Christmas Gift Exchange for a Lincoln Mark IV

[64BEL]

We don’t get these cars because we are worried about gas milage.

Amen, Brother!

 

[Detective D]

We don’t get these cars because we are worried about gas milage. I agree with everything you said above. I’m probably gonna do only a timing set, and exhaust. Maybe a mild cam. Nothing you would notice by looking at it. If its a points distributor probably change that to Petronix. I agree on the mufflers. I was looking at something like this.

1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV V8 Dual Exhaust w/4 Mufflers

SKU: 428514

waldronexhaust.com

I don't mean MPG as the goal, not specifically. From my tuning on a few Fords over the years, having them run responsively, smooth, and "snappy" generally meant the MPG was also higher then stock. Ford's detuning over the years actually hurt their MPG. They tried to make up for it with nonsensical rear end gear ratios. Everything they made runs better with a slightly "faster" rear end ratio, better air in and out, and a properly tuned carb to go with the better breathing, but not TOO BIG of a carb. The 1979 farm truck we had for years with a 351M topped out at about 85mph but we got it tuned to get 24mpg running empty on a 2bbl. As an example. It was deffinatly snappy! Would bark the 16" zig zag mud tire nylon rears.
Oh and timing. ALWAYS fix Ford's stupid timing. Part of making it responsive and smooth. IMO, you know you have it right when the engine just sounds like it is running "easy". IMO Fords from the factory, their V8's sound like they are gasping for air and running like they are labored just sitting at idle. Should rev up easy and smooth(and quickly!) when you push the lever on the carb with your hand Factory when you do that it's like you have to wait for the thing to pull all the vacuum advance it can muster and let the carb catch up to the engine.

Fords are great, if you like to fix everything they messed up when the car was new LOL. The potential is in there, you just have to undo their stupid to get it

 

[pricer140]

Our family was Mopar all the way however when the 75' Imperial was the last, my father traded the 75' for a 79 Lincoln Town Car Williamsburg Edition which was won by some lady in a lottery apparently, and I guess traded it for something else. I ended up buying the 75' Imperial back and drove that for probably 2- 3 years until about 1980. I traded the Imperial for a 1980 Cordoba and saw that 75' Imperial in my neighborhood for probably 6-8 years after, still going. Getting back to the Lincoln. For me, the styling of the 77' to 78's were the handsomest. However, the interiors of the Mark IV and maybe III, IMO were more luxurious. The dashes were more exclusive and you had the rear seat fold down center armrest and separate reading light switch. Chrysler offered more in their luxury cars at the time however it was uphill battle for recognition in the luxury market.

My 78' Mark V 460 c.i. has 28,000 original miles. Still has the original Michelin tires on it. Wasn't running smooth. I flushed the fuel system, cleaned the carb, and replaced plugs, and wires. Came across instructions to time by vacuum and have never seen a Ford run so smooth and responsive. Comes close maybe to keeping up to a 440 but I am impressed. Unless you got dollars to throw away, I would leave as is. The future buyer I doubt, will be interested in the 1/4 mile time. Good luck.

 

[kiwigtx]

We don’t get these cars because we are worried about gas milage.

It makes me laugh when non-muscle car owners ask how much it costs to run the beast.

My typical answer is "If you are worried about the price of gas, sell the damn car" Sure I hate high prices, but that won't stop me burning my share of old dinosaur drippings.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

away, I would leave as is. The future buyer I doubt, will be interested in the 1/4 mile time. Good luck.

I’m not planning on selling it but I hear ya. I’m also not trying not to drive my daddy to drinking, and make it a hot rod Lincoln. Just trying to wake it up a little bit. The big block 460 makes 215 HP in 1973 Ford factory form. That’s pathetic. A 1971 model without all the smog bs made 365hp and 500 torque. Granted compression went from 10.5 to 8 from 71 to 73. A few minor unnoticeable tweaks should help it.

 

[chargervert]

You gonna need a big pimping Huggy Bear hat,some red velvet and leopard skin seat covers,and some bling wire wheels and exhaust pipes out the fenders! As Kid Rock said " We roll deep in a Lincoln, four folks on a hundred spokes".

 

[DeltaV]

A 1971 model without all the smog bs made 365hp and 500 torque.

Gross horsepower rating for 1971.
Net horsepower rating after 1971.

Yes, the drop in compression ratio didn't help.

 

[chargervert]

Gross is gross and net is worse.

 

[Cranky]

I don't mean MPG as the goal, not specifically. From my tuning on a few Fords over the years, having them run responsively, smooth, and "snappy" generally meant the MPG was also higher then stock. Ford's detuning over the years actually hurt their MPG. They tried to make up for it with nonsensical rear end gear ratios. Everything they made runs better with a slightly "faster" rear end ratio, better air in and out, and a properly tuned carb to go with the better breathing, but not TOO BIG of a carb. The 1979 farm truck we had for years with a 351M topped out at about 85mph but we got it tuned to get 24mpg running empty on a 2bbl. As an example. It was deffinatly snappy! Would bark the 16" zig zag mud tire nylon rears.
Oh and timing. ALWAYS fix Ford's stupid timing. Part of making it responsive and smooth. IMO, you know you have it right when the engine just sounds like it is running "easy". IMO Fords from the factory, their V8's sound like they are gasping for air and running like they are labored just sitting at idle. Should rev up easy and smooth(and quickly!) when you push the lever on the carb with your hand Factory when you do that it's like you have to wait for the thing to pull all the vacuum advance it can muster and let the carb catch up to the engine.

Fords are great, if you like to fix everything they messed up when the car was new LOL. The potential is in there, you just have to undo their stupid to get it

My 66 289 4 speed Mustang Fastback was that way.....and got 21 on the highway with a 600DP Holley! In town was a different story though. Also had to fix the pedal rack TWICE! First time was with 'Genuine Ford Parts' and the 2nd I fixed it my way. It didn't even have a heavy duty clutch in it but the brake pedal shaft would work the factory keeper off and then move to the right just enough for the counter spring to pull the shaft crooked enough to where the brakes wouldn't hardly work.

The first time I just got done running a guy and when I stepped on the brake, things got bad. Two feet on the brake and not much happening so tried to downshift and no clutch either. Gassed it with pressure on the shifter and got 3rd gear but I'm starting to run out of room getting closer to an intersection. Hit the gas again and actually got 2nd and that took a bunch more speed off. 2nd time it came apart was during 'normal' driving and I drilled the pedal shaft for a heavy duty cotter pin and a flat washer. Heck with the genuine ford junk....

Before fixing it for the 2nd time I looked things over looking for miss alignment of the rack, shaft and spring but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Runcharger]

Those BBF's are a pretty good engine, I would tweak it a bit as well. I always remember the garage where I worked tuning up a 70 Police Interceptor 429, cylinder pressure checked in at just above 200!

 

[BeatersRus]

friend of mine is selling one of these,low miles 460,pretty much identical except for the color,his is a darker green.
for comparison,hes asking 11 grand and i suspect that yours is just a tad nicer.
shame about the torino.