What did you do to your Mark VIII today?
- Thread starter Blkdvll
- Start date
Lownslowlsc
Dedicated LVC Member
Well, my "Saturday project" turned into a Saturday, Sunday and Monday project LOL
Took us like 10 hours going at the JMOD on Saturday (including having to go to the store for supplies and such) and we had a ton of issues with the snap clip. Bought a cheap-o snap clip tool. Lesson learned. It broke before I even got it out and that turned into a whole fiasco. Swapped in the valve body I pulled from a 93 from the JY that only had 53k miles on it. Used the lockup solenoid from it as well, since it was still attached to the valve body. Finished up the job, start driving to test.....stuck in second gear. Managed to get it to my mom's for the night.
Sunday, go at it again. This was a 5 hour job. Tear it apart, snap clip had failed and was half way hanging out of the bore. I apparently warped it trying to get it back in with my improvised tool (this is when I went and picked a new good one up). Couldn't find a snap clip at any store. Ran up to the junk yard and pulled it out of the same transmission I pulled the valve body out of. Grabbed the 2-3 cap as well. Get back, put in the good 1-2 snap clip, pulled the valve body, the 2-3 cap was falling out. Put the new one in, which fit nice and firmly this time, and decided to pull the 2-3 spring out as well. Put it back together, still stuck in 2nd gear. Manged to get it home this time from there.
Today, call into work "sick" for the first time ever with this company so I'd have time to work on it. Wake up early and there is flood and severe thunderstorm warnings. Almost didn't even bother to start it but decided I needed to give it a 3rd shot. Pull it apart, drop the valve body yet again, swap in my old valve body with the freshly drilled plate I did the night before, put the old lockup solenoid back in, put it all back together and took it for a test run. SUCCESS!! Everything good to go. I hesitate to say that until I've driven it for a few real time days to know for certain she's perfectly normal, but I rode her really hard on the test drive and it felt great. Only took 3 hours today.
All and all, if I went back and did the correctly without using parts from a JY car like an idiot, this really wouldn't have been a hard job at all. Lesson learned. I feel like an expert at it at this point though. Went from 10 hours, to 5 hours, to just 3 hours LOL. MUCH less fluid lost each time too, that's for sure.
Took us like 10 hours going at the JMOD on Saturday (including having to go to the store for supplies and such) and we had a ton of issues with the snap clip. Bought a cheap-o snap clip tool. Lesson learned. It broke before I even got it out and that turned into a whole fiasco. Swapped in the valve body I pulled from a 93 from the JY that only had 53k miles on it. Used the lockup solenoid from it as well, since it was still attached to the valve body. Finished up the job, start driving to test.....stuck in second gear. Managed to get it to my mom's for the night.
Sunday, go at it again. This was a 5 hour job. Tear it apart, snap clip had failed and was half way hanging out of the bore. I apparently warped it trying to get it back in with my improvised tool (this is when I went and picked a new good one up). Couldn't find a snap clip at any store. Ran up to the junk yard and pulled it out of the same transmission I pulled the valve body out of. Grabbed the 2-3 cap as well. Get back, put in the good 1-2 snap clip, pulled the valve body, the 2-3 cap was falling out. Put the new one in, which fit nice and firmly this time, and decided to pull the 2-3 spring out as well. Put it back together, still stuck in 2nd gear. Manged to get it home this time from there.
Today, call into work "sick" for the first time ever with this company so I'd have time to work on it. Wake up early and there is flood and severe thunderstorm warnings. Almost didn't even bother to start it but decided I needed to give it a 3rd shot. Pull it apart, drop the valve body yet again, swap in my old valve body with the freshly drilled plate I did the night before, put the old lockup solenoid back in, put it all back together and took it for a test run. SUCCESS!! Everything good to go. I hesitate to say that until I've driven it for a few real time days to know for certain she's perfectly normal, but I rode her really hard on the test drive and it felt great. Only took 3 hours today.
All and all, if I went back and did the correctly without using parts from a JY car like an idiot, this really wouldn't have been a hard job at all. Lesson learned. I feel like an expert at it at this point though. Went from 10 hours, to 5 hours, to just 3 hours LOL. MUCH less fluid lost each time too, that's for sure.
That snap ring can be tough. How did you compress the springs/accumulator/cap? I found that helped (using a C clamp as there is a flat above the 1-2 accumulator channel), as did installing the 1-2 piston without any springs (that isn't why I deleted the spring(s)). First time I did the JMod I used a small bottle jack to relieve pressure on the snap ring.
First time I did the JMod I had time (second car, week off, family away, etc) so I took the day to let it drain, install an external cooler, double-triple-quadruple check everything.
Second, third, and fourth time I had literally hours and the car needed to be working fully. Last time also included various valves and pressure regulators in the VB, TFT, and starting with a hot transmission still got it done pretty quickly and without much drama.
First time I did the JMod I had time (second car, week off, family away, etc) so I took the day to let it drain, install an external cooler, double-triple-quadruple check everything.
Second, third, and fourth time I had literally hours and the car needed to be working fully. Last time also included various valves and pressure regulators in the VB, TFT, and starting with a hot transmission still got it done pretty quickly and without much drama.
I used a C-Clamp to compress it. It was sort of in the way trying to get the snap clamp on and off, but it worked. That snap ring was insane without the proper tool. I used all sorts of things in those holes to try and compress it. I honestly don't know how I managed it without the tool. Once I got a good snap ring tool, I got the one from the junk yard out in about 2 minutes and got it back in my car in about 5 minutes. Thing is tricky lol.
Lesson learned in doing this three times in three days though. I could definitely do it more effectively and quicker if I had to do it again.
I'm considering pulling it down one last time and removing the 1-2 spring. I removed the 2-3 and it's not really a rough shift at all, so I don't think I'd mind the 1-2 spring being out. If I do, I'll wait until I can get an updated dimple pan first.
I bought one at the JY on Saturday and it had a rubber plug in it. I thought it was suppose to be there. Turns out the idiots drill it out and put that plug. Had they at least done it in the center of the dimple, I could have used the B&M plug kit. Instead, the did it at the curve of the dimple so installing the plug kit didn't seed correctly and it leaked. I was pretty pissed about that.
Lesson learned in doing this three times in three days though. I could definitely do it more effectively and quicker if I had to do it again.
I'm considering pulling it down one last time and removing the 1-2 spring. I removed the 2-3 and it's not really a rough shift at all, so I don't think I'd mind the 1-2 spring being out. If I do, I'll wait until I can get an updated dimple pan first.
I bought one at the JY on Saturday and it had a rubber plug in it. I thought it was suppose to be there. Turns out the idiots drill it out and put that plug. Had they at least done it in the center of the dimple, I could have used the B&M plug kit. Instead, the did it at the curve of the dimple so installing the plug kit didn't seed correctly and it leaked. I was pretty pissed about that.
ONLYTONY
Dedicated LVC Member
The other day I wanted to remove the wheels off a 98 I got awhile ago, and check things out. The lug nuts were so tight, I used a 6point socket, breaker bar, 1/2" drive. Had to add a 2' cheater bar, and finally got them off. The socket cracked 3/4 of the way, and the breaker bar is a little stiff at the swivel. Craftsman tools, not very old. The cheater bar is OK. I'm guessing they were put on with an air gun at around 200-250 pounds. The lug with the lock came off as it should, about 100 lbs. All my wheels are at 105 lbs. I know those wheels were never going to fall off.
thaywood
Dedicated LVC Member
LED driving lights, LED parking lights, HID headlights for the 'Bird.
And a little camera hog added bonus
And a little camera hog added bonus
My Great 8
Dedicated LVC Member
Looks really good Chris. Hope you have better luck with this one!
thaywood
Dedicated LVC Member
Thanks. Me too. I just wish it could have been a Mark VIII. But it is the next best thing to it
And I will have another Mark VIII. I just don't know when...
ONLYTONY
Dedicated LVC Member
Clear coated some bezels for a friend. Makes a big difference. Painted the motor cover on my 94, opal white to match the car. Not sure if I'm crazy about it. Today my 94, and one of my CE's go to climate controlled storage. Still have plenty more to work on here.
My Great 8
Dedicated LVC Member
Nice work Tony. I like the engine cover. Great job!
I am on the woodless/rubber coated pieces track now. I had all the pieces done for awhile, but wanted to see any adjustments needed for the 140~160 interior temps that are common here. I left the pieces uninstalled but in the general area they go in, to see how heat and sun would make the wrap bubble or lift. I had 2 problem spots that I used contact cement on, problem solved.
Next up is the wood trim on the doors, interior door handle cups, ignition switch trim piece. I tried to wrap the message center switches thing, and it didn't come out well, plus at some point I need to stop, that would be too much.
IF I do it over, I will get better wrap (this was very cheap stuff, and 8~9 years old) that has the air channels and a better texture, and a darker grey to closer match the darker components of the dash top.
Next up is the wood trim on the doors, interior door handle cups, ignition switch trim piece. I tried to wrap the message center switches thing, and it didn't come out well, plus at some point I need to stop, that would be too much.
IF I do it over, I will get better wrap (this was very cheap stuff, and 8~9 years old) that has the air channels and a better texture, and a darker grey to closer match the darker components of the dash top.
ONLYTONY
Dedicated LVC Member
That looks great, must have been lots of work. Contact cement would be my concern. Heat loosens contact cement. 140-160 you should be ok. Hi temp headliner glue might be good to contend with heat. Great job.
Rushsampson
Active LVC Member
Did a wash today, one of the last before she goes into storage. Besides that, just basically ran some errands and whatnot. I had some clown today in one of those Honda hatchbacks with stickers and hood pins and whatnot try to get busy with me on the way home from the car wash. Both lanes go straight, me on the left, him on the right. He pulls some boner trying to shove me out of the left (don't know why, there are no immediate left turns for some time), and he got real bent out of shape when I wouldn't let him in and hammered down on that poor thing about as hard as he could. He ended up blowing by a county sheriff to his right going about 25 over, and the last thing I saw before I crested the hill were blues. Ahh, good times, good times.
My Great 8
Dedicated LVC Member
Drove mine for the first time in three weeks. Took my wife to the hospital for some tests to start her liver transplant process. I really appreciate it more when I don't drive it for a long time. I love my Lincoln! I feel bad for you guys that have to store them for the winter.
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
i feel kinda bad, but my winter car is a Mark VIII too. so not that bad.
I like being a polar opposite of the north dwellers.
Coming up is the time of year I love driving my cars and working on them.
Sure 100+ with 150+ interior temps is...hard to get used to, but now that we are finally in the 80s, with 60s overnight (people are using fireplaces now) I can work on them without needing a bucket of water to dip tools in to cool them down.
Would like to get some things buttoned up and take it to a test and tune night, be able to push my manual blend door thing to provide heat (but honestly winter means switching between cooling and heat, instead of just cooling like summer).
I get to watch everyone elses projects and do little things in the summer, then I get to do my thing, unless I get lazy or swamped with work.
Coming up is the time of year I love driving my cars and working on them.
Sure 100+ with 150+ interior temps is...hard to get used to, but now that we are finally in the 80s, with 60s overnight (people are using fireplaces now) I can work on them without needing a bucket of water to dip tools in to cool them down.
Would like to get some things buttoned up and take it to a test and tune night, be able to push my manual blend door thing to provide heat (but honestly winter means switching between cooling and heat, instead of just cooling like summer).
I get to watch everyone elses projects and do little things in the summer, then I get to do my thing, unless I get lazy or swamped with work.
Lownslowlsc
Dedicated LVC Member
Sigh, trying to get motivated to do my pre-winter maintenance. Picked up stuff for the oil change and some other little odds n' ends today. Have to do that, lube the front end, mess with a rear spring, undercoating, winter wheels, silicone treatment on the doors/locks..ect.
Filling in the hour or so I have between carting kids around, and other parental stuff that consumes my every moment not spent at work!
Did anyone think that this rubber coating was a good idea? Even on non normal touch areas on my 97 Cougar the stuff is peeling.
broken off post, I need to find out what type of plastic this is, the dash vent cover, and the seat controls...and get a plastic welding kit.
Looks like if I want it to look GOOD I need to remove the rubber coating. I can't get rid of air bubbles in the bad area.
Did anyone think that this rubber coating was a good idea? Even on non normal touch areas on my 97 Cougar the stuff is peeling.
broken off post, I need to find out what type of plastic this is, the dash vent cover, and the seat controls...and get a plastic welding kit.
Looks like if I want it to look GOOD I need to remove the rubber coating. I can't get rid of air bubbles in the bad area.
Painted one was actually not broken, but missing one pin, one spring, AND the retainer on the one pin remaining. It was close to coming off completely, and since I swapped the broken passenger side with chrome, did the drivers side as well.
had the door panel off for a myriad of reasons.
Next thing I am tackling:
had the door panel off for a myriad of reasons.
Next thing I am tackling:
Took on a big project today. Finished in a tad over 12 hours but I am in LOVE with it.
I'll let the pictures do the talking, my hands hurt too much from the day I had LOL.
Here are some before and after....
I'll let the pictures do the talking, my hands hurt too much from the day I had LOL.
Here are some before and after....
young mark 8 lover
Well-Known LVC Member
My winter car is my summer car which is my 94 DD mark ohh the fun
man that car has come a long ways from what it was.
num1bigguy
Active LVC Member
Same but with a 96. It's a super small pic. Is your car the green that looks black in different light? Had a conti that color a while back. When clean I received lots of compliments
