Icebreaker
Registered
I surfed on this morning in search of ANY general advice anyone out there with experience on these cars may like to offer.
I am on the verge of acquiring a 1963 Continental. My intention initially is to get the car drivable, as its cosmetic condition is good enough that it can be enjoyed once operational and a full restoration can be taken on later. The car has been off the road since 1987, but the story goes that it was fully operational when decommissioned. Sadly, some clown saw fit to part it out so many of the trim parts are gone, but I am fortunate to have a source for these parts so I am not greatly concerned by this. What does concern me is my inexperience. I am traditionally a “GM guy” (pause for cries of derision) and with the exception of tinkering on a ’67 Mustang in high school I have little experience with Ford products. People have warned me these cars are difficult to work on but I am undeterred. Nonetheless, in beginning this daunting task I do have a specific question:
The deal I’ve struck with the car’s owner is that I am tinkering with it in order to try to get the engine to start with the least possible investment. I have turned the engine by hand and verified the presence of oil in the engine and transmission. If I can get the engine to fire and run, I will buy the car; if not, I have the option to keep trying at my expense, or pass on the deal. I believe that the engine will run. What I am less sure about is the transmission. I know nothing about the “dual range turbo drive”. Can anyone tell me what to expect from a car with 96K on the odometer? I expect leaky seals (though there’s no evidence of it!) but I need to know if these transmissions are known for failure around the 100K mark and, if so, is it possible to get parts for them or are they obsolete and expensive to rebuild?
The master cylinder is completely seized but I have already located a replacement. I do not know about the condition of any of the other mechanical or electrical parts, as it will be difficult to determine much of this prior to getting it running.
I would certainly like to pursue this; getting this car running means saving it from its almost certain fate of the crusher, and though I’ve never owned a Lincoln I have had the pleasure of riding in and driving an original ’63 and became fond of it instantly! I am a moderately skilled shade-tree mechanic and will be doing almost all the work myself. I am aware of many of the problems inherent in approaching a car that has been non-operation for many years. Starting this project is a low dollar, low obligation investment, but if I buy the car I will be determined to put it on the road. Thusly, if anyone would like to offer some advice on what hidden time bombs I may be likely to encounter (or talk me out of this!) that would be much appreciated.
I am on the verge of acquiring a 1963 Continental. My intention initially is to get the car drivable, as its cosmetic condition is good enough that it can be enjoyed once operational and a full restoration can be taken on later. The car has been off the road since 1987, but the story goes that it was fully operational when decommissioned. Sadly, some clown saw fit to part it out so many of the trim parts are gone, but I am fortunate to have a source for these parts so I am not greatly concerned by this. What does concern me is my inexperience. I am traditionally a “GM guy” (pause for cries of derision) and with the exception of tinkering on a ’67 Mustang in high school I have little experience with Ford products. People have warned me these cars are difficult to work on but I am undeterred. Nonetheless, in beginning this daunting task I do have a specific question:
The deal I’ve struck with the car’s owner is that I am tinkering with it in order to try to get the engine to start with the least possible investment. I have turned the engine by hand and verified the presence of oil in the engine and transmission. If I can get the engine to fire and run, I will buy the car; if not, I have the option to keep trying at my expense, or pass on the deal. I believe that the engine will run. What I am less sure about is the transmission. I know nothing about the “dual range turbo drive”. Can anyone tell me what to expect from a car with 96K on the odometer? I expect leaky seals (though there’s no evidence of it!) but I need to know if these transmissions are known for failure around the 100K mark and, if so, is it possible to get parts for them or are they obsolete and expensive to rebuild?
The master cylinder is completely seized but I have already located a replacement. I do not know about the condition of any of the other mechanical or electrical parts, as it will be difficult to determine much of this prior to getting it running.
I would certainly like to pursue this; getting this car running means saving it from its almost certain fate of the crusher, and though I’ve never owned a Lincoln I have had the pleasure of riding in and driving an original ’63 and became fond of it instantly! I am a moderately skilled shade-tree mechanic and will be doing almost all the work myself. I am aware of many of the problems inherent in approaching a car that has been non-operation for many years. Starting this project is a low dollar, low obligation investment, but if I buy the car I will be determined to put it on the road. Thusly, if anyone would like to offer some advice on what hidden time bombs I may be likely to encounter (or talk me out of this!) that would be much appreciated.