Father, son and a V8

[LincolnLovin]

I wish, but the item wont be returned (just like last time) and it took a long, long time to find another after the first was taken.

At this point I think its worth just getting a spacer machined and blanking off the EGR stuff.

[LincolnLovin]

Picked up the refurbished wheels this morning before lockdown commences.

Really impressed with the results:

[LincolnLovin]

After 6 months of waiting for a slot at the mechanics, the day comes and the Town Car is stuck in storage as its on lockdown

[LincolnLovin]

Managed to get through to the storage place and confirm a pick up for tomorrow! I'll take the car for a quick spin to see how its feeling and then it's off for rust repair.

Whilst the car has been locked away, Chris @ Back to life cars has moved to Chelmsford, so I have arranged a car transporter to take the Town Car to the new location. I also have a range of parts to drop off (including some new wings!).

Things the car is booked in for:

Replace front wings
Rust repair rear quarter (and general rust inspection)
Headlight wiring
Taillight conversion
Fit replacement headlamp doors
Check out power steering pump as I think it might be leaking
Investigate explorer intake installation

[LincolnLovin]

It was from the heart.

In *classic* Town Car fashion its refused to start or idle, I suspect its fueling based but it is now being transported direct to Back to life cars for further investigation. Hopefully it is something simple like plugs or filters (or bad fuel) but you never know with this car!

On the upside, least I dont have to worry about paying for car tax until its drivable

[LincolnLovin]

Update, it looks like the MAS is potentially shagged.

[LincolnLovin]

Successfully collected the new wings, they look great and should be a simple replacement.



The engine is a 302 Windsor v8.

[LincolnLovin]

Not the version in th town car, the block isn't strong enough. I've dropped the car off to Back to Life cars today.

Did you ever watch Nip/Tuck? If not it's a fictional show about two plastic surgeons.

Typically a hapless customer walks into the clinic seeking a better life through cosmetic surgery? They enter the clinic full of dreams but their litanies of failure are revealed as the surgeons annoints their body with marker to indicate the changes required.

That's how I felt walking round the car and highlighting all the rust and other areas to work on.

Its only money right?

[LincolnLovin]

Let’s hope so! The car is on it’s last straw as far as I’m concerned. If it messes up in a large way again it’s being moved on, it’s not worth the stress.

[LincolnLovin]

So I forgot to list out the works being done to old unfaithful:

Get the engine running (new MAS, fluids changed, new sparks)
Rust fixing (6 locations)
Fit new front wings
Tidy up headlight wiring
Fit new headlamp doors
Convert rear brake lights to remove need for separate indicators
Full tracking and alignment
Front door bushing/pin
Fit new bonnet struts
General look over
Fit new front/rear seatbelts

[LincolnLovin]

The front wheel bearings were replaced when they set themselves on fire, the brakes were done at the same time.

I've asked Chris to inspect the car to make sure things are ok.

[LincolnLovin]

First rust being identified and attacked:

[LincolnLovin]

Some progress on the drivers side rear quarter:

Rotten metal cut out:



Shiny new metal welded in:

[LincolnLovin]

I've added a diff oil change to the list of things to do on the car.

[LincolnLovin]

And it was going so well....

[LincolnLovin]

Let’s all collectively hope for the best that the window doesn’t crack when it’s removed.

In other news, engine works again (dying fuel pump), front doors are coming off for rust repairs, bonus points for spotting how many colours the Town Car has been in its life:



They definitely need it!

[LincolnLovin]

Pic of the fuel pump and underneath the car, which is looking pretty tidy:

[LincolnLovin]

Yup it certainly is, but so far (apart from the window frame), it's not been too bad.

[LincolnLovin]

Rear welding and painting is coming together nicely:





Ugly indicators have been consigned to the bin, although I have seemly lost the replacement metal strip, the previous indicators had a hold cut through the metal panel and the underlying panel, Chris made a temp solution to cover the holes until I can find a replacement.

[LincolnLovin]

Update time!

The drivers side door is back on with new hinge pins so it should sit properly, the front passenger door is currently being worked on, it looks like it will need a lot more work sadly. In other exciting news the windscreen came off and..... did not crack! The window fitter said that the screen had been replaced before and had way too much adhesive, and also was badly fitter (shock!), so water had got in, still could be worse: