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Wound Up wrote:
> (snip)
>>
>>
>> I ran that drill two or three times in four years. One time I go it
>> all back together and went to bolt up the slave cylinder and the
>> plunger was inside the bell housing. I had to take the transmission
>> out to get the plunger through the hole. Dohhh!
>>
>
> Oh, I'd be fit to be tied...
>
>>> Every six months I had to
>>>
>>>> change all the U-joints in the rear or they would break the yokes
>>>> with catastrophic results (one time they broke and the ass of the
>>>> car jumped 3' into the air at 50mph).
>>>
>>>
>>> Glad you didn't lose your legs! Man, that's scary
>>
>>
>> That is when I started the preventive U-joint swaps. It damn near
>> through me out of the car because I was in the passenger seat and my
>> buddy was driving and neither of us were wearing seat belts.
>>
>
> I bet!
> <snip>
>>
>>
>> I pulled up the driveway at my girlfriend's sister's house one night
>> and went to turn the headlights out with the POS rocker switch in the
>> dash. The back of the switch fell off and the hot lead grounded on
>> the radio case and the insulation on the wire caught fire all along
>> its length. I smelled the smoke and then looked under the dash and
>> saw the glow from the fire. I started cussing like a drunk sailor for
>> someone to get me some f'cking wire cutters. Her sister was very
>> religious and about freaked at my yelling and use of profanity. I ran
>> over to her husband's tool chest and found a pair of cutters and
>> raised the bonnet and in one fell swoop cut the negative wire to the
>> battery. I won't go into the PITA it is the change the wiring harness
>> in a Triumph.
>>
>
> Good Lord. I laughed at this, but felt your pain. I can't imagine what
> you'd have to go through to replace all that. I have heard the wiring
> on British cars in general is crappy. The Healys, with their positive
> ground systems no one really understands...
>
>> Also, I'll spare you the details of trying to find an alternator for
>> one in Nashville, Tennessee when you should be in Florida trying to
>> score some chicks on the beach. Taking a Triumph on a 2,400 mile road
>> trip is a stupid idea.
>>
>
> "It'll be in next week". This is why I sold the Opel.
After a full day of running around Nashville looking for an alternator
we were about to give up for the day and maybe the whole week. The good
thing about Nashville is it is hilly so we could park facing downhill to
get the car started. It is amazing how long a car will run on nothing
but battery if you aren't using headlights, radio, fan etc. Then at
4:30 pm we rounded a corner and it felt like the clouds parted and a
beam of sunshine hit a sign on a rundown building that said "Todd's
Alternator". We just stumbled on this place. I went in and told the
guy behind the counter I needed an alternator for a Triumph and he
responded "The diodes go out in those things all the time." They
actually remanufactured alternators there for parts stores. He loaned
me a tool box and said to remove it and they would fix it. Ten minutes
later it was off the car and on their back bench getting a makeover. He
brought it back out in less than a half hour and, get this, he charged
me TEN DOLLARS for the repair. He even put a charger on the battery
when we got there. Some things I will never forget and Todd's is opne
of them. The next morning we finally hit our destination in Florida
only a day and a half late.
><snip>
>>
>>
>> I don't have to prove to myself, or anyone else for that matter, that
>> I can do the work. It doesn't make me feel like less of a man to let
>> someone else turn the wrenches.
>>
>
> I find it satisfying. It's something I derive pleasure in. But I know
> (most of the time) when to just have it fixed... I simply don't have the
> training or equipment to tackle everything.
If I had a lift in the garage it would make a BIG difference for me. I
would definitely do more myself.
>>> Here's another sign of getting older. I'm only 33 but the
>>> grandparent-owned Grand Marquis I see are really appealing. Cabbies
>>> get 500,000 out of PI vics, so a low-mileage Vic LX Sport or a Grand
>>> Marquis sure looks attractive for the same price, compared to a
>>> Crappalier. Nice used ones are what, $12,000? A pittance for such a
>>> fine automobile.
>>
>>
>> I think big metal is coming back into style. :)
>>
>
> My wife goes, "THAT car... you want THAT car?"
>
> HELL YEAH! Oh, I suppose I should buy another FWD 4-banger. No.
>
>>> And you know what I would do with either one? Install the PI tranny
>>> and oil coolers, replace the rear end gears with either a 3.27 or
>>> 3.55 posi set, then SUPERCHARGE IT. Eight lbs. of boost would
>>> suffice. I'm not even kidding. A living room on wheels that seats
>>> six, can tow a boat, and freaking FLIES. How funny would it be to
>>> smoke Rice Boy or Fart Can in a damned blown two-ton grandpamobile
>>> Grand Marquis? HEE HEE HA HA HO HO
>>
>>
>> I am a big fan of the sleeper concept. Here's a snapshot of my '89 LX:
>>
>> http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/MikeJ9116/LX.jpg
>>
>
> Very nice! Clean, sharp, simple.
Thanks.
>> There have been many drivers pull up next to me thinking they were
>> going to hand a bone stock LX its ass. :)
>
> That's the best way. My '67 has nothing but nice paint and a throaty
> exhaust. No badges, nothing. Let them wonder what I'm packing. At the
> moment, it's just a mass-remanufactured 302 with a mild performance
> treatment. I would guess 275 hp or so, with a broad torque curve. Not
> terribly amazing. But, I'm not going to spin a $600 longblock too hard.
>
> I will probably end up with a very stout 351 in it soon. The amount of
> $$ I would need to go FE is sadly prohibitive. So, I will either find a
> donor for my smallblock drivetrain, and go gonzo nuts with a 500-600 hp
> 460 and a roll cage for the Mustang, or just make it a low 13s car I can
> drive daily...
If you build a 351W you should at least do a 393 stroker. They are
cheap to build and you will notice the extra cubes. Personally, I think
you can get nearly as much horsepower and torque from a fuel injected,
stroked 351W as a 460 since you can take advantage of all kinds of 302
speed parts. Plus you save allot of weight and it is an easier fit in
the engine bay. That is the great thing about Mustangs, there are many
choices.
In article <43EA9D46.9050209@your.disposal>,
Wound Up <none@your.disposal> wrote:
>
>Here's another sign of getting older. I'm only 33 but the
>grandparent-owned Grand Marquis I see are really appealing. Cabbies get
>500,000 out of PI vics, so a low-mileage Vic LX Sport or a Grand Marquis
>sure looks attractive for the same price, compared to a Crappalier.
>Nice used ones are what, $12,000? A pittance for such a fine automobile.
>
>And you know what I would do with either one? Install the PI tranny and
>oil coolers, replace the rear end gears with either a 3.27 or 3.55 posi
>set, then SUPERCHARGE IT. Eight lbs. of boost would suffice. I'm not
>even kidding. A living room on wheels that seats six, can tow a boat,
>and freaking FLIES. How funny would it be to smoke Rice Boy or Fart Can
>in a damned blown two-ton grandpamobile Grand Marquis? HEE HEE HA HA HO HO
>
I used to own one with a 5.0L engine. Nice car, loved driving it, but the
car was so large that most parking spaces were cramped. Over the course
of 5 years of driving it, the doors were getting pretty beat from door
dings. The paint was crap - not clear coated or anything like that and
it would rub off anything hit it. Fortunately, all that is repairable.
You may want to re-think some of your mods. Stock, the car was very quick
if you got on the throttle a little bit. I can't honestly recall ever
actually flooring the pedal, but I do recall holding onto the steering
wheel with a death grip once or twice. A much better mod would be
to upgrade the suspension for a sportier ride.
As for it being a old man's car, I bought mine when I was around 25 -
I wanted a fast car that the cops would ignore.
drsmith wrote:
> In article <43EA9D46.9050209@your.disposal>,
> Wound Up <none@your.disposal> wrote:
>
>>Here's another sign of getting older. I'm only 33 but the
>>grandparent-owned Grand Marquis I see are really appealing. Cabbies get
>>500,000 out of PI vics, so a low-mileage Vic LX Sport or a Grand Marquis
>>sure looks attractive for the same price, compared to a Crappalier.
>>Nice used ones are what, $12,000? A pittance for such a fine automobile.
>>
>>And you know what I would do with either one? Install the PI tranny and
>>oil coolers, replace the rear end gears with either a 3.27 or 3.55 posi
>>set, then SUPERCHARGE IT. Eight lbs. of boost would suffice. I'm not
>>even kidding. A living room on wheels that seats six, can tow a boat,
>>and freaking FLIES. How funny would it be to smoke Rice Boy or Fart Can
>>in a damned blown two-ton grandpamobile Grand Marquis? HEE HEE HA HA HO HO
>>
>
>
> I used to own one with a 5.0L engine. Nice car, loved driving it, but the
> car was so large that most parking spaces were cramped. Over the course
> of 5 years of driving it, the doors were getting pretty beat from door
> dings. The paint was crap - not clear coated or anything like that and
> it would rub off anything hit it. Fortunately, all that is repairable.
>
Having owned a wide car before, I know what you're talking about... not
the end of the world as you said, though.
> You may want to re-think some of your mods. Stock, the car was very quick
> if you got on the throttle a little bit. I can't honestly recall ever
> actually flooring the pedal, but I do recall holding onto the steering
> wheel with a death grip once or twice. A much better mod would be
> to upgrade the suspension for a sportier ride.
>
My choice would be a Vic LX Sport for that reason - upgraded suspension.
But, either the cushy one or the more taughtly sprung one would be a
good car to supercharge. I need a better power to weight ratio than
20:1. And the "why not" factor is always a constant for me. It is a
lot of weight to stop, though. I could swap in better brakes easily enough.
> As for it being a old man's car, I bought mine when I was around 25 -
> I wanted a fast car that the cops would ignore.
>
It's a quality car that is mostly driven by older folks, and is
therefore in better condition than most at resale.
Michael Johnson, PE wrote:
> Wound Up wrote:
>
>> (snip)
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I ran that drill two or three times in four years. One time I go it
>>> all back together and went to bolt up the slave cylinder and the
>>> plunger was inside the bell housing. I had to take the transmission
>>> out to get the plunger through the hole. Dohhh!
>>>
>>
>> Oh, I'd be fit to be tied...
>>
>>>> Every six months I had to
>>>>
>>>>> change all the U-joints in the rear or they would break the yokes
>>>>> with catastrophic results (one time they broke and the ass of the
>>>>> car jumped 3' into the air at 50mph).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Glad you didn't lose your legs! Man, that's scary
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> That is when I started the preventive U-joint swaps. It damn near
>>> through me out of the car because I was in the passenger seat and my
>>> buddy was driving and neither of us were wearing seat belts.
>>>
>>
>> I bet!
>> <snip>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I pulled up the driveway at my girlfriend's sister's house one night
>>> and went to turn the headlights out with the POS rocker switch in
>>> the dash. The back of the switch fell off and the hot lead grounded
>>> on the radio case and the insulation on the wire caught fire all
>>> along its length. I smelled the smoke and then looked under the dash
>>> and saw the glow from the fire. I started cussing like a drunk
>>> sailor for someone to get me some f'cking wire cutters. Her sister
>>> was very religious and about freaked at my yelling and use of
>>> profanity. I ran over to her husband's tool chest and found a pair
>>> of cutters and raised the bonnet and in one fell swoop cut the
>>> negative wire to the battery. I won't go into the PITA it is the
>>> change the wiring harness in a Triumph.
>>>
>>
>> Good Lord. I laughed at this, but felt your pain. I can't imagine
>> what you'd have to go through to replace all that. I have heard the
>> wiring on British cars in general is crappy. The Healys, with their
>> positive ground systems no one really understands...
>>
>>> Also, I'll spare you the details of trying to find an alternator for
>>> one in Nashville, Tennessee when you should be in Florida trying to
>>> score some chicks on the beach. Taking a Triumph on a 2,400 mile
>>> road trip is a stupid idea.
>>>
>>
>> "It'll be in next week". This is why I sold the Opel.
>
>
> After a full day of running around Nashville looking for an alternator
> we were about to give up for the day and maybe the whole week. The good
> thing about Nashville is it is hilly so we could park facing downhill to
> get the car started. It is amazing how long a car will run on nothing
> but battery if you aren't using headlights, radio, fan etc. Then at
> 4:30 pm we rounded a corner and it felt like the clouds parted and a
> beam of sunshine hit a sign on a rundown building that said "Todd's
> Alternator". We just stumbled on this place. I went in and told the
> guy behind the counter I needed an alternator for a Triumph and he
> responded "The diodes go out in those things all the time." They
> actually remanufactured alternators there for parts stores. He loaned
> me a tool box and said to remove it and they would fix it. Ten minutes
> later it was off the car and on their back bench getting a makeover. He
> brought it back out in less than a half hour and, get this, he charged
> me TEN DOLLARS for the repair. He even put a charger on the battery
> when we got there. Some things I will never forget and Todd's is opne
> of them. The next morning we finally hit our destination in Florida
> only a day and a half late.
>
Great story, truly, but not a damned bit of fun. Done it before. Had
to hard-wire a switch in for a Honda as a voltage regulator, and we
added a voltmeter. It was full field or nothing. Made it from Denver
to CT. We estimated that rocker got flipped 2000 times on the trip,
about one click every mile. During the day it was OK, but at night in
the fog... which was a lot of the time... ridiculous, like 10x / minute.
It became this rhythmic action that occurred when the lights dimmed or
got bright suddenly. Truly miserable! Freaking car was stripped for a
newer one and dumped after that. At 210,000 miles, it wasn't worth
saving... and we HATED IT
>> <snip>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't have to prove to myself, or anyone else for that matter, that
>>> I can do the work. It doesn't make me feel like less of a man to let
>>> someone else turn the wrenches.
>>>
>>
>> I find it satisfying. It's something I derive pleasure in. But I
>> know (most of the time) when to just have it fixed... I simply don't
>> have the training or equipment to tackle everything.
>
>
> If I had a lift in the garage it would make a BIG difference for me. I
> would definitely do more myself.
>
Yep. Yep yep yep.
>>>> Here's another sign of getting older. I'm only 33 but the
>>>> grandparent-owned Grand Marquis I see are really appealing. Cabbies
>>>> get 500,000 out of PI vics, so a low-mileage Vic LX Sport or a Grand
>>>> Marquis sure looks attractive for the same price, compared to a
>>>> Crappalier. Nice used ones are what, $12,000? A pittance for such a
>>>> fine automobile.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I think big metal is coming back into style. :)
>>>
>>
>> My wife goes, "THAT car... you want THAT car?"
>>
>> HELL YEAH! Oh, I suppose I should buy another FWD 4-banger. No.
>>
>>>> And you know what I would do with either one? Install the PI tranny
>>>> and oil coolers, replace the rear end gears with either a 3.27 or
>>>> 3.55 posi set, then SUPERCHARGE IT. Eight lbs. of boost would
>>>> suffice. I'm not even kidding. A living room on wheels that seats
>>>> six, can tow a boat, and freaking FLIES. How funny would it be to
>>>> smoke Rice Boy or Fart Can in a damned blown two-ton grandpamobile
>>>> Grand Marquis? HEE HEE HA HA HO HO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am a big fan of the sleeper concept. Here's a snapshot of my '89 LX:
>>>
>>> http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/MikeJ9116/LX.jpg
>>>
>>
>> Very nice! Clean, sharp, simple.
>
>
> Thanks.
>
Way I like 'em.
>>> There have been many drivers pull up next to me thinking they were
>>> going to hand a bone stock LX its ass. :)
>>
>>
>> That's the best way. My '67 has nothing but nice paint and a throaty
>> exhaust. No badges, nothing. Let them wonder what I'm packing. At
>> the moment, it's just a mass-remanufactured 302 with a mild
>> performance treatment. I would guess 275 hp or so, with a broad
>> torque curve. Not terribly amazing. But, I'm not going to spin a
>> $600 longblock too hard.
>>
>> I will probably end up with a very stout 351 in it soon. The amount
>> of $$ I would need to go FE is sadly prohibitive. So, I will either
>> find a donor for my smallblock drivetrain, and go gonzo nuts with a
>> 500-600 hp 460 and a roll cage for the Mustang, or just make it a low
>> 13s car I can drive daily...
>
>
> If you build a 351W you should at least do a 393 stroker. They are
> cheap to build and you will notice the extra cubes. Personally, I think
> you can get nearly as much horsepower and torque from a fuel injected,
> stroked 351W as a 460 since you can take advantage of all kinds of 302
> speed parts. Plus you save allot of weight and it is an easier fit in
> the engine bay. That is the great thing about Mustangs, there are many
> choices.
Yes, good suggestion. I agree. The only thing in the way is that 8"
pumpkin. Damn the shortsightedness on my part 8 years ago (really)! I
shoulda had a 9". The 8" is a webbed-case, four-pinion Currie unit, but
just won't take big cube torque reliably.
*snipped cause you MEN are too lazy to take off the extra stuff*
: > I am a big fan of the sleeper concept. Here's a snapshot of my '89
: > LX:
: >
: > http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/MikeJ9116/LX.jpg
: >
: > There have been many drivers pull up next to me thinking they were
: > going to hand a bone stock LX its ass. :)
:
: Love the wheels, Michael. When did you take care of the fronts? IIRC,
: you were unable to put the center caps back on.
:
: Pretty incredible that the stock hood actually closes, too. ;)
That is one pretty baby!
I think it would be a lot of fun to have one of those.
"Michael Johnson, PE" <cds@erols.com> wrote
*substantial content stuffed into the shredder*
: After a full day of running around Nashville looking for an alternator
: we were about to give up for the day and maybe the whole week. The good
: thing about Nashville is it is hilly so we could park facing downhill to
: get the car started. It is amazing how long a car will run on nothing
: but battery if you aren't using headlights, radio, fan etc. Then at
: 4:30 pm we rounded a corner and it felt like the clouds parted and a
: beam of sunshine hit a sign on a rundown building that said "Todd's
: Alternator". We just stumbled on this place. I went in and told the
: guy behind the counter I needed an alternator for a Triumph and he
: responded "The diodes go out in those things all the time." They
: actually remanufactured alternators there for parts stores. He loaned
: me a tool box and said to remove it and they would fix it. Ten minutes
: later it was off the car and on their back bench getting a makeover. He
: brought it back out in less than a half hour and, get this, he charged
: me TEN DOLLARS for the repair. He even put a charger on the battery
: when we got there. Some things I will never forget and Todd's is opne
: of them. The next morning we finally hit our destination in Florida
: only a day and a half late.
:
I can NOT believe that you were in Nashville and did not holler in this
direction.
shame on you!
KJK
KJ.Kate wrote:
> "Joe" <nobody@home.now> wrote
>
> *snipped cause you MEN are too lazy to take off the extra stuff*
>
> : > I am a big fan of the sleeper concept. Here's a snapshot of my '89
> : > LX:
> : >
> : > http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/MikeJ9116/LX.jpg
> : >
> : > There have been many drivers pull up next to me thinking they were
> : > going to hand a bone stock LX its ass. :)
> :
> : Love the wheels, Michael. When did you take care of the fronts? IIRC,
> : you were unable to put the center caps back on.
> :
> : Pretty incredible that the stock hood actually closes, too. ;)
>
>
> That is one pretty baby!
> I think it would be a lot of fun to have one of those.
Thanks, Kate. That picture hides quite a few flaws. It has gone close
to 160k miles and that is the original paint.
KJ.Kate wrote:
> "Michael Johnson, PE" <cds@erols.com> wrote
> *substantial content stuffed into the shredder*
>
> : After a full day of running around Nashville looking for an alternator
> : we were about to give up for the day and maybe the whole week. The good
> : thing about Nashville is it is hilly so we could park facing downhill to
> : get the car started. It is amazing how long a car will run on nothing
> : but battery if you aren't using headlights, radio, fan etc. Then at
> : 4:30 pm we rounded a corner and it felt like the clouds parted and a
> : beam of sunshine hit a sign on a rundown building that said "Todd's
> : Alternator". We just stumbled on this place. I went in and told the
> : guy behind the counter I needed an alternator for a Triumph and he
> : responded "The diodes go out in those things all the time." They
> : actually remanufactured alternators there for parts stores. He loaned
> : me a tool box and said to remove it and they would fix it. Ten minutes
> : later it was off the car and on their back bench getting a makeover. He
> : brought it back out in less than a half hour and, get this, he charged
> : me TEN DOLLARS for the repair. He even put a charger on the battery
> : when we got there. Some things I will never forget and Todd's is opne
> : of them. The next morning we finally hit our destination in Florida
> : only a day and a half late.
> :
>
>
> I can NOT believe that you were in Nashville and did not holler in this
> direction.
> shame on you!
Well you know it was back in the early 1980's since you were on the west
coast (?) there was no reason to hang around. ;)
Wound Up wrote:
> Michael Johnson, PE wrote:
>> Wound Up wrote:
>><snip>
>> If you build a 351W you should at least do a 393 stroker. They are
>> cheap to build and you will notice the extra cubes. Personally, I
>> think you can get nearly as much horsepower and torque from a fuel
>> injected, stroked 351W as a 460 since you can take advantage of all
>> kinds of 302 speed parts. Plus you save allot of weight and it is an
>> easier fit in the engine bay. That is the great thing about Mustangs,
>> there are many choices.
>
> Yes, good suggestion. I agree. The only thing in the way is that 8"
> pumpkin. Damn the shortsightedness on my part 8 years ago (really)! I
> shoulda had a 9". The 8" is a webbed-case, four-pinion Currie unit, but
> just won't take big cube torque reliably.
A DIY buildup never seems to end. That is why the GT500 looks so
appealing to me.
"Wound Up" <none@your.disposal> wrote in message
news:43ED38E6.8020507@your.disposal...
> drsmith wrote:
>> In article <43EA9D46.9050209@your.disposal>,
>> Wound Up <none@your.disposal> wrote:
>>
>>>Here's another sign of getting older. I'm only 33 but the
>>>grandparent-owned Grand Marquis I see are really appealing. Cabbies get
>>>500,000 out of PI vics, so a low-mileage Vic LX Sport or a Grand Marquis
>>>sure looks attractive for the same price, compared to a Crappalier. Nice
>>>used ones are what, $12,000? A pittance for such a fine automobile.
>>>
>>>And you know what I would do with either one? Install the PI tranny and
>>>oil coolers, replace the rear end gears with either a 3.27 or 3.55 posi
>>>set, then SUPERCHARGE IT. Eight lbs. of boost would suffice. I'm not
>>>even kidding. A living room on wheels that seats six, can tow a boat,
>>>and freaking FLIES. How funny would it be to smoke Rice Boy or Fart Can
>>>in a damned blown two-ton grandpamobile Grand Marquis? HEE HEE HA HA HO
>>>HO
>>>
>>
>>
>> I used to own one with a 5.0L engine. Nice car, loved driving it, but
>> the
>> car was so large that most parking spaces were cramped. Over the course
>> of 5 years of driving it, the doors were getting pretty beat from door
>> dings. The paint was crap - not clear coated or anything like that and
>> it would rub off anything hit it. Fortunately, all that is repairable.
>>
>
> Having owned a wide car before, I know what you're talking about... not
> the end of the world as you said, though.
>
>> You may want to re-think some of your mods. Stock, the car was very
>> quick
>> if you got on the throttle a little bit. I can't honestly recall ever
>> actually flooring the pedal, but I do recall holding onto the steering
>> wheel with a death grip once or twice. A much better mod would be
>> to upgrade the suspension for a sportier ride.
>>
>
> My choice would be a Vic LX Sport for that reason - upgraded suspension.
> But, either the cushy one or the more taughtly sprung one would be a good
> car to supercharge. I need a better power to weight ratio than 20:1. And
> the "why not" factor is always a constant for me. It is a lot of weight
> to stop, though. I could swap in better brakes easily enough.
>
>> As for it being a old man's car, I bought mine when I was around 25 - I
>> wanted a fast car that the cops would ignore.
>>
>
> It's a quality car that is mostly driven by older folks, and is therefore
> in better condition than most at resale.
>
> --
> Wound Up
> ThunderSnake #65
>
> AHPBBFM pages: http://tinyurl.com/9yulk
>
How would a Mercury Marauder work out
Linear Mode
