I need some help please

9

98mark8lsc

I make stuff
Ok, so I'm gonna buy this pearl/black 97 mark viii that I saw on craig's list for $900 to use as my daily driver so I can keep the miles off of my 98 (Driving 40 miles a day to and from work eventually adds up).
http://charleston.craigslist.org/car/521171395.html
I went to check it out the other night and, as stated in the ad, the passenger side front wheel does not turn (left or right). I dropped to the ground and looked and I can immediately tell that it's a lower ball joint--came right out of the lower control arm. It's not such a big deal for me since I just finished replacing both sides, upper and lower, control arms on my 98. The guy told me that he'd let me work on it right there in front of his house so I can get it good enough to drive to my house. The only problem is, with the air ride messed up also, I don't know how I'm gonna get a jack up underneath it. Can someone please help me figure out a way to get a jack up underneath it????? Any good tricks to try? The jack that I've got is one of those 2-ton jacks that you buy from Wal-mart in a set with 2 jack stands, so if you're familiar with them, you know that they're still kinda tall even when they're all the way lowered.

Oh, and if for some reason it's more messed up than I think it is. I think I'll just scavenge a bunch a parts on it and get rid of it. All lights work (both headlight bulbs are relatively new and the neon is in perfect shape, yes!!), the interior is probably about a 6 (cupholder is broken), and it's got 3 spots where the paint is peeling off (spot on the trunk, pass. fender, and a spot right above the driver door on the roof.), 125,000 miles, and no lasagna on the rear window.

Thanks!
 
I made my self what I call is cheater ramps. They are made from taking two 6' long 2" X 4" pieces of wood cut on a 60 degree angle and nailed together. You can have them cut for you at your local lumber yard. They give me enough room to get my regular floor jack under the air damn to jack the car up, others use the car jack that comes with the car to get it up enough.
 
To be honest I would call a flat bed truck and have them deliver it. Don’t know what they would charge you but in Dallas about $100.local save your sanity and skin.
 
I've heard horror stories about flat bed trucks dragging damaged cars on and off of the truck.

I'd fix it where it sits.
 
The stock scissor jack should fit under there. There should be one in the trunk. If not you can find them all over the place for cheap.
 
Sorry for not updating this sooner.....

The scissor jack worked. It ended up taking me like 3 and a half hours just to do one lower control arm.
First, I couldn't get the wheel off (frozen to the hub), and then I couldn't get the air strut bolt out of the sleeve in the control arm (rusted together), I ended up heating up the bolt sleeve with a torch and then hammering a screwdriver into the seam of it to pry it open a little bit. Ended up breaking the tip of my screwdriver off in the process, but it worked and I was able to get the bolt out.

After that was done and it was all put back together, I started it up and only the front air ride pumped up. There was a message in the message center that said check air ride, so I turned the air ride off and back on and then the rear raised up. Yay!! So, I may not have to buy the coil conversion after all, like I was planning....at least not yet.

That was Saturday. I drove by it this evening (Sunday), and the suspension was still pumped up. Once I actually get the car in my possession, I'm gonna go at it with some soapy water and find out if it is in fact leaking. I'm hoping to be able to keep the air ride.
Also, both upper control arm ball joint boots are ripped up, and there's a squeak coming from the driver's side (I think) while turning, so I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need to replace those real soon too.

I can't wait to pick it up tomorrow! It feels like Christmas all over again!:D
 
Those boots ripped open are a sure sign that those uppers need replacing as well. Just make sure that you get the TRW upper ball joint replacemnts and no some cheap imported knock off. I would take it easy on your new found ride until you get the car safe (suspension issues and brakes) before you test er out. You got a good deal and it looks as though you may have dodged a big cost for the moment anyhow, don't ruin it.
 
My scissor jack folded together trying to lift it up at such a low point (Car was completely on the ground front and back bags were completely deflated). Then i grabbed the bigger one from my moms towncar and it folded too! Both jacks failed to lift my car and are now ruined. Eventually had to get one from a big pickup truck and it worked, barely. I dont think the scissor jacks are designed to lift from such a low point.
 
Pics

Pics

Oh, and I know that wheels aren't on correctly. These pictures are from right after I got it to my house. I imagine it will look a lot better once I give a good detailing inside and out.

All in all, not too bad for $900!
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You can just see the 98 LSC in the garage.
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Paint peeling on trunk.
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Hazy headlights....I already sanded/polished one of them since the picture was taken.
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Paint peeling on fender.
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If you look closely you can see the dent, it's about the size of a 3 x 5 card. You can also see the rusty spot.
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First time I've seen a crappy-looking back seat in one of these. I think his dog used to ride back there. Also, there's at least 2 cigarette burns in the seat part of the backseat.
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Front seats look pretty good.
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Woodgrain has a bunch of chips in it.
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