looking for info - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

john112deere · 03-25-2007, 09:45

Hi

I'm sort of thinking about looking for a project vehicle for this summer, and one thing I'm considering is a Crown Vic. I prefer the older boxy body style, and I'd be wanting to swap a manual transmission (T5, presumably) into it.

Once I got the manual trans (I hate driving automatics), my eventual goal would be a highway cruiser type vehicle, something I could drive 800+ miles/day for several days in a row without much trouble. I'm real fussy about handling and suspension, and I'd like to be able to take it to around 85-90 without any shakes or vibrations, though I probably wouldn't cruise that fast for long very often. I'd also want to be able to pull a small trailer (4x6 utility trailer, maybe weighs 500 lbs empty) somewhat regularly.

Am I just dreaming, here, or is a Crown Vic of that vintage a good starting place to build what I want? What might I expect to spend getting close to where I want, if I do all the work myself? I'm a broke college student, so I'd probably want to do the work in stages as finances allowed. (My other thought for a project is a mid-'70s Ford 4x4 pickup... Whole different set of goals there, of course.)

Thanks!

Nathan in MN · 03-26-2007, 07:26

What you're talking about is very doable, and the best part is that it's been done before, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. If you want more information about panther performance, join up here: Grandmarq.net. My username is the same there as here. Tell 'em I sent ya. :)