The Crown Shit. The never ending story.

[frankenstang]

About three years ago, my father and I bought a 97 Crown Victoria LX with 196k miles for about $200.
The car was supposed to be the donor for my 86 Mustang, that project has since evolved into something different and I decided to hold on to this Vic to be used as a daily/workhorse.

Then the car sat for two years.

Fast forward to about June, I decide to drag the car into my driveway to begin the maintenance to get it road worthy.

Here's what i've done:
New tires & brakes
Fuel pump
Starter
Transmission cooling lines
sway bar links.
"matching" door from a 04 GMQ
Rear brake lines

As of right now I'm replacing the transmission, forward clutch burnt out due to losing fluid.
I really have no clue if i'm going to keep this car long enough to make something out of it, i know if i end up getting rid of it i'll probably buy another aero whale style car.

any tips with putting in the new trans? things i should look out for? I'll continue to update through this thread as my time progresses with the car.


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[Pvt.Hudson]

Looks good for a MI car.

[frankenstang]

Looks good for a MI car.

i'm more so concerned with how the frame looks, it's not too pretty


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[frankenstang]

I haven´t had a chance to work on the car lately because I have it in a high school auto shop, and school´s been out since Tuesday. Got the pump seal and tailshaft seal done. Just have to get it bolted up to the engine.

[frankenstang]

No real progress today, keep forgetting to take more pictures of the undercarriage and replacement trans. Supposedly all of the Midwest is supposed to be real cold for the next couple of days so there won´t be anything getting done until Friday.

[packman]

Out of curiosity, what would the Crown Vic have donated to the Fox Body?

[87gtVIC]

Out of curiosity, what would the Crown Vic have donated to the Fox Body?

My guess is motor?

[frankenstang]

Out of curiosity, what would the Crown Vic have donated to the Fox Body?

drivetrain. my fox is a V6 car so the 2v would be a decent upgrade.


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[frankenstang]

finally had school and got to continue work. AND more pictures of the undercarriage!
it's not at all beautiful but it's a michigan car so i expect nothing more.

got the linkage off with a lot of persuasion and now i've gotta replace the bushing for the linkage if i can ever find one. Almost ready to start putting it back in, have all bolts accounted for and got the torque converter seated. Only to realize i should drain the old fluid that's in it. will update tomorrow


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[sly]

here's the bushing you need: https://lmr.com/item/LRS-7341A/1983-...inkage-Bushing

[frankenstang]

bushing ordered last night, pushing this project back another week. started getting the transmission lined up to the engine today, was really pushing to get a couple bolts in but couldn't get the torque converter lined up to the flywheel in time.

this is what's left of a stud on the exhaust manifold,


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[sly]

Manifold? Rustifold!

[frankenstang]

finally got the whole thing lined up, starting to thread bolts in now. she's finally coming together!
forgot to mention... you see there's a bit of what's supposed to be a hole above the first bolt? that broke off when i was prying the transmission from the engine... i was prying from the opposite side of the transmission too, just kinda broke off.


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[frankenstang]

alright so i've got just about every bolt in and tight and a question i currently have, what would be the best approach to the two top bolts on the bellhousing? it's up in the air on a lift with about three pole jacks underneath the car holding up the exhaust and other parts, so bringing the car down wouldn't really be possible.


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[VicCrownVic]

I usually just get a ton of extensions and a swivel (edit: swivel at the socket end of the extensions), and my arms are skinny enough that I can reach up to make sure I'm on the bolts. It's kind of a pain.
I'm not familiar with the 4.6, but on the 5.0 having the upper intake off makes those top two bolts really easy get at from the top. If getting to them from the bottom is not happening for you, throw as much stuff back together as you can then lower the car and see if getting at them from the top is an option.

As for torque specs, I just make sure they're tight. It hasn't been a problem on any of my cars and half dozen trans installs over the years.

[sly]

Pretty much the same for the 4.6 from what I can tell.

[jaywish]

could also lower the end of the trans a bit to give you a bit more wiggle room at top of bell.

[frankenstang]

could also lower the end of the trans a bit to give you a bit more wiggle room at top of bell.

might be able to tilt it down more than i already have, i'll see whenever i have class again.


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[frankenstang]

got one of the top bolts threaded in today, spent the rest of the time trying to bend the bracket holding the filler tube to actually thread the last one in, think i got it set good enough to get the last one on. hope i'm set.


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[frankenstang]

spent my morning with my arm shoved between fiberglass insulation and a transmission. finally gave in and pulled the original filler tube and rinsed it out. Hoping I can get this done tomorrow.

On to the next thing.... While unbolting the passenger side of the exhaust to drop the trans down, I sheared a stud on the passenger side Manifold (pictured above). Would I be better replacing the header all together or should I still attempt to twist the stud out?