Prospect62
Registered
Hello all, since I already posted a couple of things in the other forums I figured I should stop by this one and introduce myself. I'm Dan and this is my first Mark VIII. I've traditionally been a Panther body guy, having owned five (5) Crown Vics and one (1) Marauder over the last ten years or so. I even 5-speed swapped one of my Crown Vics (I wish I never sold that car), so I'm pretty familiar with the platform. I sold my most recent Vic a few months ago and for my next car I wanted to try something different...familiar but different. I looked at several Mustangs but when it came right down to it I couldn't imagine being a 44 year-old guy with a Mustang. Too cliche. I also found that a Crown Vic budget won't buy a very nice Mustang anyway. Somewhere along the line a Mark VIII on marketplace caught my eye and the memories came flooding back. I was 12 when these cars came out and I can remember my brother and I (both car nuts) being enthralled by them (especially how the air suspension lowered the car at speed). Having owned the Marauder I knew just how damn fun a 4V 4.6 can be and then I saw how affordable these cars are even for very nice examples. So I said the hell with it, might as well see what I can find.
I had set out to find a black one (I like black cars) but every single black one I found was either beat to hell and junk or pristine and way overpriced. Not long after I started looking this car came across Marketplace when I least expected it.
Its a 98 with 49,000 original miles, and I am now the second owner. It has sat in storage for the last ten years or so. I have always had a thing for Toreador Red (though I much prefer DARK Toreador red) and the interior is black and in almost perfect condition. I runs, drives and stops but has issues consistent with every other Mark VIII and consistent with any car that has sat for 10 years in a poorly constructed enclosure. I am working my way through all of those issues in the hopes that I can actually drive the car and enjoy it before summer ends (here in upstate NY we only get 3 months of summer).
-power seats didn't move (fixed)
-neon strip didn't work (fixed)
-noisy pulleys/belt/tensioner (fixed)
-slight engine shake when revved (new plugs on order, fresh gas will help)
-ABS and "check traction control" warnings, codes for both rear wheel speed sensors present (deciding what to do about that)
-ball joints shot (working on it)
-windshield washer button missing (fixed)
-tires out of round and vibrating (fixed with new aftermarket wheels and Goodyear run-flat tires)
-brakes crusty but all there (I may try to salvage what's there - we'll see)
-headlights fogged to hell (fixed with brand new OEM NOS replacements)
-Grille chrome worn (fixed with new color matched LSC grille)
And a bunch of other things like fluids, etc. are getting done. At the end of the day, I am imagining that I will have a really fun cruiser on my hands. I have no plans to change much else on the car besides the wheels (I hate the OEM directional wheels). Other than that it will stay as Ford made it. Thanks to everyone who has already answered some of my questions. I look forward to learning more about the platform and maybe someday helping others.
I had set out to find a black one (I like black cars) but every single black one I found was either beat to hell and junk or pristine and way overpriced. Not long after I started looking this car came across Marketplace when I least expected it.
Its a 98 with 49,000 original miles, and I am now the second owner. It has sat in storage for the last ten years or so. I have always had a thing for Toreador Red (though I much prefer DARK Toreador red) and the interior is black and in almost perfect condition. I runs, drives and stops but has issues consistent with every other Mark VIII and consistent with any car that has sat for 10 years in a poorly constructed enclosure. I am working my way through all of those issues in the hopes that I can actually drive the car and enjoy it before summer ends (here in upstate NY we only get 3 months of summer).
-power seats didn't move (fixed)
-neon strip didn't work (fixed)
-noisy pulleys/belt/tensioner (fixed)
-slight engine shake when revved (new plugs on order, fresh gas will help)
-ABS and "check traction control" warnings, codes for both rear wheel speed sensors present (deciding what to do about that)
-ball joints shot (working on it)
-windshield washer button missing (fixed)
-tires out of round and vibrating (fixed with new aftermarket wheels and Goodyear run-flat tires)
-brakes crusty but all there (I may try to salvage what's there - we'll see)
-headlights fogged to hell (fixed with brand new OEM NOS replacements)
-Grille chrome worn (fixed with new color matched LSC grille)
And a bunch of other things like fluids, etc. are getting done. At the end of the day, I am imagining that I will have a really fun cruiser on my hands. I have no plans to change much else on the car besides the wheels (I hate the OEM directional wheels). Other than that it will stay as Ford made it. Thanks to everyone who has already answered some of my questions. I look forward to learning more about the platform and maybe someday helping others.


