1988 Crown Vic - CUSTOM PAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rick99601]

Turbines...find someone with a sandblaster. That's the best solution I've found for the old disgusting clear coat. :smirk:

itd also be a much better surface to paint on after the sandblasting. remember to clear coat 'em.

this is really making me want to go get some from the yard sooner rather than later.

[pantera77]

Black turbines...Leave the center caps/wheel lips as-is.

Do it!

[TxVic88]

Awesome. Thanks for the info everyone.


Here is an update as of today:

Yesterday I pulled out the old ratty hood insulation - it was getting in my hair when I worked underneath the hood, and the rat was also using the insulation to build its nest under the plenum..... so I took it all out. The engine bay now looks cleaner. With the insulation removed, I can notice a difference in the way the car sounds from the cockpit...I can actually hear the engine running now so it sounds more sporty and less boaty/luxury.

Here is a pic of the hood with insulation


and without insulation!



Now for the not-so-good-news...
Today I pulled the spark plugs, performed a compression test .

Here are the results of the compression test and the old plugs.




Cyl 1 = 150 PSI
Cyl 2 = 155 PSI
Cyl 3 = 155 PSI
Cyl 4 = 140 PSI dry/ 170 PSI wet
Cyl 5 = 140 PSI dry/ 155 PSI wet
Cyl 6 = 150 PSI
Cyl 7 = 160 PSI
Cyl 8 = 130 PSI dry/ 145 PSI wet



Here are some close ups of the plugs (#8 seems pretty oil fouled)

Plugs 2/3/4...



Plugs 5/6...


Plugs 7/8....



Any insight or advice for interpreting these results would be appreciated.

[TxVic88]

Spent a few hours today installing an electric water temp gauge. The gauge lights up but does not read the temp. fawk.

[sly]

check continuity of the sensor wire from the gauge to the sensor if you have a meter... one leg of the meter to the sensor and the other to the gauge terminal (don't just test the wire itself if you can help it).

[TxVic88]

I'll try that. Thanks mang