Austin's 98 Mark VIII Build thread

[austin26372]

Here's my Mark VIII DD... she'll be lightly, and tastefully, modded to a semi-sleeper status. But for now, I'm catching up on some maintenance items like paint correction and clearing up odds and ends.

The day she came home:

Headlight restoration: (I'm holding off on the driver's side until I figure out what I want to do with the water intrusion.)

 

[Mark8Murder]

Welcome and nice ride! Keep us updated!!

 

[chris2523]

if the chrome inside is still good, you can pull it off and stick a hair dryer in it for awhile. when its all dried out seal up the edges or any cracks with clear caulk or something, put some silicone lube on the light bulb orings, and then polish it up.

the one headlight looks great though.

 

[austin26372]

Welcome and nice ride! Keep us updated!!

Thanks, will do!

if the chrome inside is still good, you can pull it off and stick a hair dryer in it for awhile. when its all dried out seal up the edges or any cracks with clear caulk or something, put some silicone lube on the light bulb orings, and then polish it up.

the one headlight looks great though.

Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping it's just an o-ring, but I haven't dug into it yet. I'm really surprised with how well the first one turned out.

 

[ford nut]

Found with a little search.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=55584

I had to fix stacks car with this problem....

I do this...

Remove the headlight
Remove all the bulbs
Fill the headlight with rubbing alchohol and swish it all around and dump it out... alchohol is hygroscopic and evaporates much faster...
If water/rubbing alchohol remains blow it out with an air compressor or hair dryer
At that point you have eliminated the water but no fixed the problem...
Then I take silicone sealer and seal the entire was around the lense and housing and also seal up the vents
The I liberally coat the bulb gaskets with dielectric grease so they seal better

Nice car.

 

[austin26372]

Thanks for the link ford nut.

Here's a good daytime light output comparison:

As you can see, the driver's side fogginess is holding in a fair amount of light, whereas the passenger's side emits the light outwards.

 

[Sapperfire]

Base model Gen2s just don't look good...all that chrome doesn't do it for me with that body..

It almost looks like an AutoZone mod

Good job on the headlight tho...and good luck with the project

 

[Lownslowlsc]

Base model Gen2s just don't look good...all that chrome doesn't do it for me with that body..

It almost looks like an AutoZone mod

Good job on the headlight tho...and good luck with the project

The only ones I feel can pull off the chrome is the lighter colors, i.e. silver,white ect...

It all comes down to the persons taste though...Some people dig chrome.

 

[Sapperfire]

I like it on some Gen 1s

Just not any of the Gen 2s... I don't think the body wears it well.. Just IMO

 

[austin26372]

Little nominal update... finished the other headlight polishing and put a small pin hole in the side to let the moisture out. Also cleaned up my rims, but I'm going to polish them tomorrow to finish everything up.

Before:

After:

 

[95MkViii]

.... those rims just kill the car....

you have plans for changing them?

 

[97MarkJA]

Little nominal update... finished the other headlight polishing and put a small pin hole in the side to let the moisture out. Also cleaned up my rims, but I'm going to polish them tomorrow to finish everything up.

Before:

After:

Pin hole in the headlight? You just need to pull the bulbs out.

 

[austin26372]

.... those rims just kill the car....

you have plans for changing them?

I KNOW!!!

I'd like some cobra stars, but I think they're a little too popular. Really not sure.

 

[danny_holtermann]

you need to do a hub swap if you go with cobra stars

 

[chris2523]

what are cobra stars? not familiar with those.

 

[austin26372]

you need to do a hub swap if you go with cobra stars

I'm going with a repro set - I'm sure there are a few choices out there.

what are cobra stars? not familiar with those.

It's the easy way of saying Cobra 5 spoked rim.

 

[chris2523]

It's the easy way of saying Cobra 5 spoked rim.

oh. duh. like these?

 

[austin26372]

oh. duh. like these?

Yessir

 

[chris2523]

you have excellent taste sir. i just bought myself that set. i love them.

 

[austin26372]

Why thank you - I think they work well with the car, specially with the paint color.

 

[ford nut]

Some people like them.

 

[JC1994]

Lookin' good Ford Nut.

 

[ford nut]

Thanks!

 

[austin26372]

Pulled the rear center light today to inquire as to why it didn't work.... drumroll... it wasn't plugged in! (Mainly because there was no way to do such, must be a missing harness or something) Anywho, anybody care to share if the chrome detaches from the light lens? - I'm looking to do a light light tint.

And a nice pic for the heck of it!

Oh, also pulled the old radio today in favor of something with USB and AUX inputs.

 

[95MkViii]

what head unit you looking at putting in? i was going to put a pioneer avh-p3200 in mine, but put it in the truck.