Always my luck (I make it myself)

B

Bangster

New member
I think I know that going WOT is bad for things like cooling systems, and it never fails. My 97 Cougar had the plastic crossover intake, and I was driving it HARD (racing my wife, lame right?) and at the 1-2 gear change (JMod) I nearly spin it 360 degrees. The coolant crossover burst and laid down a nice slick of coolant for me to slip in. Removed the pressure cap, filled it with water, and limped it home 12 miles in 110 degree temps.

Fast Forward to this evening. Been babying my 97 Mark VIII, but just had to get on it and kill my mileage, so hammered it, and 1-2 shift, got nearly 180 degrees (way less coolant dumped in a longer period of time).

I have not added a drop of coolant in 18,000 miles or 3ish years of ownership, even in the heat it suffers in.



I grabbed 4 gallons of water, filled it up and left the pressure cap loose, stopped every 5 miles or so and refilled it, never got above 2,000 rpm, and babied it home.

Last few Mark VIIIs in the junk yard had brand new radiators in them, and for 40 bucks the radiators and cooling fans have been coming home with me.

Just when I thought I would have a day to myself, looks like I am cleaning up an engine and swapping in a radiator.
 
B

Bangster

New member
mm, coolant is pretty slick, I guess some monsters like you have might have made a little difference, and even at stock (except JMod) I do wear the rears about 5x faster than the fronts, I don't see anything wider than this is needed. It is nice to be able to rotate them front to back.

 
S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
It's almost 20 years old, you drive it hard and long enough and something will eventually break.
 
B

Bangster

New member
True, it shouldn't be a shock that parts, particularly plastic, fails, especially after all these years in a hot climate.

My 2000 Grand Marquis with 299,000 miles spoils me. Other than accident repair, and normal wear items (and the dang all plastic intake, or even the one with the aluminum crossover) it just goes and goes.

I anticipated radiator issues, My 97 Cougar it failed much earlier, I paid to have it "rodded" out because the dealer put in Specialty Orange coolant (deathcool) and it clogged over half of it, but then the transmission "cooler" perforated and I made strawberry shakes in the radiator. I did bypass older radiators and ones that looked like they had issues, but I couldn't pass up 2 new (still had stickers, and I swear one didn't even get an upper hose attached and it was abandoned alone the road).
 
B

Bangster

New member
Now I remember why I can't use the 1 year old one from my 97 Cougar, just some light frontal contact:



I couldn't get the camera to focus on the gaping hole:



It is the little things, attention to details. Luckily I saw it and only had to remove the upper transmission cooling line.
 
B

Bangster

New member
I also am glad I started cracking open the vent/filler on the crossover every oil change.

First time I had to take it off, when I replaced the oil filter adapter, I think I was close to destroying it. I almost broke my Horrible Freight 1/4 drive ratchet.

I was able to remove it with no drama. I replaced the o-ring last time I had it completely out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top