Attention Oppos with Panther knowledge

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
04/04/2019 at 23:26 • Filed to: this has to be a bad idea

Should I get the 88 or the 84?

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DISCUSSION (20)

CB > gmctavish needs more space
04/04/2019 at 23:33

Neither.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
04/04/2019 at 23:35

Shit, for $600 a pop? Buy em both.

lone_liberal > gmctavish needs more space
04/04/2019 at 23:38

I was just looking at a Colony Park wagon on Barn Finds and thinking it would be kind of cool. As a non-panther expert I’d say the one with the least rust.

https://barnfinds.com/almost-swan-song-1990-mercury-colony-park/

gmctavish needs more space > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/04/2019 at 23:39

No room though. I’ll be pulling space for one of them out of my ass, I definitely can’t do both

atfsgeoff > gmctavish needs more space
04/04/2019 at 23:39

Yes

gmctavish needs more space > CB
04/04/2019 at 23:39

Booo

.....yeah, you’re right

gmctavish needs more space > lone_liberal
04/04/2019 at 23:40

That’s what I was thinking. Also, since they’re both 351s, I guess if one of them has a Cleveland and not a Windsor, that’s potentially better. Or if one has an AOD instead of a 3 speed

Pixel > gmctavish needs more space
04/04/2019 at 23:42

The later one will have the better engine, but buy the one with less body damage/rust and less broken parts. Th e wagon-specific parts are hell to find.

At that price I’ d offer $1000 for the pair, combine the best of each onto the nicest shell, then part out & scrap the rest.

If you do that, I’d be interested in some parts for my ‘87.

gmctavish needs more space > Pixel
04/04/2019 at 23:55

I’d do that if I could, but I have zero space. If I don’t insure one right away, I’d be putting it behind my significant others parents house...

ranwhenparked > gmctavish needs more space
04/05/2019 at 00:36

Well, I’ve owned an ‘84, but never an ‘88, so I guess ‘84?

Really, just go by condition.

Tristan > gmctavish needs more space
04/05/2019 at 01:12

Did someone say box Panther wagon expert?

*cracks knuckles*

The ‘84 is obviously pre-facelift. I like the boxier stying a bit better, but I love both. It’s still got the silly horn-button-on-the-end-of-the-stalk configuration which is a neat conversation piece. The biggest downside to the ‘84 is the engine. It’s new enough to have EEC-IV, but it’s the second to last year of Central Fuel Injection (CFI). It’ll be easier to diagnose since it’s EEC-IV, but harder to find parts since it’s a bit obscure. The there’s the fact that it’s got 130hp.

The ‘88 gives you the rounded facelift look if you’re in to that. I wouldn’t kick it out of bed. It also gives you Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI) which is worlds better than CFI. It’s very reliable, easy to diagnose and has lots of enthusiast support since it’s near identical to the SEFI found on fox Mustangs. It’s rated at only 150HP, but the HO swap is easy and cheap (E7 heads, mustang cam, mustang upper plenum, Mustang shorty headers and Mustang ECU) and gives you 225 HP. More is available with an E303 cam and GT40 heads/intake manifold from an Explorer.

These were available with a towing package that gives you dual exhaust, trans cooler and 3.73 gears. It’s fairly rare, though. The major rust areas are the lower quarters/spare tire well, rockers, lower front fenders and the tops of the front wheel arches. There are tons of mods and upgrades you can do to these, and they can even be made to handle pretty decently. I’ve owned a bunch of these cars and they’re a ton of fun to work on and built like tanks. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to convince my wife that they’re extremely cool and since 2010 I’ve been forbidden from owning another.

If you pick one of these up, IMMEDIATELY replace the TV bushing. The AOD transmission is dependent upon the throttle valve to regulate internal pressures. The cable connects to the arm on the throttle body via a plastic bushing that gets very brittle. If it breaks, you’ll feel a funny shift- like it bumps right into 3rd gear and won’t downshift. If this happens and you keep driving , you’ll ruin the transmission after a mile or two. It’s a very expensive $2 piece of plastic if you ignore it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
04/05/2019 at 09:04

I mean... unless you're in a big city, streets are free. I may or may not own a second and completely derelict vehicle tucked away on a side street in Dayton.

gmctavish needs more space > Tristan
04/05/2019 at 10:32

That is all really good to know, thanks!

Especially the TV bushing, that seems especially good to know

gmctavish needs more space > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/05/2019 at 10:35

If I don’t insure it, I run the risk of being ticketed for having an uninsured car on the street. If I get one, I’ll likely insure it, but I wouldn’t insure both.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
04/05/2019 at 14:17

Registering a $600 car you'll park on a random street? Wild.

gmctavish needs more space > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/06/2019 at 15:21

I dunno if it’s different in the states, but in BC you can’t have anything on the street unless it’s insured. I wouldn’t even have plates on it unless I bought at least 3 months insurance, and if bylaw or a cop saw it sitting there with no plates they can just tow it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
04/06/2019 at 17:24

If it's unregistered, how do they find you?

gmctavish needs more space > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/06/2019 at 20:55

I can’t buy it without registering it, but I don’t have to plate it. All they have to do is look up the VIN and it would come back to me

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
04/07/2019 at 10:53

Nah, like, go to the lister’s house, give him the cash, drive it wherever, bam. No registration whatsoever. Drive it to where it’ll be parked with plates from a registered car, take em off while it’s parked. Totally out of the system, still registered to the PO.

I should clarify- this is a horrible idea and a waste of cash.

gmctavish needs more space > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/07/2019 at 11:43

Okay I’m glad you know it’s a bad idea haha. Yeah if I did that, then the VIN would come back to the PO and he would get fined if/when it was found. And that would be a whole other kind of mess