I WANT My Mark To Go SLOW!!!!

[chump_change]

I know what you're thinking. He's nuts!

First of all, I believe that this is my first post, even though I've been reading it for a long time. With this site I have fixed on 95 Mark:

1. Heater door
2. Tranny accumulator springs and piston
3. Air ride conversion
4. Fuel pump
5. Transmission leak

I can't thank you guys enough for all the info.

On to the subject at hand. I have to get a new car for the family and the Mark is the first target. I have been thinking about passing on my Mark to my 16 year old son as his first car. I was looking around for a car for him, but at least I know this car will run strong for a while. Before you start giving me a hard time, I have another project car: a 1955 Chevy 2-door wagon.

The question: can I slow the damn thing down? Maybe a programmable chip and detune?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ford nut]

If you don't trust him with the car don't give it to him.
Sell it and give him somthing he can handle.
IMHO a 295 hp car is not for a new driver who might have a lead foot.

 

[GMAN]

You know if you pass that car on to your son, if he is interested in it, he will be drawn to put the petal to the metal. If he's paid attention to you, he's probably seen this site. Say a couple of Hail Marys and hope for the best. My son has a Mark, and he is smart with it. He is also 19.

 

[chump_change]

I thought about selling it. I know I can't much for it, so I'm going to have to fork out a bunch of money for some other car that I don't know the history of, and start the cycle of performing required maintenance. At least I know what to expect with this one. Plus, I just don't want to deal with the hassle selling and buying cars. But I guess if the car can't be detuned, that's what I'll have to do. Oh well.

 

[02LSE96LSC91SE84TC]

You could probably get a custom tune limiting it to say 4k rev limit and 80 mph.

 

[MrScalia]

first car for a 16 year boy 4-banger ..... Once he wrecks that maybe the Mark.

 

[MonsterMark]

The question: can I slow the damn thing down?

Pull 2 of the coil wires from inside the plug boots.

He'll never figure it out.

Then when the car idles like crap, just tell him you put in really big cams so he can brag to his friends about the 'lope' in his motor.

 

[tri-valleyracin]

theres nothing wrong with gettting a mark as a first car. i did and still have it. i am rebuilding it right now but not becasue of an accident but i want to and make it better than it was. My parents wouldn't let me have anything less than a v8. right now im driving a 351w bronco. gett him a truck if you dont want him to be speeding as much. just wait till he dos and then let him pay the gas. 11mpg yay. more metal the better.

 

[MajorDishes]

I'm 17 and as of right now, I own two Mark VIIIs. I bought myself a 1996 for my very first car ever, and loved it so much that a few months later, I bought myself a '97. The best advice I can give you is that until he can prove that he can change the oil on it, he can't have it. Now I will admit that changing the oil filter on a Mark VIII is a little tricky, so if afterwards he feels better paying someone else to do it, fine. But as long as he can do it, he'll respect it.

Hell, I've replaced struts, oil filters, fuel filters (oi vey), alternators on both of my Marks. The only service that I even take it in for is oil changes when I don't have time, or when I don't know what the hell is going on... which only happened once so far (it kept cutting off on me, and the problem wasn't spark plugs, wires, battery or alternator). But then again, I have a special bond with my cars that most teenagers don't seem able to understand.

Here's my advice: a chip from Super Coupe Performance.
http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=318
It's a bit pricey, but they have numerous different programs to choose from, including a "teen driver" one, which limits the vehicle to 65mph, and can detune horsepower and torque! I haven't tried it myself (as far as I'm concerned, if I'm not at the drag strip, my car is no more powerful as a Civic), but it sure looks promising!

Sorry for the lengthy post, I have a tendency to go off on tangents. Best of luck, and I sure hope that if you follow through, he appreciates it. He better, anyway...

 

[Movie Muscle]

The pedal will always get used at one point or another....the question is will it be in the right places at the right times......This is a judgement call you know your son better than we do. If you feel hesitant than it is most likely for a reason. Go with your first reaction it was there for a reason.

 

[turborich]

Either try to adjust or lengthen the throttle cable or how about installing a MSD-6AL, You can install different rev limiter pills in it. Maybe this will work untill he gets used to the car?

good luck.