My 'new' 2003 Grand Marquis.

[sly]

make sure your car is done right before giving up the rental.

ask me how I know.

[jaywish]

Very good advise from the sly one.

I just realized what a VERSA is. My sympathy.

[Piece-it pete]

Sheeeeeeeeeeessssssss....back!

If I knew what a jig was I'd dance one.

The verdict - very nice on the outside (I'll get a pic soon). One of the inside door bottoms is a little rough looking but for the price I don't care, the rust is gone, should have 5 more years :banana: My take on the shop, a decent budget place.

Started the interior too. Got the rear seat bottom and back on. It's not that hard, but a note: the hog ringer I'm using (a 'P7' hog ringer) has slightly smaller rings than the pneumatic one that was certainly used at the factory. It works but I think I'll add a couple pieces of wire at key points just in case. It looks good! I'll have before and afters.

Also, the rear armrest cover doesn't have the cutouts for the cupholders. I have contacted Katzkin and am awaiting a reply. If they won't make good I'll have to give that bit to a pro.

In the meantime it's going into my dad's mechanic. He's an old guy who drives Panthers and builds track cars for profit, the one time I spoke to him a few years back he spent 20+ minutes explaining why quality aftermarket lower ball joints are better than the original factory ones on Panthers :thumbsup: He'll be fixing the KAM cracked wire, the A/C, flushing the tranny, looking at the slight miss it's got and giving the car a general onceover. I expect it to be full of win.

And I have all the parts for the suspension sitting in my spare room, calling my name



Pete

[Piece-it pete]

Took a pic but can't get it to upload. How long should I wait before I wax her?

Got the 6 x 9s in the back done. Just flipped them over, awled the outline out, notched the metal with a recip and beat the bits back with a hammer until they fit

Used self stick window foam, then bolts with picture hooks like this:



to catch the bent back metal. Tight, sound great. I highly rec it.

Also Katzkin and the place they source their interior kits, DK out of Germany, are just blowing me off about the armrest. Beware.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

Well the wonderful but expensive Stealth Bomber is biting me again.

Steering is binding. Imagine having random power assist with occasional NO return. It's, um, interesting.

It the steering shafts. I had noticed they were ugly, even had the parts in my ebay.





Arg.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

She's in the shop!

A real old school place. The guy just got done talking to me for almost 1/2 an hour!

Here's a few bits he gave me:

That steering linkage it probably OK with the right lube. He said use penetrating oil that goes on liquid and turns into grease, he mentioned 'Zenalube', '1st aid', and 'Rogolube', every oil change. NO silicon-based lubes. He also mentioned late model Chevy trucks have the same problem.

The fuel injector holes are at the hottest part and carbon up. He said use 'techtron' or 'certron'? or 'wins' every oil change.

He said use CD2 and run 800-1000 miles before an oil change once a year. He gave me a long explanation why having to do with the rings re-expanding by design on 4.6s every 4th stroke, and deposits on the cylinder walls keeping them from spinning.

Seal conditioner once a year in the oil to help soften valve seals specifically but also front and rear main seals.

30k mile fuel filter changes! And a new PCV every 4th oil change.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

Still in. The AC system has a short somewhere. I see labor charges climbing like the spinning wheels on an old fashioned gas pump. Cha-ching! Cha-ching!

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

The AC problem is - the PCM! Signal going in, nothing coming out.

Pete

[sly]

loverly.

[Piece-it pete]

No kidding. I want it right though!

He said there are teenie solid state relays in there, 1/16 of an inch! They fail

On the plus side it means I didn't screw it up

Pete

[Mainemantom]

At least you found someone who knows your car. Much better than taking it to a shop that says they know how to fix them, then charges you when they can't.

[tjc78]

Wow would have never thought that! Hopefully a used one can be found for not too much money!

[sly]

No kidding. I want it right though!

He said there are teenie solid state relays in there, 1/16 of an inch! They fail

On the plus side it means I didn't screw it up

Pete

This I know. I work for a company that makes those blasted things. Quality was good back then, but they shut down that plant and moved all that crap to Europe and Asia and quality has gone down a lot. Another reason I shy away from new cars.

[Piece-it pete]

Dam Europeans and their shoddy work! I blame the Germans

I've got a love/hate thing going with this car. It's amazing, but it is way more expensive than an 02- to run.

But, at this point I figure I'll get another 5 years out of it at least so might as well go whole hog. Or whole whale

At $300 a month for a regular car payment I figure that means I can put $18,000 into it. Suuuure lol.

I love this guy. I'm unsure of some of his advice but he IS greasy

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

He's going to bypass something called a 'delay' in the pcm instead of replacing it. Apparently all it does is kick the idle up before the compressor starts. It'll still bump the idle just not before, so it should be OK. At any rate I'll find out.

Pete