New look for 2012

[Falcon_LS]

Happy New Year!

I wasn't really happy with the way my Grand Marquis looked. I'm going to be doing a Marauder conversion in a year's time, but wanted something that looked respectable in the mean time. The bumpers were chipped, thanks to the careful drivers at every parking lot I've been to, my left rear door was dented and the previous owner had the left front fender and driver's door painted a different shade of green.

The car spent a week at the paint shop. Both front and rear bumpers were painted, along with both front fenders, driver's door, left rear door and fender. The pinstipes were removed, as the previous owner used stick ons that didn't align properly and the painted ones were kind of fading. The grille was also painted. A new set of headlights were also installed, and clearcoated prior to installation. Here are some pictures I wanted to share:

Car being stripped down:

The hood with a fresh coat of primer:

Front bumper off the vehicle:

Left rear door repaired:

I did what's called "the bumper tuck mod", which basically means pulling the bumper slightly inwards at the center and securing it, so that it doesn't flap on the highway. I asked if the rear bumper could be painted on the vehicle, as opposed to removing it like the front:

The grille:

And we're done:

Will post some more pictures once the weather clears up. Nice and dusty today.

 

[FirstNissan]

Happy new years falconLS! Car looks awesome. Do you have some before pictures?

 

[RTexasF]

Do you have ANY pictures? None are showing up for me.....just "file not found".

 

[andrewg]

I don't see any photos either.

 

[RTexasF]

OK now they're up. Looks good.

 

[GMBoy]

Job well done! I've followed your past post on your car, and enjoyed this one. I like how the job is being done correctly - sll the masking underhood and all. Most shops skimp on these important tasks and you get a messy paint job with overspray all over the car. The results speak for themselves - good looking car and an awesome color!

 

[Falcon_LS]

Thanks for the kind words!

Sorry about the issue with the pictures not showing up, SuperMotors must have been having problems.

Here's what the car looked like when I first got it:

Notice is misaligned driver's door trim and the bumper tucked in on the sides:

Then I started having some problems with the paint, because the previous owner did a lousy job - namely paint chips on the bumpers and head panels. It got to the point where you could literally peel the paint off like the shell off a boiled egg.

Finally started blacking out. This:

Turned into this:

The Teardrop aluminum wheels were also leaking air and had to be repaired. Mercury Marauder wheels will go on the car with spacers once the conversion is complete, so I picked up a set of four steelies for $80 with Mercury Mountaineer center caps, and mounted new Goodyears:

(Before the blacking out):

The car looks essentially the same now, minus the grille with the body color surround and black center, but with a paint jobs that's worlds better than what it was when I got it.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Car looks awesome..You definitely found an awesome paint shop..I really like the Marauder wheels..Looks like most of your neighbors own Panthers or at least full size sedans..I do not see any puddle jumpers in your neck of the woods.

 

[PandaBear]

Cool look, the wheels makes it look like it is floating in the air with only the hubs on.

 

[Colt45ws]

*expletive* AWESOME!.
You know, I was looking into doing a Marauder convert on my front end, since I trashed my front bumper and header panel. I went, "Heck, opportunity to improve it!" Well I looked up a MM bumper cover from Ford and they want $1500 for it. That plan went out the window.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Thanks for the kind words.

Colt, yes Marauder parts are expensive. I've been quoted $1,370 for the front bumper and $1,010 for the rear alone!! But I'm still determined to go for it.

Here are some fresh pictures: