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La Pantera Metálica

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    La Pantera Metálica

    Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:10 PM.
    1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

    1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

    2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

    2018 Toyota Highlander XLE


    #2
    History: http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...-the-community



    She was parked under a tree when my wife and I went to pick her up in Haskell County. The engine bay way full of West Texas dirt.



    I barely made it to Abilene on the old tires. Got a cheap set at discount and we hit the road. I learned a lot about the car on the 300 mile trip back to the hill country. The odometer and trip weren't spinning. The windows didn't go down. The AC wasn't that cold unless you drove fast, the transmission made weird noises when it shifted. Overdrive was not working. Cruise would set, but it would quit when I was going up the hills. The radio reception was bad.
    Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:11 PM.
    1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

    1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

    2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

    2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

    Comment


      #3
      La Pantera Metálica

      Vacuum leaks will cause the cruise to drop out. The condensor may just need cleaned to help with the AC. That west Texas dirt doesn't help anything. The trans is probably toast.

      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
      rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)
      Originally posted by gadget73
      ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.
      Originally posted by dmccaig
      Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

      Comment


        #4
        Thanks Sly. I haven't cleaned the condenser yet, so I'll give that a try. It did have a big vacuum leak at the brake booster check valve. I threw an extra one I had on and it stopped the leak. The trans is working OK, minus overdrive. I changed the fluid and filter and added a quart of Lucas stop leak. It works good around town. But if you stepping on it or going up a hill, you can still get it to make the noise when it shifts from 2-3.

        The next day after I got it home I started the tune-up.
        Copper Plugs
        Wires
        Cap
        Rotor
        Ignition Coil
        Air Filter
        Fuel Filter
        Oil Change
        Transmission fluid & Filter
        Cap
        Rotor

        The new parts helped, but it was still running rough. I cleaned out the throttle body without removing it as best I could. That did the trick. Now she idles really smooth.
        Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:20 PM.
        1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

        1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

        2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

        2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

        Comment


          #5
          Thanks to this forum, I was able to fix the odometer and trip.



          Both front doors needed a refresher. Window motors, door clips, and polk audios installed.

          Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:21 PM.
          1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

          1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

          2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

          2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

          Comment


            #6
            I few day later, I get a report that the car was broke. Wife says it's overheating at the drive through and there's a nasty smell now coming from the vents.

            Guess I should have checked the coolant before I started messing with the speakers.



            The pic on the left shows the first drain. The second pics shows the first flush, and the final flush in the jugs on the far right. I ran about 10 gallons of distilled and two bottles of coolant flush before I finally called it quits. At some point of the process the water pump started leaking from the weep hole.



            Thanks to this forum I was able to change the water pump. No broken bolts. In fact, they came out rather easily and the bolts looked to be in good shape. Went ahead and replaced some other items while I was in there, plus I hit the hard to reach spots with some purple power while I had it all apart.

            Thermostat and housing
            Upper and lower radiator hoses
            Two smaller hoses coming off the water pump
            Two belts
            Fan clutch



            Car stays cold now. The bad smell went away with the flush. No leaks.
            Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:22 PM.
            1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

            1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

            2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

            2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

            Comment


              #7
              It's been a about a month since the water pump and I haven't had any new issues. There are still some things not working right, and other things I want to do to it but they will have to wait. I have some domestic duties to tend too before I start on the car again. I finally washed it by hand. It's a really clean, rust free car. Here's some pics of how she sits now.















              Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:26 PM.
              1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

              1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

              2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

              2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

              Comment


                #8
                Frame looks clean. How does the A/C work now that the fan clutch has been replaced? Also, check for gunk inbetween the radiator & condenser. Might also help to hit those with a powerwasher to knock gunk off to improve air flow...
                1985 LTD Crown Victoria - SOLD
                1988 Town Car Signature - Current Party Barge

                Comment


                  #9
                  It blows cold even at idle, but I feel like it's could be colder. It should be fine once the fall comes around. I know for sure there is some gunk on the condenser. Looks like red mud caked on a few places. I'll give it all a good cleaning as you and sly suggested.
                  Last edited by 87gtVIC; 08-01-2016, 07:05 PM.
                  1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

                  1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

                  2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

                  2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

                  Comment


                    #10
                    You have a sharp Mercury ! It will last you a long time.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Thank you sir. Sure hope so.
                      1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LE SOLD

                      1972 Ford F100 Custom - 5.9 - Stock

                      2011 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 - Stock

                      2018 Toyota Highlander XLE

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Friggin jealous! THat's a beautiful cruiser!

                        packman

                        Comment


                          #13
                          You southerners with your nice weather and rust-free cars. Yup, I be jealous.

                          2000 Grand Marquis LS HPP, a hand-me-down in 2008 with 128,000 km; 175,000 km as of July 2014
                          mods: air filter box 'tuba', headlight relay harness, J-mod (around 186,350 km), 70mm throttle body, KYB Gas-A-Just shocks, aluminum driveshaft, ARA3 PCM

                          Comment


                            #14
                            I am salivating- what a beauty! I love how nice the paint looks...not all sandblasted from desert life

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Looks great. Paint especially.
                              Explain the name?
                              1990 Country Squire - weekend cruiser, next project
                              1988 Crown Vic LTD Wagon - waiting in the wings

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