Whale Replacement! '03 Ultimate Executive Grand Marquis S

[sxcpotatoes]

Well, the gold '99 is junked. With the body damage, front swaybar links both busted, and a leaky left rear caliper. It was debatable whether it was gonna get fixed. When my mechanic pulled the caliper off he found the rear axle bearing was bad and was about to shear off the axle. Thought the grinding noise was another wheel bearing, dropped the car off to check out the clunking (swaybar links) and grinding noises, and drove it in Saturday. $443.35.

I kept the tail lights, 6-disc CD player from the trunk, Spare tire, and automatic temperature controll head from the dash. Nothing else was worth saving, not even the front big brake parts.

So, onwards and upwards! I found a '03 Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition, with a blech, Mock-top, and 88k up in Cleveland. They had it for 3900 obo and I talked them down to 3600. Book value is $6-6500. I got receipts for A/C system rebuild, and air suspension rebuild, $2300 in receipts, mostly in 2010.

And without further ado, pics!

[sxcpotatoes]

There are some dents on the trunk, one from the inside with some cracked paint starting, and one scrape on the driver side with a bit of rust just starting behind the rear door.

[sxcpotatoes]

Sliced bumper cover too. The guy used it to tow an 18' Bass Boat. K-code rear end, ALL the options, side airbags, stereo controls on the steering wheel, digital dash, Single disc tape deck radio with 6cd changer in the trunk, Heated leather seats, heated mirrors, power adjustable brake pedal.

He was an older black guy whose wife has alzheimers, so he was finally selling her car. Someone was a smoker though, got a full ashtray with the car. Needs the carpet shampooed and new floor mats. Swiped the driver's out of the gold car because there was a hole worn through where the heel would pivot to go from the gas to the brake and back. At least I know they didn't two-foot it! Someone liked to rest their palm and fingers right on the airbag cover while they were driving, so that's worn shiny/smooth as you can see in the previous pictures.

[sxcpotatoes]

The reason I called it an '03 Ultimate Executive Grand Marquis S, is because Ultimate Edition badging, and Executive Edition badge on the C-pillar from the company that did the Roman Chariot conversion/top bastardization, then the L of the LS fell off, so, Grand Marquis S!

[tjc78]

Nice, very similar to my 04. Good luck with it. Grab some Lexol, and I bet that driver's seat will clean up nice.

[pantera77]

K code only applies to boxes, they changed the axle code during the aero years. Prolly just open 2.73's.

Looks well optioned. Speaking of axle bearings though, 03's are notorious for having soft axles that like to get eaten.

[sxcpotatoes]

I'm getting it in to my mechanic asap and will pass along that tidbit, thanks Pantera77. My '99 is the one that munched the axle bearing, and with only 256k on it. Seems the K-code carried over, there's a list here for the '92-'11 Panthers here http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_..._1992-2011.htm 3.55L = K code. If someone wants to copy that chart or paste the info for the Aero/Whales in the pertinent forum, go right ahead. Thanks.

[fmansfield444]

I think I read somewhere that C6=3.55L for newer panthers, maybe 05 and up though. Also not too sure about this.

Anyway, very nice car!

[sxcpotatoes]

I think I read somewhere that C6=3.55L for newer panthers, maybe 05 and up though. Also not too sure about this.

Anyway, very nice car!

Thank you! If you look at the list, 04-05 "5" code is a 3.55L, so is 56, C6, DK, (2004) F, and last but not least, K.

[jaywish]

My door tag on the 03 shows code 56 for the axle and it is a 3:55L. Not sure what the diff tag says.

You are going to like that car.

[79lincolnlover]

Best of luck with this GM!

[mrltd]

Nice car!

[Piece-it pete]

Nice! Seems like a smoking deal too.

Pete

[sxcpotatoes]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. No plans to modify this one, unless someone can take off that mock top & fill in the sheetmetal screws for the trim and paint it cheaply. The Ganley and Roman Chariot conversion decals gotta go. Think I'll leave it S for now instead of LS. The passenger side lumbar control is dangling out of the seat, one of the plastic tabs is broken off, so I'll be looking for a new one of those shortly. My mechanic is going to change the axle bearing fluid/grease or whatever it is, and hopefully there's no damage yet. If and when it would go, then it's time for a low mile '05-up swap with the cop 3.55L rear axle.

[sxcpotatoes]

Just got new Cooper CS4 tires on this. 80k mi tire, final price will be $461.73 OTD once I get that visa mail-in rebate. Only the T-rated tire, but they are quiet, great in wet weather, and okay in snow from what I've read online so far.