Harley Hauler 1980 Mercury Zephyr Wagon

I picked up an 1980 zephyr wagon on craigslist.The guy had it listed as a 78 but after checking the door tag it's a 80.He also thought the guy before him had cut the coils to lower it.And he also said the gas tank was full of junk and didn't work.we hooked up a hose to the fuel pump and put it down into a gallon jug and the car started up and ran for an hour.After getting loaded on the trailer I stopped by the car wash and washed the car and chassis.After looking underneath I found that the car had new coils,gas tank,tank straps and ebrake cables.Today I dropped the tank and it looks new inside and has a fairly new sending unit.It seems that the problem was the rubber hose between the tank and body it was rotted and had collapsed and was cutting off the fuel.I ordered a new filler neck seal and as soon as it comes in I will reinstall the tank.Plans are to take the rusted out aero swaped 86 gt I have for a donor,drive train,interior and complete wiring.I want a 5.0 5 speed efi with cruise,tilt and ac wagon.I am going to paint it back stock wood grain and all.I am going to install a trailer hitch and pull my bike trailer with it.Here are a few pictures in case someone missed it.Please let me know what you think.Advice welcome.Thanks

 

Pictures didn't work, but I saw your first post. Sounds very cool. Looking forward to your progress.

 

Congrats on the new toy, IMO you won the lottery just because the dash is intact, these cars dashes dry rotted faster than you could look at them.

 

I am glad the dash is good.The ones in a mustang are a little different.The car is a factory v8 255,auto with a 2 barrel carb right now.It runs great but only was rated like 110 hp from the factory.

 

I had that motor in a Fox 80/81 T-Bird, I never had a problem with it ever.......yet some Ford guys hate them. Not power mills for sure and nothing I would ever build up (maybe that's why Ford guys didn't like them?) but they do get the job done. You have a 5.0 swap in mind?

 

Yes 5.0 swap from an 86 gt,efi 5 speed cruise ac and complete wiring harness.The gt has strut tower brace,under drive pulley's and a few mods everything into the wagon.

 

As well as the mustang suspension might as well make it handle better.

 

Its getting everything from the mustang that will work.Suspension,k member,sway bars,strut tower brace,8.8 everything.I want to be able to cruise 400 miles comfortably with no worries.

 

Wow, that's going to be a fun combination!
Congrats on a great find and keep us informed on your progress.
That sounds like a fun build!

 

If you have to take the dash apart be very very careful as the plastic will be extremely brittle and will bust right at all the screw holes if you even look at it sideways.