Box Town Car mirrors?

[yucatecd]

mirror mods

Dear Panthers,
I've just returned my new Pontiac-ack-ack rental. It wasn't a bad car and it got me thinking. In May I'll be making a two week run northwest: Montana for sure, probably Wyoming and maybe a dip down to Kansas. Although the only mechanical damage from the recent bashing seems to be one fan blade, I'm nervous so I'll drop the car at Skippyville for a lookover and a few mods before then. For sure I'll want a hidden switch to kill the fuel pump and I'm still thinking that a passenger seat which folds flat into a bed would save a lot of motel bills.

I just reread all the posts on this topic and realized - as my wife can attest - what a dope I am. If I'm going for a mirror mod, and nothing is a bolt on - why an old Lincoln? Modern mirrors are bigger - a real plus - and can be got heated and even auto dimming (another real plus).

Question: What ca-be-got-in-a-juankyard modern mirror is best? If filling in old holes is no problem, can this mirror be fitted to the cruiser? Electrics?

Donald

[1990LTD]

I can't wait to see the results of this. I think the biggest challenge (if filling and drilling isn't a problem) will be finding something that actually looks like it should be on the car, and I'm very interested to see what you can find.

Isn't there a kill switch for the fuel pump already in the trunk?

[87gtVIC]

I figure I will give an update as well. During SF in the junkyards I played musical mirrors with a Grand Marquis/ Crown Vic and a Heated TC Mirror. The heated mirror glass will plops directly into the CV/GMQ mirror housing if one removes the plastic shield around the mirror. Then all one would be concerned about it getting it to heat up with that hot plate bit Thain speaks of.

[yucatecd]

Dear Panthers,

1990 LTD asked:

Isn't there a kill switch for the fuel pump already in the trunk?[/QUOTE]

Dunno. I want a concealed switch near the driver's seat to prevent theft.
Donald

[CheeseSteakJim]

Well, now that you've told us all where it is I don't think it'll help you much!

There should be a fuel pump shutoff switch somewhere towards the rear of the car. I have no idea where it'd be on a wagon, but on my '88 Town Car it's next to the left trunk hinge. It's a black box with a white button. If you wanted, all you have to do is lightly tap the side of it with the handle of a screwdriver and that white button should pop up. After that, the fuel pump will not run until you press that button.

[86GmLsCoupe]

If I was really worried and had to park my car somewhere where theft is likely I'd just pull the fuel pump relay and toss it in my pocket.

[Lincolnmania]

the inertia switch is buried pretty good under the rear trim on the wagons

[gadget73]

yeah, its somewhere in the vicinity of the spare tire, which is a real PITA to pull out since its a full size spare. its like a jigsaw puzzle putting all that back in, the spare, the jack, the handle, and the various trim pieces. Not exactly one of Ford's more accessible designs.

[yucatecd]

Dear Panthers,
I wonder if these mirrors could be modded to my 89 CP. I'm wondering about electrics (w/ turn indicator) and attachment points on the A pillar. Yes, I'd have to fill the old mirror holes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-07...item5ad52e40c6

Donald

[91waggin]

the inertia switch is buried pretty good under the rear trim on the wagons

Really? the one on mine is just inside the little storage compartment on the driver's side in the back. Opposite side from the spare tire. All you have to do is pop open the compartment door and it's mounted to the body.

[87gtVIC]

Dear Panthers,
I wonder if these mirrors could be modded to my 89 CP. I'm wondering about electrics (w/ turn indicator) and attachment points on the A pillar. Yes, I'd have to fill the old mirror holes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-07...item5ad52e40c6

Donald

I think something like that is very feasible. What would make installing a mirror of similar structure and design easier would be if you had vent windows. I don't remember if you do or not, but if you did one could pop out the vent window glass leaving the vent window frame intact, tack in some sheet metal to replace the glass then find the most suitable mirror to cover the entire vent window area. Most mirrors today have that triangular base that attaches to the vehicles so all it should take is finding one with the closest base to cover as much as the vent window frame as possible. And you wouldn't have to worry about mounting because you will have plenty of sheet metal to fasten it too.

[yucatecd]

Dear Panthers,
How handy a driver's switch would be. How simple to install and use. How the car thief would gnash his teeth and wail when my panther started sputtering and ran out of gas at a light.
"Do not multiply complexities beyond necessity" William of Occam, 1305.

Donald 30/11/9

[Archangel]

Donald, your car won't run out of gas at light, it will at best only fire up and then promptly die within seconds. So it won't even leave where you parked it, which will make it much easier to find and with less potential damage to it (say being rear-ended by a dump truck cause it stalled all of sudden).

About those mirrors, they may work, but lots of fab work will be needed. The main problem I see is if we go about removing glass and welding up steel for the mirrors to mount to, the vent windows in these cars are much larger than those of a Towncar so there will be much more glass surface lost in that conversion... We really need some mirrors that mount to the door, and not the window frame, filling up old holes and drilling new ones for Towncar mirrors is no problem, it's adding those blinkers in there that can make it real interesting...

[yucatecd]

Dear Panthers,
query: what modern (auto-dimming, heated) mirrors, if any, are attached to the door?
Donald

[Archangel]

Good question, I have no clue - maybe Gabe will have an idea, seeing how he sees all sorts of vehicles in his line of work?