Wagon work.

"Pixel" (Improbcat) 10/04/2017 at 18:17 • Filed to: Project Colony Ship

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Took today off work to get some stuff done on the ‘87 Mercury Colony Park wagon(tentatively dubbed Project Colony Ship).

The local Pick N Pull had this ‘90 Ford Country Squire I was hoping would have some of my most needed parts. Depite someone clearly having messed with the car just to be an ass it had most everything i needed.

The final haul was an alternator, used battery, drivers door switch panel, tailgate gasket, and tailgate handle. Couldn’t get the window motors and lock actuator as they were riveted in by Ford.

With that in hand i got to work. In addition to the finest in discount used VW batteries, i replaced the positive cable and put a new end on the negative one as both cable ends were trashed.

The alternator went in, but a test run showed it was overcharging to 17.9 volts and had a short to geound when off. I have a brand new voltage regulator to put in as that is still half the cost of new.

The rear hatch got its new handle, and a thorough lubing of all the latches. The window motor is slow and the window stops halfway down and won’t go back up. So that will require more digging.

I found out that the electrical issue draining the battery (3 amps with the car off!) Is in the circuit for the power locks, power mirrors, and interior lights. Despite finding this toasted mirror switch, i haven’t tracked it down. So that fuse is pulled for right now.

Takuro Spirit > Pixel 10/04/2017 at 18:39

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Woah that switch.

shop-teacher > Pixel 10/04/2017 at 18:42

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That’s a solid day’s work!

Urambo Tauro > Pixel 10/04/2017 at 19:47

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That Country Squire was a lucky find! 

Pixel > Urambo Tauro 10/04/2017 at 19:48

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No kidding! Especially since i couldn’t find the rear handle anywhere online.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Pixel 10/04/2017 at 22:14

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It starts and runs? Does the transmission shift?

Pixel > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/04/2017 at 22:51

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I drove it around the neighborhood, it is great now that the electrical issues have been patched up temporarily.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Pixel 10/05/2017 at 10:51

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May I ask your age?

Pixel > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/05/2017 at 12:55

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How is that related to my new car?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Pixel 10/05/2017 at 15:40

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When we correspond on Oppo, we know almost zero about each other. I’m a 53-year-old who’s been married for 28 years. I work as a math teacher of 8th graders. I have a ‘71 GMC van in my driveway that I’m pecking away at. In 1985 when your car was brand new, I was 20 or 21 and stationed in Louisiana and looking at brand new Crown Vics and wondering if they had any power or if they were any good. I’d learned how to drive in a ‘77 Caprice Classic. GM cop cars of that era had the early LT-1 engine. I was curious to learn your age because I was curious to know where you’d line up in that time line.