My 1989 Lincoln 557 cobra jet project in progress

[lincolnlarry]

They were part of a kit from Right Stuff Detailing. Summit sells them.
Now to get this thing out of the basement. Appliance dolly time.

[lincolnlarry]

I don't know how but I got this thing out of the basement myself! Keep in mind I weigh 150#. I'm not sure how much this thing goes but it was a bitch. The housing was easy to carry down but with it loaded DAMN!!!

[Grand Marquis GT]

Hercules! Hercules!

[sly]

appliance dolly for the win!

[lincolnlarry]

Been driving around easy for the gear break in. The brakes feel a little more like the 04 TC, but of course not quite as good.
Speedo is accurate with a one tooth increase.
The front end of the car now feels like it bounces compared to the rear. I ordered the 1150 rate speedway springs to help that out.
I'm hoping the front doesn't go down much if at all. I want to keep the rake out of it. One thing giving me hope is the springs in it are original.

So this is with the original springs in front and 200 rate in the back.


I have never seen the front spring isolators on these cars or even a picture. There are rubber ones from Advance available (no pic in the listing) but does ES make one that will fit?

[chitownvic]

Car looks damn good!


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[packman]

I don't know how but I got this thing out of the basement myself! Keep in mind I weigh 150#. I'm not sure how much this thing goes but it was a bitch. The housing was easy to carry down but with it loaded DAMN!!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]38672[/ATTACH]

I gutted and cleaned the CV rear diff before carrying it into the basement. I didn't even try to get the 8.8 out of the basement loaded. I took it apart and carried it out in pieces. Then I reassembled it outside. I am 10# heavier than you, but experience told me not to try. I had to send it out to a shop to get it installed because I couldn't get the car high enough off the ground in teh driveway (with the equipment I have).

As far as the front spring cushions go; I got poly cushions as part of the front end rebuild kit from PST.


Packman

[lincolnlarry]

The springs came in. 5 1/2" OD and 4 1/8 ID.
I ordered ES isolator# 9.6120 that has 5 7/16 overall OD and 4 1/16 inner lip OD. There were 2 thicknesses to choose from 3/8 and 5/8. I picked the 5/8 to minimize the drop with this change.
Fingers crossed!!!

[87gtVIC]

I just used whatever spring isolators came in the ES front end suspension kit. They fit fine on my speedway springs.

[lincolnlarry]

I think the isolators will work fine. Now for the first time doing front springs...
I'll put up a pic of the stance after install.



Meanwhile, The 04 must be jealous. The check engine light came on twice now for MAP sensor high reading.
So I look under the hood and traced manifold vacuum over the whole engine. I think there is no MAP sensor. It did seem odd though for the EGR to have 2 manifold vacuum lines. After searching for a while, found the MAP sensor is in the EGR. Don't you hate it when the answer is right there and you just don't see it.
Those things are pricey. I think it was $230 from the dealer. Rock Auto had the Motorcraft for $150 so I sent for it. Hope it's not a misprint. Even Duralast was $175!

[lincolnlarry]

Haven't done the front springs yet. Just driving in the good weather while it lasts. Decided it will wait till winter to do the front bushings at the same time.

Don't remember posting a pic of the engine's first configuration. This is with the ported D0VE heads and didn't make it off the stand before the SCJs were put on. Looks funny with the cap just sitting there.

Dash in the let's see stage.

A little better pic of the stance now with the rear done. I would be happy if the front comes up a bit to help off the line traction. Still crossing my fingers that the original springs are sagging plus the thick isolators will get the nose up.

[pantera77]

Looks killer as always! Putting the gear venders in during winter as well?

[chitownvic]

Mmm stunning as always!


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[lincolnlarry]

Not sure if I'll get to the OD this winter or not. I'm so slow at doing the work on this!

Things sitting around waiting to be installed:
Gear Vendors overdrive, 3200 rpm at 65 sucks with the 3.55
New front bumper, nos side mirrors, 4 door handles... current ones are pitted
nos rear bumper guard, the existing one is crushed on pass side, glad it didn't get the bumper. PO must have rammed a pole.

I'll probably continue working on refreshing all the suspension first.
The rear bumper needs re-chromed as do the bumperettes on the front. Seen good feedback on chrome work done in Akron Ohio can't remember the name off hand.
Mirrors and handles will wait till doing the body work.

[packman]

Love this car! Only thing I would think about doing is cutting the S-bend in the tailpipe off and just have it turn-down just before the rear bumper. Either way, you're still going to get that "WTH" factor from bystanders.


Packman