Back in a Marauder!

[crownvic97]

I bought my first Marauder in December of 2014 and it was great because I always wanted one! As time went by and I spent more time working on it I realized that I may have jumped too soon on one and was never too happy with the condition of the car despite how much I loved having a Marauder. It was mechanically fine but needed a lot of cosmetic work and I could not justify painting the car with the amount of money it costs to do it right. I was also in the middle of doing a big home renovation project and money was getting tight to finish. I made the decision to sell my Marauder last spring and I instantly missed the car. I actually never even posted that I sold it because I was so bummed out when it left. After that I got caught up in more home renovations and working on some old Pontiacs with my dad. Every day I checked EBay and CL to see what was out there for Marauders and finally decided a few months ago to find another.

Originally I was thinking I wanted a low miles silver birch but the more I looked at them I just felt like a Marauder was supposed to be black, that was when I pictured when I was a kid anyways. I looked at almost every Marauder locally for sale and passed on all of them. I was being picky this time and did not want another car with bad paint and rust underneath. The last one I looked at had a very short Ad and a few cloudy pictures. I only went to look at it to cross it off my list as another car I looked at to do my due diligence. Once I saw it I was instantly impressed. The paint has a beautiful shine, no typical roof rust spots, no clear coat fading, just a ding or two that’s to be expected. The interior was mint, no rips in the seats, back seat looks like it was never used, armrest is mint, you could tell the car was taken care off. It’s 100% bone stock and is the perfect blank slate I was looking for. Most importantly, the car is virtually rust free, which was my number one priority, a tough thing to find in the northeast.

I bought the car from the second owner, first owners were an older couple who drove the car to Florida every winter, which is why it’s so clean. It has 166k miles from all of the driving they did but you would think it had 60k based on the condition. Also, the car had the transmission rebuilt a month ago at a cost of $2300. I have the receipt and the shop owner agreed the 50k mile warranty will be honored even with the change in ownership which is great. I paid $5k for the car, which considering the condition I think is more than fair. I don’t plan on ever selling this one and I hope that never changes!

It’s dirty, but here are a few pics after I towed it home.

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/1E5243DE-0819-41F1-91CF-7B965FCB2D70_zpspfu4hqw8.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/1E5243DE-0819-41F1-91CF-7B965FCB2D70_zpspfu4hqw8.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/2D724FBB-4C5F-4970-AE8D-94FDCCA3B92D_zpslczh8jyd.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/2D724FBB-4C5F-4970-AE8D-94FDCCA3B92D_zpslczh8jyd.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/78A294FC-7CBD-493D-8D46-7E09769F3BE8_zpskhajbnvw.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/78A294FC-7CBD-493D-8D46-7E09769F3BE8_zpskhajbnvw.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/93273AD9-FAEF-4868-A4EA-4499CEE047A1_zpsy1au43ip.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/93273AD9-FAEF-4868-A4EA-4499CEE047A1_zpsy1au43ip.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/5E93307C-29DC-409C-9064-5BB7AFC81820_zpsuem9s3r5.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/5E93307C-29DC-409C-9064-5BB7AFC81820_zpsuem9s3r5.jpg.h tml)

Plans for now are new tires, big brakes, and a full tune up. Much more in the future hopefully!

[JimP]

Nice find!

[TrilogyMarauder]

Good luck with it. I'm in Mass. also and just picked one up. Big brakes for sale here..........https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=104987

[510paesan]

Clean specimen


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[8UWITH6]

Very nice enjoy!

[Svashtar]

Great job, and a great price! I baby mine at 114k, and this paint looks cleaner than mine. Good score! [emoji1531]


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[crownvic97]

Nice find!


Good luck with it. I'm in Mass. also and just picked one up. Big brakes for sale here..........https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=104987


Clean specimen


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Very nice enjoy!


Great job, and a great price! I baby mine at 114k, and this paint looks cleaner than mine. Good score! [emoji1531]


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Thanks everyone!

[Mr. Man]

Any idea the sequence #? If it's a very early '03 keep it garaged when not in use as the Sun will kill the clear coat. Congrats on getting back into the madness.

[justbob]

Looks nice! Lose the dealer sticker.. I won't even sign on a car until it's removed!


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[1Marauder]

Nice, Congrats!

[a_d_a_m]

I'd say that was rather well-bought.

[crownvic97]

Any idea the sequence #? If it's a very early '03 keep it garaged when not in use as the Sun will kill the clear coat. Congrats on getting back into the madness.

Based on the VIN I don’t think it’s that early of a build, but I am going to send away for the certificate to get that information. It was garage kept up to this point, it will stay that way now. Thanks you!


Looks nice! Lose the dealer sticker.. I won't even sign on a car until it's removed!


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That’s my first order of business my next day off along with a big time cleaning!


Nice, Congrats!
Thank you!

I'd say that was rather well-bought.

Thank you sir! Probably not the deal of the century, but I am happy with it!

[a_d_a_m]

$5k with a rebuilt/warrantied transmission is plenty good.

[Ambitious1]

Congratulations! That's awesome!

[Charlie Costell]

Great find my friend. Unless you have bottomless pockets, I would just do the tires, detail it and drive it. Obviously the factory brakes were good enough in 166k miles to protect it from other damage. Just me talking.

[stevengerard]

wow great find, I'd call that a super deal. Car looks like it has 30k miles to me. Yeah, like above - just drive it as is for a while. out the wish list together over winter and then do something in the spring if you still want to. Not many all original cars left.

[TrilogyMarauder]

Based on the VIN I don’t think it’s that early of a build, but I am going to send away for the certificate to get that information. It was garage kept up to this point, it will stay that way now. Thanks you!


Look at the sticker on the end of the drivers door, it has the build date on it. ;)

[Agent2006]

Great car looks like you chose carefully and it paid off.

-just think for $5000 you could have bought a beat up old Honda Accord or Hyundai with over 100,000... or some other dealer back lot rattle trap.

Thanks for posting, I'm even more motivated to get the "fix it list" done on mine so I can get it on the road!

[crownvic97]

Just want to say thank you to everyone for the kind words. I have not had the time to do a full detail on the car, but I did have a chance to hand wash it quick and throw some quick spray wax on it. The results are pretty impressive and I know with some compound and polish it’s going to be great.

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/5D4D3349-E7E6-43D1-9CD0-9AB8F2D36A0C_zpsn3k3mtad.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/5D4D3349-E7E6-43D1-9CD0-9AB8F2D36A0C_zpsn3k3mtad.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/566420EE-24CB-4F72-A205-F0EC8379FE3E_zpsmzlbjd44.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/566420EE-24CB-4F72-A205-F0EC8379FE3E_zpsmzlbjd44.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/C84A547A-8BC3-4155-A9B1-C63D17F5FB42_zpshoizduqu.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/C84A547A-8BC3-4155-A9B1-C63D17F5FB42_zpshoizduqu.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/5FD2D830-71B6-44B7-A0C4-BAD3203F566C_zpswruc3atl.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/5FD2D830-71B6-44B7-A0C4-BAD3203F566C_zpswruc3atl.jpg.h tml)

I also did a tune up, NGK plugs, oil change, cleaned the air filter, new fuel filter, and an oil change. This is where the happy story becomes a little less happy unfortunately...

When I bought the car I noticed the ever most slight shake at idle. It had no CEL so I chalked it up as it just needing a tune up (dumb on my part). Well, after my tune up the misfire is even worse. CEL came on, showing cylinder 8 misfire...not good. Swapped the cop on 8 with number 5 and put another new plug in 8 here is what plug 8 looked like after 15 Miles

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/E34BF4A1-9141-4970-BEBE-E09F7A5129BC_zpstafobbe6.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/E34BF4A1-9141-4970-BEBE-E09F7A5129BC_zpstafobbe6.jpg.h tml)

Reset the check engine light and it drove it until the CEL came back on. Read the code again and the misfire stayed in cylinder 8, ruling out the cop.

Next steps are a compression test and leak down test which I am assuming will lead me down the road of a burnt valve or dropped/damaged valve seat.

Not the end of the world, I’m pretty sure the person who sold it to me probably knew, but such is life. I will pull the head, have it repaired, and put it back on.

Guess I’ll be getting to know the car a little more intimately in the near future.

[Svashtar]

Good detective work! I don’t think I would have figured that out, and would probably have replaced all the cops first and wasted $. Isn’t #8 the cylinder that typically runs the hottest, on the rear left of the engine?

I still think you got a good deal and the car looks great. Good luck with the valve issue.


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[crownvic97]

Good detective work! I don’t think I would have figured that out, and would probably have replaced all the cops first and wasted $. Isn’t #8 the cylinder that typically runs the hottest, on the rear left of the engine?

I still think you got a good deal and the car looks great. Good luck with the valve issue.


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Indeed, 7 and 8 (rearmost cylinders on the driver’s side) are known to get too hot due to poor coolant flow in the back of the cylinder head. I’m not the first to fall victim to it by any means, but I was hoping to get more than 40 miles out of the car before major repair :D

I’m not soured on the car, I definitely would have paid less if the issue was known, but it’s money already spent. Move on and fix it better!

[crownvic97]

Teaser picture:

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/2CFFBBC1-1AF4-4AF6-9E8E-DC4F2413A396_zpswvxunvbm.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/2CFFBBC1-1AF4-4AF6-9E8E-DC4F2413A396_zpswvxunvbm.jpg.h tml)

Going to make a detailed thread once it’s done and the car is running. Getting oh so close!

[TrilogyMarauder]

Wow :eek:........lot of work! Good luck. I hope everything goes well. ;)

[TrilogyMarauder]

Looks like your creating a beast.

[justbob]

Looks like a nice build about to happen! Sucks to hear what you discovered but kudos for keeping a cool head and diving right in!

I wasn’t aware Marauders came in colors? Must be a basic trim package? [emoji16]


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[Invective]

Glad to read the Marauder found a good home. The women depicted earlier are probably stating: 'he went where and spent x amount on this?' They may never understand. I took my car to the shop it was last serviced at in Michigan before driving it home to North Carolina. The manager was a F-L-M tech who pulled the codes and reset the ECU. He stated the climate control unit had set a code, most likely from non-use (9k miles in 12 years). Have yet to turn 41k miles but have my first vacation in years with my grand daughters together planned for this summer. Visiting relatives in Tennessee and Florida with side trips to Marineland and St. Augustine. Choosing the Marauder for the trip was a no brainer as it's my grand daughters' new instant favorite (Mustang takes a break).

Current driving music: Stevie Ray Vaughn's 'Couldn't Stand the Weather'.

[crownvic97]

This picture is mostly for the shock value of the background, Keep in mind the car in the background is a good friend of mine, he’s a member here actually. It’s a 2004 CV with a full Terminatior swap and a lot more mods on top.

The lame NA engine in front is mine! :D

[TrilogyMarauder]

Oooooh ok

[Marauderman]

First off-- Congrats on your new find purchase and WTG on getting head over into it and getting -r-done back in shape and on the road--I am IMPRESSED --as a lot of folks are as well here reading this am sure--towards your energy and desire to fix the car right.

However, Am perplexed about this guys remarks below:



"------just think for $5000 you could have bought a beat up old Honda Accord or Hyundai with over 100,000... or some other dealer back lot rattle trap..........."


Yes I realize he made some comments that were better but ---really--
--apparently guy failed to realize this is a Marauder forum and doesn't think
that's what we do here .......further nice to see you did not
paid attention to him --- all of us are thinking highly of your pursuit as we --watch and follow your impressive attitude you have- nice of you

Please continue to keep us all posted ..........carry on......

[Agent2006]

However, Am perplexed about this guys remarks below:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent2006 View Post
"------just think for $5000 you could have bought a beat up old Honda Accord or Hyundai with over 100,000... or some other dealer back lot rattle trap..........."
Yes I realize he made some comments that were better but ---really--
--apparently guy failed to realize this is a Marauder forum and doesn't think
that's what we do here .......further nice to see you did not
paid attention to him --- all of us are thinking highly of your pursuit as we --watch and follow your impressive attitude you have- nice of you

Please continue to keep us all posted ..........carry on......

for the record: I was paying him a compliment and I too! am cheering him on. The "just think" comment was a bit of sarcasm directed outwards towards the rest of the whole wide world that doesn't understand Marauders or Panther fans. It's the kind of thing we all would hear from 99% of our co-workers, relatives...etc...who look at cars as a mere appliance.

(I'm fixing one too. An Early 2003)

Hey CV97 - are you going to do the timing chains/guides while you are at it changing the head gasket? Also a good time to do the oil filter adapter...I'll be following this thread to see which cooling mod you do, thinking of doing one on mine, which has (131,000) on it now...but there are a few different cooling mod versions out there....

[crownvic97]

First off-- Congrats on your new find purchase and WTG on getting head over into it and getting -r-done back in shape and on the road--I am IMPRESSED --as a lot of folks are as well here reading this am sure--towards your energy and desire to fix the car right.

However, Am perplexed about this guys remarks below:



Yes I realize he made some comments that were better but ---really--
--apparently guy failed to realize this is a Marauder forum and doesn't think
that's what we do here .......further nice to see you did not
paid attention to him --- all of us are thinking highly of your pursuit as we --watch and follow your impressive attitude you have- nice of you

Please continue to keep us all posted ..........carry on......

Thank you for the kind words!

I don’t think he meant anything negative by it, just that some people would spend what I spent on the Marauder on a commuter car and not care less about the car. We are enthusiast here so it’s a whole different world!


However, Am perplexed about this guys remarks below:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent2006 View Post
"------just think for $5000 you could have bought a beat up old Honda Accord or Hyundai with over 100,000... or some other dealer back lot rattle trap..........."
Yes I realize he made some comments that were better but ---really--
--apparently guy failed to realize this is a Marauder forum and doesn't think
that's what we do here .......further nice to see you did not
paid attention to him --- all of us are thinking highly of your pursuit as we --watch and follow your impressive attitude you have- nice of you

Please continue to keep us all posted ..........carry on......

for the record: I was paying him a compliment and I too! am cheering him on. The "just think" comment was a bit of sarcasm directed outwards towards the rest of the whole wide world that doesn't understand Marauders or Panther fans. It's the kind of thing we all would hear from 99% of our co-workers, relatives...etc...who look at cars as a mere appliance.

(I'm fixing one too. An Early 2003)

Hey CV97 - are you going to do the timing chains/guides while you are at it changing the head gasket? Also a good time to do the oil filter adapter...I'll be following this thread to see which cooling mod you do, thinking of doing one on mine, which has (131,000) on it now...but there are a few different cooling mod versions out there....

Thanks bud!

I have all new guides and steel tensioners installed, I did reuse the chains as they were fine. when I make my thread for the rebuild I’ll have all that info in it, I’ll post the link here as well.

I am using the ON3 COT delete and running rear head cooling mods on the rear of the d/s and p/s heads. I will also show more of this in my build thread. Basically I’ll be routing the d/s Head back to the radiator and the p/s Head will feed the heater core.

[Agent2006]

some people would spend what I spent on the Marauder on a commuter car and not care less about the car. We are enthusiast here so it’s a whole different world!

You got it!!! I have less in my whole car horde than if I walked in and bought some new Hyundai/Kia/Toyota melted-bar-of-soap at a dealer. There's no heart in those Maytags.

I'm also looking at the (username) Zack cooling mod (search on the forum here) as well as ON3 -wondering what your thoughts (and the group's thoughts) are on that one. Appear to be a few advantages to Zack's set up...I definitely will do some kind of mod.

[crownvic97]

some people would spend what I spent on the Marauder on a commuter car and not care less about the car. We are enthusiast here so it’s a whole different world!

I'm also looking at the (username) Zack cooling mod (search on the forum here) as well as ON3 -wondering what your thoughts (and the group's thoughts) are on that one. Appear to be a few advantages to Zack's set up...I definitely will do some kind of mod.

If you are keeping the stock crossover tube then Zack’s kit is a good solution for a rear cooling mod. I believe Travis, username Musclemerc, may be making some of his which are similar to Zack’s as well.

Any solution is good as long as it gets coolant flowing in the rear of the head!

[crownvic97]

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/9BE024CF-A9CB-45A2-B46C-45C9A302CD90_zpsbu0hejvm.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/9BE024CF-A9CB-45A2-B46C-45C9A302CD90_zpsbu0hejvm.jpg.h tml)

Getting closer!!!

[justbob]

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/9BE024CF-A9CB-45A2-B46C-45C9A302CD90_zpsbu0hejvm.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/9BE024CF-A9CB-45A2-B46C-45C9A302CD90_zpsbu0hejvm.jpg.h tml)



Getting closer!!!



[emoji1303]

Come on man! You’re only another 1 1/2hrs to start up! Put the camera down and pick up a wrench.. [emoji16]


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[crownvic97]

[emoji1303]

Come on man! You’re only another 1 1/2hrs to start up! Put the camera down and pick up a wrench.. [emoji16]


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Seriously! I need to get off my backside and get it done! :D

[crownvic97]

Without further delay:

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/DA097466-617C-430C-8E8F-0C7B07C81802_zpsaytrh1rb.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/DA097466-617C-430C-8E8F-0C7B07C81802_zpsaytrh1rb.jpg.h tml)


It runs and kinda drives. I was able to run it long enough to check for leaks and get the cooling system burped (way easier now without the stupid crossover tube). Have to work out a few kinks and then it needs a tune. Still on the fence between Dyno or mail order from Marty...wish I lived in GA.

[Marauderman]

Nice finish!!!! And Martyo is where you Go! No Poll necessary--you will be happy and service is backed...…...

[1Marauder]

Beautiful job on all Above! Thanks for the washed and clean photo follow-up! Car looks sweet.

While DYNO is awesome... +197 on Marty and getting tunes from him.

Simply call him. He has tuned three different cars for me. We (I) had two consecutive issues on the last car, neither of which had anything to do with Marty or his tune/products. One issue was on car I had just purchased day before -- a #5 COP failure on 19,000 mile car ON $&@%#*^>€ TUNE TEST DRIVE immediately after tune install--seriously, what are the #%<}€*¥£ odds of that? I was about to MELT, and Marty called me back and calmly helped me diagnose it, on a Sunday, as he knew I was 1700 miles from home. Car was fixed in 13 minutes the next morning, after walking accross street to Ford dealership parts department at 7:30am for new COP.

Can't beat Marty for his prices, his customer service, or his calm, cool, and collected assistance.

[crownvic97]

Nice finish!!!! And Martyo is where you Go! No Poll necessary--you will be happy and service is backed...…...


Beautiful job on all Above! Thanks for the washed and clean photo follow-up! Car looks sweet.

While DYNO is awesome... +197 on Marty and getting tunes from him.

Simply call him. He has tuned three different cars for me. We (I) had two consecutive issues on the last car, neither of which had anything to do with Marty or his tune/products. One issue was on car I had just purchased day before -- a #5 COP failure on 19,000 mile car ON $&@%#*^>€ TUNE TEST DRIVE immediately after tune install--seriously, what are the #%<}€*¥£ odds of that? I was about to MELT, and Marty called me back and calmly helped me diagnose it, on a Sunday, as he knew I was 1700 miles from home. Car was fixed in 13 minutes the next morning, after walking accross street to Ford dealership parts department at 7:30am for new COP.

Can't beat Marty for his prices, his customer service, or his calm, cool, and collected assistance.

Thank you both!

I did decide to go with Marty and my X4 with the first tune will be here Monday!

[1Marauder]

Forgot to tell you to chose "8" from the 1 to 10 shift firmness scale... :)

[crownvic97]

Forgot to tell you to chose "8" from the 1 to 10 shift firmness scale... :)

That’s funny, because that’s exactly what I did!

[crownvic97]

Cleaned up the Marauder yesterday, not much new to report, I’ve been just enjoying being able to drive the car with 8 cylinders. I am starting to gather parts for my next mod, I’ll post an update when that starts to fall in to place.

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/3013AF4B-AA38-4853-A8C9-479173624C5A_zpsalm6sfkd.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/3013AF4B-AA38-4853-A8C9-479173624C5A_zpsalm6sfkd.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/581F4BD3-2EBB-4BB2-BA7C-4CF5F2435D25_zpsglay1x8w.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/581F4BD3-2EBB-4BB2-BA7C-4CF5F2435D25_zpsglay1x8w.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/8D115DA6-9BFC-4D73-8D7F-A88060212C61_zps86idlgio.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/8D115DA6-9BFC-4D73-8D7F-A88060212C61_zps86idlgio.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/996BE089-4230-4CA3-88C2-2007FBF5EEB1_zpsflfe1zlc.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/996BE089-4230-4CA3-88C2-2007FBF5EEB1_zpsflfe1zlc.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/8EFA77FF-3050-4621-A8A1-C779A6CC18B6_zpsdtmses6h.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2003%20Mercury%20Marauder/8EFA77FF-3050-4621-A8A1-C779A6CC18B6_zpsdtmses6h.jpg.h tml)

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[daddyusmaximus]

Good find, and I'd say a good price with the rebuilt trans.

[crownvic97]

Figure I may as well keep posting updates here as well.

Finally was able to assemble the parts and get the time to finish my next big project I alluded to.

I don’t know why I waited so long to do this, what a blast!!!


https://i.imgur.com/b9cYVUy.jpg

[Agent2006]

Great to hear it's back in action! Still was a good deal for what you paid with the cherry paint job and rebuilt trans. Interior looks mint too!

[crownvic97]

Great to hear it's back in action! Still was a good deal for what you paid with the cherry paint job and rebuilt trans. Interior looks mint too!

It’s a lesson I’ve learned 10 times and will probably never truly learn. You are better off spending more on the car than trying to get a deal. Had I just bought a mint $15-$20k Marauder in the first place I would have likely had better luck with things not going south.

I wouldn’t change it for anything now though. I have a great engine and a manual transmission. All done by me and my best friends. It’s made the car that much more special.

[Agent2006]

Agreed,but it's more "your car" after you've slaved over it. As opposed to writing a big check. But if I won lotto I would have probably written a big check, truth be told...