Mod Box - 85' Grand Marquis

[Grand Marquis GT]

That's the first time I've ever seen an intercooler on a box. I could get used to that

[Mr Bean]

So the more I look at it the more I think I want to do 88-91 nose and rear swap. It looks so smooth with bumpers removed that I want them to be flush with the rest of the body. I am thinking Crown Vic nose and GMQ rear.

[pantera77]

Gross.

[Bobcat]

keep it one or the other. 88-91 Merc looks bad. Vic looks amazing.

Trimless!!! Keep that way.

[Mr Bean]

Sprayed first coat of surfacer this morning. Lots of scratches that will need to be blocked out.

[sly]

the 88-91 filler panel would be the issue. It has that molding match up part on it that would jut out. Now if you were to flush mount the bumper up front or make your own filler panel, that would fix the issue.

[JeffBoudah]

I'm continually impressed with this build. Keep up the stellar work!

[Bobcat]

You'd need different bumpers. The bumper would jut out too far.

[slack]

the 88-91 filler panel would be the issue. It has that molding match up part on it that would jut out. Now if you were to flush mount the bumper up front or make your own filler panel, that would fix the issue.

I was under the impression that he was planning on swapping the whole nose/tail so everything should match up.

Also should point out that the bumper shocks on the 88-91 CV stick out further than the 87- CV from my experience. As you can see by my swap, the bumper overhangs further than it's suppose to after switching to the older style nose. I'm not sure how the reverse would look. It think I remember you possibly fabbing up your own mounts for the bumper though.

[Mr Bean]

I am not a fan of 88-91 GMQ nose which is why I want the CV nose. I can't do CV rear because trunk lid and trunk opening are different. CV nose had smooth filler pieces so there shouldn't be an issue there. GMQ tail does have a molding embedded into the filler piece. I can take care of that with some cutting and fiberglassing. Not too worried there. Bumper mounts will most definitely need to be modded but I am not too concerned about that. Finding the parts will be my biggest issue. Boxes are pretty much non existent at any of the junkyards here.

[sly]

Look at the glamour shot of my car in the POTM thread. The black molding on the sides matches up with the filler panel that covers the ends of the bumper. That's the part I'm talking about. You would have to tack on ALL of the lower moldings to make that look right.

[Mr Bean]

Ok I must be retarded but how do I get to the POTM thread? I can't find it.

[Mr Bean]

I couldn't find your thread but looking at pics of other cars this is the only piece that I would have to cut out and fill it with a smooth section.

[slack]

Or can't you just use a CV bumper surround instead of a GMQ? It doesn't have the trim "connector" section you blocked off in your pic.

Here's what mine looked like before the "swaps".





EDIT:
Adding this pic in case that the GMQ trim is a different shape under the tail lights. Here's what it looks like with the 87 bumper / trunk but the 89 CV bumper surround. You might get a better idea what it looks like:

[pantera77]

88-91 CV rear trim piece is different form a 88-91 GM piece.



Whenever I see a panther with a mismatched GM/CV front/rear, first thing I think is junkyard ghetto cruiser, but that's just my opinion.
Boxes should be boxy.