reasonable.
I'd honestly love to drive it as long as it will last me. If I can keep on using it after I'm out of school, great. Not the greatest vehicle for the SNOW....so that would have to be taken into account down the line. But there's going to be a point, when I can AMPLY afford it of course, that the cougar is not going to be a fair-weather even, DD anymore. I LOVE that it is, I love crusing around all summer, but, say, in 2012, when in this state, I'll be able to put Historical plates on it and classic insurance, it will not be a DD anymore. Probably like thunderjet's car...cruises, shows, and weekend romping, prolly take it to work on Friday :D. I could never shelve it. I think that's a sin. But I want it to be more pampered than it is now.
So maybe this will be the summer DD and then I need a FWD or 4x4 snow car. And now we're talking ANOTHER vehicle. Insurance, storage....$$$$$$$$$$. So this is a really idealistic plan. I'll see what happens. Either way, I intend to care for and maintain this as meticulously as I do my other two machines.