Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums

(This is the forums archive - If you want to get back to the main site simply click the banner above and you will be taken to our homepage.)

Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums is the Ultimate Online Resource for Owners and Enthusiasts of American Luxury Cars. Feel free to browse through our archive - but make sure you make it back to our main site - Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums

Cadillac XLR : Cadillac CTS : Cadillac : 2005 Cadillac STS : Cadillac Forums : 2000 Lincoln LS : Lincoln Mark VIII : Lincoln Mark VII : Car Wax
Lincoln Town Car : Lincoln Air Suspension : Lincoln Continental : Lemon Law : Do It Yourself Car Repair : Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums : Mesothelioma

Back to the Archive Main Page

Pages: 1

Ok guys just a few questions, want to know your thoughts!

(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

First off, about a year ago I totaled my 96 Mark VIII when I hit a deer.

(Pics of the car)
http://cis.macc.edu/~aboley/other/Ca...s/100_0319.jpg
http://cis.macc.edu/~aboley/other/Ca...s/100_0320.jpg
http://cis.macc.edu/~aboley/other/Ca...s/100_0326.jpg
http://cis.macc.edu/~aboley/other/Ca...s/100_0335.jpg

So here I am a year later and I finally got serious about putting her back together. I have the hood, header panel, drivers headlight, drivers corner marker. At the moment the only noticeable parts that I know I need are the drivers fender, chrome hood strip, grille. Now I'm sure that once I start tear down, I'll find other things but it's a start.

I'll need to tweak the radiator support back out just a tad, and I might possibly need a new hood latch assembly. The headlight beauty covers disappeared after the wreck, kind of mad about that but don't know that it's that important to me at the moment.

Of course the airbags were deployed in the wreck, I'm not planning on replacing those at the moment, because of the cost. I have thought about it, but I'm not for sure what all I will need to replace to put them back in the right way. If anyone knows, it would be much appreciated, also if I do leave them out, I need to know how to disable the airbag system to keep from getting the airbag indicator.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I'd love to see her running again, I fell in love with this car the moment I saw it. My first love so to speak!

Thanks in advance guys!

Posted by: 1bad4.6l

youll probably have to take the bulb out of the indicator light that would be the easiest thing to do and cheapest.

Posted by: Shoguy89

I've got a '97 Diamond Edition that was blasted in the passengers' door. Front is still in perfect condition. I've got plans for the powertrain, but the shell is gonna be cut up for parts. Interested?

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

I might be, would like to see some pics and figure out some prices. Just let me know.

Posted by: papa bear

Did you have that deer for dinner at least and have you stated the car since the wreck is the radiator ok and all the front goodies.Parts should not be hard to find even the airbags.Use a come along on the radiator support to tweak it back into place or a bottle jack.

Posted by: turborich

After seeing that I'm glad we don't have deer in the streets here! Did the deer die? I can imagine what a cow would do!

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

To answer your question papa, no, I didn't have him for dinner. It was the opening weekend of deer season here. On a brighter note, the Highway Patrolman was nice enough not to give me a ticket for killing a deer without a license. I think he thought he was being funny. I start it about every two weeks, didn't hurt the radiator or anything mechanical that I know of yet, still runs and drives good. I was planning on using the come along method for the radiator support. I had just put a coil over conversion on the car less than a month before I wrecked it, so I don't have to worry about the suspension.

Turbo, yes there deer died, He layed over on my hood, bounced off the hood and up and over the car, missing the windshield all together, but managed to put a small dent in the top windshield trim piece, never touched the car after that. I was pretty lucky, he could have ended up riding shotgun, if not trying to drive. I think the 1.5" drop suspension and 70 MPH saved me but who knows.

Posted by: papa bear

Sounds like you have time and money in your car and it is well worth doing a nice job on it and maybe making it a toy car for yourself or a spare car.Make sure when you get all the body square again that the paint did not chip on the inner frame or core support if so treat it with paint so you don't have a rust problem down the road, like the upper shock towers.Keep us up to date on your progress. Even if you have a dukes of hazzard push bar on to let those deers know who is boss

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Yeah, I was planning on making this my toy as well as my backup if needed. I'm looking into possibly outfitting it with suicide doors, solenoids and poppers. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I think the end result, if done right, will be worth it. I know a lot of guys in the street rod scene, so I'll have a little assistance.

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Papa, where are you at in Illinois?

Posted by: papa bear

About 20 minutes from downtown Chicago in the burbs

Posted by: turborich

I have a used chrome strip, the piece that goes above the lights/grille & under the hood. it is pretty nice shape except a very small area in the corner. still not bad at all though. I'll send you a pic if you want it. Just pay shipping & it's yours if you would like.

The Highway patroll officer really gave you a ticket? If so, did you fight it in court? That sounds like complete BS to me. A animal walks out in front of you & of course you cannot avoid it so you get a ticket? Geeesh.

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

turbo, no i said he was nice enough not to give me a ticket, he made the comment, "Well, I'm not going to give you a ticket for killing a deer without a license." He was trying to be funny. Yes I would be interested in seeing some pics of the chrome strip.

Posted by: turborich

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96hotrodlincoln

turbo, no i said he was nice enough not to give me a ticket, he made the comment, "Well, I'm not going to give you a ticket for killing a deer without a license." He was trying to be funny. Yes I would be interested in seeing some pics of the chrome strip.

DUH! I should read more closely!!!!!!!

Posted by: turborich

Here are some pics I took of it. As you look @ it from the front, the left side has the very small blemish/ding in it. Let me know if it's good enough to use.
I couldn't figure out how to send the pics in a PM. ??? Sorry.

Posted by: Go Fast Get Tickets

I feel your pain. I have a known deer killer Mark myself. Two dead so far.

Had to replace core support, header, grill/trim, hid housings were toasted and replaced w/halogens(yuck), radiator, ac condenser, fan, and both airbags.

I am lucky in the fact a good friend is a body man. Paid $300 to replace core support and get it squared up and gapped.

Good luck with your rebuild.

Posted by: k9t8m

My advice to you honestly is to part the car out. The money you would make from the parts would be enough to buy a nice mark that doesnt require that much work.

Also if you have never done any structural repair to a car, i dont suggest it.

The air bag system is ver complicated as well. If you dont have the know how , they can be very dangerous.

Of course this is just my opinion, but here in the midwest cheap mark viiis are a dime a dozen, and who knows you may actually end up with something nicer than you started with in the first place.

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Chris, do you realize that I'm the one that just bought a hood off you? So I buy a hood off you and then you tell me not to fix the car, that doesn't make a lot of sense!

Posted by: k9t8m

oops. Sorry aI guess i never really connected the two. lol. I still think the car is borderline worth fixing or not, but as long as you have the knowledge to fix it, go ahead. It is just not something for someone who has never done this type of work to start with. Just try not to get in over your head. If you do have any questions, just give me a call.

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Hey Go Fast, those damn deer must be a missouri thing! Do you think?

Posted by: Go Fast Get Tickets

Guess so. I was out late yesterday and saw a nice buck stop at the fence, turn around, and go back. This time of year sucks, their in rut, and it's firearms season.

To bad your not closer to KC, I'd help you out.

Posted by: kustomizingkid

I have some airbags out of a 93 if you are interested.

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Kustom, what color are they?

Posted by: Markviiiedrea

I have a few black air bags for sale 25 bucks each. It just might take me a week to ship because they are deep inside my barn and will take a while to get out.

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

So after months of talking about it, I had this week off for spring break, with pay I might add, one of the perks of working for a school district. I'm pretty well through with the tear down. I've been quoted $1000 to shave the door handles and paint the whole car back to the original color, plus fix the few dents here and there. It's a friend of mine doing the paint, which explains the price. Here are the pictures as of today.

Hopefully I'll have it all done by the end of summer. I've scrapped the suicide doors idea because I just want to get it done and the cost of what it would take to do it right.

Posted by: devilchild

good luck.. ill be waiting for more pics

Posted by: Sal329

Looks like you have a nice lil project over there.

Posted by: jamie97lsc

i have thousands of parts for these things if you still need anything along the way.

Posted by: k9t8m

Hows the progress coming?

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Got the car hauled off to get the body work done a couple weeks ago! Looking for a good kit for the shaved door handles. Any suggestions????

Posted by: 96hotrodlincoln

Ok guys, I'm ready to purchase the shaved handle kit but am looking for some suggestions on what are good brands and what are not. A lot of guys say stay away from autoloc but some say they are good.

Posted by: mafioso

Autoloc poppers, and make sure you put an emergency cable somewhere, or Use a truck like oldskool rodders and hide a button from from 12V directly to the popper.

a mechanical emergency cable is your best bet though.

As far as the filler plates make them out of 18 AWG steel.