Is this worth doing? 84 Turbo Diesel...

jbowman55

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Hi, all. I'm new to the forum, and would love help with a decision I need to make.

For several years I have been noticing a dark blue Lincoln in the yard of a house I pass on my way back and forth to work. I'm sure you all know what's coming next. I finally stopped today to ask about the car, because I was curious whether it might be a good project.

Turns out, it's evidently been sitting there for going on ten years. The inspection sticker is dated 1994. It's a 1984 Continental with the turbo diesel engine. I didn't know until today that such a thing existed.

The owner has several Lincolns in various states of disability in his yard. He used to do his own repair work, but had several strokes and became unable to finish what he'd started before he got sick. The blue car is really nasty, covered with mildew inside and out, all tires are flat, but I can't help but see that a really beautiful car might be lurking underneath all the goo.

He says he'd love for someone to take the car and do something with it. We can have it if we'll get it out of his yard. So I need to decide if it can possibly be worth rehabilitating.

When I asked what was wrong with the car when it was parked, the owner, a little disoriented, said something about glow plugs and "messing it up" and just kept repeating that he "just couldn't do anything with it." Bless his heart.

Even with all the time this car has been sitting, there isn't a single defect in the leather upholstery. Some of it you can tell would come around, although I'm not sure (1) is it possible to get that mildew smell out of a car? and (2) what are the consequences to engines and transmissions that have been sitting idle for this long and (3) does this car have air suspension? If so, oh, ouch. It's conversion time?

I welcome comments. If even thinking about this is stupid, please, tell me now!

Many thanks...

Jane
 
Calling john dancy :Beer

Well i cant tell you much about the turbo diesel besides the radiator and/or hoses are hard to come by, if available.

IMO unless your a collector or you like diesel motors, i personally wouldnt get it.

Anyway, welcome to the forum.
 
jbowman55 said:
Hi, all. I'm new to the forum, and would love help with a decision I need to make.

For several years I have been noticing a dark blue Lincoln in the yard of a house I pass on my way back and forth to work. I'm sure you all know what's coming next. I finally stopped today to ask about the car, because I was curious whether it might be a good project.

Turns out, it's evidently been sitting there for going on ten years. The inspection sticker is dated 1994. It's a 1984 Continental with the turbo diesel engine. I didn't know until today that such a thing existed.

The owner has several Lincolns in various states of disability in his yard. He used to do his own repair work, but had several strokes and became unable to finish what he'd started before he got sick. The blue car is really nasty, covered with mildew inside and out, all tires are flat, but I can't help but see that a really beautiful car might be lurking underneath all the goo.

He says he'd love for someone to take the car and do something with it. We can have it if we'll get it out of his yard. So I need to decide if it can possibly be worth rehabilitating.

When I asked what was wrong with the car when it was parked, the owner, a little disoriented, said something about glow plugs and "messing it up" and just kept repeating that he "just couldn't do anything with it." Bless his heart.

Even with all the time this car has been sitting, there isn't a single defect in the leather upholstery. Some of it you can tell would come around, although I'm not sure (1) is it possible to get that mildew smell out of a car? and (2) what are the consequences to engines and transmissions that have been sitting idle for this long and (3) does this car have air suspension? If so, oh, ouch. It's conversion time?

I welcome comments. If even thinking about this is stupid, please, tell me now!

Many thanks...

Jane

Jane,
Many years ago I had a GM diesel and it was nothing but a pain. Was living in a place where they added old engine oil to the desiel fuel in most of the dis-service stations. As a result I went through injector pumps (3) in just a few thousand miles each. IMHO if you like the car and its in generally decent shape I'd consider swaping the engine and fuel system for a regular 5.0 that you can probably get for a few hundred at a salvage yard. I'd suspect that you could get someone to do the install for another $500. Good Luck. Lincolnlov
 

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