My 1987 Two Door Crown Victoria AKA THE BROWN BLOB

[FatNasty]

also if that alternator support bracket is like mine you grounded it to a piece of aluminum...which is not a very good material to ground to...haha

aluminum has better conductivity than iron or steel. assuming that bracket has good contact with the the block its fine.

[jayh]

what color are you going to paint it?

black would look good

[91grandmarquis]

Damn, I need to step up my game. Haha. Nice work.

[87gtVIC]

Vinyl Top Removal and Police Gauge Panel Install

what color are you going to paint it?

black would look good

It will be painted a Dark metallic Brown color. I have to check out the color book to get an actual name. Black..everyone has black, now a Dark metallic Brown... Not many people will have that at car shows. It will probably look close to black in the shade

Damn, I need to step up my game. Haha. Nice work.

It is okay mang. I just happened to have a week off allowing me to get a few things done here and there. It is unfortunate I do not have the knowledge to do actual mechanical upgrades.

Today I wrestled with the 23 year old vinyl top. Boy was that a rough 5hrs lol. But I got it all off in roughly one piece.

Trim removed:



That rust color is from one clip that completely rusted away!:



The trim:



Just getting started:



Almost there:



Ahh:



One piece:



New police gauge panel installed:









I think it looks good.

[1990LTD]

Gonna be refinishing it in the stock brown/brown?


Looks like you're doing a bunch of good work to that car. I can't wait to see it finished and I wish I had the skills to do this stuff.

[marquisman]

i like how you are staying with brown, its a nice color. reminds me of the struggle i had with the lincoln and GMGTs vinyl roof lol. i also notice the vics vinyl strap is only the one piece compared to the lincoln and marquis 2 piece strap.

[91grandmarquis]

Are you slick topping it? Sorry if I missed this little smidget of info, you have gotten far too much work done for me to stay on top of things. I really want to see this thing done.

Edit: Done* being a relative term.... I know none of our cars will every be "Done"

[87gtVIC]

Night Pictures

Gonna be refinishing it in the stock brown/brown?


Looks like you're doing a bunch of good work to that car. I can't wait to see it finished and I wish I had the skills to do this stuff.

Thanks mang. And yes brown with brown top probably. You have the skills. Everyone does. It takes mostly a lot of patience.

i like how you are staying with brown, its a nice color. reminds me of the struggle i had with the lincoln and GMGTs vinyl roof lol. i also notice the vics vinyl strap is only the one piece compared to the lincoln and marquis 2 piece strap.

Thanks!

I really met my match with that top. By far the hardest thing I have ever done with the car.

Some night Pics with the engine off.

[hemihotrod402]

I still you should go with a black vinyl top to go with the brown pain
That gauge panel looks killer!

[87gtVIC]

Body Work Week Seven

I still you should go with a black vinyl top to go with the brown pain
That gauge panel looks killer!

We will see. and Thanks!

Brought my car in just to have the top half primered today. I still have to remove the bumpers and the bumper filler panels as well as have spots on the car touched up but I am getting closer.

It was a pain in the rear to get all of the fuzzy stuff off:







Masked off:







Layin' some primer:





The place the car is getting worked at:





The end result with a guide coat down.








Gonna have to begin wet sanding the primer soon once all of the body work is done with 400 then 600 grit sand paper. This paint is gonna be smooth!

Side note:

The car is a freakin blast to drive as of late. Coming home from the body shop my dad opened her up to 90. I think he had some fun too. All of the gauges read properly and the car is preforming flawlessly. Installed a new coolant temp sensor for the computer and the car now idles MUCH smoother and it is all around pure awesomeness.

[P72Ford]

Are you going with a slick top (sorry if you already mentioned that detail)?

The dark brown is going to pop nicely! I was reading something online the other day about brown being the new black. When I drove by the local Dodge dealer yesterday, they had 3 heavy duty Rams on the front line, all brown (albeit a lighter shade).

Dark brown metallic is classy.

Good work, David! Its going to be a sharp ride. Are you passing on the police gauge bezel that I sold you?

Also... one of these days I hope to look through this thread and see images of a powerwashed engine bay...

[87gtVIC]

Are you going with a slick top (sorry if you already mentioned that detail)?

The dark brown is going to pop nicely! I was reading something online the other day about brown being the new black. When I drove by the local Dodge dealer yesterday, they had 3 heavy duty Rams on the front line, all brown (albeit a lighter shade).

Dark brown metallic is classy.

Good work, David! Its going to be a sharp ride. Are you passing on the police gauge bezel that I sold you?

Also... one of these days I hope to look through this thread and see images of a powerwashed engine bay...

New Vinyl will go on.

Thanks Nate. It means a lot coming from you. Yes the gauge bezel will be passed on in due time. Twas cracked but repaired and looks pretty much exactly like it did when I picked it off of you. It will even be reinforced with metal surrounding behind the gauge openings to prevent future crackings for future owners.

And yes I cringe every time I post a shot with the engine in it. I do want to clean it. It will happen, but by hand with scolding hot water and engine cleaner products.

[jayh]

are there any performance mods coming?

is there a turbo or a blower in your future?

[Grand_Marquis_LSS]

Awsome progress!

[91grandmarquis]

If these images were in an album I you would have sticky pages if you know what I mean. Nice work, it is getting there for sure.