crown vic question...

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 23, 2010, 7:08 pm

would a hearse or a station wagon. Have the same frame for use as a donor?

And how do Y'all dispose of the body after its ripped off the frame

I am thinking that my wife is goign to kill me if I drag home a project, especially one that turns into a pile of scrap.

mikewirth · Post by **mikewirth** » April 23, 2010, 8:56 pm

what year is it?

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » April 23, 2010, 9:33 pm

scrap is scrap.... What I had that wasn't going to be used went to the scrap yard and turned into some cash.... more money for the project...

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 24, 2010, 1:20 am

its an 88 crown vic hearse. With a goobered tranny. The guy is asking $350.

mikewirth · Post by **mikewirth** » April 24, 2010, 2:45 am

the 88 does not have the removable x-member as the newer models do, not to say it wouldnt work its a question of how much work do you want to do. For 350 you can get the newer x-member complete and not have a pile around for the wife to complain about

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 24, 2010, 12:42 pm

Its pretty much a given that my truck has to come off the frame. The floor boards are pretty much shot, and the cab mounts are suspect.

I am leaning more towards a full frame swap. Get the front and rear done at the same time. It would be a plus, if I could get a running engine out of the donor at the same time.

61ford · Post by **61ford** » April 24, 2010, 4:25 pm

id do some checking id say a hearse would prolly have a longer wheelbase although you could cut it down

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 24, 2010, 5:50 pm

61ford wrote:id do some checking id say a hearse would prolly have a longer wheelbase although you could cut it down

Thanks for the reply.

You wouldnt happen to have some more pics of the channeling on the cab would you?

Have you boxed it up yet? And what did you do for the support?

I have rust throughout that area of the cab, I have to cut it out anyways.

I did find a 87 grand marquis that is more local, and according to the seller "runs great" He is asking $700 for the car. I might go check it out tonight or tomorrow.

Rusty 63 · Post by **Rusty 63** » April 25, 2010, 6:58 am

Dude - use the search feature - there are guys here who have swapped these onto other frames - grand marquis & crown vics - and it looked sweet. You'd have to be a braver man than this guy - I'm just going with an '04 crossmember swap....

bit · Post by **bit** » April 25, 2010, 7:25 am

monkey if the rear door on the hearse is the same length as a 4 door car then the length is the same,the wagon is also the correct length as is a 4 door car. i think there are some pics of mine on here some where if you cant locate them let me know and i will try and snap a few.

If you want a truck to drive with ease steer great ride even better then there is absolutely no better way to go than the cv swap.

Bit

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 25, 2010, 12:13 pm

Rusty 63 wrote:Dude - use the search feature - there are guys here who have swapped these onto other frames - grand marquis & crown vics - and it looked sweet. You'd have to be a braver man than this guy - I'm just going with an '04 crossmember swap....

Yeah...

Try finding me a thread, where its picture documented from start to finish. That the links to the pictures still work.

The only one I could find was 61uni's. And he has not updated since he built the new mounts.
I have yet to run across a build thread, where the poster finished the project.

I am trying to figure as much as possible before making any sort of decision.

Fordman · Post by **Fordman** » April 25, 2010, 2:46 pm

for 350.00 i bet you could part it out and sell the enigne and transmsission. and sell the rest for scrap and make some money on the deal.

Rusty 63 · Post by **Rusty 63** » April 25, 2010, 3:15 pm

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/50673 ... truck.html

Sorry for sending u off site...

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 25, 2010, 6:16 pm

Rusty 63 wrote:http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/50673 ... truck.html

Sorry for sending u off site...

Unfortunatly that is another thread that shows the body on the frame. But the poster never returns to show how it finished.

Does look pretty good though.

61ford · Post by **61ford** » April 26, 2010, 7:46 pm

i didnt do any channeling on the cab i did cut out the step well and im going to just take a piece of sheet metal and run it straight then take some tubing and rework my cab brace. yea several has been done no one has taken many pics so far im the only one documenting much of it but i havent got to do much work lately im bout one mount away from having mine bolted down.and rad support i havent got that far yet i do know you have to drop the front frame rails a little.i have no metal fab skills but it isnt a big deal im taking the front stub from the factory frame, cutting the factory crown vic off and just taking some thick tubing ive got to connect the factory rails to the front part of the original frame so theres no modifying bumper brackets.700 might be a little high to pay i wouldnt hardly go over 500

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 27, 2010, 2:03 am

I went and looked at a 87 Grand marquis today. I talked down the guy from 700 to 500.

Its pretty straight, with the exception of a crunched passenger side front. Its a drum brake rear, and a speed density EFI

I will probably pick it up tomorrow and get to work.

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 27, 2010, 2:12 am

61ford wrote:i didnt do any channeling on the cab i did cut out the step well and im going to just take a piece of sheet metal and run it straight then take some tubing and rework my cab brace. yea several has been done no one has taken many pics so far im the only one documenting much of it but i havent got to do much work lately im bout one mount away from having mine bolted down.and rad support i havent got that far yet i do know you have to drop the front frame rails a little.i have no metal fab skills but it isnt a big deal im taking the front stub from the factory frame, cutting the factory crown vic off and just taking some thick tubing ive got to connect the factory rails to the front part of the original frame so theres no modifying bumper brackets.700 might be a little high to pay i wouldnt hardly go over 500

Wonder how it ill work on a 66. Since the step well is not as deep.
Guess I will find out.

61ford · Post by **61ford** » April 27, 2010, 6:44 am

i think on a 66 you prolly wouldnt need to clearance it although the cab brace might give you a problem

yea there all drum brake and speed density but if you want rear discs go grab a set off of a explorer or ranger any 8.8 with rear discs

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » April 27, 2010, 5:52 pm

The sheet metal above my cab brace is shot. I was able to poke a hole in it with my finger. It was completely full of dirt and mud. Same with the fresh air vents.

I guess I will cross that bridge when I get the cab off.

This followed me home today.

now I just need to figure out how to rip the bits off of it.

hungrymonkey · Post by **hungrymonkey** » May 23, 2010, 11:54 pm

I did some rough measurements. The frame on the GM is going to stick out from under the cab by 1.5". I might channel the floor pans by 2".

I will know more when I get the cab off the truck.