LTDMan's '87 Mercury "Black Sunshine"

[LTDMan83]

Figured I might as well start another thread for my baby, since major work is about to begin soon. I'd like all you fellow Box Lovin Mangs, and the original owner Chris (87Mercman), to get to see some of the progress I'm gonna be making on her over the next year. I hate to give up the cars original name of Big Red, but since she is gonna be painted entirely in High-Gloss Black soon, Big Red wouldn't make much sense. So, I'm gonna name her Black Sunshine. Though she'll always be Pink, errr I mean Red on the inside.

Here's some of the things that have been done so far to the car. The first 8 things listed under drivetrain where already done before I got the car. I have done most everything else listed myself after getting the car, with the exception of a couple things. There are way too many small things to list, so only the major things that have been done are listed.


Drivetrain:

Complete 5.0L H.O. Engine Swap (from 91 T-Bird w/ Cobra Cam)
Mustang A9S Mass Air ECM
Mass Air Conversion w/70mm MAF
Ford Motorsports (Denso) 19lb Injectors
1/2in Intake Spacer
Dual Exhaust w/ Stock 2in H-pipe/ & Imco Turbo Mufflers
AOD Rebuilt (55K so far, and going strong)
Gutted Cats
New Modine Aluminum Radiator
Flamethrower II Ignition Coil/Bracket/Long Wire (Relocated to Fender Liner)
Custom True Cold Air Intake
Billet Aluminum Radiator Overflow Can
Modified Mustang 60mm HO Throttle Body
'86 Panther Dual Heater Pipes
'86 HO Intake Plate
Electric Radiator Fan Conversion
3G Alternator Conversion


Chassis:

Coil Over Rear Shocks
Monroe Sensa-Trac Front Shocks
Crossmember to Bulkhead Frame Bracing
1 3/16in Wagon Hollow Front Sway Bar
1 1/4in Aftermarket Solid Rear Sway Bar


Body:

Slicktop Conversion (all related trim deleted)
All Lower Body Trim Deleted
'79 Marquis Smooth Rear Bumper
1-Piece Front Door Glass Conversion
Fender to Core Support Bracing
TC Rear Power Antenna Conversion


Interior:

Lincoln Towncar SS Seats
Blue LED's in Speedo/Dash/Armrests/Tach
90-91 Lighted Woodgrain Armrest Inserts
Tripminder
Mint Trunk Carpeting
90-91 Carpeted Under Dash Covers
GM Rearview Mirror w/ Courtesy Lights
Sony Xplōd CDX-GT110 CD Player
Rockford Fosgate 6X9 Rear Speakers
Rockford Fosgate 4in Dash Speakers
Sunpro Tach Gauge


Repair & Resto:

Replaced Hood
Replaced PS Rear Door Glass
Replaced All Trim on Upper Half of Car
All 4 Power Window Motors Fully Rebuilt
Replaced All 4 Power Window Switch Trim Bezels
Replaced DS Front Door Main Power Window Switch
Replaced Front Bumper
Replaced DS Turn Signal Bulb Socket
Replaced A/C Condenser


Major amounts of Maintenance as well. Too much to list. Almost everything is done.






Whats the plan for this car you say? Just to turn it into a good looking and comfortable cruiser for me to joyride around the countryside in, take on road trips, and the occasional run. She is already 70% of the way there to my goal. She is a Rust-free and extremely Solid car, she runs and shifts smooth as glass, has plenty of power, Handles better than cars half her size, and Rides as smooth as a Magic Carpet. I basically just need to finish up her Interior (no prob), and get her body lookin good (major work). Unless any major complications arise between now and then, she will be "done" by August of 2011.

I do all my own work, for those of you who don't know. Everything from Body, to Mechanical, to Interior Work, and anything in between. I don't let other people work on my cars under any circumstances, nor will I ever.



After owning and driving her for over a year, I think it's now safe to say that this car has truly become my favorite out of everything I have ever owned. I feel a connection with this car, that I've never felt with any other car. She will be with me for life, and I'll still be cruising around in her when I'm 60, lol.




I will get some pics of the cars current state posted up soon, as well as my work plan for her.

[packman]

I have been wondering where you ran off to. Sounds like your DD became a real project instead. Out of curiosity, what aftermarket rear sway bar did you use and how did you make it fit?


Packman

[LTDMan83]

I have been wondering where you ran off to. Sounds like your DD became a real project instead. Out of curiosity, what aftermarket rear sway bar did you use and how did you make it fit?


Packman

I've been pretty busy for the past 6 months, haven't really had the time to do much of anything other than work and make money. The merc would have been sitting all that time if it wasn't for my mother driving it at the time. I hate to see any good car sit, it ruins them. I've finally gotten pretty good financially, and I now have alot more free time to relax, and focus on my hobbies/projects. Yep, finally got a good reliable DD, so now the Merc can become a real project.

The aftermarket RSB was on the car when I got it. I have no idea where it came from, or where you can get more. I've searched a few times myself, but never found one.





It's mounted to a thick steel plate with a Bolt and a U-Bolt holding it on. While the steel plate is bolted through the top of the control arm with 2 large bolts. Honestly, I really don't like the way it is mounted. Though, it is a slightly better setup for cornering than the '1in PI RSB from what I've experienced. The mounting itself is enough to make me want to change it out, and I'm thinking about going back to a PI RSB for the much cleaner look it has. It does work well though, and I'm willing to sell it to someone on here afterward if anyone is interested. If anyone wants to claim dibs on it first PM me and let me know.

[87gtVIC]

Looks like the addco bar.

[johnunit]

wow, I didn't realize so much work was done to her.


One question: What are 86 "dual heater pipes"?

[87gtVIC]

wow, I didn't realize so much work was done to her.


One question: What are 86 "dual heater pipes"?

These things: http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/DSC03011.jpg

[LTDMan83]

wow, I didn't realize so much work was done to her.


One question: What are 86 "dual heater pipes"?

They just replace most of the length of the factory heater hoses with steel lines, and route them under and behind the upper intake, for a little cleaner look. I suppose the idea behind it being that there is less rubber hose there to go bad and spring a leak from being old, making the system more reliable. Here is mine painted and installed on the engine with the upper intake off.

[MrMarquis]

I was just talking about you at ScottFest when the topic of how unstraight these cars are from the factory.

You should post a link to the original thread for Big Red so all the tabs can be kept on the transformation. Very inspiring stuff! Can't wait to see more work.

[LTDMan83]

I was just talking about you at ScottFest when the topic of how unstraight these cars are from the factory.

You should post a link to the original thread for Big Red so all the tabs can be kept on the transformation. Very inspiring stuff! Can't wait to see more work.

Thanks mang, I appreciate it. Yea, its funny how many of these cars didn't leave the factory with straight bodies. I have seen some with factory straight bodies, but they are few and far between. I'm glad someone other than me remembers all the trouble I went through trying to get the LTD's body straight.

If I can inspire more people to go out and work on their box, and open some people eyes as to the true potential of a box, then this thread serves a higher purpose than just me showing off my work. I'm the type of guy that would rather inspire people, than just boost my own ego. Anyone can do this, it just takes patience, persistence, the will to work towards a goal, and the drive to not stop until you achieve that goal 110%.

Here's the Link to the Original Thread for her. The photobucket account shit the bed back in Nov, so all the pics are long gone. I still have them all saved on my computer though, just would take a helluva long time to upload them all again. Still some good info to be had in that thread though.

[LTDMan83]

Been trying to get some current pics of The Merc, but the Heat & Humidity here are so high right now that the camera's lens fogs up immediately upon taking the camera outside, and wont de-fog. I'm tired of fighting with this 90* heat anyway, so I'm gonna take a break from working on her until the heat lets up a little bit. Probably won't let up any at all for about 3-4 more weeks, which sucks because I really wanna get to work on her. Summertime in the south is not fun, the falls here however are absolutely perfect for working outside and staying comfortable.

[hemihotrod402]

They just replace most of the length of the factory heater hoses with steel lines, and route them under and behind the upper intake, for a little cleaner look. I suppose the idea behind it being that there is less rubber hose there to go bad and spring a leak from being old, making the system more reliable. Here is mine painted and installed on the engine with the upper intake off.

want want holy fuck want

They came on 86 only?

[87gtVIC]

Yes...or you can just grab one off of a mustang or explorer...but the coolant nipple for the egr spacer will be in the wrong spot.

[LTDMan83]

Damn this heat!

Using this time to collect parts and materials that I am gonna be needing soon. I'm not gonna cheap out on this project from any angle, as I'm building this thing to last the long run.

A Dynamat Bulk Pack and several other items are on their way to me. Interior work starts soon.

[LTDMan83]

Interior Work Plan

This is the plan for the Interior, for all who are wondering.


Nothing Fancy really, the interior will be stock for the most part, as I like the interiors that these cars came with. The plan is to install the really nice & mint Plush Brown Velour Interior that I pulled from my old LTD before I junked it. For those of you who don't know, the car was wrecked but the Interior was/is immaculate, and very comfortable.

1st - Ever since removing the Vinyl Top, as well as the factory pressed lint under the headliner, for the Slicktop Conversion, the car has sounded pretty hollow inside. The large metal roof causes Major Reverb when closing the doors, and even a slight echo when talking inside the car. So, to counter this, I will be laying down Dynamat Extreme sheets on the underside of the roof, to silence the sheet metal beast. I'm not willing to half-ass anything on my rides, which is why I went with, and will continue to go with Dynamat Extreme for all my sound deadening, instead of something cheap/inferior like quick roof.

2nd - I will be painting the lower visible part of the stock dash, Dark Brown, to match the rest of the Interior. I have an entire set of minty Marquis Dash Fascia Trim I will be installing as well.

3rd - After those 2 things are done, I will be installing the entire mint Brown Interior that I have in storage waiting for me. Also, taking the time to change the rest of the interior bulbs out for white LED's, and performing a few Interior Mods that I have been planning to do for awhile. The Interior will be mostly finished at this point, other than a few minor perfectionist tweaks here and there, which are unavoidable.



I work on so many cars everyday, anymore I've grown pretty tired of documenting everything like I use to, but I will take at least a couple pics along the way to post up for you mangs to see. The work process is pretty boring IMO, but the finished product makes it all worth it. I'm a finished product kind of guy, so that's what most of the pics will be of. The heat should start to let up soon, so real work can finally begin!

[MrMarquis]

Is the Dynamat Extreme stuff all you've ever used or have you used different brands? Just curious how it stacks up to the other kinds of sound mat and why you prefer it overall.