Thank You For This Site!

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paskevich

New member
Hello Linconaires,
Name is Tom, and I’ve been procrastinating for years about joining. At 54, I had Ford/Mercury vehicles since I started driving in 78. Started with Torino’s, Fairlane’s , LTD, and 70 Mach 1. Had over 1000 posts on 87/88 Thunderbird site, by the moniker “BabeMagnet”, thus the holdover. Well versed in the Ford line, I rebuilt engines from my beloved 351C to the mundane 3.8. I look forward to helping you and cherishing the help you can give me.
It’s my first Lincoln; got it in 06, sight unseen on EBAY. A triple black with about 80K. Since then,… a spring suspension conversion, rebuilt front suspension (twice), wheels, paint, and a 1/8 plate of steel in place of the back seat cross member (recommended for all). Still can use a lot of help, but I can give a lot too.
Tom
 
tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
Welcome!

Please, tell me more about your "cross member upgrade." Good chassis stiffening, I presume? Or are there some other advantages? I think this is the first I've heard of this.
 
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paskevich

New member
For several years I "the squeak" from my back dash and couldn't find it. Then, as a guest, I read that it was likely the cross member. I could see that one stretch was broken and I thought a roughly 12" x 8: gusset bolted in would be the answer. I bought a 1/8" plate, remover the seat ans seen that the member was also broken down at the lower bolts. I put a lot of time into consideration of a fix. Clearly, the manufacturers version was not strong enough, so, for starters, it had to be heavier steel. I thought of welding in a new cross of flat steel, but without the bent backbone of the original, it will need to be even heavier. Once I traced out my design, I sen that it was just short of a full plate. As an Engineer, I know a brace prone to flexing, does not like welding. (didn't like the welding aspect to begin with) So the path was clear. Took some 48 3/8 & 1/4 bolts to satisfy me, but it's in there GOOD. A REAL BIG difference in handling! Far more than I expected. But when you look at it, it's the primary vertical backbone of the car. Also assists in small caliber weapon assault from the rear,... if ya' need that kind of re-assurance.
 
tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
Considering I've looked up "Kevlar wallpaper" for the the home, (it exists!) And I don't even live in a bad neighborhood. .. I'm on board with your solutuon. I'd love to see photos, if you have them..
 
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paskevich

New member
I'll put forth effort to get some pics. Usually I document these things. An extra advantage,... you can mount things to it. Ever try to keep a tool box in the trunk of a Mark Viii? Sliding around like a loose cannon back there? I mounted a home-made tool-box tray to the thing, that keeps it at bay. More mounts to come. Ya' I'll get some pics for my new friends.

Monitor: Should this thread be moved to "tech" or something? A newbee, I feel the we're abusing the "welcome site", when others may benefit.
 
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billcu

Head Moderator
I think the Mark VIII General Tech section would be good for the cross member upgrade photos.

Feel free to put some whole car photos here in the introduction thread though. We're easy here, we move things around if there's a better section for a post, no big deal, it's mostly to help people when they are searching for something.

My green Mark VIII has a broken seat back brace too.:)
 
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