1982 Crown VIctoria LTD

[WallyAwesome]

So I baught my Crown leik 3 months ago for 100$ It has some rust on the body and a gaping hole in the frame but it has a great interior and no leaks or what not. It has 112k miles on it (we think, the meter doesnt have 6 digits) and still runs like a champion. As far as I know everything in it is original and generally in good condition. Now I am more of a computer expert than a car expert so repairs and restoration will be slow. I will post some pics tomarrow for people to see.

[WallyAwesome]

Ah my little to do list:

1: Replace my rear bumper and fix my rear brake line!!!!

2: Repair the beam, could use some suggestions on this. Would it be better to cut out the rusted section and weld in a new piece of steel or replace the entire beam (assuming that can be done)?

3: Fix the rust on the fenders. More suggestions welcome: Grind down the rust and fill it with fiber glass? Or buy new fenders and put those on.

4: Paint job! The creme has an old timey look to it but I hear it is expensive. So should I go with creme? red? black? grey? white? orange? pink? Plad!? Suggestions! Suggestions!

PIX ARE SOON TO ARRIVE!

[Blaze86Vic]

Here is a link to my thread on my frame repair. What you should do is really dependant on how bad it is. I was able to repait mine rather than replace it.

Fixed is on page 2.

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=3290

[WallyAwesome]

Sry no pics today, I had to go thru the registration process boolsh and getting a new battery and what not. I took her to an auto mechanic and he told me that he could not lift the car due to the rust on my frame! Blaze, it looks like you had the same problem as me but mine wasnt as large as that. Mine has maybe a foot and a half sized hole on the bottom = /. Could you post a pic of the jacks you used to lift the car?

[WallyAwesome]

Heh yah know I signed on today to tell you guys that I was going to get rid of my vic and to see if any of you wanted parts from it but with a bit of luck I may be able to fix her up and keep her for a while... hmmm I wonder if i can take some photos with this lack of day light...

[Blaze86Vic]

Just used a regular floor jack, and lifted it form the middle of the side and put it on stands. You can see where I positioned the stands in the front in this pic.



If yours is smaller than that, then you should be able to get it fixed easy. That job really didn't take me too long, even with a minor angle grinder injury. And now I don't have to think about where I'm putting the jack and if it's gonna crush the frame lol.

[WallyAwesome]

dam that mechanic must have hated good american cars... he kept telling me to get rid of the dam thing. My mind is set, tomarrow im going to go steal a welder and steal someone who can teach me how to weld. BTW any tips on welding?

[interceptor1985]

If it is really bad you can find frames at the junk yard or U-pull-it or what ever you go to. That would be better than fixing a bad one...BUT..It can be done if you really have to If I were going to do it I would get a "new frame" that way as the body is off I could do other stuff like repaint the frame and the under side of the body

[mrltd]

Fenders are inexpensive. I got a new one for 75 bucks. Should be able to find a junkyard fender for less.

[interceptor1985]

How about the Frame? Over here they arent that much.

[WallyAwesome]

I have never found a frame at a junkyard but then there is only 1 junk yard within an hour of where i live and they dont even take car parts = /. I would much rather replace the whole frame but it sounds like welding in new steel may be a quick fix for a while. What would the process be to remove the old frame and put in a new one? If it is something I can do myself then I will try my darndest!

[gadget73]

Frame swaps are a lot of work, usually more than just fixing one. Its not really rocket science, essentially you just unbolt the mounts, and disconnect absolutely everything that connects between the frame and the body, which is quite a lot of wiring, plumbing, etc. Then you need some way of lifting the body of the car off the frame and supporting it in a way that it won't bend.

[interceptor1985]

then again I have a body shop I could use and some good friends

[WallyAwesome]

Frame rot : [img] http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2416/pb060571jf8.jpg [/img]


Little interior shot: [img] http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?i...b060572iw9.jpg [/img]

[WallyAwesome]

o;u

Hosting images is hard!