weather stripping for an ltd lx? sagging headliner backing.

[Arlon]

Anyone have a solution for finding replacement weather stripping for the doors and window of the ltd? I have an 85 LX I'm trying to get road worthy. It is a bit used and abused but nothing a lot of TLC won't fix..

It also has a sagging headliner backing. There is no headliner left but the backing is fine except for the sag. Is there any way to restore the original shape or get a replacement?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Few pics of what I'm dealing with.
http://photos.yahoo.com/ltd_lx

[LTDScott]

Anyone have a solution for finding replacement weather stripping for the doors and window of the ltd? I have an 85 LX I'm trying to get road worthy. It is a bit used and abused but nothing a lot of TLC won't fix..

It also has a sagging headliner backing. There is no headliner left but the backing is fine except for the sag. Is there any way to restore the original shape or get a replacement?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Few pics of what I'm dealing with.
http://photos.yahoo.com/ltd_lx

The only source that I have seen for weatherstripping specifically meant for our cars is this seller on eBay:

HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-86-mercury-marquis-small-door-seal-weatherstripping_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33642Q QihZ019QQitemZ7913405568QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V)

The seller says it comes in a roll and is cut to fit, but is meant for our cars.

For the headliner, your best bet is having an upholstery shop do the work.

[Chuck W]

You mean as in the backer board is sagging, but there is no material left on it?

I'm going to use a piece of ABS plastic to replace the backer board in my Z-7 and attach the new material to that. You can get a 4x8' section of black 1/16" ABS for about $20. Look in your local yellow pages for a plastics supplier in your area.

[Marz]

8O

More pictures of your LX please.

I'm sure we'd all like to see more of it!

[FoxChassis]

Arlon contacted me through my cardomain page, after he saw that I was parting out the '85 LX. I asked him to stop by here. Hopefully I can help him with some of the parts he needs. ;)

[Arlon]

Thanks for the link to the guy on ebay. Hopefully he can help me a little on keeping the weather (and bugs) out of the car. Ity's not quite like riding a motorcycle yet but it's getting close..

It's going to be really difficult trying to restore this car back as close to origianl as possible without trying to hotrod the motor. Any suggestions for springs for this car? Previous owner replaced the rear springs to soften the ride and now it sits 2" higer in the back. I want to get it back as close to it's original ride height as possible. Also are there any suggestions for wheels. I have the original rubber finned wheels which would be fine for my interest but I have lost two of the center covers. I have been considering the 10 holes (can't find any) since they where at least on option on these cars. If the rearend dies, will a mustang rear bolt right in? I have to think about these things since the car has 200k+ miles on it and nothing has been replaced in the drivetrain. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Arlon

[Arlon]

Arlon contacted me through my cardomain page, after he saw that I was parting out the '85 LX. I asked him to stop by here. Hopefully I can help him with some of the parts he needs. ;)


Hope you got my reply email. I still haven't done a decent inventory of needs and I'm teaching VBS every night after work this week so it won't happen till next week at the earliest. What wheels are on that parts car? I'd love to find some plain steel 14" wheels that will clear the front brakes and be in the 6-6.5" width range. Found some spare rims but they are only 5" wide.. Arlon

[Marz]

Thanks for the link to the guy on ebay. Hopefully he can help me a little on keeping the weather (and bugs) out of the car. Ity's not quite like riding a motorcycle yet but it's getting close..

It's going to be really difficult trying to restore this car back as close to origianl as possible without trying to hotrod the motor. Any suggestions for springs for this car? Previous owner replaced the rear springs to soften the ride and now it sits 2" higer in the back. I want to get it back as close to it's original ride height as possible. Also are there any suggestions for wheels. I have the original rubber finned wheels which would be fine for my interest but I have lost two of the center covers. I have been considering the 10 holes (can't find any) since they where at least on option on these cars. If the rearend dies, will a mustang rear bolt right in? I have to think about these things since the car has 200k+ miles on it and nothing has been replaced in the drivetrain. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Arlon

Stock Moog LTD LX replacement springs should be fine. That's what LTDScott tossed on my LTD LX when he owned it. Just order the moog springs for a Mid-sized LTD with the V8.

A mustang 8.8" with 3.73 will do that car real nice. that's what mine has... and ten holes or T-bird t-coupe rims will work really well too. The Ten hole caps will fit right on the T-coupe rims.

Basically... aside from the subframe connectors... anything you can do to a Mustang you can do to a LTD.

Toss a good 87+ roller HO in there with the stock CFI and you'll have more power than stock... but look stock.

Theres also the exhaust. find a 85 mustang 2.5" y-pipe and go 2.5" dual to 3" single with a killer muffler. My muffler is a Ultraflow and the car sounds real nice.

Follow the "new home" link in my sig and you'll read more about my LX.

[LTDScott]

Stock Moog LTD LX replacement springs should be fine. That's what LTDScott tossed on my LTD LX when he owned it. Just order the moog springs for a Mid-sized LTD with the V8.

A mustang 8.8" with 3.73 will do that car real nice. that's what mine has... and ten holes or T-bird t-coupe rims will work really well too. The Ten hole caps will fit right on the T-coupe rims.

Basically... aside from the subframe connectors... anything you can do to a Mustang you can do to a LTD.

Toss a good 87+ roller HO in there with the stock CFI and you'll have more power than stock... but look stock.

Theres also the exhaust. find a 85 mustang 2.5" y-pipe and go 2.5" dual to 3" single with a killer muffler. My muffler is a Ultraflow and the car sounds real nice.

Follow the "new home" link in my sig and you'll read more about my LX.

Werd.

[Marz]

Stock Moog LTD LX replacement springs should be fine. That's what LTDScott tossed on my LTD LX when he owned it. Just order the moog springs for a Mid-sized LTD with the V8.

A mustang 8.8" with 3.73 will do that car real nice. that's what mine has... and ten holes or T-bird t-coupe rims will work really well too. The Ten hole caps will fit right on the T-coupe rims.

Basically... aside from the subframe connectors... anything you can do to a Mustang you can do to a LTD.

Toss a good 87+ roller HO in there with the stock CFI and you'll have more power than stock... but look stock.

Theres also the exhaust. find a 85 mustang 2.5" y-pipe and go 2.5" dual to 3" single with a killer muffler. My muffler is a Ultraflow and the car sounds real nice.

Follow the "new home" link in my sig and you'll read more about my LX.

Werd.

:lol:

Yeah.... YOU should know.

;)

[Arlon]

Would aftermarket mustang springs fit the ltd? How does the spring rate/height of the moogs compare to the original LX springs? The guy that had the car before me had the rear springs replaced for some unknown reason and now the the rear sits several inches too tall. No clue what he replaced them with but I really want to get the car back down on the ground again. I'm more interested in handling ability than anything else.

Arlon

[FoxChassis]

Moog springs for the LTD LX apparently have the same rate as the Ford Racing/Motorsport "C" springs; 650 lb/in front and 200-300 lb/in rear. Not sure about ride height. The LTD is a heavier car than the Mustang.

[Arlon]

Moog springs for the LTD LX apparently have the same rate as the Ford Racing/Motorsport "C" springs; 650 lb/in front and 200-300 lb/in rear. Not sure about ride height. The LTD is a heavier car than the Mustang.

Only by a few pounds and I thought the LTD was actually lighter than the convertable? What are the weights of the LTD and a later mustang on the same frame?

[FoxChassis]

In magazine articles I'm finding curb weights of 3200-3300 lbs. for the LTD LX and anywhere from the same to 200 lbs less for a V8 Mustang hatchbacks of the same era and with the same comfort and convenience options.

I weighed my '83 GT (hatchback) at the track and it came out to 3160 lbs. That was with 16" ('91-'93 "Pony") wheels and tires, long-tube headers(1.5" primaries, 2.5" collectors), and dual exhaust with dual cats, mufflers, and dumps. I was in the car (weighed 150 lbs. at the time) as well as one-half tank of fuel. FYI: the only factory options my '83 GT has are a T-roof and an AM/FM radio. It has no AC, power doors, cruise control, tilt wheel, leather or sport seating, etc.

[FoxChassis]

Do any of these look familiar?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jcwhitney/images/imagecache/G_18597G_CL_1.jpg

[LTDScott]

From what I have seen, installing Mustang springs on an LTD = ass dragger.

My LTD (far from stock) weighed in at 3300 lbs, although that was with single exhaust and now I have dual.

When I first installed the Moog springs in the front of the LTD, it sat really high. Took a while for it to finally settle down, and from what I recall, they seemed to be stiffer than the stockers.

Foxchassis, I was thinking about looking at the weatherstripping from JC Whitney. None of those shapes look familiar, but then again the weatherstripping on my car is old and squished down.

[FoxChassis]

I just checked the door seals on my '85 and they look very similar to #9 (http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000166883/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000166883/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000166883)

[LTDScott]

I just checked the door seals on my '85 and they look very similar to #9 (http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000166883/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000166883/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000166883)

I'd look for myself, but my car is parked at my parents' place most of the time.

[Arlon]

Got window wipers and door seals in the mail. Trunk was in great shape.. Few more pieces and I'll be able to go out in the rain!

[FoxChassis]

Where'd you get them? Part numbers?

[LTDScott]

Where'd you get them? Part numbers?

Werd, we need more info!

[Arlon]

I got the weather strip/wipers from N. yale auto parts (sperry Okla.).

http://www.northyaleautoparts.com

[LTDScott]

I got the weather strip/wipers from N. yale auto parts (sperry Okla.).

http://www.northyaleautoparts.com

Ah, the same seller on eBay. How well does it fit?

[Arlon]

Not sure about the fit. I just got an 86 Corvette that I'm spending more tme on at the moment. It's was a daily driver so it just needs a few details to make it road worthy.

It will be next week before I even get a chance to even look at the weather strip and wipers .

Worked on sons passat friday, corvette, saturday, kitchen remodel sunday, church activities today and wed.. GAG, I need a few weeks of 36hr days or some cold winters.. Arlon

[drivesa5]

A little late in the post here - but I've done a couple headliners and I don't think they're too bad. I just took the cardboard piece out, cleaned off all the old adhesive, foam, and headliner. Then got some appropriately colored cotton (I think) fabric and stretched it over the cardboard while spraying some kind of 3m adhesive (forgot what it is exactly) behind as I went and it turned out pretty good. Did a red headliner to my Fairmont and in my gf's sunbird I put in a blue sky with clouds 8).