General => User Rides => Topic started by: Big B on December 28, 2012, 06:16:03 PM
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Big B on December 28, 2012, 06:16:03 PM
Thought some of you classic Ford guys here would appreciate this. This is our dear Fox's cousin in Ford goodness, The Panther. Specifically, a 1980 LTD 2-Door Slicktop base-model. I wanted something to build into a drag-race Sleeper. Something that no one would ever suspect would be fast. This granny ride should fit the bill nicely, and should help me embarrass quite a few people at the track. A built 460C is in the works for this car as we speak.
It has been an NC car its entire life, and is around 95% rust-free overall. Body is straight as well, which is what sold me on this one. I replaced the Hood and Decklid with nice junkyard panels awhile back, since the original's where rusted out. Still has the stock 302 with Variable Venturi Carb, which runs like a raped 140hp ape once you get it warmed up.
Anyone else here have a thing for 1979-2012 Ford Panthers? I have an '04 Lincoln Town Car as well, which is a pleasure to daily drive.
.
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: STANG8U on December 28, 2012, 06:22:59 PM
They make cool drag cars
Clean ride
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: bryan163 on December 28, 2012, 06:47:48 PM
My first car was an 84 coupe. Brings back good memories. These cars are completely indestructable. I used to take it off road, jump it, and ram things with it. It never needed anything.
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: STANG8U on December 28, 2012, 07:00:41 PM
Rofl lmfao
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: dragon574444 on December 28, 2012, 08:21:50 PM
That is the perfect color too, leave the stock interior in there and no one will ever suspect that car can run.
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: beast50 on December 28, 2012, 09:06:27 PM
I am so jealous! I love the panther chassis. My first car was an 82 ltd sedan, then I had an 89 crown victoria lx then later I had a 97 grand marquis ls. I alqays wanted a box coupe though! 1979-1991(box) 1992-1997(aero) 1998-2011(whale).
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: hwy73 on December 28, 2012, 10:44:35 PM
That is a cool box Panther.
Big B : Anyone else here have a thing for 1979-2012 Ford Panthers? I have an '04 Lincoln Town Car as well, which is a pleasure to daily drive.
The ultimate Panther
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: mdr1220 on December 29, 2012, 12:33:26 AM
Put some dogdish hub caps on it and respray it in that color and leave it alone.
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Beau on December 29, 2012, 03:33:48 AM
I'd hit it like it was the town slut on prom night. :rollin:
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: flylear45 on December 29, 2012, 12:27:23 PM
That car is shagY! I am serious, man. Love the green interior. So retro!
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: ZondaC12 on December 29, 2012, 09:29:30 PM
That was my first thought as well. SO jealous. The coloring, especially on the inside, makes it look an easy 10 or 15 years older than it actually is. Awesome score. That has to be an incredibly rare color....not to mention a slicktop 2-door. I was shocked the first time I saw a picture of a 2-door Panther. Not until now have I seen a slicktop one. Always seems like they've got the vinyl top!
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Quietleaf on December 29, 2012, 11:49:47 PM
There's a guy up the street who always drove one. He might still have it. I think he's had 2 or 3 of them over the years.
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: beast50 on December 30, 2012, 02:23:26 AM
And it even has the 302 instead of the measily 255
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Clayton on December 30, 2012, 09:52:29 AM
Glad you're putting a 460 in it I can barely see the motor hiding in there. Looks great. I've always been a big fan of the square body early 80's town cars. When I have some money and a family starting I'm going to build a stout HO and slam down in one. Talk about haulin ass with class
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Big B on December 30, 2012, 10:04:15 AM
Thanks for the compliments guys. Great to see so many people here with a love for Panthers. These old Boxes are getting more and more rare, so few people have wanted them over the years, and they are slowly going away now. Which is why when I found this '80 for $800, I knew I had to jump on it.
This is somewhat of a rare car. For the most part only the Police Interceptor and Fleet models came Slicktop. The rest all had Vinyl tops standard.
Found the actual production numbers.
1980 Ford Panther: LTD/LTD-S/Country Squire - Total Production - 141,292
LTD Sedan, 2D - 15,333
Since you guys seem to have a love for these cars, I will share a few pics of my baby. This one only has 58K miles on it, is near mint, 99% rust-free, and stays garaged most of the year. A 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Coupe. Which sits on the same Heavy Duty frame as the Crown Vic Police Interceptor. Was originally a CFI 351w car. I swapped an SEFI 5.0 HO from a '91 T-Bird in it last year. This car was originally from the bronx area of New York, but was garaged for it's entire life, and never driven in the snow. Still has old dried blood stains in the trunk from mob victims. Rides like a dream.
Yea, I have alot of cars, 4 others in fact...Grundy CC insurance loves me right now....
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: bryan163 on December 30, 2012, 11:06:53 AM
Nice. Does the HO get it moving pretty well? This was me back in 1998 after buying my first car, a 1984 LTD. It was exactly what I was looking for and boy did we have some fun! (http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/327132_10150526416013222_1712637216_o.jpg)
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: thunderjet302 on December 30, 2012, 05:49:27 PM
Nice Crown Vic. Should be really fun when it's done.
Are you swapping in a 385 series 460 big block or a stroked 351 Cleveland based stroker? I wasn't sure when you said 460C. Either way it sounds cool :).
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: beast50 on December 31, 2012, 02:37:46 AM
Quote from: Big B;405777
Thanks for the compliments guys. Great to see so many people here with a love for Panthers. These old Boxes are getting more and more rare, so few people have wanted them over the years, and they are slowly going away now. Which is why when I found this '80 for $800, I knew I had to jump on it.
This is somewhat of a rare car. For the most part only the Police Interceptor and Fleet models came Slicktop. The rest all had Vinyl tops standard.
Found the actual production numbers.
1980 Ford Panther: LTD/LTD-S/Country Squire - Total Production - 141,292
LTD Sedan, 2D - 15,333
Since you guys seem to have a love for these cars, I will share a few pics of my baby. This one only has 58K miles on it, is near mint, 99% rust-free, and stays garaged most of the year. A 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Coupe. Which sits on the same Heavy Duty frame as the Crown Vic Police Interceptor. Was originally a CFI 351w car. I swapped an SEFI 5.0 HO from a '91 T-Bird in it last year. This car was originally from the bronx area of New York, but was garaged for it's entire life, and never driven in the snow. Still has old dried blood stains in the trunk from mob victims. Rides like a dream.
Yea, I have alot of cars, 4 others in fact...Grundy CC insurance loves me right now....
Sweet Lincoln!
I would do something different with that coil wire (looks like its got some tension on it ). How come you are not using a tfi ignition coil with the EFI?
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Big B on December 31, 2012, 11:07:00 AM
Quote from: bryan163;405779
Nice. Does the HO get it moving pretty well? This was me back in 1998 after buying my first car, a 1984 LTD. It was exactly what I was looking for and boy did we have some fun!
It's actually not bad, the HO motivates it fairly well for a 4100lb car. I think the '91 HO's where rated 225hp/300tq @ 2800rpm, so it's a decent motor to power a full-size car. This one has the '93 Cobra Camshaft installed in it as well, which helps out the low-end quite abit. It will leave a peg-leg burnout around 30ft long on dry pavement.
That's awesome, you look pretty stoked on having your first car. I remember that feeling. :) I had an old '87 Crown Vic Police Interceptor 4-door when I was 17, it was kind of clapped out, but we had a helluva lot of fun in that car beating the outta it. It was always incredible to me how much abuse these cars could take without breaking. The 351w it had was near indestructible and probably saw over 10K miles banging off the rev-limiter. I see why the police chose these in the 80's as their rides of choice.
Quote from: thunderjet302;405797
Nice Crown Vic. Should be really fun when it's done.
Are you swapping in a 385 series 460 big block or a stroked 351 Cleveland based stroker? I wasn't sure when you said 460C. Either way it sounds cool :).
Thanks! I'm having the 385 series 460 block built, not sure what it came out of originally, as it was bought directly from a local yard already pulled.
Quote from: beast50;405845
Sweet Lincoln!
I would do something different with that coil wire (looks like its got some tension on it ). How come you are not using a tfi ignition coil with the EFI?
Thanks! It just looks like it has a lot of tension on it, it's fine though, not even close to being able to pull out. I just relocated the coil a 1/2in too far away. That is a 48,000V Pertronix Flamethrower Coil. They are twice as hot as the original TFI Coil, and improve the throttle response a very noticeable amount on the EFI 5.0L's, which is why I installed it, the wiring is still the same.
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: TOM Renzo on December 31, 2012, 02:32:30 PM
Moving the coil to the engine is the first thing we do. Fender mounts SUCK. Easy mod and a must in my book! HAY what is with the out dated coil!!!:hick::mullet:
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Big B on December 31, 2012, 08:21:26 PM
Actually, ignition coils function better and last much longer in low-vibration areas like the fender liner, vs on the engine itself. Could care less about that though, I moved mine just to clean up the look of the engine itself. The engine is old and outdated as well, so the old outdated coil goes well in this setup. :)
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: TOM Renzo on December 31, 2012, 08:52:42 PM
I guess those COP and CNP coils suck as they are engine mounted. WOW!!!! I will just have to tell ford to stop mounting them on the engine. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Title: My New Sleeper Project
Post by: Big B on January 01, 2013, 10:35:32 AM
A few undercarriage pics of the LTD. Very dusty, but rust-free. It had the custom 2 1/4in dual exhaust w/ Flowmaster 40's already installed, when I bought it from the old dude. The weak little 140hp 302 sounds pretty Beast breathing through these.
Finally gonna be pulling the body off the frame next week, to start the resto work. I work fast, so she should be done and ready for the track by this time next year.