[Radioflyer]

Awsome. Im jealous about the police grill, police grills wont fit an 86, I don't think. Anyways, I wanted to ask you about your transmission. Is it original, rebuilt or what? And how is it performing? Mine has 160k on it and its still running strong, never been touched except for fluid and filter changes, addition of a magnetic filter and a stacked plate cooler from an RV. Still shiftin smoooooth.

[Bull Geek]

Yea the header panel attachment for the grille is different on the 86-88, versus 89-91. Although you could get a spare grill, and cut it out to match the design

Trans was rebuilt 54K miles ago, in the late 90s. Has the factory stacked plate cooler bolted to the subframe rail. I changed the fluid out completely, but prior owner definitely changed it regularly, like every 15k. Mercon V and it shifts fine. I may adjust the TV cable to give it a bit more of a firmer shift between gears.

Since I knew finding nice condition 86-88 lights would be impossible, I just upgraded the front end. Figured there'd always be an SHO out there with some if I need them.

Good idea adding the inline filter, I should do that one day.

[Millermagic]

When I first bought my Cherokee, I tried adjusting the TV cable. It hadn't been adjusted in 11 years. First time I tried, it was a disaster. The adjuster was froze and I wasn't able to press the gas medal more than 1/3 way down. Then it'd shift crazy hard (thinking my foot was on the floor).

They take a bit of work to work right.

[Sean T.]

Wow, those headlights look great! I love how the grille is nice and flush with them too!




lolololololol

[Bull Geek]

Wonder who fixed that hmmm....

It was nice having one aimed at owls in the trees on the other side of the road, and the other at the deer down in the woods on my side of the road. Thanks for fixing that...

I *think* I found a tiny drop of oil under the car. Going to go replace spark plug wires and investigate. Could be another stupid coolant hose clamp I reused that is failing.

[2000_Gold_Taurus]

As someone from the salt belt, I find it hard to comprehend restoring a 1987 anything. I imagine every mounting point crumbling all at once! Having said that, I really like the way that car looks...especially the wheels. Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing it with fresh paint

[Bull Geek]

Next year it'll definitely get some paint Thanks!

I definitely have a very very minor oil leak coming from the front crank/oil pan gasket area. It must be seeping at a very small rate because the dipstick still reads the same.

Installed new plug wires tonight and tried to orient the wires in a factory orientation using some of those junkyard plastic retainers.. Retightened a few loose coolant hose clamps where 1 was definitely seeping coolant.. So far the wagon's gone ~350 miles. 2 light bulbs started working that light up the cluster at night out of the blue this evening. And the low fuel light started working. So did the parking brake light.

[TaurusKev]

That's it. It's confirmed. When a Ford feels appreciated. Things will just randomly start to work!

[Jay144]

Things stop working from lack of use. At first, the driver's window on the Crown Vic worked, but the 'auto down' feature didn't. After a couple of days of use, the window works as it should.

[TaurusKev]

My 2012 Focus, none of the Auto roll down/up worked... Then the passenger worked, then driver, then both rears... Kinda weird. Of course, dealer lied and said rear windows are not Auto-roll down/up... They are


But now you want a prime example... My 1995 Ford Thunderbird LX I inherited from my beloved grandmother... It's been sitting for many months, and taken a big beating when she lost her mind. The following did not work properly: Turn signals, hazard, wipers, parking brake (would not lock in, it was Push on, push off), and at first: the LED Tail lamp.

Slowly, the turn signals came back after fiddling with it, but hazards: Nothing. Then one day, the hazard switch would cause one side of the blinkers to flash, then one day, they all came to life! Same with the smashed trunk mounted tail lamp. Went to test the LED's, and it worked! So I swapped that module over to a new tail lamp!

Now the parking brake, I was kind of grateful did not work properly when I got the car. The car's brake lines rotted though, and I had no brakes for about a 15 mile drive. So, I was able to use that parking brake as my brakes no problem. I had 2 pedals, 1 for the whatever power I had in the good brake line (and lights), then the rears engaged fine. Then one day, it engages/disengages no problem! The car has been coming to life with all the love I've been giving it!

[Thub]

Why do you think work trucks and vans can be found with 200,000 miles and no problems running strong, because they are driven everyday and get used. Cars are made to be driven not to sit around like some owners of ferrari's and such do, and often times forgotten common vehicles that sit and rot. I have ridden in several e series vans and f series trucks with well over 200k miles and they drive like new, of course with proper maintenance.

When I visited California last year I was told by one of our friends that someone they know runs a towing business and they make most of their money transporting high end sports cars to and from the dealers for oil changes and such, because the owners don't want to put miles on their cars. I found this quite sad. I know for sure that If I could afford a car like that I would be driving it as much as possible.

[Sean T.]

Bull Geek, on 08 May 2012 - 10:00 PM, said:

Next year it'll definitely get some paint Thanks!

I definitely have a very very minor oil leak coming from the front crank/oil pan gasket area. It must be seeping at a very small rate because the dipstick still reads the same.

Installed new plug wires tonight and tried to orient the wires in a factory orientation using some of those junkyard plastic retainers.. Retightened a few loose coolant hose clamps where 1 was definitely seeping coolant.. So far the wagon's gone ~350 miles. 2 light bulbs started working that light up the cluster at night out of the blue this evening. And the low fuel light started working. So did the parking brake light.

My favorite was when the cornering lights magically started working! I'm pretty sure I was literally screaming about it.

[Bull Geek]

Hahahha I remember that. Someone was riding up front and yelled "HEY THE CORNERING LIGHTS ARE WORKING" And we quickly hauled butt home to check them out further

The driver's side one was not working last night, but the passenger one was.

[Devin]

Bull Geek, on 12 May 2012 - 02:41 PM, said:

Someone was riding up front and yelled "HEY THE CORNERING LIGHTS ARE WORKING"

[Radioflyer]

Hey, are you having any other symptoms other than your converter not locking up? Have you tried running a KOER and an KOEO selftest yet? It might tell you something if you havent yet. Also make sure your engine coolant temp sensor is properly operating, the EEC system may not be going into closed loop. The system only goes into closed loop after the engine coolant and O2 sensor has reached normal operating temp and only until that happens will the tc lock up. Just something to keep in mind.