Done!!!!!!! Success

First of all this is pretty much how I feel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_VheAwZBuQ

 

That emblem really sucked!

Lower trim.
So that's about it, besides replacing the window trim I bent up, its all done! I'm very happy with the results, its perfect for me because I can keep her looking nice while I do the real work (engine, rear end, tranny, and so on) and if I bang something up, I can just easily replace a panel. When I'm done with the rest of the work, I can just tear it off and spend some serious $$$ and get it painted professionally. Now on to the sequentials!

More matte black work - roof, rear fenders, bumpers, etc.

A bit late of an update for vinyl work.. but I've been waiting on the primer and swabs. Anyways I'll shut up, more pictures! 

For any of you vinyl fanatics like me who are wondering specifics, I did the roof in two pieces obviously but the rear 'arches' are one with the rear piece. I regret only one thing; that's doing the courtesy lamp things on the side pillars in a separate piece. It left a really weird over lap on the passenger side I'm not happy with. No way in hell I'm redoing that 110"x60" rear roof though lol. And I primed the shit out of everything I could with a zombie job like this.

Matte black wrap

Yes Mayhem is still around. She's my DD and getting me wherever I want to go. I've just forgot to post here for a while. Anyways, I've finally been able to gather everything needed for the matte wrap and have begun. It started *as with most body work* with lots of sanding of the shitty peeling clear coat. I used the porter cable 6 inch random orbital electric sander from Amazon. I got it for $100. I'm using 400 grit 3M Stik-it pads and don't need to go any finer because no streaks are showing through. 

So why is it peeling? Because at some point in her life, Mayhem was repainted (terribly might I add) and neither I nor the previous owners know anything about it... its a mystery -.- Honestly, I think when the previous owners had the vinyl top torn off *also a shitty job* the same shop repainted the entire car or something. There is residual paint under the handles for starters, and I found lots of excess vinyl that had not been removed under the trim. Anyways, lots and lots of sanding. About 15-17 hours altogether I think. Keep in mind the trunk was already done.

 What you are seeing is multiple coats of primer, paint, and clear coat being sanded through. I hit metal in a few parts and did my best to re-prime them, but it wasn't adhering very well and I think the wrap will keep the metal from rusting. Its kind of a 'placeholder' until I get it professionally painted. Anyways, on to the wrap-            

 So all in all, today I finished the hood, fender, two doors, front part of the roof (sucked), prepped the driver side, and put back together both passenger side doors. I'm not sure how I feel about the chrome trim now with the matte black.. it kind of gives off that grandma look to me.

Will be updating as I wrap more.

Dual Cat-back System













They're were a few ideas behind modifying my exhaust system. Originally I had planned to do all of the work myself, but quickly realized I did not have access to the proper welding equipment to do the job. It took a bit of planning and preparation, so here are the main reasons;

1. Letting exhaust flow more freely to allow better exit. My car came with a stock Y-pipe, a small restricting 2.25" system, and of course exhaust manifolds.
2. As the vehicle spent most of its time in Utah, it had substantial rust and corrosion on the exhaust system.
3. As this is a 1991 Model vehicle, it has four catalytic converter chambers whereas modern day vehicles combine both catalysts in one converter for each side.
4. Obviously because of the sound factor as well.  

Here is a list of exactly what is/will be in the system;

• 26" Cherry bomb Glass pack
• true 2.5" exhaust piping
• Pypes Headers
• Magnaflow Universal high flow Catalytic converters
• 3" exit custom tail tips
• Custom H-pipe/O2 ports 
•  

 After I knew what I wanted, I personally didn't have to much work to do. The only portion of the exhaust I truly contributed to was the installation of the headers which I am currently doing. I will provide more information on the installation after it is complete. Now for pictures :D
 

A picture of the Cherry bombs

 

Pypes Headers

  

Pypes Headers 2

More to come....

Stealthlead's 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LS aka 'Mayhem'

This page is dedicated to the modifications I will be performing on my '91 MGM. I will do my best to provide pictures, videos, sound clips, and all advice I can give about everything I have completed thus far, and what is to come.

~Current Projects underway~

-Exhaust: Dual catback, true 2.5", Pypes headers, 26" Cherrybombs, magnaflow cats.
Progress- 70% ~Cherrybombs in, headers received, waiting on cats.
-Air Intake: HO explorer upper/lower intake, HO explorer 70mm Throttle body, 70mm stock/bored out EGR spacer.
Progress- 45% ~Found a buyer for a bored out EGR spacer. Waiting on response. In the meantime, hand sanding off the powder coat. Lots of hours.
-Complete replacement of front suspension: this was/is/will be tough. This includes the FSB, pitman arm, ball joints, upper/lower control arm bushings, suspension coils, shocks, inner/outter tie rods, tie rod sleeves, and idler arm. I have installed everything except the coil springs, shocks, and one set of upper control arm bushings. This is a tough and dangerous job I don't feel quite comfortable taking on alone and will definately need a helper for the completion of this job. But for the most part, I nearly finished this job.
Progress- 80%


~Future projects~
Name and status is provided. This is a list of all future projects I will be taking on. When I write unknown it implies I have not yet considered this project fully, but will be performed in the future.

Exterior/body

• spoke rims to show fluted discs - researching.
• Full paint job done my me - researching different types of two tones.
• Stamped steel hood rest - unknown, need proper strip cut of stamped steel.
• Window tint - Planning to do this very soon.
• Replace vinyl top with steel- Completed :)
• Racing strips/vinyl images- researching. Had a friend to get me the vinyl, but lost contact.
• Rear HO/302 HO sticker - gotta get one of these!
• Treat frame with POR15 - Researching, going to do this soon as well as treat the exhaust pipes.

Interior

• Reupholster roof, rear passenger seat belt entries, and all related fabric - unknown.
• Remove flooring, replaced with undecided material - unknown.
• Racing seats - researching. Going to be expensive.
• Finish LED job - researching.

Electrical/auxiliary

• Remove stock speedometer configuration and replace with all electronically controlled/reading gauges including oil pressure, trans pressure, and more - unknown
• soundsytem; 2x 10/12' subs with correct amp - researching. This will take a lot of time, effort, money, and further researching if I am to do this right.
• Fix the A/C unit - researching. I had a professional help me fix this last summer and replaced almost all of the seals, and there is still a leak somewhere. Will get this taken care of this summer.
• 3G alternator - researching.

Exhaust - Nearly Complete!

• 2.5" true catback - near completion. Everything past the cats is complete and 2.5".
• Headers - near completion. Pypes headers in the garage.
• 26" Cherrybombs- Completed :)
• Magnaflow cats - near completion.

Rear end/differentials

• 3.55??? gear ratio tracklok rear diffs with new shell - researching. Will be a big job.
• Correct gear teeth ratio for speedo - researching, this confuses the hell out of me.
• Rear disc brakes - researching. This comes with the completion of the tracklok+shell.
• Rear E-brake - researching. Because the stock E-brake is dangerously barely operational.

Air Intake

• HO explorer upper/lower intake - in progress, both obtained and currently cleaning/sanding.
• HO Throttle body - in progress, obtained.
• HO EGR spacer - in progress, currently obtaining.
• Vacuum lines - in progress, need to go to junkyard and get the correct intake-smog line.
• Cold air intake - researching.

Suspension/steering

• Front end replacement - near completion. Description in 'current projects'.
• Addition of another gear to steering box - researching. The play in the steering wheel is due to a stock steering box. I'm going to somehow need to add in another gear to give the steering the finesse I'm personally looking for. Most likely a custom steering box installation.
• Rear sway bar - Obtained. Need to install.
• Rear shocks/coils - researching. Probably going to be just as tough as front end.

Engine

• Complete HO swap

more to come shortly....