Mod Box - 85' Grand Marquis

[Mr Bean]

Question: legally, is that car still registered an 85 model, just because of the body? Most of the car now is an 06 or whatever year the donor car was, can't remember. Do you have inspection, and if so how does that [lay out when they see the interior and engine are 20 years newer than the rest?

Like Jeff said, VIN goes with the body. It's still registered as an 85'. There are no inspections here. The only time cars get inspected is when ownership change occurs. Being an 85' it also doesn't require an e-test but would pass it if need be. Even if we had inspections, I am pretty sure they wouldn't care that it has newer guts in it, as long as all the safety components are present.

[johnunit]

Yeah if we ever get emissions checks for 80s cars it'll likely be like 89-95 cars currently, a pure tailpipe sniffer test. Would be funny to point the tester in the direction of the OBDII port though..

[gadget73]

I get blessed with a sniffer inspection for any vehicle that runs standard plates. I could be driving a Model A and it would have to pass every 2 years.

[Mr Bean]

Today's little project was this under hood cover in front of the rad to mimic what they have on the newer cars. This should also help direct some of the air into the rad and intercooler.

I used a large piece of rubber that I had laying around. Don't ask me where to get it, I have no idea. I pulled it out of the trunk of my Caprice when I had it. I think it might be used for tractor trailer mud flaps. Also, I am aware that the push pins are not symmetric but nothing I can do about that, just using factory holes in the rad support.

[87gtVIC]

Cool. I have always though about meshing two covers together from an aero/whale to fit on my car. Never got around to doing it. Would have cut for a center section then two side peices with the center section overlapping the sides.

[Mr Bean]

I originally had your idea of cutting up 2 sections of whale cover. I actually ended up cutting one of them then test fitting it in there only to realize that it won't allow the hood to close. Making one of sheet plastic, aluminum or carbon fiber might work out nicely.

[gadget73]

Thats sort of something I've been meaning to do on my own car. I'd be doing it for use as a tool tray more than anything else. I get real tired of having things drop into the abyss. I've got an extra foot up there vs what you guys have, so really large things fall through the hole. Mercifully they tend to just hit the floor instead of hanging up on the rad support. I think I'd need to make some little brackets on the header panel end to work as supports. Probably nothing more complex than an L bracket screwed under where the front weather strip piece is to let the panel sit on.

[87gtVIC]

I originally had your idea of cutting up 2 sections of whale cover. I actually ended up cutting one of them then test fitting it in there only to realize that it won't allow the hood to close. Making one of sheet plastic, aluminum or carbon fiber might work out nicely.

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like something I will no longer pursue.

Real quick though...Wouldn't close even with notches cut out for the rad hold downs and fender braces?

[Mr Bean]

Yup. The plastic piece just sits too high with all the bulges in it. If it was a flat piece of plastic then it will work.

[sly]

makes me wonder if the aero cover would work.

[Mr Bean]

I think you would have the same issue.

[Mr Bean]

I went to a cruise night tonight and discovered a couple of issues. My fuel fill issue is still there. As soon as you give it full blast it spews the gas out. I think I am gonna bite the bullet and order a 91' gas tank. Could someone confirm for sure that the Aero fuel pump and sending unit will fit into the box tank? Also, any idea where I can buy that valve that sits on top of the tank for a 91?

Second issue is I got an annoying ass squeek on the right side. I thought it was coming from the front suspension but now I tracked it down to the rear right side. Almost sounds like it's coming from the seat area but might actually be the fuel tank.

[sly]

the fuel pump itself may work, but the hanger is different (box uses the lock ring). The wiring is different, as well as the fuel line orientation.
90/91


95/96

[VicCrownVic]

Like Sly said, the pump itself I would think will work but the hanger is definitely different.
At least the 91 sending unit uses the same empty to full resistance range as the Aero and newer sending unit, so that wont be an issue. The fuel gauge on my 2000 P71 cluster works great with the stock 91 sending unit on my car.

[Mr Bean]

Ugh so I guess that's out. Perhaps I will try getting a 96' tank and new 96' pressure relieve valve. I am just not sure what's causing the issue, if it's the pressure relief valve on top of the tank or if it's the fill tube that's not oriented correctly. I used an 07' tank on the car along with the valve both of which are of unknown condition. The filler neck appeared to line up correctly but I am not certain if the angle is the same as a Whale or if that would even matter. I am just worried I will buy these new parts and it won't fix the issue.

Looking on Rock Auto I see same gas tanks used on 90-94 so this leads to me to believe that box and 92-94 Aero fuel filler necks would be the same. Could anyone confirm? Rock Auto doesn't have a listing for filler necks. If those are the same then 95-97 filler neck would also be the same. I think the pipe is smaller diameter but orientation would be the same.