Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 18, 2015, 07:52:08 PM
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 18, 2015, 07:52:08 PM
Thanks to the Show Me state, a bunch of Transtar Body-Tec, Rusfre, and as-obssessive-as-the-temperature-allows washing, should last me many years.
Will get a full GT40 setup when I have time, and the 3.27 axle will get a Trac-Lok.
Recently, driving around blasting the theme from Fletch with the sub cranked makes it just perfect.
At least two people at work thought it was a 1970-something and were thus blown away to see it start on its own as we walked towards it. This winter, that remote starter was amazing. Been sitting around for over a year, can't believe I didn't install it sooner...
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 18, 2015, 07:56:07 PM
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 18, 2015, 07:56:07 PM
I'd love to have a panther wagon. Or a two door Panther. Or, dare I say it: a two door Panther wagon (yes, I'm aware they don't exist, but being stuck in the house is playing with my head)
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: fast Ed on March 18, 2015, 08:06:42 PM
Post by: fast Ed on March 18, 2015, 08:06:42 PM
Looks good with the later wheels on it ... classy still, but updated a bit.
cheers
Ed
cheers
Ed
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: mcb82gt on March 18, 2015, 08:53:10 PM
Post by: mcb82gt on March 18, 2015, 08:53:10 PM
Im not that old, but I love a good hood emblem. Helps keeps centered on the highway.
Always liked those cars, good job!
Always liked those cars, good job!
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 18, 2015, 09:32:53 PM
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 18, 2015, 09:32:53 PM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;446318
I'd love to have a panther wagon. Or a two door Panther. Or, dare I say it: a two door Panther wagon (yes, I'm aware they don't exist, but being stuck in the house is playing with my head)
I don't want one bad enough (yet) but the two door Panthers just take it to the next level...
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: White85GS on March 18, 2015, 11:15:06 PM
Post by: White85GS on March 18, 2015, 11:15:06 PM
My ideal Panther is an '81 Town Car coupe, yes, those existed!!
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: Haystack on March 18, 2015, 11:35:43 PM
Post by: Haystack on March 18, 2015, 11:35:43 PM
Id try out a 86-87 two door.
I actually liked my wagon, but it had lots less room then my fox, as far as driving position went.
I actually liked my wagon, but it had lots less room then my fox, as far as driving position went.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: White85GS on March 19, 2015, 12:33:21 AM
Post by: White85GS on March 19, 2015, 12:33:21 AM
I almost bought an 83 Mark VI Pucci Edition 4 door, but it was in rough shape.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 19, 2015, 01:04:44 AM
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 19, 2015, 01:04:44 AM
You need centercaps yo.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 19, 2015, 06:50:07 AM
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 19, 2015, 06:50:07 AM
Niceeeeeee! Me likey... Didn't like them nearly as much when the corners were lopped off for '88, have to give it to the CV for looks on the later ones...
I had a '86 that I bought from my mom when she got a new '93, she'd had my uncle in WV order it and was one of the last '86 built... Never really thought about it till I had the hood open and it had 1987 plug wires and also found it had wedge base 3157 tail lamps instead of the 1157 listed in owners manual...
I had a '86 that I bought from my mom when she got a new '93, she'd had my uncle in WV order it and was one of the last '86 built... Never really thought about it till I had the hood open and it had 1987 plug wires and also found it had wedge base 3157 tail lamps instead of the 1157 listed in owners manual...
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 19, 2015, 12:20:12 PM
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 19, 2015, 12:20:12 PM
Now that's a sweet ride! I was just telling my wife that I ought to sell my Silverado and buy a Panther for a daily (she just rolled her eyes).
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 19, 2015, 01:32:05 PM
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 19, 2015, 01:32:05 PM
Quote from: thunderjet302;446335
You need centercaps yo.
........................They don't pin' fit over the spindle ends grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble :hick:
My aunt always asks my mom "why does Paul still drive those things, he has a new job when's he going to buy a newer, safer car?"
SAFE? Nah, no worries there, this car transfers ALL of the impact energy to the other vehicle. So their crumple points will do the work for me LOL
I'm thinking about plasti-dipping the vinyl roof the same color as the car or perhaps a little darker to see how it turns out. Maybe try and 'shop the pic first.
Tom - definitely interesting point about the late build. It seems so bizzare, "new age" electronic-era components wrapped in such an ornate, aged, sloppily-manufactured package.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 19, 2015, 02:47:46 PM
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 19, 2015, 02:47:46 PM
Quote from: ZondaC12;446348
........................They don't pin' fit over the spindle ends grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble :hick:
My aunt always asks my mom "why does Paul still drive those things, he has a new job when's he going to buy a newer, safer car?"
SAFE? Nah, no worries there, this car transfers ALL of the impact energy to the other vehicle. So their crumple points will do the work for me LOL
I'm thinking about plasti-dipping the vinyl roof the same color as the car or perhaps a little darker to see how it turns out. Maybe try and 'shop the pic first.
Tom - definitely interesting point about the late build. It seems so bizzare, "new age" electronic-era components wrapped in such an ornate, aged, sloppily-manufactured package.
LOL, I remember now my mom being concerned that it may not get built, as I believe it was ordered in the last few days '86 could be submitted... My uncle reassured her "I have a VIN, it will be built"...
She was going to order a '87, but when my uncle called and said he'd just received a info package on those and there was hefty price increase with no real change in specs, she had him order a '86... It was a metallic burgundy color that I never much cared for but only had 45K mi and was garaged from day one, all but still new when I got it...
Last six consec of VIN is(was? It was still reg in '10) 704133 so St Thomas had taken 104132 orders for '86 Grand Marquis ahead of it...
(http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q765/xxAMxx/TurboCoupe50/86mgmwindowsticker_zpsuzb9tfaf.jpg)
[img]
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: V8Demon on March 19, 2015, 08:05:45 PM
Post by: V8Demon on March 19, 2015, 08:05:45 PM
Quote from: ZondaC12;446348
........................They don't pin' fit over the spindle ends grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble
Mark VII caps should fit.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 19, 2015, 09:33:46 PM
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 19, 2015, 09:33:46 PM
(http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/481414/resized_patrick-stewart-meme-generator-oh-reeeeally-a3e8dd.jpg)
That'scha keep-err! I will keep the eyes peeled for some.
And uh...wow MGM's were cheap??? Typical Cougars started at 15-16K right?
That'scha keep-err! I will keep the eyes peeled for some.
And uh...wow MGM's were cheap??? Typical Cougars started at 15-16K right?
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: Crash225 on March 19, 2015, 11:04:53 PM
Post by: Crash225 on March 19, 2015, 11:04:53 PM
18 city 26 hwy?!! Starting to look like a nice daily now!
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 19, 2015, 11:50:13 PM
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on March 19, 2015, 11:50:13 PM
Quote from: Crash225;446367
18 city 26 hwy?!! Starting to look like a nice daily now!
I believe there was stink about the mileage and figures were down graded somewhat back around C4C(not just these cars but many makes/models)... I've never seen 18 in town with any Panther, 5.0 or 4.6, but the 26 highway is doable... BUT at 60 mph I've pulled 26 out of the T-Bird running Trick Flow heads, cam and 3.73 gears...
BTW, I'll have to check but I believe I have the window stickers for all the Grand Marquis I've owned, that includes a '92, '93, 98 & '07... The '98 being a LS actually stickered higher than the '07 GS...
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: Haystack on March 20, 2015, 01:47:28 AM
Post by: Haystack on March 20, 2015, 01:47:28 AM
My wagon had 3.55 gears. 16 city i think i hit 20 freeway once...
When i was doing pizza in my cougar, i could hit 20mpg all day, everyday.
When i was doing pizza in my cougar, i could hit 20mpg all day, everyday.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 20, 2015, 11:09:43 AM
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 20, 2015, 11:09:43 AM
Quote from: V8Demon;446360
Mark VII caps should fit.
Quote from: ZondaC12;446364
(http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/481414/resized_patrick-stewart-meme-generator-oh-reeeeally-a3e8dd.jpg)
That'scha keep-err! I will keep the eyes peeled for some.
And uh...wow MGM's were cheap??? Typical Cougars started at 15-16K right?
As a FYI there are two styles of Mark VII LSC center caps: one is plastic with metal tangs and one is all metal. The all metal one has slightly more clearance around the hub than the plastic cap with tangs. The metal cap is harder to find as it was only used on the 88-89 cars.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 20, 2015, 01:06:59 PM
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 20, 2015, 01:06:59 PM
Lotsa good info up in hurr.
As far as MPG, yeeeeaaa I'm seeing a solid 13-14 around town in a suburban area. Not driving gently either, I'd love to take my sweet as time but no one's gonna stop the world and melt with me. 30-minute-long warm-ups being a regularity this winter hasn't helped either.
....Apparently I did 28 MPG in the black cougar going down to Ocean City MD for Cruisin OC the first spring I went, in 2012. Was stuck at 75 mph due to an imbalanced driveshaft. TF's "top end kit", 3.73 gears.
Last year was frankly, not much worse, I think 24 doing a solid 80-85 most of the way. Let me be quite clear when I say that the ENTIRE HIGHWAY was doing 90 on the Jersey Turnpike through a WORK ZONE POSTED 35 MPH. I love that leg of the trip. Though I also love the beautiful farm country and bright concrete roads of DE too. So different than up here in NY. Hell, even in early May some of our greenery isn't totally blossomed and filled in yet....
As far as MPG, yeeeeaaa I'm seeing a solid 13-14 around town in a suburban area. Not driving gently either, I'd love to take my sweet as time but no one's gonna stop the world and melt with me. 30-minute-long warm-ups being a regularity this winter hasn't helped either.
....Apparently I did 28 MPG in the black cougar going down to Ocean City MD for Cruisin OC the first spring I went, in 2012. Was stuck at 75 mph due to an imbalanced driveshaft. TF's "top end kit", 3.73 gears.
Last year was frankly, not much worse, I think 24 doing a solid 80-85 most of the way. Let me be quite clear when I say that the ENTIRE HIGHWAY was doing 90 on the Jersey Turnpike through a WORK ZONE POSTED 35 MPH. I love that leg of the trip. Though I also love the beautiful farm country and bright concrete roads of DE too. So different than up here in NY. Hell, even in early May some of our greenery isn't totally blossomed and filled in yet....
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: Haystack on March 20, 2015, 03:04:09 PM
Post by: Haystack on March 20, 2015, 03:04:09 PM
28mpg with 3.73 gears seems incredible to me. That would be the equivalent of driving 75mph without overdrive for those of us with 2:73 gears. 3.73x.67=2.4991 vs 2.73x1=2.73 means you would actually be cruising at higher rpm then those of us stock staying in drive.
I've gotten my cars so they generally stay in the 25mpg highway range. Being really careful and staying below 70 you can get around 28. If you slow down to 55mph, you can hit 30-35mpg with a really light foot. My 312k mile cougar does around 25 right now, but that is with 28" tall tires, giving me the equivalent to a 2.42 overall final drive with a stock sized tire.
Edit. Oops, ment to say slightly lower not higher rpms with your setup.
I've gotten my cars so they generally stay in the 25mpg highway range. Being really careful and staying below 70 you can get around 28. If you slow down to 55mph, you can hit 30-35mpg with a really light foot. My 312k mile cougar does around 25 right now, but that is with 28" tall tires, giving me the equivalent to a 2.42 overall final drive with a stock sized tire.
Edit. Oops, ment to say slightly lower not higher rpms with your setup.
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 20, 2015, 06:30:00 PM
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 20, 2015, 06:30:00 PM
Yeah I really didn't believe it either. But I only calc'd it on the way down. And changed the speed the year after.
I'm not quite sure of the tank capacity. I know my 20th is 22 gallons. Thought an '88 XR7 would be the same, perhaps not.
I almost never figure out my MPG. People ask me ALL THE TIME what my cougar gets or what this gets. And I just respond with, "surely dogshiznit" :rollin:
I'm not quite sure of the tank capacity. I know my 20th is 22 gallons. Thought an '88 XR7 would be the same, perhaps not.
I almost never figure out my MPG. People ask me ALL THE TIME what my cougar gets or what this gets. And I just respond with, "surely dogshiznit" :rollin:
Title: Take that new Bimmer and shove it...real luxury is a Box Panther!
Post by: fast Ed on March 20, 2015, 08:32:27 PM
Post by: fast Ed on March 20, 2015, 08:32:27 PM
87-88 Bird / Cougar tanks were all the same, listed as 22.1 gallons in the parts catalogue.
cheers
Ed
cheers
Ed