My 1987 Two Door Crown Victoria AKA THE BROWN BLOB

[massacre]

Whole car is immaculate. One of the most killer looking Box Panthers imho

[87gtVIC]

Thanks

Unseasonably warm here...Popped outside and jacked up the car.



Measured angle of crank, driveshaft and then pinion.

Got crank relation to driveshaft to .25 degrees. Ideal is zero acceptable is up to .50 degrees. I did this by adding a 1/8" shim I plasma cut up to go between the trans and the trans mount. I recently removed a tranny mount which set the tranny 1/4" lower.

Got pinion angle to -2.50 degrees. Very little adjustment was needed on the upper rear arms and I am all set to go.

While the car was up so damn high I went around and greased everything...u joints, rear control arms, upper/lower ball joints, sway bar endlinks and frame mounts, tierods and pitman arm. Put neato caps on everything too.

Think the battery is letting go. The deltran battery tender said battery was fully charged but she had no guts to turn it over. Popped on the jump pack and it fired right up. I believe the battery is from 2016 when the engine was changed out.

[monterey1962]

Your attention to detail with cars amazes me. Car looks great.

[87gtVIC]

Thanks.


Had to put a new battery in the car today. I had to use a jump pack the last few times to start it. The battery tender/maintainer said battery was fully charged, and it was. It just failed the load test. Battery was dated April 2016. Believe that was around the time I put the motor in. Cant argue about that considering it just kinda sits all week and then gets ran on weekends if the weather is good.

[friskyfrankie]

Seems that it is a good policy to change batteries every 3-4 years and not wait for a fail. Not like it used to be where you got 8-10 years from a battery! As current things stand, you got your $'s worth!

[packman]

Thanks.


Had to put a new battery in the car today. I had to use a jump pack the last few times to start it. The battery tender/maintainer said battery was fully charged, and it was. It just failed the load test. Battery was dated April 2016. Believe that was around the time I put the motor in. Cant argue about that considering it just kinda sits all week and then gets ran on weekends if the weather is good.

At least I know what to expect out of my NAPA battery; as my CV will be driven in the same manner.

[gadget73]

Anymore it seems like if you get more than 5 years out of a battery you're doing pretty good.

[87gtVIC]

I did a thing.

It is minor yet something that has been annoying me for quite some time.

I added back the tilt forward seat levers.

I could not locate a set of two door hinges so I did what many recommended...using the welder.

While on a junkyard trip (in New Orleans....was there for work) I cut off a couple seat back tilt levers from a mid to late 90's mustang.

I welded on the little bits I cut off and then used the mustang knob as well. It works and I can get to the back seats easier now.

[87gtVIC]

Also took care of an annoying problem I noticed late last year.

My clutch pedal was really loose and I did not know why. I mulled over it all winter expecting the welds broke that held the clutch pedal pivot tube in place on the pedal assembly which would require the entire pedal assembly to be removed. This would not be fun whatsoever so I just procrastinated over it.

Manned up yesterday and while I had the seat out I pulled the underdash carpeting and then to my amazement I found out that just the pedals nut was loose. This was such a relief.

[gadget73]

if it works loose again, maybe a self-locking nut of some type would get it done.

[Mainemantom]

The seat back levers look to be more sturdy than the originals. Maybe they will not bend and break. I also like the center arm rest/console from a Lincoln. I wish I could find a maroon one.
Don't those clips on the floor mats catch on your shoes ? You might remove the chrome piece on the top and keep them near by.

[slack]

Glad to hear the clutch pedal was something simple like that. I had a similar experience with my GMQ recently. It was running like crap/hard to start. 1000 things went through my head as to what it could be. Once I had time to actually look, it was just a loose spark plug wire. Easy fixes are the best fixes.

[87gtVIC]

if it works loose again, maybe a self-locking nut of some type would get it done.

Absolutely will try that out. I have a clutch pedal height adjuster kit installed so I will have to see if I have enough threads left to fit a lock washer if things come to that.

Link to said clutch pedal height adjuster kit: https://lmr.com/item/MM-MMCL10/82-93...BoCZ3UQAvD_BwE

The seat back levers look to be more sturdy than the originals. Maybe they will not bend and break. I also like the center arm rest/console from a Lincoln. I wish I could find a maroon one.
Don't those clips on the floor mats catch on your shoes ? You might remove the chrome piece on the top and keep them near by.

I have you in my thoughts for when I go out to the yards for a maroon set (grabbing any set really in decent shape) as they are just too damn cool.

I have no experience with the original seat tilt levers. I can only hope these dont break off.

No issues with the clips catching my shoes. I will say though that the clips are not strong enough. The clear mat still walks up towards the firewall on me.

Glad to hear the clutch pedal was something simple like that. Easy fixes are the best fixes.

Amen.

[sly]

+1 hurray for easy fix.

[87gtVIC]

Vacation...

Jacked the car up, took off the sway bars (so I can strip them and repaint them with real paint this time...2k primer and paint) and swapped on my powder coated front and rear calipers. Once the bars are painted I will swap on the LX sport wheels and drive in style.













Super happy. Fronts were purchased powdercoated and the rears I did myself.

Front bar:



Rear bar



They didnt last. They were painted with duplicolor engine paint some years back.

BTW...super unstable with no sway bars on the car.

MVP of the day is my harbor freight HOLT vacuum brake bleeder. Second time I used it, first was back a few weeks helping a friend on with his 87 mustang gt. It works damn good when you are all alone and have no one to play the pedals for you.

https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-air-operated-brake-bleeder-with-auto-refill-kit-57057.html