1984 Grand Marquis to make the Ultimate sacrifice.. Organ donor to senior Ford Truck

[klwinter2]

My 1984 Grand Marquis has consented to donate its engine, transmission, electrical system to a tired 1949 Ford F1 truck that need the transplant to survive..

1. I could use suggestiosn to conduct a surgical removal of the parts to facilitate a clean installation of the engine in the donor..
I need to move everything.. engine, trans, computer, complete wiring harness, AC, Cooling system, Cruise..

2. I want the interior of the truck to remain mostly stock..All cab mounted required GM controls will hidden.. This will be an OEM truck on the surface with the Heart of the GM..

3. The truck Transmission shifter will be a stock, three speed manual column or an antique floor shifter... I'm not sure how to make detentes and shifter length adjustments.

4. The AC system... IT appears that the AC system in the GM is LARGE. I was happy to see that most of the parts are under the hood..
As the Truck cab space is much smaller and the 1984 system is R12 should I source a system form a more modern FORD... yes I know.. Vintage AIR.. This is a low budget project.. I want to prove a Cool/reliable vehicle can be build with used or low cost/used parts... Frankly I am having a BLast looking for rusty/patina/era correct parts for the truck. I am going for the old/tired/rusty look with the function of reliable/good power/creature features...

5. Does the 1984 Body have any value to the members of this group? It is solid and complete.The body panels have surface rustClick image for larger version.

The interior is cleaner than my daily driver.. It has an amazing 62,000 miles.. It was a GRANDMOTHERS car..

Kenneth
Tazewell TN

[gadget73]

honestly, a pre-86 engine is the last thing I'd use for a donor. The CFI system is quirky, and the engines are anemic at best. Its also a bit of a crap engine due to the plastic timing gears and the flat tappet camshaft. It will work, but its a lot of trouble for 140 ponies of wheezy glory. The wiring will basically come out as a unit, but its messy. The later harness is a little more self-contained, but probably not by a huge amount. Where an 86+ motor really shines is the roller cam and the double roller timing chain that gives much better durability. You also get about 160hp with dual exhaust. Not a big number improvement, but having driven CFI cars and SEFI cars, the SEFI definitely has more perk to it. Its also probably easier to get parts for since the Mustangs used a lot of the same parts. The early AOD is also not particularly strong. The best ones are 89+

Honestly I'd leave Grandma's car alone, or sell it for what it is and buy a later car that has some body issues, and use that for a driveline donor. Seems a shame to turn a nice clean car with a lame driveline into a parts car and a truck with a lame driveline.


The AC system would probably freeze your nipples off, even with R134 in it. Its largely under the hood. The only thing would be fabricating an evaporator case to get cold into the cabin. maybe a comprimise is a VA evaporator plumbed into the 80s Ford system.

[Mainemantom]

You have a pm regarding parts.