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Hello everyone! Our names are Ren and Kara. We are a young married couple of over ten years.
This is our introduction post and we are very happy to join you.
My wife and I are car nuts like most of you here. She is the speed demon (having ridden sport bikes and raced fast motorcycles) and I am the show car enthusiast (OCD Off-Road and Car nut). Our wish is to someday get a pass to attend SEMA in Las Vegas, NV. We own 2 Lincoln Mark VIII's and a Mercedes-Kharmann built Crossfire. We've been an avid visitor to LVC since 2004, a year following the purchase of our 1994 Deep Jewel Green with Saddle interior and a moonroof.
We nicknamed her Magnatude. We were the second owner when it had 88k miles on the odometer. Today, she still ticks like a fine watch as she clocks in at 150K. Had all the common problems associated with an aging Mark but we were able to address alot of those issues thanks much to the great info here at LVC. Magnatude has garnered three first places in four Usaci and Iasca autosound SQ competitions.
Wifes DD is the '04 Crossfire, nicknamed Scarlet for its Blaze Red Pearlescent Metallic exterior complimented by its Black leather interior. Scarlet has been on two legs of the Hot Rod Power Tour, been part of the Tail of the Dragon cruise in TN and been at a few GT's. Wife has had a number of kills with Scarlet.
The main reason for joining LVC is to share with you our plight in resurrecting a forgotten Lincoln that would have been another statistic and would have assuredly ended up at the crusher much too early in its life.
Our most recent purchase is a 1997 LSC Mark VIII Opal Opalescent with Ebony interior and a moonroof. We chose to nickname her Octane befitting her numerical identity.
We are the third owner. The car was originally sold to a new car owner in Alabama back in '97. It was purchased thereafter by the second owner from Georgia with 20K miles on the clock in '98. We got her at 115K on the odometer in '2010 as she now makes her new home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This car is going to be our project vehicle as she has gone through a very rough history. It will not be an overnight endeavor but we will do what we can as time and budget permits.
The new acquisition came about as we were just looking for an inexpensive way to replace the worn tires on Magnatude, our '94 Mark VIII. We were not in the market for another car at all. We already decided on a budget for 4 new tires. A friend from work tipped us off on this old beat up Mark VIII that had tires with fairly low miles on it. The car had stopped running just as the previous owners had recently the replaced the tires before the breakdown. Naturally, we took this as an opportunity to save a little on tires.
The second owner originally bought the car for his wife but she declined to drive it and she preferred to drive their other Lincoln. So the keys were handed to their 19yo daughter who allowed her BF to drive the car. Torn and damaged rear leather seats are evidence of maybe a couple or more dogs have been riding in the back seat. It appears these young drivers alledgedly abused the car on a daily basis and one day it just broke-down in the middle of an intersection.
Two Independent shops and a Dealer was unable to get her running again so it sat at a wooded field for two years, just rotting away, collecting dust, with collapsed air suspension, weeds growing through the engine bay and through the Octastar wheels. I came upon it when a co-worker friend told me about it. Went to talk to the owner, negotiated a price and he offered it to me at way-below BlueBook value (about how much one would pay for a new set of tires). It was necessary for us to provide a state required Proof of non-operational vehicle afidavit and a Transfer of Ownership form and the original title before I could register the vehicle in my state.
I'm no mechanic but with enough information from my conversations with the previous owner, I have enough confidence in my abilities to get this car back to its glory.
Well, my wife and I couldn't be more happier with the purchase. We paid the value of 4 fairly new tires that we deperately needed for Magnatude and lucky for me, it came attatched with a car.......FREE! Hehe!
Though the car didn't start nor ran upon our purchase, it may be used as a parts car if I am not able to get it to run. The sellers had absolutely no interest in the car anymore and they no longer wanted the car on their property.
Octanes original condition is poor. There are a number of dents everywhere, one as large as a fist. Broken passenger side exterior door handle, Suffers from oxidized headlights, lasagnia trim, torn weatherseals, failed compressor, Leaky air bladders, blown balljoint seals, crushed chrome exhaust tips, spider cracks in the front and rear bumpers, but overall, the clear coat is in great condition.
The interior is in worse shape. Dog hair everywhere, Suffers from missing door trims, broken lower seat trim. Broken door safety lens, no multi-function switch button, missing door switches, dirty, sticky from spilled softdrinks in the cabin and trunk, melted chocolate candy and beach sand and more sand throughout the carpet including the trunk. Floormats so worn, threw them away. Backseat leather is ripped, torn and scratched up everywhere. No electrical operation and blown sunroof motor. Had to have it flatbed towed to Tennessee.
But, I see a gem with this car.
If I can get it to run, Then future mods will include; Very Dark window tint, Intake mod, chassis stiffening, Upper and Lower control arms, Strut rod and bushings, Addco 1.25" anti-sway bar, Upgraded rear upper shock mounts, new Sensatrac 5150 shocks, 1-2 accumulator,Valvoline M-5, JMOD, 255-45-18 front, 295-40-18 rear, Black Chrome Speedstars, 12" DS rear disc , 13" DS front disc, PBR Cobra calipers / Wilwood calipers, SS brake hose, Kenny and Norm Filter, Drilled silencer, rear spoilers, custom front bumper facia w/ splittter, Kenne Bell Supercharger, larger fuel injectors, Walbro 255, Bright 3w LED reverse lights, LED license plate lights, HID Hella Fog lights, ICE Fiberoptics, Ipod, Alpine/Focal/DLS, Leather dash center channel mod, rewire with Streetwires, Grover 1510 emergency horns, Strobe LEDs, Viair, Freeflow Cats, 3rd Cat delete, X-pipe, 2-1/2" exhaust, Magnaflow stingers, Chrome oval tips and repaint, GoodYear Gator belt, Motorcraft tensioner pulleys, Rear Glass rubber replacement trim. ...and the list goes on.
And I will be performing my own unique version of a lowered front and rear suspension modification.
From time to time, I will post a progress post for all of you to enjoy reading as you join me go through some of the joys and pitfalls of restoring and upgrading my '97 Mark.
Octane
Hello everyone! Our names are Ren and Kara. We are a young married couple of over ten years.
This is our introduction post and we are very happy to join you.
My wife and I are car nuts like most of you here. She is the speed demon (having ridden sport bikes and raced fast motorcycles) and I am the show car enthusiast (OCD Off-Road and Car nut). Our wish is to someday get a pass to attend SEMA in Las Vegas, NV. We own 2 Lincoln Mark VIII's and a Mercedes-Kharmann built Crossfire. We've been an avid visitor to LVC since 2004, a year following the purchase of our 1994 Deep Jewel Green with Saddle interior and a moonroof.
We nicknamed her Magnatude. We were the second owner when it had 88k miles on the odometer. Today, she still ticks like a fine watch as she clocks in at 150K. Had all the common problems associated with an aging Mark but we were able to address alot of those issues thanks much to the great info here at LVC. Magnatude has garnered three first places in four Usaci and Iasca autosound SQ competitions.
Wifes DD is the '04 Crossfire, nicknamed Scarlet for its Blaze Red Pearlescent Metallic exterior complimented by its Black leather interior. Scarlet has been on two legs of the Hot Rod Power Tour, been part of the Tail of the Dragon cruise in TN and been at a few GT's. Wife has had a number of kills with Scarlet.
The main reason for joining LVC is to share with you our plight in resurrecting a forgotten Lincoln that would have been another statistic and would have assuredly ended up at the crusher much too early in its life.
Our most recent purchase is a 1997 LSC Mark VIII Opal Opalescent with Ebony interior and a moonroof. We chose to nickname her Octane befitting her numerical identity.
We are the third owner. The car was originally sold to a new car owner in Alabama back in '97. It was purchased thereafter by the second owner from Georgia with 20K miles on the clock in '98. We got her at 115K on the odometer in '2010 as she now makes her new home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This car is going to be our project vehicle as she has gone through a very rough history. It will not be an overnight endeavor but we will do what we can as time and budget permits.
The new acquisition came about as we were just looking for an inexpensive way to replace the worn tires on Magnatude, our '94 Mark VIII. We were not in the market for another car at all. We already decided on a budget for 4 new tires. A friend from work tipped us off on this old beat up Mark VIII that had tires with fairly low miles on it. The car had stopped running just as the previous owners had recently the replaced the tires before the breakdown. Naturally, we took this as an opportunity to save a little on tires.
The second owner originally bought the car for his wife but she declined to drive it and she preferred to drive their other Lincoln. So the keys were handed to their 19yo daughter who allowed her BF to drive the car. Torn and damaged rear leather seats are evidence of maybe a couple or more dogs have been riding in the back seat. It appears these young drivers alledgedly abused the car on a daily basis and one day it just broke-down in the middle of an intersection.
Two Independent shops and a Dealer was unable to get her running again so it sat at a wooded field for two years, just rotting away, collecting dust, with collapsed air suspension, weeds growing through the engine bay and through the Octastar wheels. I came upon it when a co-worker friend told me about it. Went to talk to the owner, negotiated a price and he offered it to me at way-below BlueBook value (about how much one would pay for a new set of tires). It was necessary for us to provide a state required Proof of non-operational vehicle afidavit and a Transfer of Ownership form and the original title before I could register the vehicle in my state.
I'm no mechanic but with enough information from my conversations with the previous owner, I have enough confidence in my abilities to get this car back to its glory.
Well, my wife and I couldn't be more happier with the purchase. We paid the value of 4 fairly new tires that we deperately needed for Magnatude and lucky for me, it came attatched with a car.......FREE! Hehe!
Though the car didn't start nor ran upon our purchase, it may be used as a parts car if I am not able to get it to run. The sellers had absolutely no interest in the car anymore and they no longer wanted the car on their property.
Octanes original condition is poor. There are a number of dents everywhere, one as large as a fist. Broken passenger side exterior door handle, Suffers from oxidized headlights, lasagnia trim, torn weatherseals, failed compressor, Leaky air bladders, blown balljoint seals, crushed chrome exhaust tips, spider cracks in the front and rear bumpers, but overall, the clear coat is in great condition.
The interior is in worse shape. Dog hair everywhere, Suffers from missing door trims, broken lower seat trim. Broken door safety lens, no multi-function switch button, missing door switches, dirty, sticky from spilled softdrinks in the cabin and trunk, melted chocolate candy and beach sand and more sand throughout the carpet including the trunk. Floormats so worn, threw them away. Backseat leather is ripped, torn and scratched up everywhere. No electrical operation and blown sunroof motor. Had to have it flatbed towed to Tennessee.
But, I see a gem with this car.
If I can get it to run, Then future mods will include; Very Dark window tint, Intake mod, chassis stiffening, Upper and Lower control arms, Strut rod and bushings, Addco 1.25" anti-sway bar, Upgraded rear upper shock mounts, new Sensatrac 5150 shocks, 1-2 accumulator,Valvoline M-5, JMOD, 255-45-18 front, 295-40-18 rear, Black Chrome Speedstars, 12" DS rear disc , 13" DS front disc, PBR Cobra calipers / Wilwood calipers, SS brake hose, Kenny and Norm Filter, Drilled silencer, rear spoilers, custom front bumper facia w/ splittter, Kenne Bell Supercharger, larger fuel injectors, Walbro 255, Bright 3w LED reverse lights, LED license plate lights, HID Hella Fog lights, ICE Fiberoptics, Ipod, Alpine/Focal/DLS, Leather dash center channel mod, rewire with Streetwires, Grover 1510 emergency horns, Strobe LEDs, Viair, Freeflow Cats, 3rd Cat delete, X-pipe, 2-1/2" exhaust, Magnaflow stingers, Chrome oval tips and repaint, GoodYear Gator belt, Motorcraft tensioner pulleys, Rear Glass rubber replacement trim. ...and the list goes on.
And I will be performing my own unique version of a lowered front and rear suspension modification.
From time to time, I will post a progress post for all of you to enjoy reading as you join me go through some of the joys and pitfalls of restoring and upgrading my '97 Mark.
Octane
