First time poster, 1988 LTD Country Squire Wagon

Aha...Why return stolen vehicles to their owners when you can make money off them?..Sounds like government to me...Hopefully the 1955 Pontiac goes to a loving home and a doting owner who will spoil it rotten...

 

the following was taken from a ford site on the net.
150hp
270LB/FT
comp ratio 8.9:1
4X3 in bore/stroke
4950cc
3970LB
hope you find this helpful. by the way, HP is not what get's you going, torque is what
you feel when accelerating. And 270 ft/lbs is not bad for a smog choked 302 CID V8

 

on my 89 the problem with the tail gate was the new improved roller hinge they used in the 88 and newer cars. the tail gate sagged, and the portion of the latch attached to the door, wouldnt make it up and over the roller on the part attached to the fender. if i pulled the chrome handle with one hand, and pulled up on the tailgate with the other i could get the tailgate to come down.

i lucked up and found a complete latch out of a 1984 colony park that was as perfect as new, and a much simpler design without that stupid roller.

you may have to do some work on your hinge to make sure the door is alligned correctly, and to make sure the latch is clearing the top of that damn roller.