Rev bought a P71

So, I did it this morning. Went to the county auction and bought an 05 Crown Vic Sherriffs office cast off.

225k on the clock, started right up, runs good, idles quiet, shifts fine. No check engine light, a little rust on one wheel well, but nothing major.

So far, after all of 2 miles of driving, the brakes are pretty soft. Napa ceramics good enough or something else?

Aside from brakes, there's just a lot of excess wiring that needs cleaned up, but it works.

Does that ^^ look alright?

wiring mess still has the "cage" too

and most importantly, the car seat fits.

The miata goes in for state inspection tomorrow, this will go next week. I've got 10 days from purchase to get it inspected, and if it fails, 30 days to fix it. I'll slap some tape or fiberglass over the little rust hole on the front drivers side wheel arch and take it in.

The tires look about half there. I'll definitely be getting new ones for it for winter, but for now, they'll work.

Never trust NAPA brakes, they are manufactured by whatever Chinese factory put in the lowest bid. Spring for some Centric Posi-Quiet's from Rock Auto or something. I prefer semi-met, especially on P71's.

What did you pay?

$600 for the car, $225 for registration(thanks PA)

If I had a babysitter for tomorrow, I'd be on my way to Gainesville tonight

But you said the car seat fits...so, what's the problem? No babies on the course? I'm sure someone would hang out with the munchkin while you got your runs in.

Man, that's a steal.

nm mis posted for mazdeuze

The car came with it's own race number, can't beat that.

I will be doing 805 for rally cross now just for convenience.

So known issues that need taken care of: brakes, horn, rust hole.

I've already bought a horn and some fiberglass so that's ready to do when the rain stops this weekend. Should be legally driving this by Monday afternoon.

The other problem, no idea what they wrote "runs" on the windshield with, but the brush at the car wash and a rag with glass cleaner failed to make a dent in it. I'll try goof off, but in afraid of using a scraper on the windshield.

You can use a scraper no problem. If that still worries you then use Barkeepers Friend with a wet cloth. All of my cars get a yearly super clean with it.

RevRico wrote:

What did they remove the "SHERIFF" across the trunklid with? An air chisel?

In reply to Karacticus:

it's still sticky, believe it or not.

These headlights SUCK. even with the high beams on they seem to be pointed 20 feet in front of the car right at the ground. Aiming or bulbs or both?

Also, does anyone know it's autocross class? I'll google it soon, but since I was typing a post, thought I'd ask.

It's also going to be getting a new head unit soon. At least something with an AUX in, maybe just a cheapo from a junkyard since I think all ford units except the newest ones will go right in, but probably an open box from best buy.

Autocross is FS.

I'd try aiming the headlights. The lights in my 06 are pretty good.

So what's the legality of the color scheme and the number?

I'm guessing it's legal to drive in PA as is appearance-wise.

And I certainly didn't need to read this thread. Welcome back auto-ADD!

mazdeuce wrote: You can use a scraper no problem. If that still worries you then use Barkeepers Friend with a wet cloth. All of my cars get a yearly super clean with it.

What parts of your car do you use the BKF on, if you don't mind me asking?

In reply to RevRico:

Check Amazon for brakes. I got TRW pads for the Fiat for $35.00 an end. Auto Zone wanted over $100 each.

In reply to Wall-e:

Rock auto actually has "police spec" brakes for like $40 a pair, I'm going to do some research on them. Topping off the fluid helped, but I only did that because I plan on flushing it when I do the brakes.

Wired up a head unit and hard wired the door speakers because they weren't getting power and I wasn't chasing the wires today. I might even get the horn installed tonight, if not tonight, definitely tomorrow.

Wired in the horn relay to a button next to the trunk release. It works!! So should pass inspection Monday.

I think I figured out why the head unit was open box, even though everything looked un touched. Last night, after hookup it was fine. Got in showing off the car an hour later and nothing at all from any speaker although it was showing Pandora info. Shut just the head unit off and back on and everything was fine. Today, the driver's door speaker, a new speaker with a new wire ran directly to the head unit, is not working. At all. So now I get to rip the dash apart and double check that the wire is in good shape, then trouble shoot from there. Might just take the unit back and buy a new new one for 10 bucks more.

Does stereo stuff count against challenge budget? I guess it could be considered for concourse, but I could just as easily pull the head unit when I get to Florida and negate it from budget since out won't be there for challenge.

I'm also planning now on replacing the stock rear speakers with the same ones I bought for the front doors. Kinda mad I sold my subs and amp that didn't fit in the miata now, plenty of room in the trunk for bass.

Starting to price winter/rally cross tires too. Thinking firestone winterforce or the blizzaks. Both about the same price, both well rated on tire rack for crown vics during winter. But I also need to go check out recaps in this size.

Speaking of tires and the challenge, only the tires on it and brought with it FOR the challenge count right? Whatever I buy for winter and rally x are just separate and don't affect anything either way if I don't bring them with me, right?

Open boxes are open for a reason. Maybe they just changed their mind, or maybe there was a problem. Maybe they fried it or maybe it was defective. It has demonstrated that something is wrong that sure points towards the headunit

$10 more for a new one? The time you will spend trying to track down connections is easily worth the $10. Plus you'll have one that you can be reasonably sure is fine.

In reply to jfryjfry:

It was stupidity on my end. When I ran new lines to the speakers, I left them in the way of the Windows. Windows down, speakers disconnected. I fixed it, just a few minutes ago. Zip tied to the inside of the door and longer leads, worked well the few up and downs I gave the Windows.

Monday morning it goes for state inspection, with my new horn button and the ugly fiberglass work on the front fender, should pass no problem.

The rear deck speakers were fun, but man, being able to climb in the trunk and work was awesome. There's room for a whole other motor back there

You know, you could probably put a junkyard Eaton M90 on a 2v pretty easily and cheaply. IIRC, Saleen Series II superchargers on New Edge 2v cars were M90 based.

I love the trunk on these cars. Huge!! Except when your head is up near the seat and a co-worker closes the lid, and my fat ass can't turn around in there to grab the release... Too fun. If you ever make a trip out to the east side of the state, I usually have a set of good rotors and pads around. All OE stuff, and a great sticker removing tool, even peels up the adhesive easily. This year or beginning of next we should be selling a "lot" of 16" wheels and tires, like 30. Probably half GSA and half snows with a few sets of studded in there too. I love running studs in the back of these in the winter, unstoppable!

Good find.

On the headlights. Check the plugs and harnesses, they burn up fairly easily and are commonly replaced, if they did a crap job on the splice if they were replaced. Alignment is easy too, don't let the internet overcomplicate it for you... 8mm, or 6 and go to town.

J-mod, transmission. I know there are different opinions of it. Do something though. I bet your trans is a rebuild with those miles and a shift kit or j mod or something will make it last longer and work better for what you want to do.

In reply to Ross413:

Let me know about those wheels going up for sale, I might be able to come out.unless it's for all of them.I I'm currently trying to trade or sell my excess miata wheels for another set for the Vic. My nearest rally x location gets great reviews with the RSAs but I want something more wintery for snow/ice/the frigid windy crap we've had the last couple years.

Aside from being deathly afraid of getting back inside an automatic transmission, j mod almost seems doable. According to chalk marks, the fluid or maybe the tranny itself,and was changed about 80k miles ago. I'm going to call the sheriff's office and see if I can get the maintenance records for the car. It shifts great though, really does. Maybe I'm still to used to the miata,and but it feels a lot faster than a 4k pound vehicle should to 80.

Hmmmm, what excess Miata wheels...? I have some 16's myslef that I am sitting on since I went to the 17's. The RSA's are not a terrible tire, but not great. They make the car fun to toss around. I have BFG Sport Comp 2s on it now and they are really amazing in every way, IMHO. Ill check on the tires this week. J-mod is simple if you can follow instructions you can do it.

They are not slow, but feel slow for what you are doing... With the SCT tuner, for my manual trans, I dyno at 230WHP at the Sloppy Mechanics Dyno Days. So not too bad I think. It is a blast to auto-x, people always are stoked to see a land barge hustling around the cones. Rally-x sounds like fun too. I may pick up a beater next auction to check out some events, DC region and Susquahana region all have events within about 3 hours from me... I am not sure why but I have always wanted to see a stage rally Vic. It is just fun to drive on gravel.

Pics for motivation...

headlights are kind of notoriously sucky on the crown vics. they sell plug and play relay wiring kits (or you could probably make one) that draws power for the lights directly from the battery.