Alright, got a SuperCoupe rear sway bar (thanks DieselDan), working MFS (out of a 97 Base), and a 93 One-piece driveshaft (these are the same diameter as the CVPI Aluminum units, but the CVPI unit is 3" shorter than the MKVIII unit). Recieved the rear shock mounts and Cobra rear brake caliper relocation brackets (thanks Jay) and am getting the spare set of rear calipers (MKVIII units) cleaned/painted this coming weekend. Installed a drivers side front fender last weekend (hey, parts are parts, even if they are one-at-a-time).
1997 Base half-breed
- Thread starter markup97
- Start date
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
Sounds like real progress!
Don't forget that you'll want to get the Energy Suspension greasable rear sway bar brackets to replace the stock ones. Although the stock ones will fit, they usually break fairly shortly afterward.. (I think mine lasted a year)
I also just had a Eureka moment. Folks always say that if you replace your transmission, to get the civilian Crown Vic one, due to the longer tail-housing on the CVPI. Really, one could probably get the CVPI trans /and/ driveshaft, and likely be just fine. (and get a one-peice upgrade in the process..) Hmm...
Don't forget that you'll want to get the Energy Suspension greasable rear sway bar brackets to replace the stock ones. Although the stock ones will fit, they usually break fairly shortly afterward.. (I think mine lasted a year)
I also just had a Eureka moment. Folks always say that if you replace your transmission, to get the civilian Crown Vic one, due to the longer tail-housing on the CVPI. Really, one could probably get the CVPI trans /and/ driveshaft, and likely be just fine. (and get a one-peice upgrade in the process..) Hmm...
negative.
the tail shaft length difference is approximately a 1 inch.
the 3 inch driveshaft will still be too short.
according to those in the business, DirtyDog, a low mile grand marquis trans is usually your best bet.
Alright, long time with no updates (pics coming when I can get everything to play nice):
1) Got a set of Bilstein Cobra Coupe rear shocks, mounted in Jays brackets. Will install shortly.
2) Installed a .96" solid (97 Thunderbird) rear sway bar (will get some good bushings for it when able) and shorter Energy Suspension links.
3) (FINALLY!) Purchased a front clip and am in-process of test-fitting components (header panel seems wider than my original as hood gaps are more pronounced).
4) Spare hood is almost ready for final fit of 2010 GT500 Hood Vent/Air extractor unit.
5) 4.10 Trac-Lock rebuilt with new frictions/steels/F150 S-spring.
6) Leather shift boot installed.
7) Rear caliper brackets modified and painted (for Cobra rear brake upgrade) (still need to clean/paint/install new hardware on calipers).
8) Got a 1.06" front bar and Energy suspension bushings, along with 93 Cougar steering rack) (found a 1.10" front bar and will be picking it up soon).
9) Energy Suspension trans mount ready to go in when I swap out rear carriers/driveshaft/rebuild output housing.
10) Received 96 Cobra exhaust manifolds (start porting this week).
All baby steps, but steps none the less.
1) Got a set of Bilstein Cobra Coupe rear shocks, mounted in Jays brackets. Will install shortly.
2) Installed a .96" solid (97 Thunderbird) rear sway bar (will get some good bushings for it when able) and shorter Energy Suspension links.
3) (FINALLY!) Purchased a front clip and am in-process of test-fitting components (header panel seems wider than my original as hood gaps are more pronounced).
4) Spare hood is almost ready for final fit of 2010 GT500 Hood Vent/Air extractor unit.
5) 4.10 Trac-Lock rebuilt with new frictions/steels/F150 S-spring.
6) Leather shift boot installed.
7) Rear caliper brackets modified and painted (for Cobra rear brake upgrade) (still need to clean/paint/install new hardware on calipers).
8) Got a 1.06" front bar and Energy suspension bushings, along with 93 Cougar steering rack) (found a 1.10" front bar and will be picking it up soon).
9) Energy Suspension trans mount ready to go in when I swap out rear carriers/driveshaft/rebuild output housing.
10) Received 96 Cobra exhaust manifolds (start porting this week).
All baby steps, but steps none the less.
Thanks to Jays mounts, got the Bilstiens installed today.
Took the entire trunk liner out and hosed the original hardware down with MOPAR (I know) Rust Penetrant and let it sit for a good two hours (remember, Northern Half-breed Hack car). Came back and took less than an hour to do both sides. Awesome feeling doing this and big thanks to Jay for his good bits!
Took the entire trunk liner out and hosed the original hardware down with MOPAR (I know) Rust Penetrant and let it sit for a good two hours (remember, Northern Half-breed Hack car). Came back and took less than an hour to do both sides. Awesome feeling doing this and big thanks to Jay for his good bits!
Got the drivers side front frame stub welded on today. Now to straighten (didn't know just how FUBARed it was until I got the drivers side welded on) the passenger side and weld the tear marks.
Also got 2 of the LSC side moldings cleaned up and ready for repair/primer.
Baby steps..............
Also got 2 of the LSC side moldings cleaned up and ready for repair/primer.
Baby steps..............
driller
El Presidente
It will all be worth it!
Cobra MarkVIII
New member
dude I don't get it...did you change out the rear quarter panels and trunk and rear bumper or what did you exactly do bc I don't get it.
Earlier in the description of this car, I stated it had been hit HARD very early in its life. The dealer, unable to source a 97-98 back-half, used a 94 rear clip to piece this car back together. That made this car a Half-Breed (Gen2 front, Gen1 back). Now, I am switching the rear bumper cover to a 95-96 unit to allow for the exhaust cut-outs and straight back tip exit. I am also turning that replacement cover into an LSC-spec unit by filling the chrome strip indentation.
LOOOOOOOOOONG overdue post. Car is still not being driven due to my laziness, hectic work schedule, working on everyone elses' stuff when not working, and overall life situations.
1) Bought, cleaned up, and sold a 96 Cobra intake
2) Found a sweet deal on some updated '03 Aviator heads ($75 for the pair, complete with 64K on them) (the reason I sold the 96 Cobra intake!)
3) Picked up a set of nice 96 Cobra cams and 5-position adjustable secondary cam gears
4) Sourced an '03 Mach1 intake
5) Got the wheel centers powdercoated and tires on the wheels
6) Got an Addco 1.25" front bar with grease fittings
7) New Gen1 (Tbird/Cougar) rack
8) 03-04 Cobra long-tubes headers to cut/fit the MKVIII
9) Powdercoated (wrinkle black) valve covers
10) Installed the 96 LSC rear bumper cover
11) Rewiring the car side for Lincoln LS cruise control (as I am using an LS wheel)
12) Temple Performance White Face Gauge kit installed (nice unit by the way)
Awaiting install/arrival/on order:
1) Magnaflow 3"-in-2.5"-out X-resonator
2) LPW '03-'04 Cobra IRS diff cover
3) Cobra rear hubs (awaiting FRPP to ship)
4) 2.5" Trubendz (mandrelexhaust kit) exhaust
5) Energy suspension trans mount
6) Energy suspension diff mounts
7) Energy suspension rear spindle bushings
8) Dynomax mufflers
9) STS-4CH tail light sequencer/wiring harness (modding spare tail panel now)
10) Two-tone interior (Black base with Opel accents)
11) 'Octane Mod' struts and bags
12) LED interior light conversion
13) Jays HID headlight retrofit kit
14) LS radio wiring installed for remote media control
I am sure (as soon as I get home from work) that I will see/remember other things I am doing to the car/the car is getting. As soon as the hubs get here and pressed into the fresh spindles, the 4.10 Trac-Lock 28-spline diff gets installed and the entire car gets swapped to Cobra 13" brakes. Car now needs to be painted and the interior door cards Black Leather stretched/reglued due to Florida heat/sun. The 97-98 exhaust tips will be modified to fit the 2.5" pipes as well.
I will update as I can, and hopefully I will be able to get some pictures of these things (camera has an older XD card for storage and most of the computers I now use have no way to dock any card but a USB port).
1) Bought, cleaned up, and sold a 96 Cobra intake
2) Found a sweet deal on some updated '03 Aviator heads ($75 for the pair, complete with 64K on them) (the reason I sold the 96 Cobra intake!)
3) Picked up a set of nice 96 Cobra cams and 5-position adjustable secondary cam gears
4) Sourced an '03 Mach1 intake
5) Got the wheel centers powdercoated and tires on the wheels
6) Got an Addco 1.25" front bar with grease fittings
7) New Gen1 (Tbird/Cougar) rack
8) 03-04 Cobra long-tubes headers to cut/fit the MKVIII
9) Powdercoated (wrinkle black) valve covers
10) Installed the 96 LSC rear bumper cover
11) Rewiring the car side for Lincoln LS cruise control (as I am using an LS wheel)
12) Temple Performance White Face Gauge kit installed (nice unit by the way)
Awaiting install/arrival/on order:
1) Magnaflow 3"-in-2.5"-out X-resonator
2) LPW '03-'04 Cobra IRS diff cover
3) Cobra rear hubs (awaiting FRPP to ship)
4) 2.5" Trubendz (mandrelexhaust kit) exhaust
5) Energy suspension trans mount
6) Energy suspension diff mounts
7) Energy suspension rear spindle bushings
8) Dynomax mufflers
9) STS-4CH tail light sequencer/wiring harness (modding spare tail panel now)
10) Two-tone interior (Black base with Opel accents)
11) 'Octane Mod' struts and bags
12) LED interior light conversion
13) Jays HID headlight retrofit kit
14) LS radio wiring installed for remote media control
I am sure (as soon as I get home from work) that I will see/remember other things I am doing to the car/the car is getting. As soon as the hubs get here and pressed into the fresh spindles, the 4.10 Trac-Lock 28-spline diff gets installed and the entire car gets swapped to Cobra 13" brakes. Car now needs to be painted and the interior door cards Black Leather stretched/reglued due to Florida heat/sun. The 97-98 exhaust tips will be modified to fit the 2.5" pipes as well.
I will update as I can, and hopefully I will be able to get some pictures of these things (camera has an older XD card for storage and most of the computers I now use have no way to dock any card but a USB port).
Last edited:
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
Wow. You've been busy, My friend!
Thanks for the update. This car of yours is getting some very cool mods. I can't wait to see photos of a bunch of this stuff.
As for a card reader, this one looks pretty good, but there are hundreds out there like it. They're handy, and cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FRMI7OW/
Thanks for the update. This car of yours is getting some very cool mods. I can't wait to see photos of a bunch of this stuff.
As for a card reader, this one looks pretty good, but there are hundreds out there like it. They're handy, and cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FRMI7OW/
I will likely install the C-heads and intake once the car is up in Ohio (getting ready to move now). The intake NEEDS to be ported, as they are restrictive in stock form. NASVT did a comparo with his ported intake to a stock intake on an otherwise stock Mach1....it gained a minimum of 10hp/10tq from 2200rpm to 6800rpm, with some gains up into the 30hp/25tq through the midrange. Being I will be right up in his area and I purchased the stock Mach1 intake from him, I will take it to him for porting.