New to this Channel and a new 03 Marauder

[Lencac1]

Hi Guys: lencac here. Well as you probably guessed I just acquired an early 03 Marauder. It's in spectacular condition. Belonged to an old couple who neither of which could drive anymore. The guy who sold it to me on behalf of the original owner was the sales person who sold them the car brand new in 2003 at the dealer in Yreka Ca. It never left Yreka. I asked the guy "did the original owners know what they had?". He said they had no idea. Story goes that the wife was watching the Price is Right one day and they gave away a Marauder. So she told her hubby she wanted one. So he went and got her one.
Anyway, a little about the Mighty Marauder. It has 84K miles, never raced or wrecked. It's black. What a surprise, right? I have every last document this car has. Including every last service record from the dealer since day one. I have the window sticker, all the original Marauder brochures and posters, DVD's. I mean everything! My original intent was to flip it because I got an outrageous deal on it. But after driving it a little I think I want to keep it.
Being I was a ASE and Ford certified master tech for almost 30 years and I have the Merc's lowly kin the Crown Vic (best car ever made) as a daily driver I figure it was only right I keep the darn thing.
So having said all that and being I can't leave well enough alone I want to juice it up a little. So hence my question.
First I want your guys thoughts. I'm considering changing out the 3:55 axle for a 4:10. Plus I want to tune it, both engine and trans. HP Tuners say they don't make a tuner for it.
Any suggestions about getting it tuned.
Back when I was doing drivability at the Ford dealer I know using the the Ford proprietary software and a laptop I could monitor all the parameters but could not really change any of the parameters with a few exceptions. Only thing a tech could do would be to periodically download the updates for the software.
Plus if the right deal were to come along I'd consider putting a supercharger on it. I'd like the original Eaton set-up that was used on the SVT Cobras to keep it all "Fordish". But I'd consider other makes too if it fits under the hood.
Ok guys that's about it. Any info. you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
lencac

[Peace2Peep]

Welcome to the party! There's lots of info here...opinions and genius are all over this board! I would recommend a little light reading over in the DIY section: https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?57-DIY-Resource-Room

AND for any and all updates there are several powerful voices: MartyO (Mo's Speed Shop), Curless (Curless Automotive), FastBlackMerc (Marauder Innovations), Zack (Zack), and so many more I shouldn't have started listing them...lol!

For the tuning stuff, I went with Mo's Speed Shop (most here would say he is the go-to shop). They have figured out tuning and 4.10 swaps with excellence!

[z man]

Do the 4.10s and call MO’s Speed Shop in Dallas, GA for a tune. Marty (member martyo) will take great care of you. Most members will tell you that gears and a tune are the best bang for your hard earned buck and really “wake the car up.”

[justbob]

Pretty much already mentioned above x 10.

Congratulations and keep us up on your progress!


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[Lencac1]

Thanks guys for your reply. I kinda figured the 4:10 axle and tuning the engine and trans would be the logical place to start. Just didn't know where to start with the tuning. But it sounds like Mo's Speed Shop is the man for that job. As time allows I will post photos and my progress on the Mighty Marauder. I think some videos would be in order also which I'll post on my YT channel. If anyone is interested to see what I have currently on my YT channel just plug-in lencac.
Ok guys I very much appreciate your help so far and I look forward to being engaged in this site. Thanks again :)

[justbob]

Just give her a chance to prove herself. With the right mods and Mo’s tune you won’t recognize the car and a decent performing street Marauder can be had for pretty darn cheap. It’s after you get used to that and want more that these cars will send you into the poor house QUICK!




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[RubberCtyRauder]

If you still in Cali., Then eaton swap will not be smog legal out there. Only legal option is Vortech set up thru ADTR.net who is in Cali. MartyO does not frequent here as often. The shop has a facebook page or send me a pm and I'll send you his phone #. Good find !!

[kirk]

Congratulations and welcome. To throw an argument out on the other side of the table, I personally would keep this one stock. With these things approaching 20 years old, and fairly popular given the limited supply, bone stock cars are becoming harder and harder to come by. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from modding a Marauder, but at this point in time I would play with one someone else started on, rather than a low mileage stock car.

I say this from experience, having modded my 63 only to decide later this particular car needed to be stock. There's a market for both the stock and modded cars at this point.

All of that being said, IT'S YOUR CAR

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Welcome!!! Nice find. Let's see some pics. Also, are you going to get a certificate from Ford?

[jgc61sr2002]

Congrats and Welcome Aboard.

[Ambitious1]

Congratulations and Welcome! GDMJOE has a great source of information on his page:

http://www.gdmjoe.com/marauder/documents/documents.html


MartyO is a great resource for a tune and tuner as well as mods at 770-222-5015 or by email at marty@mosspeedshop.com.
There are a host of mods you can do. Here are just a few:

a) Marty tune;
b) Rear Cooling Mod (one of the most important);
b) 4.10 Ford Performance gears;
c) Cold Air Intake;
d) Metco Control Arms & Watts Link;
e) Addco front and rear sway bars;
f) Stainless Works headers;
g) Rear cat delete;
h) Dynotech Driveshaft;
i) Boost with either an Eaton swap, Vortech or Whipple;

[Mebot]

Story goes that the wife was watching the Price is Right one day and they gave away a Marauder. So she told her hubby she wanted one. So he went and got her one.



lmao! nice! We've all seen that Wheel Of Fortune clip, this is the first i've heard of the power of advertising for a Marauder done properly :P

[Lencac1]

Hi Justbob: Oh, I'm going to giver her a chance. So my plumb line is going to be to get this thing to run a high 13 sec. pass. I think I can do that with a tune and a gear change.

[Lencac1]

Hi Ported: Nope in Oregon :)

[Lencac1]

Hi KirK: Thank you. I like your argument. However, I have a plan :rolleyes: Only mods I want is to tune the engine and trans and change the gear to a 4:10. Keep the 3:55's with the car and it's all good , right? The tune can be put back to stock at anytime. I think doing that I can get a high 13 sec. pass out of it here at about 1100 ft. alt. But I am going to contact Mo's.

[Lencac1]

Certificate? .......... I want one:cool4: Who's car are we boosting :eek:

[Lencac1]

Hi Ambitious: Thanks for the links. Going to use that right now. The cooling mod you speak of is linking both heads at the back?

[Lencac1]

Hi Mebot: Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune .............. either way Vana is pretty cute too. But Bob had some hotties on there as well.
But no, I haven't seen the clip....... but I want to:help:

[Lencac1]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

[Joe Walsh]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?When I installed my Kooks headers, I did not have to pull the engine.
It IS a PITA though.

BTW:
4.10s and a Mo tune is the best 'bang for the buck' first mod.
It's all big modding $$$$$ after that first mod.


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[z man]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

Installed at MO’s... but no, engine did not have to come out. All the Marauder historians will correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Kooks came first and are a little more challenging to install. Stainless Works came later, are true longtubes, and are easier to install. BTW, Marty is also a SW dealer and can get you the best price, shipped to your door. They aren’t cheap, but by all accounts (including mine) a great product.

[Joe Walsh]

Installed at MO’s... but no, engine did not have to come out. All the Marauder historians will correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Kooks came first and are a little more challenging to install. Stainless Works came later, are true longtubes, and are easier to install. BTW, Marty is also a SW dealer and can get you the best price, shipped to your door. They aren’t cheap, but by all accounts (including mine) a great product.

Yep.....^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Kooks are more like mid-length headers....not quite full length headers.
I bought mine and they were a very nice build quality, they fit without hitting the steering shaft.
I special ordered them with the OEM like 'ball and socket' collector.
(SW headers were not available back when I installed the Kooks.)

https://i.imgur.com/tDJ2PfVl.jpg

The passenger's side header comes down at a slight angle and is not parallel to the floorboards like the driver's side.

https://i.imgur.com/AhSnw5Fl.jpg

[Ambitious1]

Hi Ambitious: Thanks for the links. Going to use that right now. The cooling mod you speak of is linking both heads at the back?

Here are a couple of links with pictures to give you more detailed information. It's one of the most important mods and will help the rear cylinders stay cooler.

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?69586-Cooling-Mod

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?63462-Modding-the-cooling-mod

Marty O also knows this mod in great detail and can help you as well.

[MyBlackBeasts]

Hi z man: Does the engine have to come out to do the headers?

You're going to want to use Stainless Works headers.

Pull the inner fenders = easy peezy job. 3 screws and a nut = left one on the ground, 3 screws and right one on the ground. They reinstall just as easy.

You have to unbolt motor mount and lift engine and put a 2" spacer (socket or something) in to hold it up.

I had a lot of fun doing mine.

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?108228-My-new-exhaust&highlight=
https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?108349-My-new-Marauder-exhaust&highlight=

[Lencac1]

Ok guys, no fair ganging up on me. Long and short, gears and tunes, sways and headers .... it's all so mind bogellating :burnout:
Nevertheless, I very much appreciate y'all helping me spend my money. At least now I have an understanding of just how deep I want to dig this pit.:eek:
Thanks

[Lencac1]

Hi: Does anybody put all that together in a kit?

[RubberCtyRauder]

Mo's for headers and tune, ADTR.net for rest

[BlkBtty]

Welcome!!!

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[Gryphonzus]

My biggest recommendation is to change the rear axles first. The 2003 model had soft rear axles and there was a fleet recall. My 2003 went bad so fast the right rear axle snapped near the wheel luckily it rolled to a stop since it did not have power going to it anymore. When they rolled it off the flatbed the tire and wheel fell off so I knew what happened. Luckily I found the recall repair kit which had both axles and all the parts needed to fix it for about the cost of one axle. I also agree that the first thing is a tune from Marty then decide if you want the 4:10's. Enjoy the new ride!

[Lencac1]

Damn Gryp that is an absolute horror story :eek:
I have coming from Marty's a programmer and a cooling system mod. Plus I have an appt. to do the axle on the 12th of next month. So that will give me some time to do the cooling mod and try the programmer before I commit to having the axle done. It is nice to be crusin at relatively low rpm. Then some SW headers. I think this road eatin machine should be able to do a high 13 sec. pass @ 1100 ft/alt with just those things done. What say you?

[Lencac1]

Hi Guys: Lencac here. Well I managed to some video of the new Marauder. So without further ado here's the link. Let me know what y'all think
I did put the Mo's tune on it and I did the cooling system modification. The 12th of next month she'll be getting some 4:10 gears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCnfX0A-rcg&t=4s

[Mr. Man]

Just watched your video. Beautiful car. Just a quick note FYI. Your car is a Marauder 300B as it has traction control. IIRC the 300B's started to be de-contented towards the end of the '03 model year. I see you still have map pockets on the front seats and a remote fuel door. Do you have a full sized spare or a mini?

If you haven't already ordered your Certificate from Ford here is the link. www.fordshowparts.com (http://www.fordshowparts.com) Click on 'show all products', click the Marauder check box and voila!

The engine is not a Cobra engine. It is most closely related to the Lincoln Aviator motor of the period. but most people will accept the Mustang Mach 1 engine as its close relation. We wish it came with the Cobra motor, and in reality it should have considering its heft.

The 4.10's you are going to install and the tune you got from Mo's will put the car into the performance range of how it was originally intended to be sold before the Ford bean counters and fuel mileage worry wort's chimed in.

Also if you don't already know the oil pressure gauge is a glorified idiot light. Peeps often replace it with a real one from Autometer with the Ultra Lite II. I can't remember the part number for the real gauge and sending unit, but you can do a Google search, or maybe someone will chime in with the number. Peeps often do the Volt gauge as well to keep the look consistent. The Volt gauge is real though.

:)

[Lencac1]

Hi Mr. Man: Nice reply, good stuff to know. Thanks. I think it has a full size spare but I'll check. I was reading that certain early Marauders have some options that later ones don't. I think my is one with the extra options, yes? And I kinda figured the oil pressure gauge was not up to par. So I appreciate you filling me in on getting the right gauge and sender. I'm thinking Summit should have that stuff. So I'm thinking the difference between mine and say a Cobra 4.6 would be the cams? Yep, the Mighty Marauder is a hefty gal but she is a comfy ride.
I originally bought it to flip it because of the great deal I got on it. But now that I've had for a little while I really would like to keep her. Use the Might Crown Vic as my daily. Ball park what do you figure it could sell for today?
Thanks again for your input, very much appreciated. And I did read your PM about the axles. Are the axles prone to failure. I don't intend on putting slicks on it.

[justbob]

Actually the only similarities are the heads, cams and displacement.


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[gdmjoe]

Lencac1 ... Are the axles prone to failure.


Axle - Rear Axle Shaft and/or Bearing Premature Wear (http://www.gdmjoe.com/marauder/documents/tsbdefectiverearaxles.jpg)


More Marauder documents » -HERE- (http://www.gdmjoe.com/marauder/documents/documents.html) «
.

[Anthony84]

Medford? Heck I’m near Vancouver/Portland. Let me know if you head this way for a mini meet.

[Lencac1]

That is very disconcerting :rolleyes:

[Lencac1]

****! .............. the dreaded TSB !! .....I remember this TSB at the Ford dealer back then. The Transmission tech did 'em all. I was one of those prima donna driveability techs ......... I didn't do that sort of thing :cool:
I'm going to look through the service records. The axles may very well have already been done. This car was bought and serviced at the same dealer it's entire life.

[BUCKWHEAT]

our late friend, Maury Seitz, had one of the 300A to 300B transition cars. He always said there were about 16 of them made, In any event your car is an unusual Marauder.