I'm really starting to wonder if this car is even worth keeping...

jj Blue Bird

jj Blue Bird

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Ok, so it's not technically my car, it's my friends. He bought it from Purple_Lincoln_Slayer on here for $500. Obviously with that price we figured something was wrong with it. (Only thing he said was wrong is that it didn't go into overdrive, so I figured it was the torque converter) Well it turns out later on that a lot more was wrong with it and it seems to just get worse. Along with the rear bags already gone, the front now leak every now and then. I think it might be the conpressor, not completely sure, but it's extremely loud. And they don't even air up properly, they just pop up after a couple minutes. Along with that it's only running on 7 cylinders, the transmission is going out and shifts terrible, torque converter is gone. It overheats with only 10 minutes of driving it and I honestly have no idea why this is going on. Water pump is fine. It leaks oil like a champ. I have to turn the heater on through the floor so the car doesn't overheat and die on me.

Now I wouldn't be posting this if I could do something about it, but I can't. My friend moved to Texas and left the car here. My friend uses it to go to work and the car stays at my house so I have to babysit the POS. Now I love Mark VIIIs but this is just not even fun to drive. I don't have the money to put into it and my friend just doesn't seem to care about it anymore. If I ask him he'll just give me the car, sign the title over and that'll be the end of it. The only redeeming thing on this car is the interior, which is in really good shape. Should I just junk this car or fix it up? I've thought about giving it to my friend (if my other friend lets me have it) since he's in a tight spot and has no other way to get to work, but this car really isn't dependable.

I've heard of Jamie taking junk Mark VIIIs before...But I don't know if I want to junk this car just yet. It's in pretty bad shape but for one of you on here I'm pretty sure you'd fix it up pretty nice like. :) It's a rare color too.

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I think you answered you own question...

You don't want to junk it but you don't have the money to fix it. The problem with cars is that they cost a lot of money, and if you don't have the money... you kind of SOL.

Sorry if I'm being harsh, but its the truth. Either you spend the money to fix it or you can't fix it.

I know its hard to junk out a complete mark too... I fought back and forth about parting my 94, ended up parting it and I'm glad that I did.... but it was still hard to do.
 
Just park it and talk to your friend about it, if he gives it to you fix it when you can. The good thing about projects is that they dont have to finished right away.
 
If the rest of the car looks as good as the front shot and the interior is good, man you gotta bring her back. Even if it takes awhile. Mark is one of those fee cars that can produce cobra hp with the room for adults and doesn't cost an arm and leg for insurance.
 
I talked to my friend about it. He's either going to junk it or give it to me. I'll talk to him more about it later.

One thing about having a project car though, I still have to get my car fixed. I turn 18 this saturday, I still need a job, and I need to pay for my own insurance so I'm in a tight spot...It would be an awesome project car for someone else.

The body is sound though.

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I would sell it if I got the title to it and everything.

My tbird just needs new brakes on it and a tune up and its fine. everything on it works fine, i just have to wait until im 18 to get it.
 
Yea I hate to see cars like this get junked, they are just toooo cool and comfortable. I had a 97 bird and man I miss her.
 
If you don't have the money to fix it up, find someone that will, or part it out, imho. It sounds like you have enough on your plate as it is...
 
I guess the first question is, which car do you want to drive, the T-bird or the Mark VIII. It's pretty pointless for you to keep both. Their damn near the same car.

The air ride issues can be easily resolved. If you commit a little time you can even replace the air ride with T-bird suspension components.

The over heating is likely the result of either:
1. Improperly refilled cooling system resulting in air bubbles
2. A leak, maybe in the thermostat
3. Or a Blown head gasket

And maybe that has something to do with your 7 cylinder car.
Or, you just need plug wires.

As for the transmission- you can pick up a used one for about $300 out of virtually from the era with a V8. Installation isn't easy though.

If you don't have someone with both knowledge and tools around to help you, just get the title and put it for sale on here. You might get $500, maybe less. Someone will take it off your hands.

Parting it will be a part time job, plus you'll need a family who will tolerate a rotting Mark VIII shell in their yard for a year.
 
Well the T-Bird of course. It's my first car, and I'll probably keep it and mod it out until I done with it.

As for the Mark, selling it right now sounds like the best idea. The overheating isn't from a headgasket or plug wires (about 75% sure) as I just changed the wires and did a scan on the engine. (Although I'm not sure if the headgasket has gone bad since then)

Is there any easy way to drain the cooling system and refill it to see if that fixes the problem? I mean we still have the drive this thing to work and I don't want my friend to break down. I'm willing to do stuff to it, but the thing is I have nobody to help me and I'm not that much of a mechanic. I'd like the know how but I have nobody to teach me.

If it comes down to it, look for a purple Mark VIII in the For Sale forums. Someone can make this car good I know it, it's just a matter on if you wanna put the time into it...

Thanks guys. :)
 
if you could get it down to me i could help you go through it and make it road worthy enough so you dont have to worry about it, i dont charge alot, thats why im always broke lol but i dont just part them, i enjoy working on them as well and making them look pretty again!
 
Jamie you sound just like me, I can't make money in business to kind hearted mamma didn't raise no a**. I do a lot of free work for single moms and the lower income people.
 
Well speak of the devil, I just got a job interview set up for 2pm today. My first job at that. :) If things go as well as I'm hoping they are, I'll give the car to my friend and help him out fixing it up. (Along with my T-Bird)

I agree with you Jamie, I'm waaay to nice about things...Especially when it comes to cars. :P
 
Well I'm not really too much into making money out of it more than making it drivable for my friend. That has always been the bigger priority with the car but if it wasn't able to happen I'd go the other routes.
 
You have to "bleed" the cooling system.
That means filling it from the center cross-over tube.

just search how to bleed cooling system on here, you'll find it discussed over and over again.
 
Glad you decided to keep it, I like the color so if you do decide to gt rid of it, Please let me know, I'd even drive up and get it.
 
Figured out why it was overheating - Electric fan hasn't been kicking on. Going to rig it so it runs all the time. :)

I'll definelty tell you though mafioso.
 
Jaime can help you, with the fan issue, Dont rig it to work you will only cause more electrical gremlins, I've learned the hard way these cars are temptermental like you wouldnt belive.
 
you either need to replace the fan itself if you put power to it and it doesnt work the fan is shot, if there is power to it and its not working then you need a vcrm module, i have both of them, fix it right seriously you will cause other elec problems if you rig it.
 
It works, my step-dad checked it. I don't know what he used but he checked all the fuses with this thing that lights up if it has power. It did something weird though, we drove it to where I work and checked and the fan didn't come on. But the fuse worked before we did that and not afterwords, haha. I dunno this car is confusing.

How much would a vcrm module cost? I have no idea what it is, but I'll take your word for it, you know more about cars than me haha. :P I think for the time being though I'd let him rig it until I can get money to fix it because remember I still have to drive this thing. :shifty:
 
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