'84/'85 LTD LXes: started the strip/swap/fix process

[FoxChassis]

The one whom took my '84 LTD LX from this:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2364858

to this:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2364858/2

...stripped most of it over the past two days, with a little help from me. (I was busy rebuilding a rear.) I have some pictures of her standing proudly (my words, not hers!) with the bent hood and her stripping the car down. The hood, both fenders, the bumper, and (what was left of) the front facia have been removed.

Damage to the inner fender is very minor - almost unnoticeable - on the passenger side, and slight on the driver side. The radiator core support is going to have to be cut out. That's the only major part left to remove.

The '85 LX will donate it's core support, front facia, fenders, hood, and bumper.

Will have images of the '84 LX posted later, and the '85 LX when it gets its turn at the chop block.

[zak]

Foxchassis - was there any damage to the cowl or hood hinge mounts? Reminds me of the Marquis I got my latest set of doors from several years ago, it got caught between two trucks.

Tough call on whether to renose that 84 or fix the quarter on the Utah car - how close is the 85 Medium Charchol Grey Metallic to the 84 silver color?

- zak
PS did you get that NOS trunk lid?

[LTDScott]

Tough call on whether to renose that 84 or fix the quarter on the Utah car - how close is the 85 Medium Charchol Grey Metallic to the 84 silver color?


Not even close, I'm afraid.

I too worked on getting my LTD back on the road. Had to reinstall my bumpers and track down an oil leak. Found my PCV valve was not in the lower intake (has probably been that way since I replaced the upper intake last) so I'm hoping that's the problem. Also installed a shift light. Good day.

[FoxChassis]

Was there any damage to the cowl or hood hinge mounts?
The rear corners of the hood popped up and scraped the front corners of the cowl. No other damage that I can see. The hinges looked OK.

Here are the disassembly pics:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2364858/3

PS did you get that NOS trunk lid?
Not yet. It's been a month though. I opened up a dispute with Ebay. We'll see how far that gets. The seller has already been through that user name and another since then. If Ebay does nothing for me I'll do a money order payment inquiry and see if and when it was cashed. If it has I'll file a mail fraud complaint with the Inspector General.

When you told me you hadn't received the fender you paid for I decided to use a USPS money order and mail it so I'd have some sort of recourse outside of Ebay and Paypal.

[FoxChassis]

Went off to the frame shop three days ago. Hopefully we can save what's on the car now and not have to replace the upper core support and driver-side rail.

[LTDScott]

Good luck!

[zak]

Foxchassis, good news indeed. Did you ever put up pics of the donar car? I have been thinking about the drivers side doors lately . . . . especially considering how rust free the decklid was (I put it on last week). Did you every get the rearward one open?

zak

[FoxChassis]

zak:

I have overall pics of the donor car on my car domain page. See my signature for the link.

If I remember right, the front driver door was pretty much rust free. I did not try to open the rear door since we last talked about it. The sucker wasn't budging though.

[Dean_T]

Good to see the LTD is getting fixed.

Happy Wrenching!

Dean T

[FoxChassis]

Frame shop said they're finished. Cost me $100. They were able to save the apron (driver side upper rail and inner fender) but the upper half of the core support is too mangled and will have to be cut out and replaced. So I'll have to get drilling and cutting on the donor car.

[zak]

foxchassis - you made out well. One of my rear doors is stuck shut as well, this weekend I will get the door panel off and see if there's a trick to releasing it. Two rust free doors likely warrants a road trip . . . .

zak

[FoxChassis]

Got the radiator/core support removed from the donor car. Got some of the spot welds on the mangled support drilled out. Will likely take the car back to the the same frame/paint shop, along with the replacement core, and have them cut and replace what they need. Might even have them paint the car if the price is right. Would like to have this all done within a month, so I can have a car to bring the baby home in, and something for us to drive that'll fit our family of five.

Took the console from the donor car, as my original was busted far beyond repair, and it too is broken -- cracked on the passenger side just forward of the arm rest. I believe it can be fixed (plastic welded). If not, I'll be going without a console, and may be changing out the dash in favor of an '85/'86 Capri/Mustang dash, and then adding the matching console (unless I can find one from a Fairmont).

[LTDScott]

I think all of these consoles are cracked. I know mine is, and every other one I have seen has been.

[FoxChassis]

Frame/body/paint shop called me yesterday morning, said the core was replaced....$195. Going to pick it up later this morning.