Monday, November 09, 2015

The Mercury

I put the Mercury back on its tires today.  New upper and lower ball joints, sway bar end links (both sides) and a steering idler.    Grease in the new zerk joints, oil change, and a short test drive.  Wednesday, I'll take it to a good shop and get the front end aligned.

It's an '01 with barely over 100K miles, and I can't understand why the front end was worn, but after taking it apart, it was plainly clear that it was dangerous.  Now, everything is tight and secure and it should be good for another 100K.

Over the course of my police career, the Ford Crown Victoria dominated police service.  This is the same platform, re-badged as a Mercury, with a few more creature comforts than the police cruisers, in which I spent so much time.  I know what this car will do, and I know how to drive it.  They're great cars, solid, steady, comfortable, and the best part is that there is no car note.  It's paid for.

I need a truck, (everybody needs a truck) but I don't need a truck every day.  This car keeps the miles off of my pickup, gets me about comfortably, and gets good gas mileage.  There's a lot to like in an old car and this one qualifies.  They literally don't make them like this anymore.

5 comments:

6ShotsOr5? said...

Had a Crown Vic back in the 80s for a company car when I had a field job, man that car rode good. I can see why you want to keep it.

Ed Jones said...

My wife has a 2005 F-150 super cab 2 wheel drive. I have had to replace the right lower ball-joint three times in 120,000 miles, left only one time. She says it is caused by pot holes, I think she drives on the shoulder to much.

Ed Jones said...

Make that a 2003 F-150. Brain fade, I turned 69 last week , that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Old NFO said...

The Mercs don't have the upgraded police suspension the Crown Vics do. But you can (and hopefully did) replace the parts with HD parts...

Bradley said...

OldNFO is spot on, the great thing bout that platform is all the P71(police version) and P72(HD taxi version) and yes there is a lot of cross over between P71vP72, mount right up to all the other models built on that frame. Its often not only a cheaper part, its almost always an upgrade and a stock P71/72 will run for 300K with out any real trouble.