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New here Just bought my first Lincoln Mark VIII

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Posted by: BlackKarmaMKVIII

And I love it. It's a wonderful car. But one thing that gets me. Did I get a good deal?

Here's what I purchased this morning:

1994 Lincoln Mark VIII. It's got 191,000 miles on it, but the previous owner who purchased it new from a dealer in Florida meticulously maintained it with proven oil changes every 3500 miles. All maintenance was performed with all receipts. Everything on the vehicle works. The paint's clearcoat is faded and gone in some areas, and very few dings and no scratches. Black leather interior with a Pioneer XM-ready CD player with remote. Everything aside from the radio and tires are original.

I paid $700 for this car, and I'm just trying to figure out if I got a good deal or not.

That, and I wanted to welcome myself to the site, considering this is my first Lincoln Mark VIII. The last Lincoln I owned was a 1977 Lincoln Continental Coupe.

Posted by: slowmkviii

welcome pics please

Posted by: MAXEDOUTSTRESS

Great Deal!!!!
Welcome to the Club....Love Those Mark VIII's!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackKarmaMKVIII

And I love it. It's a wonderful car. But one thing that gets me. Did I get a good deal?

Here's what I purchased this morning:

1994 Lincoln Mark VIII. It's got 191,000 miles on it, but the previous owner who purchased it new from a dealer in Florida meticulously maintained it with proven oil changes every 3500 miles. All maintenance was performed with all receipts. Everything on the vehicle works. The paint's clearcoat is faded and gone in some areas, and very few dings and no scratches. Black leather interior with a Pioneer XM-ready CD player with remote. Everything aside from the radio and tires are original.

I paid $700 for this car, and I'm just trying to figure out if I got a good deal or not.

That, and I wanted to welcome myself to the site, considering this is my first Lincoln Mark VIII. The last Lincoln I owned was a 1977 Lincoln Continental Coupe.

Posted by: stevo1111

$700 for a well running car is a good price no matter what. I'd say, these cars need fairly expensive parts changed pretty much monthly (alternator, air bags sensors... you name it). If it doesn't leak now, you should be in the clear with that, watch out for stuttering- not fun.

Welcome and enjoy the leather interior and 285hp.

Posted by: lunchmeat

If it has orignal tires on it you should probly change them. Yeah I love these cars but they do get expensive.

Posted by: turborich

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunchmeat

If it has orignal tires on it you should probly change them. Yeah I love these cars but they do get expensive.

How could this car possibly have the origional tires at 191,000 miles?

Posted by: Moes8

it says everything except the radio and tires are original. not it has the original tires.

Posted by: k9t8m

Where are the pics?

Posted by: king triton

Quote:

Originally Posted by turborich

How could this car possibly have the origional tires at 191,000 miles?

Posted by: kustomizingkid

Not too shabby.....

There will be a little maintenance here and there, but nothing too crazy. I would just drive the wheels off and fix it when it breaks.

Posted by: mark0101

Welcome to LVC

Posted by: lunchmeat

LOL I guess I missed read it.

Posted by: BlackKarmaMKVIII

Yup, it's got brand new tires, with receipt. This guy took remarkably good care of this car. I will post pictures as soon as I can get hold of a camera. But if someone could help me with something, since this is my first Mark VIII:

How do I let air out of the air ride system? It's too full and rides a little rough, and I've been told to let some air out of the system to give it a smoother ride.

Posted by: kustomizingkid

It should vent on its own... when you park the car and close the door it should drop, and when you drive over 50 mph or so for about a minute it should drop too...

Posted by: BlackKarmaMKVIII

It doesn't. The compressor switch is off in the trunk. Should I turn it on? I had an old 1994 Crown Vic with air ride in the back, and I know when I jacked it up and set it back down the bags emptied. I turned the compressor back on to fill them up.

Sorry for being retarted about these cars. I'll learn as I go.

Posted by: Calabrio

It's computer controlled. If it's sitting too high, make sure that the air ride is turned on. The switch is in the trunk.

If it's not venting that means either the vent solenoid is stuck closed or the ride height sensors aren't working properly. Noting that it's a Florida car, I'm inclined to say that the vent is sticking.

Contact American Air Suspension and get the SPIDER VALVE. It'll bypass the old vent solenoid build into the compressor, and it'll also include a water separator that'll extend the life of the other components.

Posted by: Calabrio

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackKarmaMKVIII

It doesn't. The compressor switch is off in the trunk. Should I turn it on? I had an old 1994 Crown Vic with air ride in the back, and I know when I jacked it up and set it back down the bags emptied. I turned the compressor back on to fill them up.

Sorry for being retarted about these cars. I'll learn as I go.

We posted at about the same time.
Yes, make sure the Air Ride is turned on- but BEWARE.
The dealer might have pulled a fast one on you. If there is a problem, it'll become evident once the system is activated. It might become immediately evident and that could be a problem, otherwise you might not notice it until the next morning.

As mentioned in the last post, AMERICAN AIR SUSPENSION is my favorite choice for air ride parts.

Unfortunately, there's no way to know until you turn it back on... And it should always be left on.

Posted by: jj Blue Bird

Turn it on at night...then in the morning if the front/back is dropped, you'll know if you need new bags.

Posted by: BlackKarmaMKVIII

Thanks for the advice. I turned on the switch in the trunk, and am going to let it sit overnight. I'll also look up the Spider Valve for American Air Suspension. Thanks for the advice. I'll post again in the morning to let you all know about the results.

Posted by: mafioso

I have discovered a culprit for non working compressors, I got curious when I was at the car wash with Eddie (Kracker) and I found the fix to the compressors insanly easy, If you guys like I can get with Kracker and post up a write up on how to renew your stock compressors.

Posted by: 98lincmk7lsc

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj Blue Bird

Turn it on at night...then in the morning if the front/back is dropped, you'll know if you need new bags.

If he needs new bags, the car would drop anyway, regardless of whether or not the system is turned on.

If it hasn't leaked so far, chances are it won't, unless it's a very, very slow leak.

If he turns it on and then it leaks, he's got different problems.

Posted by: Frogman

Quote:

Originally Posted by turborich

How could this car possibly have the origional tires at 191,000 miles?

My thought exactly.

Posted by: BlackKarmaMKVIII

Well, good news. The car didn't sink to the ground. So it seems that everything is in working order on the air ride system. I did find out however, that the bushings on the passenger front suspension need to be replaced. There is a LOT of play, and I can push the wheel back and forth with my foot. $39 for new bushings at the local KOI. Anyone have any idea how easy they are to replace?

And no, the car doesn't have the original tires. I mentioned that earlier.

Posted by: The Rev

I'm surprised no one said it before. At 191,000 miles the suspension components should need to be replaced (if not already). At 118k I replaced both upper control arms, lower control arms, sway bar end links, and the strut rod bushings (whats making your wheel move like that). This may have been done already (search your receipts) and you may be out of it for $39. Don't get disappointed if you need to replace these as well.

If you do need to replace more, all components can be purchased for a tbird (I chose the 96 tbird with the 'handling package' for my parts from advance) except for the upper control arms, which have a stud for the ride height sensor. If your handy you can dremel this stud off your old ones and reuse.

Posted by: mafioso

Back in forth as front to back or left to right? you may need ball joints before the bushings give, trust me Im on set 4 in the span of a year. I put alot of torture on the poor ball joints.

Posted by: BlackKarmaMKVIII

Back and forth meaning front to back, and vice versa. Instead of second-guessing and possibly making a huge mistake, I've got a guy I know nearby that's amazing with suspension work on Fords, Lincolns, and Mercurys. I'll take it to him and get his opinion. I had thought he was out of town, but I saw him this afternoon in passing so I know he's back now.

And you said that suspension parts from a 1996 Thunderbird will work for certain things? Damn, I wish I had known that... I'd have kept the '96 Thunderbird I scrapped last week... damnit.

Posted by: f69tang

is there a book or a place where a person can see what parts are swapable.
I know i have one for my 69 cougar and what ford parts are swapable.

ps new to mark viii - purchased last week a pearl white 97 lsc with 69k