Originally posted by WagonMan
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BTW - Hello everyone. It's been awhile!
So it sat parked for a few months, then in December 2020, I drove it over to the transmission shop and paid them to do the rear main seal. Its a few hundred dollars of work, but my fault - so I can pay the stupid tax.
After I got it back in January, I put a car cover over it - I became busy with other projects. It was mobile enough for now. In like February this year, a 89 LTD Crown Wagon showed up at a Pull A Part an hour and a half from me. And thanks to Kodachrome Wolfe, he confirmed it had the K code rear end - it was a tow package wagon. A 3.55 Trac-Loc on a car with 96K original miles. So I went and pulled the rear end out (love southern cars).
Then in August, I decided it was time to do the upgrades on the suspension and rear end. Kodachrome Wolfe again came out - helped me pull the old axle housing out, and at least set the new housing in place with bolts in - that's not a fun job!!! The car sat for a few weeks, as I didn't have time with my job. He then came back AGAIN and helped me get everything bolted back into place. I replaced both rear dead yellow Monroes with some Bilsteins. Same with the fronts - both nearly dead Monroes replaced with Bilsteins. Did I mention I installed a Police rear sway bar and arms in the rear? The drums were cut, pads were replaced. 1 axle shaft replaced (found a NOS ford one), new bearing and seal. Driver side was left alone - it was fine. Bilsteins nuts (lol) require you to hold the shaft with an allen while tightening. I had room in the town car to do this - there was no room in the wagon. Zach had a great idea - replace the nyloc nuts with regular nuts and roll - agreed, so we did just that. the IAT was plumbed into the factory airbox up front. All brakes were bled. and a burnout test run was performed on the garbage old tires- the car runs GREAT! Wow. Lots of good tip in power for a land barge. Shifts are too firm, I need to dial back the TV pressure. I'm happy with it. The handling is hilarious considering what the car looks like - it shouldn't be able to turn so well for what it is (and how it looks!)
I did replace the return line for the power steering since it was making a mess with some newer style clamps - the old factory ones were not working properly. Greased the whole front end - which is still in good shape, no play in ball joints or tie rods. Very dry under the car now. Still lots of touch up stuff to do - add ons I'd like to do. But all in time. No rush. I installed some new Cooper Trendsetters with white walls on the 15" factory turbines. I just drove the car 165 miles for 3 continuous hours to my parents. It didn't lose a drop of oil or coolant. Can't tell the temp since the gauge reads pegged all the time (need to fix that). Also want to fix the exhaust leaks from the flanges and (non-existant) air piping.
I'm very happy again how well this car runs and drives. Many thanks to a truly great friend, Zach (Kodachrome Wolfe). Without him, this project would not have gone as well as it could have. I'll post some pictures of the car in the next few days after I wipe it down. Shame how faded the wood and paint are, so it's not much to look at.
It was definitely nice to finally not see it in an assumed service position. I think it's been about two-ish years since the heavy drivetrain work started and I definitely don't recall it going anywhere during then. 
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