Saved from the Demo Derby: 1990 Country Squire

[Tiggie]

Did some stuff to this today.

Washed it (carport life = bird poop).

New to this car headlights, junkyard finds. Low beams are Sylvania “Performance” and highs are typical Sylvania “halogen”.
Before


After


This one fell part upon touching it.


Almost put 91 clears in but decided that would ruin the 1990 character.

Then replaced an exhaust hanger isolator. Needed two which I didn’t realize until I got under there. Will have to get another to complete the job, but one is doing it for now.


Do you 90-91 owners have a spring for the parking brake in this area? My 88 does. I think this may be my parking brake problem. Used a drum brake spring. It didn’t do well - stretched too much upon application of the brake.


Next up new to this car shocks. Newish Gabriel Ultras I pulled from the junkyard a while back. The first one sucked, like an hour an a half of struggle. Then I realized there was a nut on the top of the body of the shock. So the next one came out in three minutes easy peasy. These were original, with a 1990 part number. I don’t know if the earlier cars had them or not. I don’t remember my 82 having these when I pulled the original shocks. Certainly handy if your car has these.


Anti seize everything.


Then adjusted the transmission gear selector linkage. It was loose. Much better shifter feel. Don’t have to go to 1 to get OD and don’t skip reverse any more.

Next up baby rear sway bar install. Had to drill the two holes. Used a 15/32 bit. Not as bad as I figured. I suppose I could install an Aero P71 or HPP rear bar on this machine if I find one. Then install both... food for thought.


Busy day.


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[JeffBoudah]

Dude, i just did the rear shocks on this 84 and it was a PITA even with no rear axle or gas tank under it. Coming at it them from inboard, still horrid.

[87gtVIC]

New to car headlights really make the front end shine.

[VicCrownVic]

Those lights look so much better. I need to do the same on The Scab.
I know there are some differences between the parking brake setup on my pre '90 Panthers but don't recall what those differences were. If I remember I'll try to look the cable this weekend on The Scab.
I don't recall that large nut at the top of the shock body on The Ice Car, and I'm pretty sure those were original. If they're still in the shed at my parents' place I'll have to take a look next time.

...
Then adjusted the transmission gear selector linkage. It was loose. Much better shifter feel. Don’t have to go to 1 to get OD and don’t skip reverse any more.
...

Hmm, sounds like The Ice Car, but I gave up on it. I tried following my shop manual but just couldn't seem to get it and figured it had something to do with the '89 trans. I swapped the linkage. I was only able to shift into 1, D, OD and maybe N with the '89 linkage. P, R, N, and OD is all I get with the '91 linkage. Figuring I messed up the cable by hooking it up with the '89 linkage, I ordered a new cable but got the same result. I have a spare shift cable now.

...
Next up baby rear sway bar install. Had to drill the two holes. Used a 15/32 bit. Not as bad as I figured. I suppose I could install an Aero P71 or HPP rear bar on this machine if I find one. Then install both... food for thought.
...

Hmm, I know they mount different, but do they not occupy the same space in at least some areas? Double sway bars would be a neat option for the '90-'91 boxes if that's possible.

Also, I haven't forgotten about those lug nuts. I think last week was the first time I made it to a JY this year and I found none of that type.

[Tiggie]

Dude, i just did the rear shocks on this 84 and it was a PITA even with no rear axle or gas tank under it. Coming at it them from inboard, still horrid.

Yeah... no reason for the design. The sedan I pulled from in the junkyard had some fender well access. Not much but more than the wagon here. After about an hour on the first one, I considered pulling the fake load floor and making an access hole in the real floor. But it didn’t quite come to that.

New to car headlights really make the front end shine.

Thanks David. Now if the paint would just shine. I think it’s given up the ghost.

Hmm, I know they mount different, but do they not occupy the same space in at least some areas? Double sway bars would be a neat option for the '90-'91 boxes if that's possible.

Also, I haven't forgotten about those lug nuts. I think last week was the first time I made it to a JY this year and I found none of that type.

Thanks for keeping the lug nuts in mind. Also haven’t had any luck locally. I may steal the set off the 88 if nothing comes up. And as far as the double sway bar, not really sure if it’s possible but I thought it was an interesting concept.

Drive report: shocks provide great improvement in bounciness! Noticed no difference in handling running the 14” tires lol.

[TecNickal]

The wagon looks great - nice nice work. Yea the rear shocks are a bit of a challenge. The factory shocks, and OEM replacements did have that hex head at the top. When I replaced the shocks on my 1990 - I vice gripped the smooth shaft and buzzed the nut off the top. For the rear, It was a ratcheting wrench and just spinning the dust cover. access still stinks.

Front end looks very clean.

[Tiggie]

If you do end up pulling that pedal assembly out, would you mind letting me know how different it is to standard box e-brake pedals? I've halfass thought of converting mine to a newer style so I could use common off the shelf parking brake cables with the rear disc swap. Not like I actually use the parking brake ever.

Here’s the one I pulled from a 93 this past weekend. Eyeballing my 88, it looks very similar in terms of a bolt on swap. And for the earlier cars, hopefully no dash pulling needed. Pics are from the side that would be against the car).

Probably won’t install in the 90 until a heater core goes kaboom since the dash needs to be pulled back to replace this mechanism. But it’s good to have. Parts are drying up in junkyards here.








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[gadget73]

hm, cool. I wouldn't expect any majorly different attachment but you never know. Might have to do this sometime if I ever decide to make the parking brake more useful. Probably ought to pull one just to have tho, you're right about the parts drying up. Even 90s stuff is getting thin anymore.

[sly]

Tell me about it. I still haven't found any bumper covers that are in decent shape around here.

[VicCrownVic]

Seeing a pic on ebay of an '89 reminded me that I never posted the pics I took a couple weeks ago of the e-brake cable.

Here's a pic of the '89 on Ebay:


And some pics from my '91:

[Tiggie]

Put the turbines and new rubber on today. Really wish I had gotten white walls. I have never bought white wall tires for anything, so it didn’t cross my mind when I ordered these. Black walls it is. They are 225/70r15. Cheap Primewell Valera HT (Firestone house brand). They are fairly quiet but not as quiet as the old ones. The sidewall is too aggressive for my taste. BUT they aren’t from 2002 like the old tires. I do like the hubcap look and will keep them around in case I decide to go back (with new rubber).

Also swapped out the rear view mirror, dome light, drivers front door trim that a PO broke, and the drivers rear ashtray cover that my daughter broke.

Swapped the drivers side parking lights from the 88 to the 90 and vice versa. 88 sits out and was nice, 90 sits covered and was faded. The 88 just became a parts car technically. But a daily driver parts car.

Air bag light came on. New era gadget. Flashes 6 times all the time. Annoying.

Before:



After


Crusty dome light


Power mirror connector changed in 1990.


Not perfect but better.



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[cbala]

Your wagon is looking great, the turbines make it right for me... I am a sucker for the right size whitewalls on these cars too.

Chris

[Tiggie]

Your wagon is looking great, the turbines make it right for me... I am a sucker for the right size whitewalls on these cars too.

Chris

Thanks.

I don’t know if I can live with the black walls. I am always one that is “I like this” instantly or “I don’t like this” permanently. Love/hate at first site.

The six flashes on the airbag light seems to be the clockspring from what I can dig up online. Is there anything to pull and clean, or is it just a replacement it part? Dorman still sells a replacement which kind of surprised me.

[sly]

mmmm... turbines

[Kodachrome Wolf]

Thanks.

I don’t know if I can live with the black walls. I am always one that is “I like this” instantly or “I don’t like this” permanently. Love/hate at first site.

The six flashes on the airbag light seems to be the clockspring from what I can dig up online. Is there anything to pull and clean, or is it just a replacement it part? Dorman still sells a replacement which kind of surprised me.

I thought I could live with blackwalls myself, but after having them for a few years on the '97, I'm ready to go back. Just doesn't look right when I look at it. I don't think I could even try it on the '87.

Nexen and Toyo offer a whitewall in the 225/70R15 option, and more are available from other reputable names in the 215/70R15 flavor. I like the extra meat on the 225 series tires, and I'd like to try the Toyos, so when either car is due for tires, I'll be giving them a try.


Blackwalls look okay on cars with a little less sidewall, but on our 14" and 15" rims, they need them. The 16" and 17" cars can go either way.