What can ya do with a Grand Marquis?

[Frank Lee]

Good move. I don't think the mixture distribution is up to the standards needed for good lean burn.

[rgathright]

Have you thought about putting her on a diet?

Take everything out, back seat, passenger seat, carpeting, headliner and all the junk in her big trunk.

Finally, I used to put carburetor limiters on my vehicles during high school to save gas.

[Christ]

Removable fast back. If you don't need the trunk, that is.

Of course, if you do need the trunk, there's nothing stopping you from making it into a hatchback, if you have a welder and some OK metal working skills.

[RobertSmalls]

If you still drive 35000mi/yr, you can't afford the Grand Marquis. If you do get it up to 20mpg, it's going to cost you around $5000/yr in fuel - easily enough to buy and fuel an Escort.

So my advice is to stick to cheap/free mods until you can get another Escort.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by pstrbrc

AHA!!! Had to drive a hunnert miles to the doctor today (having cataract surgery tomorrow, so this was the pre-op) and darn near froze to death! This was the first time since it has gotten cold that i drove out of town, and at 65mph, almost no heat comes through the heater. So, I bought meself a 195* thermostat, and I'm putting it in the next 40* day.
Yes, the MegaSquirt is using MSnS software, and is actually set up to control four coils. No, won't use all four coil igniter connectors, just one. But I'm not thinking a true leanburn is something I want to do in an engine w/150k+ miles on it. Yeah, I'll set it up on the lean side of a narrow-band O2 sensor, but until I rebuild the engine, I'm not gonna risk burning holes in pistons.

Actually, it's not bad looking for an old beast. Why not capitalize on that?

If I were you I wouldn't attempt any radical mods at all. Get it into top running condition (which won't cost much if it's at all roadworthy, such as replacing that defective thermostat) and SELL IT. Spruce it up. People buy with their eyes. Maybe somebody needs a two-ton behemoth that will hold six kids and withstand being hit by a Hummer or a Mack truck. Once you get it sold, put the money into something that's more fuel efficient.

[thatguitarguy]

That bad thermostat might be what's costing you in mpg. If the engine never makes it up to operating temp, then it might be running rich trying to get there. It might be worth trying to find someones garage that you can borrow for long enough to put the new one in. No point in both you and your engine being cold and unhappy.

[Christ]

My Father regularly average 23 MPG on his commute to work in his 198x Grand Marquis 5.0, and that was with a loud rear diff assembly. I'm sure if we'd ever have cared enough to fix the noise in the rear end, it would have gotten better by up to 10% or so.

[pstrbrc]

OK.
#1. I hate this car, but I've been hanging on to it for the 5.0/AOD. Project material.
#2. You're right, Frank. Even with the mfi manifold, there's some distribution issues with the lower manifold, especially ports #1 and 5.
#3. Yeah, I KNOW what a cold engine does. But it's supposed to be 47* on Saturday, and I won't be driving it very much, if at all, until then. And the temp gauge I ordered won't be in until then anyway.
#4. Found a set of 235/75-15 tires out back. 2" taller. Only 7% larger, but it's a start. I have a drawer full of those spring clamps, so I can play with lowering it without actually cutting the springs, so I'm planning on seeing what dropping it back down 2" will do to ride quality and ground clearance. Yes, that's an inch lower than the car sits now.
#5. I have some scrap ABS around here somewhere. Wheel discs!
#6. Yes, grill block and heaadlight covers. But low key.
#7. No, I can't strip the car. TOWMBO would have a cow.

[Thymeclock]

#1. I hate this car, but I've been hanging on to it for the 5.0/AOD. Project material.

I don't think it pays to keep a car that you hate. if you're like me you'll hate the damn thing every time you look at it or drive it. Life is short. Better to find something you enjoy more than it and kiss it goodbye.

[Domman56]

i agree with everyone else so far

But my philosophy is the more power you have the less your car has to work

Seafoam it to get all that buildup out of the motor, change the oil run it on Shell V power with advanced timing, Run a K&N air filter headers and merge the pipes into one and get ONE cat and ONE muffler with a turndown at the rear axle, Flowmaster muffler would be best