favourite panther-platform improvements?

Hi--

I should soon be the proud owner of a 1990 mercury wagon on the panther platform It already has over 100k miles, but seems very well maintained, and the transmission was recently replaced (I'm going to call to find out what it was replaced with).

For what I'm paying for it, versus what I was prepared to pay for an equal-mileage much newer (early 2000s) wagon, I'd be interested in some performance improvements! I'll have a budget of a couple thousand or so to work with, which is something.

I'm working in the dark here. A year ago I set out just to 'get a car,' three months ago I settled on a wagon (I grew up in a wagon, and they do all I need), and just in the past week have I become enamored with the idea of an older semi-classic wagon, versus the latest generation of mostly foreign imports.

Can you point me in some directions, mostly for improving fuel economy? What tend to be the weaknesses that should be replaced, or could be replaced ahead of time (such as, is there a stronger transmission than stock)?

Is the radio/sound system pretty good (I don't know where acoustic engineering was in 1990), or what would be compatible to put into 1990s mercuries? Not interested in giant subwoofers though-- I need the wagon bed for cargo!

 

Another reason I'm interested in the older car, is that it seems to be (but correct me if wrong), that a 1990 american car is going to be easy to work on, and learn on, versus something from 2002 in japan or europe?

I've many engineering skills, but car work is missing from my education. I'd be interested in learning to do more myself, rather than sending out to a mechanic... it would be fun, fascinating, and of course save some money.

I was curious if anyone is within a few score miles of Baltimore, and might need a quasi-apprentice to help on their panther-platform car for a weekend? Learn more about how to maintain my own car?

 

Errm, I guess the other thing I need to know is the things most likely to go wrong, how much to keep in pocket for those repairs on a 1990 mercury!

My biggest fear about a 20-year-old 1990 car is maintenance. In looking at newer wagons and mini-suvs, a volvo would need a transmission, a toyota rav4 would probably also need a transmission --and both are expensive as foreign cars-- a subaru would need serious engine work certainly by 150k miles, and the honda crv mostly only has the airconditioner compressor as the main 'lemon' component. AWD vehicles Need to have their tires rotated, and if not, one should seriously worry about the drivetrain when buying used. That's from browsing CL postings that had broken cars cheaper (what was broken?), and reading forums for the most common severe restorations.

What major repairs have you had on your car, like engine rebuilds, transmission rebuilds (or replacements for either), other very expensive repairs? What did they cost, and at what mileage did you need it? Of course a short polling of whomever reads this forum post and has a 1990s-era panther platform car, would offend any serious statistician! But I'd like a sense of what work I'll be doing over the next decade! Honestly: I put 5,000 miles/year on my cars, not over 10,000, so I'm preparing for this 1990 car to live to 2020.

 

Your way over thinking this Bud It's a "used car" what ever the year or make is and it's a dice roll no matter what. If your going to compare this Merc to a Sable well, a Sable will cost you a hell of alot more to maintain perioud.

Gas millage.....drive sane you'll do OK, drive with a heavy foot and it'll suck back the gas. Start hauling plywood (try that in a Sable) and "stuff" your gas millage will be all over the place.

Maintanance... It's a old Ford, all they need is>>> check the oil, tranny, rad, then drive!

If your so woried about it, ask the seller if you can bring it in for a inspection.

You should go look at it for yourself or do what I have always done....only buy cars that are local

 

Just perform maintenance as Ford recommends and it'll last a long time.

 

Hahahaha, alright! Sorry to have obsessed over this. ...After my volvo debacle, I wanted to think this one through. Much cheaper maintenance than a sable is what I wanted to hear.

True about the fuel economy. I've been doing a little reading but I wasn't sure when the big, historical leaps and bounds in efficiency happened. If I go back far enough (definitely the '70s) and I will end up with a gas guzzler no matter how delicate my driving style!
Heh; my father's prius... they try to eek out so much on so little horsepower, relatively speaking, that stick 3 people in it, or even turn on the AC, and fuel economy drops rapidly from the tauted 50mpg you get in the best of worlds. Forget, and leave 50lbs in back, and it drops.
...and my 600-mile trip a year and a half ago towing 7000 pounds (+1000 for the trailer) in a diesel pickup, at the end of a summer when diesel was $3.50+/gallon, OUCH.

I just called the seller, and I'll be picking her up next week!
Ian checked her out and proclaimed her immaculate.

Now, what mods should I think about in the meantime?

 

If it's got a 302 then the sky is the limit, practically speaking, in terms of engine and performance mods.
But concentrate on it's driveability first. That means steering, suspension and brakes.
I'd look at P71 parts and see if there are heavy duty options, but often wagons and police cruiser share the same parts anyways.

 

Not too much you need to do to that Merc unless you want to go fast. Now days that costs money. Just drive it, have it looked over as Andy just said and after you get used to it you can ask questions and make decisions. From the pix, it looks like you are getting a well cared for wagon.

 

The later model 4.6 liter cars really sip the gas. Highway milage is typically in the high 20's and around town 18-20 mpg.

 

I'm intrigued!

Now, I can just presume that a 1990 mercury will simply come with the 5.0L 302 stock?
I'm new to this... is it a 4.6L 302, or a different engine number; and are they all compatible? (more details on what I'll be tracking down, and where to find a 4.6L that will work in this car)?

 

The 4.6L is a 265 cu. in. engine, but they did all kinds of neat stuff to them, including Turbos and EFI, etc. Lots of oomph! Interceptor grade oomph!

 

Sounds like fun!

How do I find which versions of the engine are going to pop right in place of the 5.0L 302? Are the dimensions the same in all respects-- motor mounts, shafts line up everywhere?

Found this:
1992–1997 Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, 210 hp (157 kW) and 270 lb·ft (366 N·m) with dual exhaust option
1998–2000 Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, 215 hp (160 kW) and 270 lb·ft (366 N·m) with dual exhaust option
2001–2002 Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, 235 hp (175 kW) and 275 lb·ft (373 N·m) with dual exhaust option
2003–2004 Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, 239 hp (178 kW) and 282 lb·ft (382 N·m) with dual exhaust option


Just in case the 1992-97 marquis was built with the same powertrain as the 1990...?

 

I'm 99.999% sure that they are physically interchangeable - mounts, trannies, etc. but all the detail stuff (electrics, vacuum systems, onboard computer, etc.) would definitely be required.

This site won't help with newer Fords, but the links might.
http://www.lovefords.com/features/default.htm

I'd also check out some Mustang sites and online mags.

 

I'd also be curious-- another seller of a colony park down in FL mentioned something about a heavier-duty transmission available, same as the f-250 (year 1990 also, though maybe '91), was that a standard or again, an option to eye for upgrading? ...Probably not. but I'm scanning possibilities!

There's so little online when searching for "mercury wagon," but I should find so much more once I start browsing the wider range of forums that address very closely related cars,...

 

You're probably in the ONLY site with decent Mercury Wagon info, but I'd suggest you search for Lincoln or Mercury or Colony Park. As for powertrain info, here's more:
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/links/links.html

And you'll LOVE this!
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/tech.html

I know very little about the V8 ford engines, other than I blew mine in my backyard, while changing the carburetor. That's why I have a straight 6 cylinder (good price, new rebuild, etc.). I can tell you how NOT to fix them.