Finally found one. '85 LTD LX. [Archive]

View Full Version : Finally found one. '85 LTD LX.

Duende

10-31-2008, 12:09 AM

I'm not sure how to post pictures here, but it's a black beauty and I don't even know where to start. I am so freaking excited over this silly car.

I desperately wanted a wagon, and still do... But until I find that right wagon, this'll do!

Added a picture of the interior!

nitrousis4girls

10-31-2008, 01:12 PM

That is awesome!! I would so pimp that! Is the interior black as well or is it gray?

frink84

10-31-2008, 01:13 PM

interesting, it already has the marquis tails. nice find!

fastazz40th

10-31-2008, 05:09 PM

i`m jealous.

Ltngdrvr

10-31-2008, 05:51 PM

Ex cop car?

Dean_T

10-31-2008, 05:58 PM

I believe the cop LTDs had the chrome grills - only the LTD LXs had 'em blacked out. Surest way to tell is if the car has a steel battery tray, oil cooler, and a 140 MPH Certified Calibrated speedo. If it has a tach, then it's an LTD LX. Of course, after 23 years, a lot could happen.

I think the LTD LX had an unique console too.

Dean T

FoxChassis

10-31-2008, 07:15 PM

Wouldn't there also be an extra four-digit DSO on the 'door sticker' if it had an SSP?

5.0 bird

10-31-2008, 07:41 PM

Nice LTD! LXs had a floor shifter, and bucket seats with hand pump lumbars too.

Marz

11-01-2008, 12:56 PM

Nice find!

There was a black one here in SoCal that I was tempted to buy. But it needed lots of work.

Duende

11-01-2008, 01:10 PM

Thanks for the replies, I'm in the process of picking it up so I don't have all the clear details yet, haha! I'm hoping it doesn't turn around and bite me in the butt, but the car appears good so far. Have an Excel worksheet done up on all the services done for the past 6 years or so, 170k miles. I pretty much sent the money without question, haha.

Owner says he "thinks that the timing chain was replaced shortly before he bought it (new gasket on timing cover) and the AOD appears to have been rebuild as well. Engine is quite strong."

I have the VIN but haven't done a Carfax, I hope I'm not getting ripped off on a basic LTD, that'd be kind've funny!

Duende

11-01-2008, 02:16 PM

Hey guys, I'm trying to use the search function here to pull up everything I can pertaining to the LTD LX, and I'm getting 'no results' when trying for basic stuff like 'LTD' and 'LTD LX.'

Can someone help me out how I'm using this wrong? I've got a bunch of LTD-specific websites, but I'm just looking to start figuring out what my first mods should be, I'm thinking BRAKES and maybe some chassis stiffening. Of course cleaning out the interior and all the little trim inside and out...

Anyway, I just want to read all the threads on here that have been about these cars but the search has me confused? Someone please teach me to fish here, haha.

Oh, 'ltdlx' brings up a few, I'm sure the other are just too short to be used or something... Hm, I guess I could just be doing fairmont as a keyword too, huh...

Marz

11-01-2008, 03:14 PM

Full length sub frame connectors for the LTD LX will have to be custom made.

But other than that anything from a mustang will bolt on.

For the brakes:

Lincoln MKVII Calipers.
87+ Mustang or turbo coupe Spindles.
87+ Mustang rotors
85 Lincoln Town Car MC, or SVO MC. The Town Car MC has an easier pedal.
Maximum Motorsports (MM) Stainless steel (SS) caliper bushings.
MM SS front brake lines.

I've also added ceramic brake pads to mine as well.

Strut wise... a set of Konis or Bilsteins (sp) for the 87+ Mustangs will do it good.

Duende

11-01-2008, 03:38 PM

Hey, thanks! I was just reading a thread by FoxChassis and saw some of those same suggestions, it's really appreciated!

These cars are kind've rare... How do people feel about modifying them? Like a manual transmission jumps to mind real quick...

I'll probably just DD/restore this and continue waiting for my muscle wagon.

Marz

11-01-2008, 04:17 PM

Duende

11-02-2008, 12:23 PM

Oh, I like the original body, no problem! Here is the email the guy just sent me concerning a few things, if anyone cares and wants to share in my excitement, haha.

Hi Thomas:

I will take some pictures of the interior/exterior and email them to you. I think you'll need far fewer restoration pieces than you expect (and I have some of those that go together with the car). Mostly it will be cleaning and repainting pieces.

Interior panels are dark grey. Seats are dark grey with blue. Driver's seat needs to have back spot welded (one side is loose, quite common on early Fox cars). Driver's seat has a tear in the cloth on the side bolster (about 1 inch). Back seat has a minor cigarette burn (non smoker car, seat back got switched prior to me buying it between this car and the Cobra LTD LX - famous white LTD LX). Otherwise upholstry is in excellent condition - I cleaned it but never really deep cleaned it yet - but with some work, it should look almost new.

Instrument panel is in good condition. Center console needs some work - all items present. Headliner is intact, but could use some gentle cleaning. Vanity mirror is ok, not broken. Passenger door panel needs to be put back in place completely (window switch is not pressed in - I was going to work on it and never got around to it). Trunk is in decent shape. Spare tire etc. is present.

Tail lamps are new old stock Marquis lamps (look nicer than the LTD lamps). I have the original LTD lamps but they are not in the best shape. One of the side strips is messed up. The dark gey/red stripped plastic insert it good, but the metal is not good. I have a replacement from a regular LTD, needs to be painted to match and plastic insert needs to be switched. I installed KONI red shocks in the rear!! Steering wheel has been replaced with a Mustang steering wheel - I have the original, would need some reconditioning.

Needs new wiper blade inserts.

I repainted the outside mirror housings and the trim (driver's side only). I replaced the door channel weatherstripping that the windows run in on the front. The dew wipes (horizontal weatherstrips through which the windows slide still need to be replaced). The rear windows do not go down - I've had this happen on other Fox cars from sitting around too long - I bet (and in my experience this was always the case) that all that is required is to loosen the motors a bit to remove the tension between the windows and the frame, after that they will work great again, just don't let them sit too long (I now cycle all windows on all my cars at least once a month - and typically move them a bit down so that they don't push the frame up!)

Loud speakers and stereo are missing (previous owner had upgraded and removed them prior to selling).

Engine compartment is in good shape. Could use a new battery tray. All parts are present. Pretty clean (not perfect). Some parts (engine brackets, etc.) could use some repainting. I believe the alternator is a recent (shortly before I bought it) rebuild based on how it looked. Tires have plenty of profile left.

Windshield got replaced two years ago - got some minor chips right after it was replaced :-( , but no cracks and no large scale pitting (that sandblasted look like most cars that have more than 100,000 miles).

Headlights are Sylvania XtraVision

I replaced the missing center caps for the wheels (I lost one, but got some more replacements)

I also have an original Ford Trip Minder module that would replace the clock - I paid like $40 for it and would throw it in for an extra $25. I have the instructions on how to hook it up so that you get the distance, fuel consumed, miles per gallon, etc. The module (from a Crown Vic) is the same as that for the LTD, but the bracket would need to be transferred. Actually, I'll just give this to you for free.

I think it's a great car - yes, it will take some work, but the foundation is in very good condition for a car this old, pretty much cosmetic issues (when I changed the tranny filter, the fluid was perfect and the insides looked spotless). I always liked the LTD LX's and was going to completely restore it but my "better part" does not share my enthusiasm and we have too many cars as well.

Dean_T

11-02-2008, 03:38 PM

Owner lives up in Oregon? Regarding the search, yeah, I seem to recall it doesn't like LX and maybe LTD. I usually search for Frink84, Fox Chassis or LTDScott if I'm looking for LTD specific things. Looks like I should add a few names to the list!

Dean T

Duende

11-02-2008, 05:23 PM

We're up here in Oregon, thanks for the reply! The seller is in Washington. My sister got a DUI last night, so instead of my father and I heading up there to pick it up, I'll probably be taking a bus tomorrow. My wife has a daycare otherwise she'd drive me up there in our family car.

Oh well, I'd jump through way more hoops than this to get this car. I've definitely got those guys you mentioned on my list of usernames to watch for.

LTDScott

11-05-2008, 11:36 AM

Very nice. Looks a lot like a black LX I have seen in Washington before, but the plates are different.
http://www.ltdlx.org/albums/LTDgallery/0068_G.jpg

FYI, to search for anything less than 4 letters long, add asterisks. So search for LTD** LX**

Duende

11-06-2008, 10:45 AM

Thanks, Scott, it very well might be? Can't be many of these running around? I'm going to be taking many more pics here shortly...

And thanks for the help with the search function!!!

LTDScott

11-06-2008, 12:56 PM

Thanks, Scott, it very well might be? Can't be many of these running around? I'm going to be taking many more pics here shortly...

And thanks for the help with the search function!!!

I just noticed your car has power windows, so it's not the same.

Good luck with it!

Christian89LSC

11-06-2008, 05:07 PM

I am the seller of this LTD LX. I used to be on the old ford-fox.org web site and I am also on fordvschevy.com (Christian89LSC) and lincolnsonline.com (Chris 89LSC/86Continental). Also, some people may remember me from meetings in Carlisle for the All-Ford Nationals where I brought my 89 LSC (not for sale !!!).

Btw. I also have my four-eyed 86 Continental for sale as well.

P.S.: The interior picture that Thomas posted above is similar to mine (I emailed it to him and said that it was comparable - though that one is pretty much mint, mine needs a bit, but not too much, of work) - at that time I did not have an interior picture.

Christian89LSC

11-06-2008, 06:15 PM

Also, in case anybody is wondering why an 85 LTD LX has 3rd high mounted brakelight - I added it (picked a blue colored one up at the yard, painted it to match and mounted it to the rear parcel shelf - which, at least for this 85 already had the mounting holes in place).

Christian89LSC

11-06-2008, 07:33 PM

One more thing...

>>I have the VIN but haven't done a Carfax, I hope I'm not getting ripped off on a basic LTD, that'd be kind've funny!

You can go to http://www.autocheck.com and just run the free check with the VIN number for the car.

Here's the free report:

Vehicle Record Summary VIN: 1FABP39M4FGxxxxxxx We found 19 record(s) for this vehicle
Year: 1985 Style/Body: Sedan 4D
Make: Ford Engine: 5.0L V8 EFI
Model: LTD LX Country of Assembly: United States