Parts list help, quick!

[alec2538]

Well I had an incident with my baby tonight. Got a little too throttle happy around a corner, and the crappy tires did me no favors. Long story short I need some help with identifying parts so I can fix her.

The rear end is bent, along with (I'm assuming) both RR control arms. I believe I can get a rear end out of any '03+, my main question is can I just swap my 3.55 gears over? Since this might be a good time to do a 31-spline upgrade, can someone suggest what to look for?

Header panel: the headlights seem to have survived. The grill broke off a few tabs but I may be able to repair it. I need a header panel from a MGM correct? also '03+?

RR door. From what I understand these are identical to CV's?

That's all I have for now. I haven't gotten the car up on a lift yet so there could be more but I'd like to have an idea of what to look for at the pick n pull tomorrow. This needs to be done on a budget. I will be doing all the work myself. I don't even car about the front end so much, just getting it driving.

Thanks everyone!

[Bad_S55]

Yikes man! You can get the rear end itself out of any 1998+ Panther. And yes, your gears can be swapped. If you want 31 spline axles, you need any Panther with a build date that was actually built in January of '05 and later.

You need a header panel off an '03-'05 Marquis. The design changed for '06.

Rear door can be grabbed from any Vic or Marquis.

Hope this helps!!

[rauder88]

Police interceptor rear ends some '05 + should have 31 spline. car-part.com will be your friend with this, look for an '07 from a police car, it will show you the ratio too and 3.55 was a ratio used in CVPI cars with Trac-Lok.

I'm 95% sure 98-02 rear axles will not work. Control arms are the same 98+

[rauder88]

Confirmed 1998-2002 rear axles will not work. You will need 03+
As I said if you were looking for 31 spline get one from a CVPI.

[RF Overlord]

As I said if you were looking for 31 spline get one from a CVPI.Why? All CV/GM were 31-spline from mid-year '05 up.

[rauder88]

Why? All CV/GM were 31-spline from mid-year '05 up.

If he wants trak-loc it would be a direct swap with 31 splines already.
3.55 gears, trak-loc and 31 spline for around $500.

[Logizyme]

The 3.55 03+ CVPI are pretty rare, and good luck finding one in a yard with less than 150k, most turn taxi and go to 300k before they hit the yard.

Perhaps try finding a local taxi wrecking yard, the one here in seattle has shelfs of low reasonable mileage rear ends.

[RubberCtyRauder]

98-02 axle housing too narrow and shocks in different location . Use 03 and up only

[alec2538]

Alright guys:

I got lucky at the yard. I got a complete rear end with watts link and control arms for $70 bucks. Looked to be in great shape, came out of a CVPI.

It's a 3.27 locker though. Here's a question: How upset with the PCM get if I just throw it in and run it? If it's a huge hassle then I'll just swap over the 3.55's. I figured since I don't really use my car for performance maybe the 3.27's will give me a little mileage boost.

Or just yell at me for being an idiot and I'll swap the 3.55's and we can all pretend I never mentioned it.

[RF Overlord]

Have you set up a ring & pinion before? If not, it isn't a job for an amateur...it may WORK when you're done but will probably make noise.

If you have, then nevermind.

[alec2538]

Sorry I should have mentioned: I'm an ASE certified auto technician working full time in a shop. I have NO issues taking care of this myself.

[Comin' in Hot]

Nice score on the rear axle. I can't believe you didn't tear up the quarter panel when the axle broke.

[Comin' in Hot]

Once you get the axle installed, you should get the car on a frame machine immediately.

[chief455]

Alright guys:

I got lucky at the yard. I got a complete rear end with watts link and control arms for $70 bucks. Looked to be in great shape, came out of a CVPI.

It's a 3.27 locker though. Here's a question: How upset with the PCM get if I just throw it in and run it? If it's a huge hassle then I'll just swap over the 3.55's. I figured since I don't really use my car for performance maybe the 3.27's will give me a little mileage boost.

Or just yell at me for being an idiot and I'll swap the 3.55's and we can all pretend I never mentioned it.
your speedo will be a hair off, but you can bolt in 3.27 and go. Won't be a huge change in trans shifting, etc.
swap in your 3.55 later, or if you have a hand held tuner - 3.27 should be an optional ratio to select.
good luck, keep her alive!

[alec2538]

Once you get the axle installed, you should get the car on a frame machine immediately.

I'll be putting it on my alignment rack immediately. If anything looks out of place I'll get it down to my body guy and have him put it on the frame machine.

You're as surprised about the quarter panel as I am. From what I can see every part that got damaged is bolt-on. No other body panels were touched. I hit the curb so square that the wheel literally tilted straight out at the top at a 45° angle. Never touched the body.