1. Is the fuel pump located on the rear frame or in the tank? 2. Tires were originally 205/70/15. If you've tried to find 15 inch tires lately you know it's hard. Craigslist always has a lot of wheel/tire combo listings. Any suggestions for going with a 16 or 17 wheel/tire? They are a lot easier to find. And I'm just after a good highway ride. Thanks.
I'm in the same boat you are. I have a 1985 Country Squire with the same size tires (along with some other cars with much harder-to-find tire sizes), so I've been doing a lot of tire research lately. There are 107 listings for P205/70R15 size tires on tires-easy.com, including brands such as Goodyear, Firestone, Hankook, Uniroyal, Kelly, etc.; Onlinetires.com has 70 listings; Tirerack.com show 33. If you don't want to buy tires online, I would think that a Firestone or Goodyear store should be able to get any of their brand tires. Pep Boys shows 60 listings for that size, although some are special order. Whitewalls are even still available (don't you think woodgrained wagons look better with whitewalls?). If you do decide to "upsize" your wheels and tires, make sure that besides checking for clearance, your new choice of tire size has a maximum load capacity at least as high as your original size (1499 -1565 lbs -- varies by tire model). Most of the time this entails going to a lower aspect ratio for clearance and to a wider tire to regain the load capacity. For example, a 205/70R16 might not clear you fender well, so you'd look at size 205/65R16, which has a shorter side wall. Most modes in this size, however, fall short of the 1499 lb capacity (for a wagon, you'd probably want the higher spec of 1565 lbs). You'd then look at the next wider size, 215/65/R16, which has the desired 1565-lb capacity. Overall diameter is actually 0.3 inches less than your original size, so you'd just have to make sure the width will clear. Hopefully, this give you some idea of the process. Consulting an honest, knowledgeable tire salesman, if you can find one these days, will be invaluable.
Check the 11th one down in the column. It shows a gas tank for your wagon with the fuel pump in the tank.... http://www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/fuel_tank/mercury/grand_marquis.html
I should have stated that I was looking for used tires. After getting into the car for a good price, I've been spending more than I have to fix several things. I really appreciate the input. Thanks. BTW, it runs and drives great on what are probably the original tires (scary). I know that everything else on it had never been changed from original!
Fuel pump is in the tank. We put 215/70R15 tires on our 86 mercury cp. Maxxis, same tires we had on our (sold) Lincoln Mark VII, we were satisfied with these tires. http://www.oldtimerbv.nl/tableaux/index.php?pageId=114&itemId=512 I suppose they sell hem in the US too?
Do the later-generation Crown Vics and Grand Marquis' have the same bolt pattern? They had 16" wheels standard IIRC....
They all have the same bolt pattern. In '03 though I believe, they went with the high offset wheels. Should be relatively easy to find the 16" steel wheels.
