New to forum after auction buy.

[Leenuks]

Hi

My Mother in law bought a 1986 Crown Vic LTD at auction for $1300.

This vehicle was advertised as having a police package installed.
Checking the VIN shows that it is not a police vehicle.
The only indication of any thing significant is the original
FORD receipt has as added options
1 Traction-lok axle
2 Handling suspension.



Engine was rebuilt in 97 with a long block 302.

Its been a one owner vehicle with receipts dating back to date
of purchase. Interior is immaculate. Exterior only has minor dints.

Looking over the receipts since the engine rebuild int 97. Almost
11 grand has been spent on the vehicle. Aircon replaced with R134
compressor etc (2010). Transmission replaced twice, one under warranty.

Was what she paid worth it? Is it worth more to try and resell?
If kept what should be done to give it more power and economy.
Seems sluggish compared to our 92 4.9 Cadillac Deville. Probably due to weight.

Lee

[ford man]

Cadillac 4.9 is rated at 200hp compared to 150-160 for the LTD. Considering the horsepower difference plus weight and gearing and the Ford's going to be slower. Lot's of info on here to get more HP from your mother in laws 5.0. You already got the traction lock axle to get the power to the ground.

Is it worth it to re sell it? I dunno that's a question for your mother in law... seems like she bought it cheap enough but it's not possible to put a value on the car with no pictures or mileage given. Does she like it?

[79lincolnlover]

IIRC, the '92 DeVille is a uni-body with front-wheel drive.

[johnunit]

I think that's a decent deal if it's in driveable condition. Having the air conditioning sorted is nice.


It absolutely does not have a police or fleet package. It does, however, have some other desireable features. The handling suspension is a nice one, power seats are handy, as is the trak-lok axle.


That said, I don't see you making more than 2-300 dollars. These cars tend to max out around 2000 dollars for a 4-door 302 with any real use. You've got a real nice car for daily driving or the basis of a hotrodded vic, but there's just not much money to be made in them. Keep in mind that about a million retired gentlemen mothballed these cars away or barely drove them to church on sunday, with the knowledge that these cars were a dying breed. As a result, Crown Victorias, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars are remarkably easy to find in near-showroom condition. That puts a real damper on the prices. The supply of people who don't know what to do with their deceased relative's barely touched gas guzzler is more than the demand for a semi-classic not-that-rare slow old boat that (relatively speaking) chugs gas. And I say that as a lover of these cars.



Whatever you/your mother in law does with the car, welcome to the forum! You'll find lots of stuff on here about protecting the investment or improving it. Main thing is to check out the sticky'd thread in the "box" technical forum (I think the transmission forum?) about the TV cable bushing. It's a plastic ring on the TV cable, which is parallel to the throttle cable. The ring crumbles or comes loose, the TV cable applies no input to the transmission, and it melts down in a matter of miles. Check that it's in solid condition, or preferrably replaced with a brass bushing/ring. That's about the only way to make one of these cars undriveable in short order, is letting that bushing crumble and driving it that way.

[SVT98t]

Welcome to the Party!!

-ryan s.

[gadget73]

1300 in good running and cosmetic condition is a fair price, but I wouldn't expect to be able to sell it for more than that and turn a profit. I would be inclined to say it'll be cheaper to fix and probably less problematic than the Caddy though.

Sounds like you've got a slightly optioned up base model. Power seat, power windows, split bench, wire hubcaps and "granny trim". I dont really know why they list AC as an option, because I have yet to ever hear of one of these cars that didn't have it. I guess maybe just everyone ticked the box? I've also never seen one without a passenger side mirror.

[johnunit]

Mine has no passenger side mirror. It was a $27 dollar option, give or take a few bucks. It did become standard by the end of the Box (79-91) era.


IIRC the AC became standard in 87. I would have guessed 85 or 86 before I saw the window sticker in this thread.

[87gtVIC]

Welcome.

I think that's a decent deal if it's in driveable condition. Having the air conditioning sorted is nice.


It absolutely does not have a police or fleet package. It does, however, have some other desireable features. The handling suspension is a nice one, power seats are handy, as is the trak-lok axle.


That said, I don't see you making more than 2-300 dollars. These cars tend to max out around 2000 dollars for a 4-door 302 with any real use. You've got a real nice car for daily driving or the basis of a hotrodded vic, but there's just not much money to be made in them. Keep in mind that about a million retired gentlemen mothballed these cars away or barely drove them to church on sunday, with the knowledge that these cars were a dying breed. As a result, Crown Victorias, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars are remarkably easy to find in near-showroom condition. That puts a real damper on the prices. The supply of people who don't know what to do with their deceased relative's barely touched gas guzzler is more than the demand for a semi-classic not-that-rare slow old boat that (relatively speaking) chugs gas. And I say that as a lover of these cars.



Whatever you/your mother in law does with the car, welcome to the forum! You'll find lots of stuff on here about protecting the investment or improving it. Main thing is to check out the sticky'd thread in the "box" technical forum (I think the transmission forum?) about the TV cable bushing. It's a plastic ring on the TV cable, which is parallel to the throttle cable. The ring crumbles or comes loose, the TV cable applies no input to the transmission, and it melts down in a matter of miles. Check that it's in solid condition, or preferrably replaced with a brass bushing/ring. That's about the only way to make one of these cars undriveable in short order, is letting that bushing crumble and driving it that way.

Tis an 86 model John. Different TV cable set up.

[johnunit]

My bad. I'll go back to my carbureted corner.

[Piece-it pete]

LOL!

Seems like pretty decent deal. I'd drive it.

I'll also take 'Engine Block Heater' for $18

Pete

[Leenuks]

Is this the TV cable you are refering to.



And what is this. Im totally new to 302 v8s. Ive been a 4 cylinder driver all my life until recently.

This item is under the AC compressor on the bottom left of the motor looking from the front.



An here she is. I really need to park her somewhere for better pictures.

[marquisman]

clean car. looks like someone added aftermarket hub/wire caps

[johnunit]

Very clean. Nice car.

The part below the ac is the 'smog pump' or air pump. It forces fresh air into the cats and/or exhaust ports to burn excess fuel. It's purely an emissions device. It isn't hurting anything besides a couple hp and the weight and space. Some remove it for those benefits, but you may have trouble passing inspection or emissions in some areas without it. Plus, you know, you're polluting a bit more.

[gadget73]

Smog pump. Useless. Looks like someone already did the work for you and bypassed the belt. They tend to make a lot of funky noises when they get old.

yes, thats the TV cable. the one towards the center of the motor specifically is the cable. no bushing on it, its got the one-year cable design. Don't pull that straight down, or it will break. It slides towards the front of the car, then it will slip off the post. The cable on the opposite side is the throttle cable. Looks like no cruise control? I dont see the bulky double cable setup that CC uses.

[Leenuks]

So your saying that the TV cable should have a bushing on it. Could that be why the last two transmissions failed?