Topic: What did you do to your non-motorcycle vehicle today?

[Kelly E]

No offense intended but I really don't understand the appeal of owning an old cop car [other than getting good transportation for a bargain price].

Havent we all spent years trying to avoid them?!

I used to drive a 78' Chevrolet Malibu ex cop car. It was a high speed pursuit car. It had a 400ci small block, a huge radiator, Turbo 400 transmission, posi rear end and a suspension package. It would do 140mph and handled really well. It was a lot of fun to embarrass some of the over confident street racer dudes. It had been an unmarked car so it was green and ugly but a blast to drive. I've always loved sleepers and nobody suspected what appeared to be grandma's beat up old Malibu to go flying by.

[ofreen]

https://www.autosafety.org/burned-cop-brings-message-patrol-car-safety/

No offense intended but I really don't understand the appeal of owning an old cop car [other than getting good transportation for a bargain price].
Havent we all spent years trying to avoid them?!

There is/was one for sale on Craig's list here, and the seller talked about how everyone moved out of the left lane when he came up behind them, letting him pass.

People doing weird stuff in front of me was common back when I first got the cars.  But people ignore them now that so few are in service anymore.  As far as safety goes, the Panther platform cars (Crown Vic, Town Car, Grand Marquis) are very safe.  Any design can sustain a fuel tank rupture in a bad enough collision.  The Crown Vic tank is ahead of the trunk which protects it more than those under the trunk.  But stuff happens if the crash is bad enough.

[Stev-o]

Now, this would be a different story!!!

[Shopdog]

The transmission you're referring to would be a 4r70w, correct?

Yes.

They are supposed to be fairly simple to rebuild, despite being electronically controlled. No special tools required other than some snap ring pliers. I would guess your issue is electronic. There should be some electronic solenoids, one of which may be for o/d. You might do some research on that.
If you do end up getting deeper into it, look up "4r70w J-mod". You can firm up the shifts and the transmission will have a longer life (and better performance). I've been thinking about building one for one of my $hit boxes lol

[scottly]

No offense intended but I really don't understand the appeal of owning an old cop car [other than getting good transportation for a bargain price].

[ofreen]

They are supposed to be fairly simple to rebuild, despite being electronically controlled.

They are.  There is a lot of info out there, including videos.  I started with a filter and fluid change.  There was a fair amount of crud on the bottom of the pan.  Clutch material.  Minimal steel on the pan magnet, and no aluminum chunks in the pan.  The fluid/filter change didn't help, so next I dropped the valve body and disassembled and cleaned it. Plenty of crud came out and a couple of the valves were a little sticky, but there were no metal chunks. A common thing that happens on these transmissions that causes the loss of overdrive and false neutral is a broken snap ring that retains the OD servo or the e-clip that holds the OD servo pin.  But both were good.  The other things that happen are the OD band is broken or worn out, or the servo pin becomes disengaged from the band.  None of those were the case.  So I may try replacing the solenoids next as the 2-3 shift is intermittently delayed and I understand that also affects overdrive.  I hate throwing parts at something but if it doesn't help, I can still use the new parts when doing the rebuild, so nothing will be lost.

[Gordon]

No offense intended but I really don't understand the appeal of owning an old cop car [other than getting good transportation for a bargain price].

One of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history!  Also, Donald "Duck" Dunn should have had top billing along with Belushi and Aykroyd.  That movie would not have been the same without his bass line foundation. 

[Bankerdanny]

What is that old cop car Greg, is that a Crown Vic? I want one!

That 2000 Crown Vic police interceptor (aka CVPI or P71) belongs to my son.  It has a persistent transmission problem, no overdrive, so it has been up there a couple of times as we try remedies.  No luck yet, so I may be doing my first automatic transmission overhaul on it for fun. 

I have two others, a 2007 and 2008 that are daily drivers.  I'll have had the 2007 for 10 years this spring and the 2008 for 9 years.  I have $3000 total in both of them (bought at auction) and they have been perfectly reliable.

I wonder how many Crown Vics there are in your neck of the woods?  I know there are a few in Europe but not many, and some went to the mideast.  You want the police package, preferably 2006 and later. They handle better than the civilian models but the ride reminds you of a pickup truck compared to the cushy civilian cars.  They aren't drag racers, getting beat off the line by any number of econoboxes.  But still fun.  I have always intended to paint mine so they don't look like panda bears but haven't done it yet. 

The Craigslist $125 GM 4l65E that I swapped into my Envoy to replace the bad 4L60E it had when I got it is also on its last legs. I will be doing my first rebuild on the original transmission very soon. Hopefully swapping it back in will be much easier than it was to remove it and install the 65.

[Don R]

 I put the 9" ford N case back into the housing so I can measure the driveshaft and get the stainless exhaust fitted around it. I'm concerned the 3" shaft and 1350 u joints might get into the corner of the mufflers at the rear end.
 I drew a sketch of the driveshaft for measuring purposes, 34 3/4" center of U joint to center of U joint minus 3/4" for yoke slip in the trans. The trans tail is a bit lower than the cl of the 9" so it goes uphill and will pull out on a bump.

[Kelly E]

I was going to replace the wiper motor in my 93' F-250 diesel 4x4 but it started raining. The shop is stuffed with bikes and it's too much to move to get the truck in. It's supposed to be dry tomorrow.

[ofreen]

Yes indeed ofreen:the lift is the Best. 

I am wondering how I got along with out it all these years. The '68 Nova is airborne for a fluids change.

[Kelly E]

Yes indeed ofreen:the lift is the Best. 

I am wondering how I got along with out it all these years. The '68 Nova is airborne for a fluids change.

I hope to get a lift by next year at the latest. I'm tired of crawling under cars. We've got six vehicles to maintain.

[scottly]

I bought a new-to-me Chevy Silverado single cab long bed pickup today. I had been looking for an extra cab version, with a 5.3L V-8, as two friends have owned them, and besides the extra interior space, greater load capacity, and horsepower compared to my '89 Toyota 3.0 V6, they got the same or better MPG on the Highway. Most of the trucks for sale were either very expensive, had very high mileage, or both, so I ended up settling for an '04 with a 4.8L V-8 single cab with 98k miles for $7200. A friend from Vegas happened to be in town, and as soon as I mentioned buying a new work truck, Mark was interested in the Toyota, so we made a deal for $3000.    

[Don R]

 I realized if I take the weight off of my back wheels the driveshaft is going to hit the mufflers and there's no room to do much about it.

[scottly]

Don, you just need some sort of travel limiting device, like straps or rubber cushions under the axle.

[strynboen]

have kleaned up the frame..and gived it epoxy..so the 95 hilux can live on..

[grcamna2]

strynboen,You have prepped and applied Epoxy frame coating:very good work. 

[dave500]

gonna be a great little truck when its done.

[ofreen]

Next up is this '96 Grand Marquis I bought for $600. It has only 108,000 miles, runs and drives great, very straight and clean, but has an electrical problem.  I am amazed how clean it is underneath, no leaks or rust.
 The lift makes it easy to look under a car's skirts.  Years ago I selectively acquired several cheap cars, fixed whatever mechanical issues they had, minor body work, cleaned them up and sold them.  At the time I was on the look out for Toyotas and Hondas with bad head gaskets.  I never did less than double my money, and sometimes much better.  Now that I have more time, I'll think I'll find the occasional good deal and do the same thing.

[Bankerdanny]

Started taking apart the transmission on our Envoy to rebuild it.

[dave500]

you know the "black art"of automatics?

[grcamna2]

Started taking apart the transmission on our Envoy to rebuild it.

I'm subscribed Danny  looking forward to what you find.
What did you do about the rusty frame:swap it yet?

[Bankerdanny]

Started taking apart the transmission on our Envoy to rebuild it.

I'm subscribed Danny  looking forward to what you find.
What did you do about the rusty frame:swap it yet?

Nothing yet. I'm going to do the easy part first

[grcamna2]

Started taking apart the transmission on our Envoy to rebuild it.

I'm subscribed Danny  looking forward to what you find.
What did you do about the rusty frame:swap it yet?

Nothing yet. I'm going to do the easy part first

Lol 
That transmission job seems daunting enough 

[Bankerdanny]

you know the "black art"of automatics?

Well, I wouldn't say that I know. But I did a LOT of research on the process. There are a few really good step-by-step tutorials on YouTube on the process.

Internally it's just a bunch of clutches actuated by fluid pressure and a few solenoids, very few actually gears. When you watch a video explaining how it works I think this is easier to understand than a manual trans with forks and synchro's and gears, etc.