New to the forum

[waldodamon]

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum, but not to the Mark VIII. I currently own a 1996 Anniversary Edition Mark VIII stock, completely stock, which is my current project car. My first steps include engine mod, in which the 4.6 comes out and a rebuilt 428 from a '68 Mustang GT goes in. Next obviously is the exhaust. I have never seen a 3" on a Mark VIII, and from what I have seen a 2.5" is hard enough for the re-rods in my area to install, so even though my flow from a 428 may be restricted somewhat, looks like I will have a 2.5" true dual exhaust put on, with no cats and no muffs.

What I really would like to know is where to find body kits for it. I have seen a couple Marks with kits, but WAY too tacky and Lambo-ish for my tastes. I search on Google but come up with NOTHING. Of course, if you search for toilet Honda kits they're everywhere. SO, any good online resources for body kits? I live in Rhode Island, so if anyone knows of any shops in my area where I can check some out that would be appreciated too. Thanks everyone!

Waldo

 

[Jibit]

I think a lot of places stopped making the kits.

I have a question, I've seen older cars get the 4.6L engine, I've seen people take just the bodies of older cars and use the drive train from a cobra, but why would you want to put old technology into a mark? First off the 4.6L is a lot easier to get power from, plus it probably weighs a lot less than that big block. I'm assuming you're going to use a C6 also? Iteresting idea but other than seeing an engine like that in our cars for show purposes I really don't see why you would do it.

 

[waldodamon]

I think a lot of places stopped making the kits.

I have a question, I've seen older cars get the 4.6L engine, I've seen people take just the bodies of older cars and use the drive train from a cobra, but why would you want to put old technology into a mark? First off the 4.6L is a lot easier to get power from, plus it probably weighs a lot less than that big block. I'm assuming you're going to use a C6 also? Iteresting idea but other than seeing an engine like that in our cars for show purposes I really don't see why you would do it.

Show purposes is exactly the idea. Remember, this is a project car. I would like to pick up a nice 97 or 98 LSC to have as a daily driver too, but for now I can live with the Saturn. Correct assumption, I will be using the C6 rather than the 4, for obvious build reasons. If it were a 302 or other smaller block, perhaps I would go with the C4, but in this case, I want to be sure that I won't have any issues. Don't get me wrong, I think the 4.6 is one of the most solid, bulletproof engines that happens to already exist in the Lincoln, but I am one of those "I need more" freaks. I have already factored the weight issue and, the horsepower more than definitely will overcompensate for that. A buddy of mine just had his 4.6 bored and stroked to a 5.0, I kinda wanna show him up.....ha haa.

 

[Jibit]

that's cool, was just wondering the reasoning behind it. How much hp is the 428 going to have? This is interesting, I have a '67 bird with a 428, any hook-ups for parts? Been looking to upgrade a little

 

[Lincolngirl91]

:W to LVC!

 

[waldodamon]

:W to LVC!

Thank you much!!

 

[waldodamon]

:W to LVC!

Thank you much!!!

Sorry for the double post....

 

[kustomizingkid]

Sounds like a very interesting project.

One question, why are you going to cut up a rarer Mark when you could just start with a base model? You would most likely redo everything paint and body wise so why not find a cheap Mark with a bad motor or tranny instead?

 

[waldodamon]

that's cool, was just wondering the reasoning behind it. How much hp is the 428 going to have? This is interesting, I have a '67 bird with a 428, any hook-ups for parts? Been looking to upgrade a little

That's actually a good question, ha haa. To be honest, right now she's bare, the block that is. Everything is stock. I am going to use one of the old police interceptor aluminum intake manifolds for a little boost of hp, and to be honest I really don't know what heads, rockers, cam, etc I am going to go with yet. I DO know that I want to keep it streetable, obviously, so I won't go too too crazy, but to be honest, I really would like to build it up enough to see atleast 450 to the wheels.......which I know to some is a little whacko, but I like whacko....

As of right now I have no spare parts. The engine was actually a project started by my father to put in his '68 Cougar XR7-GT, but he decided to keep the stock 390 in it. SO, I am pretty much starting from nothing, which is kind of exciting because I have never actually built "one of my own" engines from the ground up.

 

[waldodamon]

Sounds like a very interesting project.

One question, why are you going to cut up a rarer Mark when you could just start with a base model? You would most likely redo everything paint and body wise so why not find a cheap Mark with a bad motor or tranny instead?

Good question. Problem is, around here, people want almost NADA prices for a Mark not worth a G. I scored mine for a great price because it was a good friend of my father who owned it since birth. He also kept it garaged, and though he lacks mechanical knowledge, he did not lack respect for routine maintenance.

Honestly bud, a Mark VIII around here, let's say with 165,000 miles and rust to high hell (because of NE winters and the OVER SARCASTIC amounts of sanding/salting in the winter), you would still be lookin at an asking price of $3500, which is outrageusly ridiculous. To find one at a junk yard is a needle in a haystack, and when you DO find one, the frame is too far gone from whatever the yo-yo wrapped it around.

I have seen cars around here sit for over a year for sale, and the price never changed. So, I figure I will work with what I have for now. Building the engine comes first, before I even take the 4.6 out, so, if I find what you are talking about in the meantime for a reasonable price, then hell yes, that is a great idea!