Buyer's Remorse (AKA "Hideous") - Giraffe's 1990 Grand Marquis LS

[sly]

JCN... hmm...
Joyous Cruising Nights?

[longroof87]

Just cut noise?

[87gtVIC]

just cant navigate.

[sly]

Just Cause Ninjas

[longroof87]

Jim Carey's Nose?

[GM_Guy]

Keep an eye out for when the GMN series plates hit the street and "lose" on of the junk car plates... =-)

Alex.

[Giraffe]

Jail Comes Next.

Haha. I'm actually happy with the plates. Nice to have something other than the temp paper on the back. It's the final cherry on top after fixing all the leaks and getting her running (mostly) right.

[Giraffe]

Did a bit of driving in and around town yesterday. I got on the highway to head home and had a bad vibration/bucking when I neared 55mph. I noticed that my coolant gauge was on the hot side (not pegged). Pulled over, popped the hood. Some coolant was bubbling out from a couple of the heater hoses (tightened all clamps). Burned myself when my arm touched the radiator. The coolant in the overflow tank had a thin film of foam on top (boiling coolant?). Sat there on the side of the highway for about thirty minutes to let it cool down. Started it back up, finished the drive home with no problems. Vibration was gone (drove at about 70 the rest of the way). I'm really not in the mood for random overheating.

This year's tax money will help pay for a new radiator, heater core, coolant hoses and water pump. Also going to pull the aforementioned Mark VII drivetrain and start rebuilding that for later.

[Giraffe]

New multifunction switch. Old one had problems with internal contacts.

[VicCrownVic]

That reminds me, The Scab needs a new MF switch. I kind of forgot about that since I haven't drove that car since November.

Also, congrats on POTM, your car looks good at the top of the page.

[knucklehead0202]

I love the '90+ multi-function switch. Had put a new one in my '90 the day it got wrecked. Just harvested it last weekend to put in the new '90. Wipers that respond are neat. Old switch required repeated scrolling of the wiper function to get shit to wipe. A bit disconcerting on the rare occasion it actually rains here.

[VicCrownVic]

That's how I was doing it too until I found that if I held the stalk just right it would work consistently. I figured that out after realizing the wipers would activate every time I went over a bump.

[Giraffe]

That reminds me, The Scab needs a new MF switch. I kind of forgot about that since I haven't drove that car since November.

Also, congrats on POTM, your car looks good at the top of the page.

Thanks very much! I keep doing a double take when I see my car at the top.

I love the '90+ multi-function switch. Had put a new one in my '90 the day it got wrecked. Just harvested it last weekend to put in the new '90. Wipers that respond are neat. Old switch required repeated scrolling of the wiper function to get shit to wipe. A bit disconcerting on the rare occasion it actually rains here.

That's how I was doing it too until I found that if I held the stalk just right it would work consistently. I figured that out after realizing the wipers would activate every time I went over a bump.

I was having the exact same problem with the old one. The wiper settings were very temperamental. Some settings would cause them to turn off. Most intermittent settings wouldn't actually move the wipers unless I smacked the stalk or used my turn signals. Only one or two of the intermittent settings were reliable. Otherwise I would just use the continuous settings. The new switch is very quiet and feels great. Haven't used the wipers yet since it's been dry, but I'm sure they'll be fantastic when I need them.

[Rodentkiller]

I had a bad wiper switch I fanagled the switch for over 16 years untill one day it crapped out on me and it was raining and it sucked. I also had bad head unit and speakers when I go my car so I dug out my head unit that I used in my old car that I harvested before I sent it to the junk yard I installed it along with my Amp and new speakers used them for over 17 years until I up graded to new speakers and Amp and Bass speakers. It makes no sense to install used sterio parts when you can get new and it works.

[Giraffe]

So my next big move on this car is going to be pulling a junkyard engine to rebuild. I'm going to keep it simple this go round with an HO swap. I'm tempted to try GT40 heads and my nice Explorer intake, but it's too much of a chance that the Mark VII speed density ECM won't be able to handle the extra flow without going dangerously lean. If it can't, I'll have to do a MAF swap; in which case, I lose my cruise (that's a no go at this station).

In other news, the power steering pump started making crazy loud noises yesterday. Turns out it was just low on fluid. Quieted right down after adding some fluid ('twas nearly dry). Glad I don't have to worry about that right now.

The other big move—in conjunction with a new motor and rebuilt AOD—will be a completely new, upgraded cooling system. I already have a new Motorcraft heater core and will be purchasing the Spectra Premium 3-row radiator and new hoses soon; along with a new fan clutch. The water pump looked relatively new when I redid all the top gaskets (all the studs backed out with no issues when I tested them out).

In other, other news, the car got hit in the parking lot on base last week. The good news is, it wasn't that bad at all: there is a crack in the header panel just behind the driver side marker lamp along with some superficial damage to the filler panel, fender extension and bumper rub strip on that side. The bad news is that the insurance totaled it (200k+ miles, 27 years old, all parts discontinued; what'cha gonna do?). The other good news from this is that Texas law is easy peasy in regards to salvaging a car. Because the car is so old and is worth so little, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of Texas salvage laws. This means that I keep my clean, blue title; an accident incident will go in the car's record (not a big deal). The best news is that I got a fat little check from the whole ordeal (new parts, here I come!). The ironic news is that the individual who hit it is my squadron superintendent!

I'll post up a picture of the damage tomorrow if I remember.