97 town car frame swap

[Themarauderguy]

Does anybody know if you can take a 97 Lincoln Town Car and swap the frame from an 03 up Crown Vic want to build a project just curious how this would work out. I know the front part of the car would have to have some modifications done to fit because the 03 up front ends a little bit different on the Crown Vics and Lincoln Town Car Grand Marquis ECT. Then the previous years.

[BigCars4Ever]

1997 Town car wheel base 117.4"
2003 Crown vic 114.7"
Don't know if that would be an issue but 3" is quite a bit.

[Themarauderguy]

Well I know the wheelbase is wider but I'm going to be using the 03 Crown Vic style rims as well so my thinking is it should tuck under the fender well and look pretty good at least in theory. Lol the ideal is to build a Hot Rod Lincoln but I like the square 97 Lincoln Town Car body style so I'm wanting to put it on an updated chassis and then later cobra engine Supercharger all that kind of stuff if it'll even work. But I'm here and I'm open to all input and all info.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Not to stop your project. it's benn done to a 93 by a member here. https://www.google.com/amp/s/thegarage.jalopnik.com/this-cheap-looking-lincoln-town-car-has-way-more-power-1759268618/amp

[Themarauderguy]

Yes I read about his but he didn't change his chassis he stuck with the 93 chassis. I want my Lincoln on an updated chassis kind of like the marauder 03 Crown Vic police interceptor chassis for handling purposes!

[justbob]

Well I know the wheelbase is wider



Just from this sentence I highly suggest you don’t start taking a car apart.

Besides, what you are dreaming up makes zero sense as you can easily adapt better suspension to the older frame. Just using stock ‘03 stuff is hardly an upgrade..

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[Themarauderguy]

Just to let you know I've rebuilt cars in the past before no stranger to this. just in the sentence stated States how much you don't know. So smart guy tell me this is the axle on the marauder wider than the previous 02 Crown Vic? Lol like the offset of The Wheels on the 03 up Crown Vic is different than O2 in previous years!!! If we're talking about wheel base from the back wheel to the front that's not an issue. One last thing asking advice from someone if they've ever done this before and not knowing how to do it, or take a car apart and put one back together is a totally different thing. I've taken several cars apart and put back together shows how much you don't know!!! Lol

[Themarauderguy]

And for the record throwing money into a used car makes zero sense putting a supercharger on a car getting less fuel mileage makes no sense who cares if it makes sense we do it cuz it's what we like and it's fine since when did Hot Rodding have to make sense... lol lol

[RubberCtyRauder]

just so you know...justbob builds and fabricates just about anything. you are barking up the wrong tree. he speaks from knowledge. and he is right, an 03 cvpi chassis is no great road set up. what is so great about it that you must have it?

[Themarauderguy]

I don't care if the guy built the planet if I want to build what I want to build I'll build it! and the 03 up chassis is better than the previous that's why most people who built hot rod Old Skool Ford pickups are putting them on that chassis huh I wonder why! I forgot only you guys can have all the answers wrong!!! I don't need your input I ask has anyone done this before your opinion is like your rear end everyone has one now let's move past it already get your ego out of the way. And for the record justbob barked up the wrong tree and so did you cuz you know nothing about what I do what I do for a living and what kind of cars i built so just cuz I ask if you a questions does not mean I don't know what I'm doing! like I said I didn't ask for your input everyone has one I could care less what you think or think makes sense or don't make sense the end of the day the marauder didn't make sense and most people think The Marauder is a glorified Crown Vic Grand Marquis and that makes no sense so who cares, but I know one thing you guys obviously don't have the answer. Lol I was looking for! And I believe the 03 up Crown Vic rack and pinion steering was an improvement even Hot Rod Magazine car and driver and several others stated this and said so. I guess the Ford Motor Company didn't know what they were doing when they built this. Lol this is giving me a good laugh tonight I sure didn't need it two turds in a pond.

[justbob]

You sir are a joke. Someone TELLS you the actual wheelbase measurements and you think he is talking axle widths!

It doesn’t matter that it is 3” shorter? This ought to turn out show quality..

And you are actually comparing a straight axle/kingpin/leaf spring F100 to a ‘97 town car suspension and the reasoning of swapping frames??? WOW If you’re such the educated and seasoned pro at rebuilding cars, then why are you asking us so beneath you such a silly question?

I say go for it man. Your the pro! Excluding grammar of course.

Quit getting so butt hurt. It’s a car forum, grow a pair and move on.


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[massacre]

OP needs to check themselves
Srsly

[Fastbob]

It will probably bolt right up.....Wow, simply wow!

[MOTOWN]

This cant be a real/serious thread!

[RubberCtyRauder]

The reason nobody knows is because noone here would swap a 97lincoln to a cvpi frame. Go to an ****g junkyard and measure it yourself. You are the one who posted here, if you don't like the replies then gtfo. You are the one doing all the barking, because you dont like our answers. Anything can be done with tbe right tools and $.. is it a direct swap, bolt and go....No.

[sailsmen]

Keep "using the 03 Crown Vic style rims" and Krazy Glue.
Krazy Glue works every time because it's "Crazy". I just used some last weekend on a vacuum cleaner and yeah it works.

Keep us posted on your project and keep those pics coming!

Per Motor Trend - "The final update of the Panthers came in 2003. All three cars got a new chassis, a reworked suspension for (again, relatively) better handling,...".

[Joe Walsh]

I'm thinking this might be ArenJ in disguise!
He was always in love with titanium frame, long wheelbase 'L' model Panthers.....:shake:

[RubberCtyRauder]

If you are so smart then why didn't you look at swapping a 97 town car body to a 2003+ town car frame...CV wheelbase is 3 inches shorter so your axle/steering wont be centered in the opening, there fore prolly rubbing and shocks wont line up etc. The 03 town car frame is a mere .300 or about 5/16ths difference in wheelbase. All panthers got updated frames in 03 and rack and pinion steering. There is no advantage to a cvpi frame...zero..

[Themarauderguy]

If you are so smart then why didn't you look at swapping a 97 town car body to a 2003+ town car frame...CV wheelbase is 3 inches shorter so your axle/steering wont be centered in the opening, there fore prolly rubbing and shocks wont line up etc. The 03 town car frame is a mere .300 or about 5/16ths difference in wheelbase. All panthers got updated frames in 03 and rack and pinion steering. There is no advantage to a cvpi frame...zero.. you're the one who's not very smart stop riding the guys Pole so tell me this smart guy how many frame off chassis cars have you built probably not one! in fact most of you queers who replied probably never even done a head gasket job. Lol shows how uneducated and stupid you people really are. intellectually you guys just aren't there you're just okay. Lol I'm not calling everybody on this form stupid by the way only the ones who decided to jump on your keyboard and be a keyboard Warrior. Lol really you guys didn't offer any information just you're sorry low class low self-esteem and opinion... close the thread after this I'm done wasting time with morons I'm going to go ahead and build it the way I want and it'll look nice like it always does maybe a little bit more fabrication work but hell that's what I like to do. And all the comments can't be real all the replies to the original question to ask must be a bunch of jokes to I like to crack jokes myself as well I guess that's kind of obvious. well girls once all the BS is gone I'm still going to be here hahaha hohoho. Black Sheep country running pure a$$ Wild.:pirate::pirate::pirate:: pirate:

[RubberCtyRauder]

You have yet to prove why an old cvpi frame is superior and how you will overcome the 3 inch wheelbase difference? Come on Einstein tell us your ingenuity

[Joe Walsh]

Looks good!!

:2thumbs:

https://i.imgur.com/B9f7XJKl.jpg

j/k

[Themarauderguy]

Hey it might be 3 inches long or 3 inches short as long as she's happy that's all that matters. Lol when I get this figured out I'll let you guys know how it turns out. I'll probably take your advice and look at the 03 up Lincoln town car chassis.

[sailsmen]

If he can YOU CAN.
ps Don't forget the Krazy Glue.

[RubberCtyRauder]

I'm all for making custom cars, bodies, motors, etc. But don't bite our heads off when we gave our answer. We didnt tell you not do it, just that there might be easier, more logical choices to look at to reach your goal. a cvpi frame has nothing superior over an lx frame, town car frame, grand marquis, marauder frame. The best frame will be obe that closest matches wheelbase and mounts. Hope you find what works

[Themarauderguy]

I'm all for making custom cars, bodies, motors, etc. But don't bite our heads off when we gave our answer. We didnt tell you not do it, just that there might be easier, more logical choices to look at to reach your goal. a cvpi frame has nothing superior over an lx frame, town car frame, grand marquis, marauder frame. The best frame will be obe that closest matches wheelbase and mounts. Hope you find what works okay I'm going to look into all the advice given and I'll keep everybody updated how it turns out thanks for the info.

[tbone]

you're the one who's not very smart stop riding the guys Pole so tell me this smart guy how many frame off chassis cars have you built probably not one! in fact most of you queers who replied probably never even done a head gasket job. Lol shows how uneducated and stupid you people really are. intellectually you guys just aren't there you're just okay. Lol I'm not calling everybody on this form stupid by the way only the ones who decided to jump on your keyboard and be a keyboard Warrior. Lol really you guys didn't offer any information just you're sorry low class low self-esteem and opinion... close the thread after this I'm done wasting time with morons I'm going to go ahead and build it the way I want and it'll look nice like it always does maybe a little bit more fabrication work but hell that's what I like to do. And all the comments can't be real all the replies to the original question to ask must be a bunch of jokes to I like to crack jokes myself as well I guess that's kind of obvious. well girls once all the BS is gone I'm still going to be here hahaha hohoho. Black Sheep country running pure a$$ Wild.:pirate::pirate::pirate:: pirate:

_______________________

[Bondfreak13]

The wheel base for an 03+ town car is 117.7 vs a 97 town at 117.4 you have a more forgiving frame to use. the P71 frames and the Marauder frames are not any different, to my knowledge , from the Town car frame other than wheel base. All the suspension parts bolt on. On Crown Vic .net we have a member who swapped the frame from an 07 Vic car under his 85 Grand Marquis two door. it was a direct swap. even the body mounts lined up.

We are not saying it's dumb to swap frames, we are saying it's silly to swap frames with a car that has a 3 inch shorter wheel base. By far the biggest improvement with the new frame will be the Watts link and the Shocks being outboard of the frame. because of the new shock location your going to need rims from a 03+ car to fit the new offset.


Not to stop your project. it's been done to a 93 by a member here. https://www.google.com/amp/s/thegarage.jalopnik.com/this-cheap-looking-lincoln-town-car-has-way-more-power-1759268618/amp
Saw this on CVN a while back. great build

[BAD MERC]

It's a direct swap. Don't let these guys try to stop you from showing us who's the smartest cookie here. Yep, Super Dick Mode.

[NorthShoreChiMM]

OP got ripped a new one. RCR and Justbob have good points ya know

[RF Overlord]

May I remind everyone to keep it civil. We don't know what the OP knows.

And marauderguy, calling people who are respected here for their knowledge and experience "queers" and "morons" is not acceptable. Do it again and you'll earn a vacation.

[BAD MERC]

OP = original poster. Name calling is a huge no-no. Hit up the fauxrauder forums or ricer fanpages for that behaviour.

[Zack]

It will literally bolt right on with no mods. I have considered Doing this myself

[RubberCtyRauder]

It will literally bolt right on with no mods. I have considered Doing this myself

which bolts on, 03 cvpi frame or 03 town car frame?

[77pantera]

which bolts on, 03 cvpi frame or 03 town car frame?
Probably the one with the correct wheel base....
Besides for the core support the rest of the body mounts line right up for the most part. Demo guys have been putting box bodies on 03+ frames for over a decade now, not to mention Serge's modbox.
03+ chassis is leagues ahead of the 79-97 junk

[Themarauderguy]

It will literally bolt right on with no mods. I have considered Doing this myself
Ok so the 97 Town Car will bolt right up to the 03 Crown Vic frame right?

[GoldPanther]

Just to be safe you should get an 03+ town car frame because both are long wheelbase. Last thing you want is to find out that the rear tires are touching the rear fender.
Town cars have longer rear doors.
Also, there are crown vics out there that are long wheelbase too IIRC the VIN should have P72. they were NY taxis. How to know a crown vic is long wheel base? Easier to spot them when they have 40/20/40 seats in the front.

[marcos916]

If you really want that swap to work buy a 03 plus crown vic towncar or marquis for parts everything should be pretty straight forward once u start changing the frames over ive never done it but I've work on 03 n up and 03 n downs frames are pretty similar but like u said 03 n up suspension is the way to go ..

[Bondfreak13]

The LWB Crown Vic's will not work as they have a 120 inch wheelbase. The Town Car L has a 123 inch wheel base. both are too long.

A Crown Victoria Grand Marquis, Marauder, frame is 3 inches Shorter than the frame of a Town Car. Which means the Front and rear will NOT line up with the wheel arches. Find the frame from a 03+ Town Car. 3 tenths of an inch is far more forgiving than 3 inches.

If you choose to ignore this I hope it all works out for you. Otherwise your going to be buying two donor cars instead of one.