One popped up on my local Craigslist. It's cheap 87 with the HO 302, moldy too apparently. Looks like a very good challenge car platform. Who has experience with them?
One popped up on my local Craigslist. It's cheap 87 with the HO 302, moldy too apparently. Looks like a very good challenge car platform. Who has experience with them?
Where to begin... they feel as solid as the same year Fox Mustang, if the Fox has subframe connectors. For what it is, I think they have excellent brakes. Especially when you consider the 3,800+lb curb weight. There are lots and LOTS of electrical and electronic doodads that like to fail at the most inopportune time. A Fox 1 5/16" fsb makes a world of difference.
The problem I had (have) is I couldn't fully commit to modifying the ones I owned. I felt they would lose their Lincoln-ness, if that makes any sense. They would essentially become just another Mustang.
I can sum up my ownership experience as 50% rage inducing frustration and 50% love. When it's good, it's great. When it's bad you may want to light it on fire. I may have approached it from the wrong perspective. I always weighed the cost of any repair or upgrade against the value of the car. That's probably the wrong way to go about owning an older luxobarge.
I'd say fully commit to either a full on restoration or a 100% beater build that is basically a FoxStang's big boned cousin. As rare as they are and as valuable as FoxStangs seem to be you'd think they'd be worth a pretty penny. But they're not. There is a 99% chance you won't be able to sell it. Unless you find a sucker like me. :)
What is your location? It's not blue with black splotches, is it?
Mark VIII (8)s are newer with 32 valve V8 engines and can often be found just as cheap. Surprisingly, no one wants these cars.
JohnRW1621 wrote: Mark VIII (8)s are newer with 32 valve V8 engines and can often be found just as cheap. Surprisingly, no one wants these cars.
Probably because it's one of the ugliest cars ever made and people don't search for mid 90s Lincolns. I basically forgot about their existence until I was asked to go halves with the last minute challenge car last year.
Easier to consistently autocross than a stripped out LS400 if you ask me.
The_Jed wrote: What is your location? It's not blue with black splotches, is it?
Lol it's black . it did leak thru the sunroof so I'm gonna be Lysol bombing it probably but it sounds good thru emails. Wish me luck guys,I'm gonna try to see it tomorrow.
I just read the I your whole thread Jed, awesome bits of info there
Airbags are sort of annoying, looks like there is coil conversions are about the same as replacing airbags though
Here's my '87 LSC thread:
I converted that one to coil springs and while I liked the increase in firmness, I wasn't a fan of the exaggerated muscle car rake. If I were to convert another one to coil springs I'd use junkyard parts in the front; '87-'95 Mustang K-member, up to '04 A-arms, '94 or '95 Spindles, up to '04 struts and springs. I'd either weld in a rear shock tower brace and use coil-overs in the rear, or just stick with the air springs. Bigger sway bars would be a must.
A pre-airbag Mustang steering wheel will fit the '87 and up to '04 Mustang seats will bolt to the Lincoln seat rails. You can't do much to the engine unless you swap to a carb, mass air or use megasquirt. There are a few cams that the speed density injection system will tolerate, but I never thought there was enough of a performance gain to justify the cost. I'd hit the junkyard again and snag the heads and intake(s) from a '97.5-'01 Exploder 5.0 and just run your stock H.O. cam.
I think SN95 wheels have the perfect backspacing for the Mark VII, they sit just a little bit further outboard than the stock wheels.
Andy Neuman wrote:JohnRW1621 wrote: Mark VIII (8)s are newer with 32 valve V8 engines and can often be found just as cheap. Surprisingly, no one wants these cars.Probably because it's one of the ugliest cars ever made and people don't search for mid 90s Lincolns.
I've always thought they were nice looking. Especially the restyled ones from 97+, but I've always liked larger, RWD, 2 door coupes.
They look sweet with some appropriately wide Mustang wheels: http://www.markviii.org/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php?az=set_linear_mode&forum=12&page=5&topic_id=7470&prev_page=show_topic
I had an 88 in college, and it was awesome.
As I recall the 87s have the crappy "not really an HO" 5.0 HO that was only used in the 86 Mustang, the 87-EOL cars have the same motor as an 87 Mustang GT (good 5.0 HO, but always speed density, never got mass air)
The 89s have the later, uglier interior, air bag, and flat seats, so the 88s are the year to have for the best of everything. That being said its easier to make power with the early motor than swap all the interior in the later cars.
If you go mass air or megasquirt, you will lose the cruise control as it runs through the PCM. Solution for this is to piggyback another computer, and leave the original hooked up to run the cruise.
They are cool cars and 100% gangster.
87 looks to be the first year of the 225hp 302 according to what I've read
The_Jed wrote: What is your location? It's not blue with black splotches, is it?
I've been watching to see if that car pops up for sale in the Metro Detroit area
STM317 wrote:Andy Neuman wrote:I've always thought they were nice looking. Especially the restyled ones from 97+, but I've always liked larger, RWD, 2 door coupes. They look sweet with some appropriately wide Mustang wheels:JohnRW1621 wrote: Mark VIII (8)s are newer with 32 valve V8 engines and can often be found just as cheap. Surprisingly, no one wants these cars.Probably because it's one of the ugliest cars ever made and people don't search for mid 90s Lincolns.
I too always thought they were pretty cool-looking. Could do without the hump in the rear trunk but I understand why they had to do that (tradition and all). And they had the world's swoopiest dashboard I think
I like Bob Underwood's 9-second Mark VIII with the twin-turbo Coyote engine
Andy Neuman wrote:JohnRW1621 wrote: Mark VIII (8)s are newer with 32 valve V8 engines and can often be found just as cheap. Surprisingly, no one wants these cars.Probably because it's one of the ugliest cars ever made and people don't search for mid 90s Lincolns.
Your opinion is bad and you should feel bad.
Seriously, the Mark VIII is one of the best-looking Fords ever, IMO.
I like them both. I especially like the Mark VIII. They are a great looking car even today. IIRC, they are the first US production car that had optional HID headlights.
The Mark VIII also has one of the coolest interiors in any modern Ford product, mainly because it looks like the bridge of the Enterprise-D.
My Dad bought an 88 brand new and put 250K miles on it. I took my driver's test in it back in '92. I agree with all the above statements. The 88s have the best interiors.
Another fun fact: The ride height sensors for the air suspension are adjustable. You can raise them a little bit for some tasteful lowering. There's 3 sensors BTW. 2 up front and one in back.
Andy Neuman wrote: Probably because it's one of the ugliest cars ever made
1988RedT2 wrote:Andy Neuman wrote: Probably because it's one of the ugliest cars ever made
That is true. You guys must also like the Acura 2.2 CL.
I'm just assuming it's the opinion of the masses due to poor resale, but then again almost every 90s luxury car has poor resale value at this point.
That shape makes an excellent land speed race car.
Appleseed wrote: That shape makes an excellent land speed race car.
That's what I'm talkin' about!
In reply to Andy Neuman:
If this wasn't possibly the most civilized car forum on the internet, I would use rude quotes from "Anchorman" and say other mean things about you and your family. 
The MK VIII is definitely on my bucket list.
In reply to Brian:
Hey, I've owned a 1/2 share in one for 2 weeks so say what you want. Just because I think it's ugly doesn't mean I think it's a bad car. Our challenge car would have made an excellent daily driver.
I might even buy another one for $2017.
I think they are awesome looking.
93gsxturbo wrote: I had an 88 in college, and it was awesome. As I recall the 87s have the crappy "not really an HO" 5.0 HO that was only used in the 86 Mustang, the 87-EOL cars have the same motor as an 87 Mustang GT (good 5.0 HO, but always speed density, never got mass air) The 89s have the later, uglier interior, air bag, and flat seats, so the 88s are the year to have for the best of everything. That being said its easier to make power with the early motor than swap all the interior in the later cars. If you go mass air or megasquirt, you will lose the cruise control as it runs through the PCM. Solution for this is to piggyback another computer, and leave the original hooked up to run the cruise. They are cool cars and 100% gangster.
That's right, I had forgotten; 200 hp and 285 lb/ft. E6 heads instead of the later E7 casting,etc... I believe the '86 5.0 H.O. had better throttle response than the later engines. It seemed that way to me anyway.
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