My 1979 Lincoln Town Car

[tjc78]

It’s one problem. Your car is Hydroboost, so your power assist brakes run off the power steering pump.

Hopefully it’s just a new line needed.

[87gtVIC]

It’s one problem. Your car is Hydroboost, so your power assist brakes run off the power steering pump.

Hopefully it’s just a new line needed.

Really?

I though hydroboost was reserved for diesels and "lacking space" engine bays.

[DerekTheGreat]

Yeah.. I'd be surprised to see that set up in a barge. Not that I've ever looked closely at one but that would be a new one for me.

[Mainemantom]

My 79 Lincoln Versailles had hydroboost. Really don't know why. It had 4 wheel disc brakes, and desired axle ratio, probably the most desired parts of the car.

[tjc78]

Yes barges were hydroboost. Lose your power steering pump and hello manual brakes.

In my 79 I lost the belt cruising along at 80. It was no fun to stop at all!

[DerekTheGreat]

Ya learn something new everyday. So even the Mercury and Ford stuffs were hydroboost? If not, how do those stop compared to the Lincolns?

[Mainemantom]

My 79 Lincoln Versailles had hydroboost. Really don't know why. It had 4 wheel disc brakes, and desired axle ratio, probably the most desired parts of the car.

The Lincoln Versailles 1977-1980 was the fancy Ford Granada or Mercury Monarch.

[DerekTheGreat]

Yep. It was supposed to compete with the Cadillac Seville but failed miserably by sales comparison. I can't understand why that worked anyway, to sell a premium car built from an economy platform at a price point higher than the ones sold on the full size, non economy car platform. Both look like shit and are cramped on the inside by comparison to their full size brethren in my opinion. No F'n way I'd have bought either one when I could have had the supreme Continental Town Car or Fleetwood Brougham for less.

[Giraffe]

There's a salvage yard I really miss going to in Sunset, TX that got a '79 Versailles in last year. They posted about it on their Facebook page and within minutes someone was asking about the 9" rear. Sure enough, next time I visited there (which was also the last before we moved) the rear had been pulled. They sold it for $650. The car was nice and definitely could have been put back on the road. But some idiot decided to pay $650 for a 40+ year-old disc brake rear end when you could get Mustang rear disc brake kits for less than $500 now.

[Mainemantom]

I have the last of my Lincoln Versailles spare parts on eBay now. Waiting for those niche Lincoln buyers....

[tjc78]

Yep. It was supposed to compete with the Cadillac Seville but failed miserably by sales comparison. I can't understand why that worked anyway, to sell a premium car built from an economy platform at a price point higher than the ones sold on the full size, non economy car platform. Both look like shit and are cramped on the inside by comparison to their full size brethren in my opinion. No F'n way I'd have bought either one when I could have had the supreme Continental Town Car or Fleetwood Brougham for less.

Gonna take this to another thread in OTB.

[massacre]

Yep. It was supposed to compete with the Cadillac Seville but failed miserably by sales comparison. I can't understand why that worked anyway, to sell a premium car built from an economy platform at a price point higher than the ones sold on the full size, non economy car platform. Both look like shit and are cramped on the inside by comparison to their full size brethren in my opinion. No F'n way I'd have bought either one when I could have had the supreme Continental Town Car or Fleetwood Brougham for less.

I remember guys in the 80s talking about those 9” disc brake Versailles rear ends. They have been highly desirable since inception it seems.

[Giraffe]

I remember guys in the 80s talking about those 9” disc brake Versailles rear ends. They have been highly desirable since inception it seems.

The leaf spring perches are the exact same distance apart as early Mustangs. It was an easy way to get a 9" disc brake rear in your classic Mustang back when the Versailles was more common. But now, there are plenty of kits available that are better than 40+ year-old brakes.

[79lincolnlover]

I drove a friend uptown (in the pouring rain) to run an errand. We loaded an a/c unit into the backseat. As I went to turn the car around, the steering was tough and the brakes were weak! Drove slowly to Canadian Tire (store was a 5 min drive away) and bought two small jugs of power steering fluid. Topped up the fluid before heading back to my friend's place. Took the scenic route to avoid after school traffic and big hills. After we ate some pizza and brought the a/c unit inside, I topped up the fluid and drove home (next street over) and found a spot away from the water pooled in the center of the parking lot. My '79 has been reliable since it was last serviced earlier this year, so I'm thankful that these issues didn't pop up until now. I've been saving money for a rainy day

The steering gear has been replaced. I ordered the part from Rock Auto.