I have always liked the ford panther platform cars. Well I always liked big 4 dr sedans. I've had a few gms and fords over the years. Grown to like the 03+ ford platforms. They have a lot of good things going for them.
Few yrs ago I had purchased a 05 p71 (crown vic police edition). I did a lot of work on it and it became a pretty fun car. I really enjoyed driving it, but I've always wanted a marauder. Not sure why I couldn't of been happy with the p71 as very little serperates the two cars from each other then mostly cost of purchase lol.
One of the most obvious differences in the MM vs the other panther cars is that the MM was the only one to get the dohc 4.6L which gave a little more power over the 2v 4.6L E707DB5A-97E7-4C8D-8F6A-EA4AFFA5840F_25 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
So I found one that i felt was a decent buy online in a suburb of chicago. It was a high mileage car out of texas. I was sold on the texas idea as it was most likely rust free (and it pretty much was). I rented a car and me and a buddy drove down to get it. Bought it, turned the rental in and drove the MM back home. I believe I purchased it in april.
Of course it had 20's on it, bit neglected mechanically and had a few other issues. The wheels were bent pretty bad and had really loose ball joints, struts worn out. Dead battery. We ended up rotating the tires so the "best" wheels were on the frt. and avoided every pothole we could on the drive home. Praying for no flats (no spare) or broken bj's lol.
I wanted a bigger tire out back and they didn't make a 18x10 that fit so I upgraded to a 20x10.
I then later upgraded my front brakes to larger. And the 18" torq thrusts didn't clear the calipers. So I jumped to 20x8.5 to match the rears.
Well, I got the fronts in, one came one day and the second another. I rest fitted the first one and was good. So I mounted them up and brought them home.
Three weeks later I went to put them on last weekend, and the other front wheel was 5x4.75 not 5x4.5. It was boxed wrong. They don't even offer that wheel in 5x4.75 anymore. And apperently they are discontinuing that wheel I had ordered the last two. So they couldn't find me a replacement. So I'm sending all four back and getting refunded.
New wheels will be here Friday for me to test fit. And yes, I'll be test fitting all four lol. I'm not sure on the rear. The new rears will sit .500" further out from the hub then the other 20x10s.
Still waiting on the transmission to get done. Got to wait for that before I can do a lot more of the bigger work, also waiting on a new engine harness. I usually build my own, well modify original harness. But I found a cheap overseas supplier, so I am gonna thoroughly inspect and test their harness before install.
I've been slacking a bit, got laid up with some health stuff that left me sidelined for a bit. But managed to get the car back together enough to get it out of the garage.
swapped water pumps for a more desired inlet location. and relocated my catch can.
20190319_182907 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
Got my new wheels and tires and in. I like how the rear looks but not so much on the fronts. 20x10 295/40-20
IMG_20190402_115547_952 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
I also picked up a new engine management system. I used hptuners on it before and still use hp tuners with my jeep. But i liked what i seen with this new holley system so thought i'd give it a go.
This year I switched from the stock ecu and hptuners to the new Holley Terminator MAx setup. So learning new software. Well made a big mistake/overlook. We had adjusted the ign timing, then started working on the target afr tables. I had to rescale my map table for afr and when I did that it gave me a popup window I misunderstood. So loaded the tune and went for a spin. What that popup was saying without actually saying it, was that it had also re scaled my timing tables. So I didn't catch the change in the timing. I went out to watch the afr, hit 11psi and noticed my timing was way off. But it was to late. Hit 36 degrees where I would normally hit around 10-12 degrees. Unfortunately damage was done and two pistons gave it up.
Messed up part was it really didnt act up. No smoke, didnt feel rough etc. I actually put about 50 miles on it including some 5-6psi hits on it before i started hearing the engine make noise.
So I picked up another motor friday at work, 90k for $900 complete drop out. Had the old one out friday night. I had to swap the cam and valve springs from the old to the new. Was really happy how clean the inside of the new/used motor was.
Now its in and running as of Sunday morning. But haven't had the opportunity to go out, been raining and cold everyday. but hoping friday and saturday look good
Added e85, need to do some testing to see if my pump is enough to support it at peak. So far seems to be alright. But Warlboro has a new bigger pump, might just switch to it regardless. and tune as needed with that pump, if have to hold the tune back a little if its not 100% up to it. I dont want to run two pumps. 20190509_170744 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
I need to buy a real camera and learn how to take real pics, not just phone pics. 20190501_202555 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
https://youtu.be/41BXjIwVCZc
First clip was very early on this year. I hadnt got the trans setup yet and you can hear from the quick 1-2 shift.
Second clip, I believe is when I hurt the motor. I noticed at the tail end my timing was way to high. and right after I could smell oil. Blew the knock sensor seals and the frt crank seal. The crank seal didn't 100% blow out. The balancer kept it in just enough it couldn't completely blow out and dump oil everywhere.
Third was the other night, took a buddies FIL for a ride. New 295/40 toyos hook way better then the oem size coopers I had on last year. OEM size coopers never stood a chance when the boost came in.
Hoping to get to the track this week either Wednesday or Friday evening for test and tune.
Well visited the track last week. Wasn't as great of a performance as i had hoped for. Seems i cannot hold the car as well now to launch as i was last year. I upgraded to Mustang rotors and corvette calipers. I'm pushing through the brakes before i can build boost to launch. Last year i could build 2-3psi and launch. Braking feels good coming to a stop and i have good firm pedal. I wonder if going to larger front calipers but not increasing master cylinder size is the cause.
First run, i went to stage and ended up pushing through the beam when i wasnt expecting so my time was terrible.
We turned up the boost, maxed out my controller with the 5psi wastegate spring. Looks like with that spring the controller maxes out at 17psi. What i didnt realize, is that when the controller maxes out and i hit that psi, it defaults to spring pressure. So i hit 17psi and the wastegate opened and didnt close till 5psi. So the car fell on its face during the pull. Which was fine, cause reading the logs its obvious i need more fuel pump at peak load as it was falling short.
Well, I ordered a new clamp for the intercooler boot at the turbo itself, wasn't a great clamp setup I had at that spot. Well 19 psi was all that clamp was good for lol. I ment to change it this morning. But forgot. Changed now.
Installed new fuel pumps. Dual walbro 450s in the tank. Didn't fit real well lol. Kinda a pain to install. But in and working. Between those and the 1500 cc injectors I have allz the fuel now. Turned it up to 19 psi on about 79% e. New turbo is working really well. Still working on launch control via the tune. Hopefully I'll get to the track Wednesday or Fridays test and tune and get a better run in then last time. I have no doubts I will lol,we figured out all the boost cut issues I was having last time. Not only was my boost gauge/controller cutting me off but I didn't realize in the tune we had setup ignition cut at 18psi from when I was running pump 93.
I also added an external battery switch per the track tech guys. I installed a hitch on the car, and mounted the switch to a receiver. Pulled a trunk plug in the floor and ran wires via a quick disconnect through floor to switch for while I'm at the track, not at the track pull reciever and wires and reinstall trunk plug.
Good thinking! My FIL has a Trans Am that ran a 10.60 in the 1/4 and they told him he needed a cage and a battery disconnect. He didn't want to cut a hole in the bumper so he doesn't run at the track anymore. I like this idea!!
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