Father, son and a V8
Discussion
So yesterday was the first time I've started the Lincoln in just under a year \o/
Its still got some issues - vacuum leaks, noisy power steering pump but its in one piece once again.
I've booked it in for an MOT tomorrow, I know it needs a new headlight bulb, a rubber exhaust mount but apart from that its ready.
At least I think it is....
Its still got some issues - vacuum leaks, noisy power steering pump but its in one piece once again.
I've booked it in for an MOT tomorrow, I know it needs a new headlight bulb, a rubber exhaust mount but apart from that its ready.
At least I think it is....
jbi said:
I used to have a ford LTD of a similar age as your town car.
Basically the same vehicle except mine had the 5.8 Windsor and was an ex cop car, so had no leather or anything fancy like that.
Something very assuring about the way they drive though... like a big solid floaty cloud.
Awesome arent they! 5.8? What did that push out?Basically the same vehicle except mine had the 5.8 Windsor and was an ex cop car, so had no leather or anything fancy like that.
Something very assuring about the way they drive though... like a big solid floaty cloud.
When I have some more money next year, I want to start upgrading it - a lot of parts from the fox mustang of the same era swap over 
it won't be staggering but with new injectors, cams, headers and computer it should get to around 200-225 hp and 300 + lb/ft
The gearbox will need strengthening though hehe
it won't be staggering but with new injectors, cams, headers and computer it should get to around 200-225 hp and 300 + lb/ftThe gearbox will need strengthening though hehe
jbi said:
nice one... did the MOT tester sort the niggles out for you then?
where are going to take her for her first drive?
Tightened up a loose hose near the power steering pump and topped it up, it seems a lot quieter now, the vacuum leak can wait as its not a massive issue where are going to take her for her first drive?
Edited by jbi on Tuesday 20th November 17:59
I've got a particular CD and a couple of cigars to get first, but the first stop will be the cemetery and then I'll hit the road and see where it takes me.
Oh that is a shame 
horrible thing to happen to a loved car.
Latest update:
Thanks to the frankly stunning weather we've been enjoying for the first half of the year, I haven't really been driving the TC all that much.
However that is not to say that its been quiet on the American front....
The TC has been hunting badly and I am sad to say that I have been messed around with by numerous mechanics, some who work on the car but give up, others who promise to get it in but always seem to have another car to work on and to "give us a call next week".
Finding a mechanic you can trust seems to be very difficult these days, I often feel like the lead in a car based romcom - I want to open my heart and trust but I keep getting let down
After gratuitous usage of intake cleaner the hunting seems to have disappeared, but its raised another issue (isn't that always the way) in that the car now has a slight misfire. It could be all manner of things but as the car is still drivable its not a massive concern at the present moment.
What *is* a concern is the frankly god awful stereo - a 'RoadMaster' cassette deck that makes anything you play seem to come from deep down in the Mariana Trench. Its the same headunit that came with the car way back in 2006 and it was a pile of crud then, time has not been kind to it. In fact its only saving grace was a 6 CD changer however that has appeared to have died in the wilderness years when the car was out of my ownership.
This will simply not do!
Fortunately due to the somewhat lassez-faire attitude that was prevalent when the Town Car was built, taking the dash apart is easy and getting access to the headunit is simply the matter of a 8 screws.
Perhaps this ease of access should have been taking as a warning sign....
On prying the unit from the dash I was greeted by a rats nest of bodged wires - multiple colours, different gauges, ground loop isolators and a whole load of electrical tape!
Oh joy of joys!
Now to be fair some of this wonderful craftsmanship was my own but still this needed to be sorted properly this time. So out come the wire strippers and a female ISO harness and half an hour later we've got a relatively clean wire job that should last.
Doesn't look too bad either, I have speakers that I want to install but I am quitting whilst I'm ahead this time
Speaking of upgrades - I am in the process of locating the parts needed for the fabled H.O conversion.
The engine used in the Lincoln is a 5 litre 'Windsor' V8 that is very similar to the engine used in the Fox Mustang at the time, so much so that a lot of parts are bolt on. With a new cam, cylinder heads, headers and injectors you can go from the Town cars mighty 160 bhp to around 225 and have the benefit of a stronger platform for tinkering further.
So far the parts have come in at £360 and fitting is probably going to be around £700 ish but I think it will be worthwhile.
Time to get saving
horrible thing to happen to a loved car.Latest update:
Thanks to the frankly stunning weather we've been enjoying for the first half of the year, I haven't really been driving the TC all that much.
However that is not to say that its been quiet on the American front....
The TC has been hunting badly and I am sad to say that I have been messed around with by numerous mechanics, some who work on the car but give up, others who promise to get it in but always seem to have another car to work on and to "give us a call next week".
Finding a mechanic you can trust seems to be very difficult these days, I often feel like the lead in a car based romcom - I want to open my heart and trust but I keep getting let down
After gratuitous usage of intake cleaner the hunting seems to have disappeared, but its raised another issue (isn't that always the way) in that the car now has a slight misfire. It could be all manner of things but as the car is still drivable its not a massive concern at the present moment.
What *is* a concern is the frankly god awful stereo - a 'RoadMaster' cassette deck that makes anything you play seem to come from deep down in the Mariana Trench. Its the same headunit that came with the car way back in 2006 and it was a pile of crud then, time has not been kind to it. In fact its only saving grace was a 6 CD changer however that has appeared to have died in the wilderness years when the car was out of my ownership.
This will simply not do!
Fortunately due to the somewhat lassez-faire attitude that was prevalent when the Town Car was built, taking the dash apart is easy and getting access to the headunit is simply the matter of a 8 screws.
Perhaps this ease of access should have been taking as a warning sign....
On prying the unit from the dash I was greeted by a rats nest of bodged wires - multiple colours, different gauges, ground loop isolators and a whole load of electrical tape!
Oh joy of joys!
Now to be fair some of this wonderful craftsmanship was my own but still this needed to be sorted properly this time. So out come the wire strippers and a female ISO harness and half an hour later we've got a relatively clean wire job that should last.
Doesn't look too bad either, I have speakers that I want to install but I am quitting whilst I'm ahead this time
Speaking of upgrades - I am in the process of locating the parts needed for the fabled H.O conversion.
The engine used in the Lincoln is a 5 litre 'Windsor' V8 that is very similar to the engine used in the Fox Mustang at the time, so much so that a lot of parts are bolt on. With a new cam, cylinder heads, headers and injectors you can go from the Town cars mighty 160 bhp to around 225 and have the benefit of a stronger platform for tinkering further.
So far the parts have come in at £360 and fitting is probably going to be around £700 ish but I think it will be worthwhile.
Time to get saving
Sunday update!
Cam shaft, Cylinder heads and Exhaust Manifolds have been removed!
Although we are not retaining the cylinder heads both seemed to be in decent condition which is a good sign. There seems to be a reoccurring theme with this car in that all parts seem to weigh a bloody ton. Each exhaust manifold is about 10 kg, which is crazy considering how small they are, by comparison the replacements are about 8kg combined.
Whilst the exhaust manifolds are weighty they have nothing on the cylinder heads which are difficult to more about outside of the car and damn near impossible to lift out of the engine bay. My finger in the air attempt at weighing them would say they are about 30 kg each, sadly the replacements weigh the same so no adding lightness just yet.
Two problems have highlighted themselves, one is that the exhaust is shagged - both the Y pipe and the EGR pipes are corroded and falling apart. The Y pipe is an easy replacement however the smaller EGR pipes may cause problems, I'll find out this week.
The other is to do with the coolant, or lack there of.
When Chris took the radiator off there was no coolant in the car, which is never a good sign and what was left stunk to high heaven (and was rust coloured). He also found an ice like substance in the thermostat (see picture), now I haven't a clue what it is and since the cylinder heads and gaskets were fine I am not sure what could cause it.
He's managed to get the drain plug off the engine so he's going to flush the block and see what happens.
New parts to order:
o2 sensor, thermostat and headbolts (although these are non stretch bolts it makes sense to replace them
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/Xw9AW6Fd.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/Nqir75s4" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/Nqir75s4.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/1Y9nm7h6" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/1Y9nm7h6.jpg)
Cam shaft, Cylinder heads and Exhaust Manifolds have been removed!
Although we are not retaining the cylinder heads both seemed to be in decent condition which is a good sign. There seems to be a reoccurring theme with this car in that all parts seem to weigh a bloody ton. Each exhaust manifold is about 10 kg, which is crazy considering how small they are, by comparison the replacements are about 8kg combined.
Whilst the exhaust manifolds are weighty they have nothing on the cylinder heads which are difficult to more about outside of the car and damn near impossible to lift out of the engine bay. My finger in the air attempt at weighing them would say they are about 30 kg each, sadly the replacements weigh the same so no adding lightness just yet.
Two problems have highlighted themselves, one is that the exhaust is shagged - both the Y pipe and the EGR pipes are corroded and falling apart. The Y pipe is an easy replacement however the smaller EGR pipes may cause problems, I'll find out this week.
The other is to do with the coolant, or lack there of.
When Chris took the radiator off there was no coolant in the car, which is never a good sign and what was left stunk to high heaven (and was rust coloured). He also found an ice like substance in the thermostat (see picture), now I haven't a clue what it is and since the cylinder heads and gaskets were fine I am not sure what could cause it.
He's managed to get the drain plug off the engine so he's going to flush the block and see what happens.
New parts to order:
o2 sensor, thermostat and headbolts (although these are non stretch bolts it makes sense to replace them
Parts update -
Y Pipe is being made by pipecraft as we speak
New ARP headbolts are being delivered, technically the engine uses non stretch bolts but the ones in the car are original so might as well replace them. I've also ordered a new o2 sensor (£60...) and a new thermostat (£6!) which should arrive today.
This brings the total parts costs to....£776
Exhaust Headers 10
Cylinder heads and camshaft 100
Computer, Mass Air sensor, 80
Injectors, inlet manifold, throttle body 90
Intake spacer kit 40
cylinder head gasket kit, water pump gasket, timing cover gasket 200
Head bolts 57
o2 sensor 67
thermostat 6
Y Pipe 96
Exhaust manifold bolts and washers, coolant hose, lambda sensor bungs 30
Y Pipe is being made by pipecraft as we speak
New ARP headbolts are being delivered, technically the engine uses non stretch bolts but the ones in the car are original so might as well replace them. I've also ordered a new o2 sensor (£60...) and a new thermostat (£6!) which should arrive today.
This brings the total parts costs to....£776
Exhaust Headers 10
Cylinder heads and camshaft 100
Computer, Mass Air sensor, 80
Injectors, inlet manifold, throttle body 90
Intake spacer kit 40
cylinder head gasket kit, water pump gasket, timing cover gasket 200
Head bolts 57
o2 sensor 67
thermostat 6
Y Pipe 96
Exhaust manifold bolts and washers, coolant hose, lambda sensor bungs 30
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