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Lowrider Lincoln


zeitgeist57

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http://i.imgur.com/rPzYnyBl.jpg

 

Pulled the back seat out, ran the main 4-gauge wire from battery. Installed 80A fuse block and splitter 30A fuses in the trunk. Wired relays, grounded the compressors and IT RUNS!!!

 

Was surprised at how NOT LOUD they are. Definitely a racket, but very manageable. Running lines tomorrow!

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So...as per the usual I've not been able to focus on the Lincoln as much as I'd like, but I'm happy to say I've got most of the air management together.

 

I was able to run air lines in the cabin, and under the carpet, making sure no metal-to-metal points of contact. Routed the switch panel under the dash.

 

Compressors run well and not too loud! Tank is solid and the carpet install looks clean. The downside? When I installed the fittings, I used Teflon TAPE instead of PASTE...

 

every.

fitting.

on.

the.

tank.

leaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . .. . . . . . . . . (<<those are the little air bubbles)

 

So, I've got to pull the tank to reseal the fittings with paste. The good news is that the switch panel and gauges were sprayed with soapy water and everything is sealed there.

 

I also tried to use my 2-piece coil spring compressors and they were unable to pull the springs together enough to remove them. Going to have to borrow or invest in a better tool.

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Ended up getting Permatex thread sealer, and took the tank out to redo all the fittings. Also finished the cups for the rear springs and ran lines from the cabin to the back. Marathon Friday wrenching session.

 

I'll just leave this here.

 

http://imgur.com/B54xpFkl.jpg

http://imgur.com/I5fSxeQl.jpg

 

Drove it, let it sit overnight. Zero leaks. Tank and bags hold air perfectly.

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Ended up getting Permatex thread sealer, and took the tank out to redo all the fittings. Also finished the cups for the rear springs and ran lines from the cabin to the back. Marathon Friday wrenching session.

 

I'll just leave this here.

 

http://imgur.com/B54xpFkl.jpg

http://imgur.com/I5fSxeQl.jpg

 

Drove it, let it sit overnight. Zero leaks. Tank and bags hold air perfectly.

 

Yes

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I don't have the fronts done...went out of town this past weekend and will be back in tomorrow. In addition to the crunch for time, I wanted to make sure the system held air!!! :p Looking forward to finishing the fronts soon.

 

More updates to come!

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http://imgur.com/BzaiHHVl.jpg

http://imgur.com/ahmWUSjl.jpg

 

Just some quick shots of the control panel (not installed) and the carpet in the trunk once everything was laid out.

 

I have the coilsprings coming out of the front. I'm at the bumpstops in the front with aired-out bags and I still have tire-to-wheelwell clearance. This car is huge!!!

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http://imgur.com/E1PfYpel.jpg

#HoverLincoln under anesthesia. Front suspension cleared out, awaiting modded lower control arms for air bags. Will also need to weld new front shock absorber relocation brackets to the frame rails in the engine bay.

 

 

http://imgur.com/dSS1BWtl.jpg

Mmmm...guess which ends were up Jones' butt? The middle perch where the original coil spring sat - and also had bolt holes for the lower shocks which used to go through the spring - needs to be cut so the lower airbag mount can be welded. That will happen hopefully tomorrow.

 

 

http://imgur.com/PxctXgYl.jpg

FOR SALE: 4 coil springs for a 1978 Lincoln Continental. BARELY USED LOW MILES. :D :D :D

 

 

http://imgur.com/iQjii8ml.jpg

One more closeup of those beautiful lower control arms. My HF bearing/balljoint kit was no match. Buddy with a 20-ton press is going to help me tomorrow. :cool:

 

For what it's worth, everything is in really solid condition. There's definitely a coating of rust, but the flaking you see is from the "Quaker Koat" undercoating which was laid on the underside when the car was sold. Probably cost a pretty penny but if Don was alive today he'd see that his forethought saved this boat from rusting out completely.

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http://imgur.com/nuMu18Qm.jpg

http://imgur.com/cAKixcrm.jpg

 

Silly gergles, I'm just trimming a bit...flattening out that ridge so the lower bag mount is more flush and facing more appropriately in line with the upper mount. Trust me, this angle works...

 

http://imgur.com/NwPkHRgl.jpg

 

20-ton HF press - $160. For when it absolutely, positively HAS to leave the home it's been in for at least a couple of decades. :D

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http://imgur.com/uUurDTYl.jpg

http://imgur.com/S9UYNBUl.jpg

http://imgur.com/4wqX18wl.jpg

 

Finished it up last night, after a truly marathon session of working Friday evening and nearly all of Saturday after CC&C. Very happy with the results.

 

My initial thoughts:

- I can go a little lower in the front by trimming the bumpstops, but as it sits (ON the bumpstops) the tires roll and I can actually steer. That's a nice advantage to me for this setup! It's amazing how much space the wheel wells have both front and rear.

- Considering how I was able to do the wheel/tire setup for less than $700, and the suspension was roughly $1000 with all the nickle+dime bits, I am super happy with the stance and look. YES, I may have been able to skootch the wheels out with spacers in the rear, or use smaller tires to lay frame, but when it looks this good for rocking 235/75-15's, I'm happy. This car is meant to drive casually around town, but drive a good amount.

- The ride is really interesting. It's firm, but floaty. the adjustability never gets old. I am really glad I have the Lincoln to do my first airbag setup, as it really does fit the bill. I get the VW/Audi guys with air-strut systems, but having a huge land yacht like this laid out so you almost step UP to get out of it puts a big smile on my face. Looking forward to cruising: and that's another thing - if you have a Mustang and you buy $3k+ worth of wheels/tires/suspension to go autoX'ing, hopefully you're happy with the performance. A project like this Lincoln has a MUCH lower goal to achieve :lol:: just look good while cruising loooow and sloooow. ;):cool:

- The amount of fabrication - and redoing a few things - was intense for me. I've rebuilt the head on my BMW last summer, installed a rebuilt engine/trans into my truck, and done all kinds of maintenance/hop-up projects on vehicles I've owned over the years. There is something to be said when the project you're doing is a part designed or relatively close enough to fit on your car. When you have a couple of boxes of parts and people say "good luck!", it is a lot more of a strain on me to get it done. I ended up enjoying THE RESULT, but not the project. I'm glad it's done. I understand why the quotes I got from a couple of people were $3-4k initially to do an airbag suspension job on this Lincoln...it's just a huge unknown as to how to get it all to work!

 

I'm proud to be a white-collar, suburbanite dad who owns a lowrider Lincoln Continental he built himself. I'll definitely enjoy cruising this summer/fall. :thumbup:

Edited by zeitgeist57
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