VicCrownVic's 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis GS

[sly]

yup... that's the one.

[VicCrownVic]

Cool.
So far I have a rough draft of the driver side work. I've gone through about 70 pics and around 25 of those didn't make the cut since they were duplicates and/or didn't turn out or just weren't needed.

[VicCrownVic]

Heater Hose Filter: Not Good For Heat

The heater hose filter seemed like it wasn't allowing the coolant to flow at a high enough rate. At high RPMs the heat was ice cold. As soon as got up to 70MPH the heat would go cold even while on the hottest setting.Same thing around 40MPH before OD kicked in.

So I took the filter out and put the TBL switch back in and the difference is huge. At 70MPH the heat is almost too hot, no more going cold with the filter removed.

I don't think cleaning the filter will help (enough) with the low flow issue. When the weather picks up with warmer temps and I don't need heat I'll probably put the filter back in. It obviously does a good job of reducing the pressure the heater core sees.

Also, my heater core change writeup will happen. The file that was my detailed writeup somehow became corrupt so I'm working on redoing it.

[VicCrownVic]

My first step toward making sure this car does not have to drive another winter... I picked up a 1997 GMC Yukon today.
I know, I know, it's not a Ford but the price was decent, it has 4wd, I know the previous owner's brother, and it amazingly has very little rust for a 17 year old vehicle that's been in Michigan its whole life. It has less rust than my 91 MGM which was originally a Florida car.
It's actually the first vehicle that I have owned that is not a box panther.

Even if the 91 doesn't end up as my project car, at least now I have something to prevent myself from accidentally sidelining my DD.

[marquisman]

Those are good trucks. Keep it undercoated, if you can. They can develop rust issues in the rear.

[Louis]

Those are good trucks. Keep it undercoated, if you can. They can develop rust issues in the rear.

Fluid Film!

[packman]

Good idea with the Yukon. It will keep your CV out/off of the salt. Even if it stays outside, it will live longer not having to deal with salt.


Packman

[RyPow]

I know, I know, it's not a Ford but the price was decent

Might as well subject a Generous Motors product to the wrath of winter instead of a Panther! I did the same thing last year, picked up a low-miles 2004 LeSabre in great shape from my buddy's dad as a daily driver.

That coolant filter is interesting....I've never seen something like that. Makes sense that it would drop pressure/flow considerably, since the style of the water pump impeller can't handle much head pressure (loses flow quickly with increased resistance).

[VicCrownVic]

Yep, get the panther out of the salt.
I don't have much in the way of plans for the 91 MGM this summer, suspension, maybe exhaust, and a laundry list of little things and that will probably be it.

Pics of the Yukon from the PO:

[marquisman]

Good looking truck! What also is nice, lots of aftermarket support and cheap parts available.

[purplebomb302]

Very clean truck!

Good looking truck! What also is nice, lots of aftermarket support and cheap parts available.

That's why I love my 96 so much.

[87gtVIC]

I like the truck. It is said that the spoiler on the front bumper of that truck can be bolted on (with modifications) to 87 and down Box bodied bumpers for racing looks.....

[VicCrownVic]

I like the truck. It is said that the spoiler on the front bumper of that truck can be bolted on (with modifications) to 87 and down Box bodied bumpers for racing looks.....

Too bad all I have right now is an 89 MGM and a 91 MGM.

[VicCrownVic]

Got something delivered for the car today, I wasn't expecting it until Monday.
It's not in mint condition but it's good enough for me.

[VicCrownVic]

Nothing cool happening in the past few months with my 91, it's on daily driver duty until winter or at least until I get trans work done on my truck (trans will be done before winter).

Michigan's great flood of 2014 decided to pay my car a visit (that's not cool).
Water in the trunk and passenger side of the passenger compartment, I spent a good part of today taking cared of that crap.





Now if I could just get around to completing that heater core write up...