VicCrownVic's 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LS "The Scab"

[DerekTheGreat]

It's good to see that car kickin' around. I think some factory black steelies would look wonderful on it. But yeah, clearance is an issue with the bigger brakes and different hub? I drove my Townie today, love the brakes on it, they're RIGHT there. So when you get done with your swap, I'd like to do some A/B comparison testing to put some real-world measurements on performance. Plus if you drive the thing you can tell me if I've got the typical, "Oh my god, these suck!" box brakes and I'm just used to them, or if yep, you can stop with confidence. I've never had to swerve to stop safely in the thing, but others have had to swerve to miss jamming into me.

[kishy]

You know, I really don't like those wheels on any car I've seen them on yet (obviously generally 98-02s), but they work pretty well here.

Preserving 15" wheel fitment (prioritizing form over function) was why I only went with 95-97 brakes on my wagon, rather than 98-02 brakes. 95-97 still buys you a few benefits over stock like much improved caliper slide design, modestly larger diameter rotors, and sealed hub bearings. But if 15" wheels aren't a priority, 98-02 is the way to go.

[VicCrownVic]

Thanks, I think they look better on this car than on the '98. Hoarding all the unused/barely used full sized spares I can find in the JYs to have a nice set of black wheels for the '98 to replace this set. Think I have 4, now I just need new tires for that set of wheels.

Dad was out on his tractor mowing yesterday. After that I helped him fix the seized latch on his tailgate (blue Dodge in the picture). He said it looked pretty good from a distance, LOL. We were chatting about what a rot box this car is, but how it hasnt gotten much worse since I bought it in 2016 because I haven't driven it during winter.

At some point I'll be able to put the front center caps on. The most work ever just to get center caps on, LOL.

[friskyfrankie]

Yeah, the "tear drop" wheels do look spiffy!

[87gtVIC]

Those wheels really look nice on there!

[VicCrownVic]

Step 1 completed yesterday.

[87gtVIC]

Oh yeah. You know...while you are in there things.

[jaywish]

Oh yes

[VicCrownVic]

I might actually be doing something with this car at some point this year. We'll see if I get to it.
It needs control arm bushings, so I suppose I might as well.

[VicCrownVic]

Starts right up even after short trips not long enough to recharge the battery power used for starting. Was out a little later this evening and the door lights look fine when it's no so bright out. So I think I was just seeing incandescent door lights compared to LED dome light in bright sunlight. So it looks like no parasitic draw to chase, just crappy old batteries.

Still need to air up the rear air shocks. Also need to decide what I'm doing for tires since these tires are way overdue for replacement. Sometime in the next month I'll probably end up getting new tires for the '98 on JY unused/barely used spare wheels (thanks old people who never used your full size spares, LOL) and swap the factory '98 tear drops to this car. I'll have to get a picture at that time.

[VicCrownVic]

Maiden voyage of 2023, but after I got a new battery since the old batteries were not doing well last fall. The battery that came with this car seems to take a charge ok, but still wasn't doing well. The battery that had been in The Ice Car wasn't taking a charge at fist (last fall) and seemed like it had a dead cell based on the voltage level after being on the charger a few days. The one that came with this car is 8 years old, the one from The Ice Car was 6 years old. Since the one from The Ice Car seemed to behave worse, that battery was taken in for the core. I'll have to keep an eye on it to see if the new battery drains down like the old. If it does drain I get to chase a parasitic draw. Last fall was the first I noticed the poor battery behavior; all previous winters I could let this car sit all winter (about 5-6 months) and it would start right up every year.

Things I noticed today:
The exhaust is a little loud, probably the air injection tube on the p-side cat.
The ride feels less firm/confident compared to the '98. Hard to believe I used to DD this thing, although I believe the squish is the rear Monroe air shocks that probably are completely deflated.
Lights in the doors seemed dimmer than I thought they should be, so that will be a consideration as I observe how things go with the new battery. The dome light seemed fine but I think it's LED and the door lights are not.
Brakes felt perfectly fine, so the line replacement and bleeding done last year really helped.
Acceleration was fine as well. I was actually anticipating Private Messages spark plug to be fouled since it likes to do that and I didn't look up the last time cleaned or replaced that plug.

[VicCrownVic]

Got it done today, steel line it is. It was actually the line going to the rear below the driver door.
This car is such a rotbox, but the brakes function better than they ever have since I bought this car 6 years ago. Dad had one of those one man bleeder things. It worked pretty well, I used it since dad was working on his truck.

[VicCrownVic]

My friend who owns the hydraulic flare tool told me about the nicop lines that he used a few years ago on his F150. I have a bunch of zinc coated steel line on hand, so if I want to get it done this weekend it will be with what I have. Although this isn't my DD so I could wait and order some nicop line. If I don't get it done tomorrow I'll consider ordering some nicop.

[Grand1]

Third Nic Copper, save your self 50% in $ and buy it off Amazon as to avoid the autopart store cartel.

[87gtVIC]

Last Saturday I popped a brake line somewhere in the front left or front center. Brakes felt a little strange returning from Lowe's with some mulch (second trip because I needed a couple more bags). Got home and noticed drips like a crumb trail from the street into the driveway under the car. The strangeness I felt in the brakes made sense at that point. Line replacement perhaps this weekend if I have time. yay
At least I still have my friend's hydraulic flare tool, so it shouldn't be too terrible of a job.

Hope that fix doesnt reveal the next weakest link in your system. Been there and played that game before.

I've used Nickle Copper brake lines on the past couple of brake lines I had to replace. It made it so much less a pain in the ass. They flare and bend (but not kink) really easy.

I have yet to try that stuff out as I was lucky enough to finished up all the brake lines on my car before I have ever heard about this stuff. A lot more pricier (from parts store) for a roll of the nicopp stuff but if the ease of use is there it is a no brainer.