Problem destroying donor car
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Martinsburg, WV
Problem destroying donor car
I've pretty much decided to use a Mark VIII for the engine and IRS and possibly the IFS. I'll also take some of the harnesses and maybe the bucket seats.
The forum consensus is that you need to be sure that a donor starts and runs to sure it will work.
My question is this: when you find a good donor, how do you get over the urge to restore the donor and start tearing into it?
The forum consensus is that you need to be sure that a donor starts and runs to sure it will work.
My question is this: when you find a good donor, how do you get over the urge to restore the donor and start tearing into it?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,192
Likes: 4,805
From: Burbank, WA
Most people's donor's are $500 beaters with not much life left. So from that standpoint, it's pretty easy. It's like raising a cow for butcher. You know going in it's going to be dinner someday. But a MkVIII is a pretty nice car. I can see where a guy might have reservations. You just have to get a mindset that the end goal of having a Lincoln Effie is way cooler than driving a luxo-cruiser. Then start cutting before you change your mind. 
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,577
Likes: 29
From: Pekin, IL
If you can't get rid of the donor vehicle we may see you on a future episode of "HOARDERS"
Watch Hoarders Full Episodes & Video Online - aetv.com
Watch Hoarders Full Episodes & Video Online - aetv.com
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,571
Likes: 22
From: Oxford, Indiana
Enlist the help of friends! My buddy had this problem awhile back. He bought a decent T-bird with title problems as a powertrain donor for a V8 swap into his crippled Ranger. He started to fall in love with the T-bird and was having fantasies about trying to get the title straightened out and keep it. His wife was not amused at the prospect of yet another car in thedriveway and gave me the OK to help bring him back into the light. He came home from work one afternoon and found a freshly harvested 5.0L HO and transmission sitting in the floor of his garage and a mangled Thunderbird sitting on my trailer ready to head for the boneyard. Decision made, problem solved!
He was a little miffed but got over it pretty quick when we took the Ranger for it's maiden voyage the next weekend after the swap was done.
He was a little miffed but got over it pretty quick when we took the Ranger for it's maiden voyage the next weekend after the swap was done.
New User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
dont ruin a mark viii =[ im a mark enthusiast, i own a 1993 mark viii that will give a lot of people a run for there money! very good strong platform but if your using the suspension, use it out of a t bird since the mark viii used bags. you can still use the mark ifs with t bird shocks/struts.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
some birds were bagged , the mark 8 has all the lightweight suspension , driveshaft { i.e. all made of aluminum }, and an all aluminum 4 valve . i know you like 'em but they are ugly !!!!!!!!! i got a line on 2 black ones of 95 vintage with bag issues , and a super nice champaign white one with all the options , that if i buy one it'll be cut up for the parts i want for the beater 95 bird i have .......... just what i need a third dain project ...........
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 557
From: Kalispell, MT
I bought a 52 F6 as a parts truck for the 48 F6 - but it's still plowing snow 6 years later. Can't bring myself to tear it apart. As a result, the 48 F6 project is still sitting in the pasture untouched as yet. I feel your pain : )
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Martinsburg, WV
Thanks for the comments. I suppose if there was a beater out there, that would work. There's one on Craigslist locally, but the owner is proud to list that he removed the rear air suspension. Not sure whether that's good or bad. The airbags were one of the things I liked. I know they get replaced with coils, but does that degrade the ride? Or is it still so much better than stock that?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
Hell bring it over to my place! I've got 3 Milwaukee Sawzall's and two Milwaukee portable band saws! If you have an issue cutting up a car I'll do it for you!
The only issue I have with cutting up a parts car is if it's a classic that is in decent shape. I've passed on some vehicles that I was looking at buying for parts, because they were too nice. Besides that I say it's all fair game.
I've killed almost as many cars as road salt has.
The only issue I have with cutting up a parts car is if it's a classic that is in decent shape. I've passed on some vehicles that I was looking at buying for parts, because they were too nice. Besides that I say it's all fair game. I've killed almost as many cars as road salt has.
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