Hello from South Dakota!

[RiggRMortis]

Hey folks! I just picked up an 85 LTD CV about a week ago for $950. Car has 97k original miles on it and the paper trail leading back to the date of purchase new in 85 to prove it. Runs and drives decent. EVERYTHING works! This blew me away that everything in the car is functional. Cruise control, original stereo/speakers, clock, AC (converted), light under the hood... It all works.

I've always had a thing for big, old cars. But never paid these any mind at all. Always thought the back end was ugly as sin, and just never had an interest in them. Well, I bought this one after test driving it. For the price, I'm sure I couldn't have found better. Since I've had it, it's growing on me. Not sure what it is about it, but every day I like it a little more.

I've ordered a Sunpro triple gauge set, and I'm plotting dual exhaust, new fenders (the ones on it are rusted through above the wheel wells.), adding speakers to the door, stereo, a dash cover... I do, however, have some questions:

1. What motor is in it? I know it's either a 302 or a 351W, but I can't seem to find much info on it. Just when I think I've decided it's a 302, I'll see a random post somewhere about the 351 in their 85 CV... I'm pretty sure it's a 302, but...

2. What do I need to know about exhaust? I'm planning on grabbing some headers from a junk yard, and possibly an H pipe as well. But I'm not sure what I'm looking for besides a 302. (if that's what it is)

3. Any good sites for parts?

I'm sure there are more questions, but it's early, and I worked all night. lol

[SVT98t]

Welcome to the Party!!


-ryan s.

[VicCrownVic]

Welcome!

For $950 you're right, it would be extremely difficult to find anything better based on your description. Once the price on a car gets that low it can be pretty rare that everything works.

302 and 351 were both options for these cars, I'm not sure if I can help identify which engine it has. Maybe with pictures but even then I know there are plenty of people on here that would be better at identifying what you have. Same goes for exhaust, I'll leave that to someone more knowledgeable than myself.

For parts rockauto.com often has some great prices and many people on here, myself included, have ordered plenty of parts through them. Ebay is my next source for online parts, but not everyone is comfortable with Ebay.

[slack]

Welcome!

+1 on RockAuto for parts. Just be careful with their multiple warehouse shipping when selecting stuff. That can rack up the shipping prices.

[RiggRMortis]

Welcome!

For $950 you're right, it would be extremely difficult to find anything better based on your description. Once the price on a car gets that low it can be pretty rare that everything works.

302 and 351 were both options for these cars, I'm not sure if I can help identify which engine it has. Maybe with pictures but even then I know there are plenty of people on here that would be better at identifying what you have. Same goes for exhaust, I'll leave that to someone more knowledgeable than myself.

For parts rockauto.com often has some great prices and many people on here, myself included, have ordered plenty of parts through them. Ebay is my next source for online parts, but not everyone is comfortable with Ebay.

I'm guessing, by the performance alone, it's a 302. But I have nothing to compare it to, so I could be wrong.

I've looked around RockAuto, and they seem to have the best selection, but not what I'm really looking for right now. I need clean fenders mainly. The rest of the car is rust free or only has little spots of surface rust. Junkyards around here either don't have any of them, or they are rusted out. Ebay I have a few issues with, but if I can't find what I want for a reasonable price I usually try there, but there aren't any on there either. :/

[79lincolnlover]

Welcome! I don't think there's any aftermarket fenders for box models. If you own a '92+ you can order replacement fenders from some junkyards. They are made overseas of course.

[RiggRMortis]

Welcome! I don't think there's any aftermarket fenders for box models. If you own a '92+ you can order replacement fenders from some junkyards. They are made overseas of course.

I don't, unfortunately. I managed to find a junkyard that has a set with very little rust, and no rust-through, but the guy wants more than I paid for the whole car for the set. I'm guessing he knows they rust badly, and expects a kings ransom for the gold he holds. lol

[ralph.robichaud]

🔤on a $1000 car , what,s wrong with a bit of fibre tape and bonds to repair the existing fenders, and color coded spray can from Sherwin Williams auto paint. Total under $100 and a few hours of elbow grease.


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[gabegt90]

Greetings welcome to Gmn where in South Dakota are you from ? I've traveled through during my trucking days I like the rapid city area

[RiggRMortis]

Greetings welcome to Gmn where in South Dakota are you from ? I've traveled through during my trucking days I like the rapid city area

Chamberlain. Soon to be Mitchell. Used to be Rapid city.

[gabegt90]

I used to take 212 From belle fourche all the way in to south east Montana talk about another world out there of nothing ness lol was beautiful out there lots of Indian reservations. I used to spend the night in beresford a lot

[RiggRMortis]

Beresford has pretty much dried up. They are down to one gas station, no restaurants and a motel that's only open half the year.

So I was looking through the the paperwork that was in the glove box, and I found in the maintenance record book, that it has a 351. But it was written in there, not printed. I can't seem to figure out what motor is in it, and it's driving me nuts.

[sly]

take a pic (up close of the lower intake showing the distributor and thermostat housing and maybe a little of the heads). Thermostat will be easier to get at on a 351 than a 302 as it sits a little higher and clears the timing cover.

This is of course if I remember correctly.

[RiggRMortis]

I'll snap some pics tomorrow if I have time.

Which is the better motor? I was hoping it was the 351 for the extra power, but after some research it looks like there's not much difference after they dumbed it down for emissions.

[sly]

for the stock engine... not much. For building up from the stock engine, the 351 as you can get much better numbers out of it in the end. For spending money on... the 302 can be built for a little less, but not by much. The same heads will fit both.