My 1987 Two Door Crown Victoria AKA THE BROWN BLOB

[Tiggie]

Looking great. Not that I don’t like the Ford oval, but I like the LTD Crown Victoria callout or bare better.

[87gtVIC]

Looking great. Not that I don’t like the Ford oval, but I like the LTD Crown Victoria callout or bare better.

Oh hell yeah. The LTD Crown Victoria badge looks SO DAMN GOOD.

Installed mine yesterday onto the panel:







I did look for NOS units but according to the Master Parts catalog that part is not sold separately from the dash panel.

When did the go bare anyways? I know for sure 87 were bare. And there were SO many damn variety's of these panels between 79 and 87. The early ones were color matched to the interior...kinda like the 88-89 ones were....



I wanted to install it today but the weather was not allowing for it. I have my second biopsy tomorrow so at least I have something to look forward to doing when I am capable of walking again.......speaking of which...I have the ADTR boxed control arms and upper diff spherical bushings to install. Been afraid to try doing that in my condition...another thing to look forward to accomplishing once I get WAY better.

[packman]

If I find my junkyard panel, I will give it to you if you'd like. I snatched it off of the '86 Country Squire that I pulled apart many years ago. The vents weren't in good shape IIRC, but if you're thinking of swapping them out; then you will have a panel to play with.

[87gtVIC]

If I find my junkyard panel, I will give it to you if you'd like. I snatched it off of the '86 Country Squire that I pulled apart many years ago. The vents weren't in good shape IIRC, but if you're thinking of swapping them out; then you will have a panel to play with.

Thanks Jacob. I think I am okay now. I have two on the way. I cant hoard everyone now can I?

[Brown_Muscle]

I'm sorry to hear what they found in your knee Dave, hopefully you'll find out what type it is soon. Like you said, not knowing is worse than knowing, and having a game plan to fight it.

The plaque and dash panel look great! It's kinda nice to have the availability of the newer wood ones- the color matched older ones are almost impossible to find. When you get those rear control arms in I'm interested to hear how they effect it, especially in harder handling maneuvers

[gadget73]

I have a problem with your vacuum gauge. It does too many things. Please get to installing a supercharger so it doesn't have un-needed functions.

[mitymerc]

2nd that!

[87gtVIC]

I'm sorry to hear what they found in your knee Dave, hopefully you'll find out what type it is soon. Like you said, not knowing is worse than knowing, and having a game plan to fight it.

The plaque and dash panel look great! It's kinda nice to have the availability of the newer wood ones- the color matched older ones are almost impossible to find. When you get those rear control arms in I'm interested to hear how they effect it, especially in harder handling maneuvers

Thanks Phil. I think I saw some early tan ones (your tan right) and if I see them again I will share the link with you just in case you may be interested.

The arms I am installing to try and kill the wheel I hop I have noticed and experienced and shared within a couple of my dash cam videos.

I don't have the best judgement on handling. The one thing I notice is that my body is not handled very snugly in these factory seats. lol

I have a problem with your vacuum gauge. It does too many things. Please get to installing a supercharger so it doesn't have un-needed functions.

2nd that!

3rd.


That would be fun.


This was the only autometer vacuum gauge in arctic white available....leaves room to grow!

[Tiggie]

Gotta have goals... Is your compression modest boost friendly?

[87gtVIC]

Gotta have goals... Is your compression modest boost friendly?

I have no idea of the compression this motor makes. Was a new LMR shortblock with forged pistons and trick flow 170 cc heads think the 55 versions...picked them up new used. I dont see myself doing this for many many years if at all. lol


Engine arrival:


http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...l=1#post760711

[gadget73]

I don't have the best judgement on handling. The one thing I notice is that my body is not handled very snugly in these factory seats. lol


!

Even the mushy suspension and Jello tires I have on the Continental let it out-handle the seats. No bolstering, not much of anything to keep you in place other than a door panel on one side and a wimpy arm rest on the other. The Towncar is maybe a bit worse, more space between the arm rest and door so more room to be out of position. Also it stays flatter on the road and has better tires so I can get more speed around turns, enough that I have to really hold on if I try and force it through something it was very much not intended to go through.

[87gtVIC]

Recovered enough to be on my feet for a little bit (still cannot bend knee without EXTREME pain so I try avoiding that) and finish up the interior of the car.

Installed the NOS drivers side dash panel I had stashed away. It sure is pretty compared to a NON-NOS unit but hey this car is my mis-matched labor of love. It works for me.

Check out how bent the old ones was...No idea how it got that way but its funny to look at:



I think that banana trim was from a junkyard car. I pulled it because all of the mounts were in perfect shape...aside looking like the shape of a banana. It always made it fit funny in the car...it always wanted to peel away from the dash..pun intended.

And all the newness:





Loving the addition of the LTD Crown Victoria script on the passengers side dash panel. So worth it.



Also loving I am using proper hardware in unbroken trim.



Also the repair I did on the passengers side dash panel is hardly noticeable. Again, it was something I was very bummed about but it is acceptable.

[matth825]

It looks great!

I’ve been there and done that with accidentally breaking something new. I hardwired a dash cam in my new daily driver a few weeks ago. My hands are basically big chunky paws and new car plastic is not very strong. I had two mishaps and ended up very frustrated. You’re not alone with that feeling lol.


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[Arquemann]

I'm amazed you still find things to do in a car you've had for so incredibly long. Even more so as you use it and it doesn't just sit in a shed.
Though in so many years your taste has changed, with the sticker removal and rebadging you've done. Also having a gauge for every seemingly possible thing to gauge doesn't seem from this decade

I don't know what I'd do more to my MGM anymore. More power naturally, but I don't have money laying around for such uses. My next big purchase is gonna be a better daily driver. Cheaper little mods, I can't really come up with anything I'd want, mechanical or cosmetic...

[gadget73]

heat and long term pressure on a few points makes them warp. All the pieces in my car have some amount of distortion, and none of them are original to the car either. Conti's trim is the same story, and its even longer. The dash panel on that is the full width of the car.

[87gtVIC]

It looks great!

I’ve been there and done that with accidentally breaking something new. I hardwired a dash cam in my new daily driver a few weeks ago. My hands are basically big chunky paws and new car plastic is not very strong. I had two mishaps and ended up very frustrated. You’re not alone with that feeling lol.


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Luckily I didnt ruin the NOS drivers side dash panel...I would have been uber bummed. It was just the new to me used passengers side panel that I flubbed modifying but successfully repaired and now have two additional spare because of my panic buying. lol

Newer car plastics scare me. Everything is held in with clips it seems. Set up for failure right off the hop.

I'm amazed you still find things to do in a car you've had for so incredibly long. Even more so as you use it and it doesn't just sit in a shed.
Though in so many years your taste has changed, with the sticker removal and rebadging you've done. Also having a gauge for every seemingly possible thing to gauge doesn't seem from this decade

I don't know what I'd do more to my MGM anymore. More power naturally, but I don't have money laying around for such uses. My next big purchase is gonna be a better daily driver. Cheaper little mods, I can't really come up with anything I'd want, mechanical or cosmetic...

Its my hobby. Keeps me busy and gives me joy. It also is a life long learning experience..always learning something new and gaining skills while working and modifying this car. Only helps me for the future.

I couldnt fathom farming out the work I do..not only would I not be happy with the results but I'd be broke!

I would like to drive it more often but I limit its usage to good weather only...weekend drives. The car is not perfect but I dont want to risk it getting damaged. Not worth it to me like mentioned previously a lot of the fun is working on it....I dont want to do body work though if I can avoid that

heat and long term pressure on a few points makes them warp. All the pieces in my car have some amount of distortion, and none of them are original to the car either. Conti's trim is the same story, and its even longer. The dash panel on that is the full width of the car.

Must have been installed incorrectly in the car I pulled it from to get that bad. Its now in the spare parts hoard. Wow the trim is the whole width of the car. Yesh..plastic? That is asking for trouble. No metal like the townies?

[tjc78]

Looking good as always.

[gadget73]

All shiny black plastic. It includes the lenses for the cluster, the tripminder, and some of the idiot lights as well. Its not original either, the one in the car was missing the clear lens over the cluster. I have one from an 85 with "unleaded fuel only" printed on the lens. I don't expect I'll ever find a "diesel fuel only" lens.

[mcb82gt]

Looks great Vic!!

[Tiggie]

Looking at your steering wheel leather wrap. Did you take it to a shop or install a kit for it? Need something along those lines for my Rustang project.