When the project sold for $50K I ran right upstairs to tell the wife. They notched the frame rails and flipped the 8.8 on top of the springs. The CV front suspension and the axle flip both drop the truck about 5". Lowered it just right I thought.
Was a nice truck once it was done. I liked the original color on it too. Ive been kicking aorund lowring mine with I beams but the crown vic thing might just be the way to go. For what the dropped I beams sell for I could get the vic set up from a junkyard, rebuild the brakes and have it welded in for about the same price. I like to picture this truck with a stance like the truck onthe show. But with some 15x10 steelies instead of the Bling wheels.
Every day I'm getting closer to deciding to go ahead with the project. The show helped. I'm thinking 16" wheels. Not sure what size is required to fit over the 11+" Explorer disks. They eliminated the F O R D from the front and the emblems on the sides of the hood for a nice, clean look. I'd do the same but with some paint pattern on the hood. Went with a buddy yesterday to look at the State surplus and confiscated vehicles. Looked at a '99 F150 with the 5.4L Triton engine. Might put a low ball bid on it. The also had some beat up Crown Vic Interceptors. Think the Interceptors have heavier suspensions and sway bar. Might be a good source in your area too.
What are u planning to use for computer wiring harnessess? I know there is lots of stuff out there for Chebby's .... I have not seen hardly anything on Fords. I gess that's in part cuz I have'nt been looking.
There are plenty of crown vics on out junkyards, wont need to pull a whole car home. I would need to see about putting FE motor mounts on the Vic cross bar. My motor is still pretty new and dont want to swap it out. I would just flip my 9" in th eback and keep the drums. But I forgot about needing bigger wheels to clear the front brakes. would need to find something available in 16" and both lug patterns or have my 9" axles drilled. The more i think about it maybe it will be cheaper and easier to just get the dropped I beams and some 74 truck disc brakes. Im not going all retro, just want it lower with keeping all the stuff I already have rebuilt.
I saw that. I don't think I would buy a rebuild from them. They do them too fast and under a dead line. May be some short cuts. Rick
Think I would (if I go ahead with it) buy a running donor vehicle to get the engine, transmission, computer, sensors, and harnesses. Will try to transplant the gauges too. I would probably still have issues with theft prevention stuff, etc but pulling everything myself from a running vehicle should give a novice a fighting chance. Probably look for a Mark VIII or Triton truck. (I put a low ball bid today on a state surplus F150 with 5.4L Triton engine. Unfortunately, its 4WD so transmission wouldn't be useable. Bids close tomorrow.)
I agree. I think when ur workin under that kind of pressure and time constraints something/s on the project will be compromised.
I gotta see what the Interceptors go for. If I bought a whole car there'd be a deal made ahead of time with someone to haul it, do the paperwork in their name to avoid sales tax, let me take what I want and they can keep the rest. Some of the cop cars are a mess and there are a LOT of them. And, I'm not finding any deals so far on the CV front end stuff from a junk yard. So far they're just adding up the prices of all the pieces which would be some outrageous total. I'd wanna pull the front end myself to save all the fasteners, brackets, etc. Yeah, but wouldn't you like to have REAL IRS, power rack & pinion and a nice big sway bar?
IF I didnt have a truck that is already done with engine wheels and tires then it would be a no brainer to do the Vic swap. It would require replacing too much that I already have done. maybe in a later tim ein life when I can go back and really re do it.
http://www.govdeals.com/ Good auction site for used up police cars and trucks. Searchable by location. I think I read somewhere the cop crown vics don't have the anti theft bs, but I might be wrong. If you get one 98 or earlier it might not have it either. I think 99 is when they started it.
Thanks, but I'm only looking to get the steering and suspension off a CV. Computor, etc will probably come from a Mark VIII or Triton truck. Would be good to know if any of those came without anti theft stuff. Its on my list of things to look into.
Also isn't it just certain years of crown vic/marquis front suspention that is useable? Thought i read that somewhere. I think it was here http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=47610
Yes, guys that do it say '03 and newer. Think it might be when the cars got the aluminimum, bolt-in cross member but that's just speculation. Haven't seen any reason given for '03 and newer.
Well, it looks like the project is a go. Who knows if I'll be able to finish it but I'm gonna try. Since there is some interest, and I'm getting a ton of good feedback, I'll keep posting updates unless I get complains about an F100 project thread on our Maverick/Comet board.:16suspect Not sure if there's a precedence for that? My son is now ready to sell the F100 to me. We're hoping to get it moved to my house a week from tomorrow. I ordered a temp plastic 10X20 shed to hold all the parts (engines, transmissions, front end parts, rear ends, fenders, box, aprons, bumpers, ...) and to serve as a paint booth later on. Visited a nearby salvage yard and got a reasonable price on a 5.4L Triton, 2WD trans, PCM, sensors, and harnesses out of an Expedition that hasn't hit the yard yet. Engine has 180K on it but sounds great. I think it will be usable as is. Oil was dirty but transmission fluid looked new. :16suspect I'll drive it around the yard next week and make a final decison. I'll take some measurements and see if the radiator could be used in the F100. Will probably get the instrument cluster too and see if that can be transplanted. Sure would make wiring simpler. Think I also got a reasonable price on an Explorer disk brake rear end. He didn't have the '03 or later CV steering/suspension/crossmember but I didn't like his price on that anyway. Comments are welcome.
