What did you do to your Mark VIII today?

Caliper rebuilt.

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Not wanting to spend 150 bucks for it on eBay, from junk yards, or even when they came up on craigslist, I just haunted the you pull it places, signed up for alerts for Jag S Types and LSes.

Nearly all the Jags don't have the trunk popped, and when they did it was either missing the spare, or it is was a 16. Lincoln LSes usually missing them.

You also have to beat the yard to them, because they make stands out of them, which I don't get why they need to keep making more as the number of spots is not increasing...but anyways...

Only had 4 serviceable lug nuts, which I need since it isn't tapered lugs. So now I have a 17x5 temp spare with a tire that has touched the ground but the painted on text on the tread is still there, it is aluminum. 13.00 bucks for rim/tire/4 lugs and the environmental fee.

If I can find someone to drill my Cobra rotors to the 5x4.25 bolt pattern I am now one step closer to better brakes.

I have a Volvo 17 inch spare but it barely clears the larger Mark VIII brakes (versus the Mustang GT dual piston calipers or MN12 standard brakes), the face of the wheel hits the face of the Cobra calipers due to the weird offset and contour of the face.

I went back and found another LS (that was missing the spare, and all the wheels) and scrounged around the ground and trunk and found 2 more lugs.

But the more I looked at the new spare, and the size of the tire, and it next to the ones mounted on it (obviously with no weight on it I expected it to be possibly larger), I am not sure it is the holy grail I had hoped. Even with removing the foam spaces on the cover (well, I used one of the many other spare tire covers from one of my MN-12s), the thing is huge.

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I found a newer Mustang 17 inch spare, and it is someplace in between the OEM 125 wide spare and the LS 185 wide one, so I might just end up doing a hub swap at some point.
 
Like a good Ford, my Lincoln is always keeping me busy!

Today I finally got the time and all the parts to fix the A/C... AGAIN! Its been holding me up from finishing up other projects so when I got finished up it was time to start on the fun stuff.

New KYB Excel G in all 4 corners as well as some slotted and cross drilled rotors. Of course I find one rear pin completely Locked in the bracket so after 30 minutes of fighting I got the pin out but HAD to get a new pin and boot kit for the back. Flushed all new brake fluid in and now Anti Lock light is on. Honestly, with the track record of this mark, I am not surprised.20150719_172203.jpg
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Its a shame these have to hide behind my stock wheels.

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My front right rotor just warped recently, it's dragging a little. Where did you get those, I like 'em.

Also, did you need to replace anything else when you did all four rotors?

They look great!
 
Ran across a set of II Crave 18" rims in Mark VIII pattern at LKQ a few weeks back. Bought the set for $136 during the half off sale on July 4th. Wasn't sure how I felt about them but figured, worst case, I could sell them. Ended up liking them after trying them on. A few guys suggested polishing the lip.

I did one wheel on Monday and one wheel on Tuesday. All by hand, sandpaper sheets, 320-400-800-1500. By the time I finished the second wheel yesterday, I had ran my fingers to the point they bled. They came out GREAT though!!

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AFTER
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They look much better with the polished rim. A nice pair of work gloves might save some skin on your fingers, but skin grows back. The music group BS&T, reminds me of what we do for our cars.
 
CE new led's.jpgCE ww show.jpgCE wheels done.jpgGetting ready for the wounded warrior car show on Thursday. Painted the inside of wheels, and a lot more stuff. Just want to go for a ride. I changed led DRL's from inside headlight to a nicer place

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Decided to clean my 163,000 mile idle air control valve today. All I did was spray it and wipe the inner ports down, I didn't poke at the innards.

The main reason I'm cleaning it is to see if it clears up a rough idle/start in <15 degree weather. I also heard that it might be contributing to the air box pop/misfire noise some us have @ idle.

I made sure there was one locally in case something went wrong. With that said...Clean at your own risk!



4 of the cleaners that the interwebs recommended. I used the tb cleaner, a couple squirts of brake cleaner and finished it off with electronics cleaner (Maf cleaner). Gasket (Felpro 71216) was $1.70 at Advance Auto.

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Hi, I am new BILL BOATS is my name, I just bought a set of 10 spoke aluminum finish(I like the 10 spoke chromes better if I had a choice) with tires. I'de like to know what products could make them bone clean and back to the nice aluminum finish/ Any and all suggestions appreciated
 
To get to the idle air control, did you have to make some room around the throttle body?, or did you take off the throttle body out of the car and then removed the IAc. ?????
 
he has a 2nd gen, so he just removed the 2 bolts and the connector from on top of the intake and was done.
 
Hi, I am new BILL BOATS is my name, I just bought a set of 10 spoke aluminum finish(I like the 10 spoke chromes better if I had a choice) with tires. I'de like to know what products could make them bone clean and back to the nice aluminum finish/ Any and all suggestions appreciated
Bill, I had some work done and the guy was cleaning the tires, and whatever he used ate into the silver finish. If I still had them, I'd paint them with Rustolem high temp silver,( Home depot), then clear coat. This paint has metaliac in it, and looks great. I painted the inside of my wheels with it. scroll up. I used the playing card trick, and it made painting with tire on easier. Watch out for overspray. lol
 
Replaced two front tires. Ready for winter. Although I might get resistance from belle tire cause they put the wheels on backwards with a directional tire so it looks like they will be redoing it.
 
Haven't done anything to her in weeks, not even drive her. I'm sorry to say but...after 16 years, tomorrow may be the day she goes...I think I'm gonna trade her off...:( for a newer model.
 
I went a little nutso the past 2 days. Removed old wrinkled faded tint on rear window and replaced it with almost black tint. Replaced factory cassette player unit with a cheap Kenwood unit with cd player. Removed mufflers and had just pipes added to tips and tips are out about 1" from bumper. Easier to clean and show off.
 
I've gotten my 98 Mark ready for a road trip to Saskatoon Sask. Canada......we're leaving 12 Sept for 2 weeks.....done some proactive maintenance so we'll see if it works out.....The car is in excellent shape with 105k.....am I a little apprehensive? mmmm yes. I've had this car since June of 13 and 88.5k......It's had excellent care but I do not know the maintenance history of the car IE: what components have been changed over the life of the car......I guess though it's like, put your money in and take your chances....so while I'm a little apprehensive I'm also a little excited.....It's going to be an interesting trip.....Oh I live in Southern Riverside County Ca.....I'll give a synopsis when the wife and I get back......Bruce.....:waving:Senior Citizen
 

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