1986 Grand Marquis

[sly]

Fixed the video link... Don't use the "YouTube" Icon. It's for keeping really old posts functional. Use the video icon just to the left of the " (quote) icon. That's the one that works with the full youtube address.

[1985crownvicltd85]

I completed the 3g alt upgrade. The second time i’ve done this.

This past week I’ve been collecting the parts required to do so. I bought the alternator and connector from a guy parting out a 1994 Mustang V6 ($25) Alternator charge cable from a early 2000’s Taurus and the mega fuse ($20)

While trying to take the old 2g alternator off the bottom bolt did not want to come out, so I sprayed penetrating fluid on the bolt and worked it back and forth and eventually I was able to break it free.

The alternator fit right in, and I modified the required wiring. When its a bit warmer I plan on cleaning up the harness and completely removing the old 2g harness.
I ordered a mega fuse holder, but it had not arrived yet, so for now I have the fuse directly bolted to the starter solenoid

[87gtVIC]

Nice. Definitely a worth while upgrade.

[Tiggie]

Need to do this myself. Waiting on a junkyard run to grab a connector and some donor wiring. Hoping to nail the fusible link version from a donor. Don't like the look of the fuses, even if they are more easily serviced.

[kishy]

The other night, I was helping a friend work on his car, and he needed a hose clamp. I brought my little variety kit of them, which I purchased at Princess Auto, and he proceeded to strip it nearly immediately. Couldn't tighten it down at all on the rad hose.

We studied the clamp and how it failed and realized it was defective from new. There are a couple things that went wrong; one, the tabs don't properly interlock on the inside of the clamp so the body around the screw can expand, and the other is the metal is super soft. They are plated to look like they might be steel but they act like they're aluminum or a very soft alloy. We tested a couple other clamps including around firm steel tubing and they all failed with very little torque on the screw.

Anyway, the reason I'm saying this here is, at least two of the clamps I used on the heater hoses of this car came out of that kit, which means they're garbage and will probably fail. Unfortunately, based on my pic of doing the work, those clamps are the ones under the upper intake. You'd probably be well advised to replace them. I'm sorry that I didn't realize they were no good when I put them on.

[friskyfrankie]

The other night, I was helping a friend work on his car, and he needed a hose clamp. I brought my little variety kit of them, which I purchased at Princess Auto, and he proceeded to strip it nearly immediately. Couldn't tighten it down at all on the rad hose.

We studied the clamp and how it failed and realized it was defective from new. There are a couple things that went wrong; one, the tabs don't properly interlock on the inside of the clamp so the body around the screw can expand, and the other is the metal is super soft. They are plated to look like they might be steel but they act like they're aluminum or a very soft alloy. We tested a couple other clamps including around firm steel tubing and they all failed with very little torque on the screw.

Anyway, the reason I'm saying this here is, at least two of the clamps I used on the heater hoses of this car came out of that kit, which means they're garbage and will probably fail. Unfortunately, based on my pic of doing the work, those clamps are the ones under the upper intake. You'd probably be well advised to replace them. I'm sorry that I didn't realize they were no good when I put them on.

Cheap Chinese knockoffs?

[sly]

Bah. And humbug.

[1985crownvicltd85]

The other night, I was helping a friend work on his car, and he needed a hose clamp. I brought my little variety kit of them, which I purchased at Princess Auto, and he proceeded to strip it nearly immediately. Couldn't tighten it down at all on the rad hose.

We studied the clamp and how it failed and realized it was defective from new. There are a couple things that went wrong; one, the tabs don't properly interlock on the inside of the clamp so the body around the screw can expand, and the other is the metal is super soft. They are plated to look like they might be steel but they act like they're aluminum or a very soft alloy. We tested a couple other clamps including around firm steel tubing and they all failed with very little torque on the screw.

Anyway, the reason I'm saying this here is, at least two of the clamps I used on the heater hoses of this car came out of that kit, which means they're garbage and will probably fail. Unfortunately, based on my pic of doing the work, those clamps are the ones under the upper intake. You'd probably be well advised to replace them. I'm sorry that I didn't realize they were no good when I put them on.

Noted, I’ll take care of that asap.

[gadget73]

hose clamps are so simple you'd like to think that they aren't possible to mess up, but I have found that cheap ones just don't work well.

[sly]

And often the included clamps are middling at best and typically garbage.

[1985crownvicltd85]

Swapped in Wagon springs, because the rear sat too low for my liking.

[Tiggie]

Looking good.

Wasn't quite sure what that white fluffy stuff was. It doesn't snow in Virginia any more, so I hardly recognized it.

[1985crownvicltd85]

Looking good.

Wasn't quite sure what that white fluffy stuff was. It doesn't snow in Virginia any more, so I hardly recognized it.

I'd like to say the same, Im not a big fan of snow

[1985crownvicltd85]

Since owning this car i’ve noticed that the accelerator pedal is close to the floor so I took up some slack in the cable with zip ties, I did this to my two door when I first got it and it seems to be holding up after almost 5 years, so im hoping for the same results here.




Next thing I noticed was the door chime wasn’t working. I removed it and noticed one of the terminals broke off. So i soldered it back on and plugged it in, There was a faint chime so I took it back off and disassembled it and I was going to put a new o-ring inside but didn’t have the correct size. So I went looking in my parts pile and found a good working one and swapped it in.

[1985crownvicltd85]

Update, finally found a trunk carpet, and package tray. I installed those the other day. Also, replaced the door switch assembly face plates with better looking ones. This weekend I should be getting the 5.0 top plate and distributor boot.