... and Crown Vics Were There!

Today, John W. Hinckley Jr, the man who shot President Reagan in 1981, is back in the news thanks to a judge allowing him to live outside a mental institution.  As usual, the press is digging into files for photos of him.  One that keeps popping up shows him in 2003, and yes, a CROWN VIC WAS THERE!

(Brian Smialowski/Reuters 2003)

Floppy Sun Visor FIXED!!

Vic 2.0 is feeling a little happier now.  Last week I FINALLY just said "EH!" and went out to the driveway in the summer heat and cleaned the inside real good.  This included cleaning all the coffee off the cupholder.

The other day the windshield was replaced due to a small stone chip that grew into a bonafide crack. 

The next day, I installed my brand spankin' new sunvisor and retainer!

Since I help out at a local auto upholstery shop, I knew that it is easy to make a visor install a little confusing.  That comes from moving the pivot around too much.  All I needed was a 20mm torx and a small ratchet.  The only part of the install that was a hassle was the retainer hook.  For some reason, the locator pin on the back was in a totally different location.  I couldn't get it to push through the headliner, so I just broke it off.

I can now drive safely, free from blinding sun and a broken visor that wanted to make me drive off the road!

Double sided Velcro was all I had to keep the broken visor up after the retainer hook broke

The broken retainer clip, broken in a fit of anger by myself...

Part # for Medium Stone Gray retainer

Part # for the visor

The original part is on the left, note the different locator pin on the new part at right

Torx and ratchet

This is what the mounting location looks like

You can see how moving the pivot around too much can confuse installation for a short time

ALL DONE!  YAY!

Floppy Sun Visor...

Recently, Vic 2.0’s driver side sun visor started to bind up.  It felt like something wanted to break.  Sure enough, one day the visor flopped down and stayed there.  What resulted was various tests of materials wrapped around the visor retainer to keep it in the up position.  Tissues, Dunkin Donuts napkin, thin rubber sheet, and finally Velcro attached to itself.

Ebay searches didn’t turn up any used visors in the correct color of Medium Stone (or what appears to be that color!).  I ended up buying one that LOOKED correct, and the seller seemed to also think it was the right color, but once it arrived, it turned out to be too beige.   It didn’t cost much… will probably just relist…

First attempt to stop the flop... didn't work...

Anyhoo, yesterday things came to a head.  The visor kept flopping down at all the wrong times, causing me to drive over the white AND yellow lines so often I gave up and we now have a visor on order with a Ford dealer.  Oh, and in my anger, I accidentally broke the retainer hook that mounts to the headliner.  So that got ordered as well.  The parts guy told me there was “only 3 in the country”, though I don’t know if he meant the visor or the retainer.

Hopefully when the parts arrive, they will indeed be the correct color.  I gave the code to the parts guy, so we shall see what I actually end up with…

2006 P71 RETIRED... replaced by a 2007... and 2008...

Yesterday Todd retired his mom's 2006 P71.  After being squished twice by town trees, attacked by parking lots, and never washed, it is heading to a potential third life as a local taxi.  Stupid me forgot to look at the odometer...

The car was officially replaced a couple of weeks ago by a 2007 P71 with about 168,000 miles.  This one has the nice charcoal velour interior (I'm jealous).  At the same time Todd picked up a 2008 P71 with about 126,000 miles.  Both were never marked for police service, and judging by the options and condition, never saw mainline service.  They are basically twins other than one has a black grille.

The '08 was SUPPOSED to be to sell, but Todd being Todd, has it registered and has been enjoying driving it.  Let's face it... they are just nice to drive!

Both new (to the fleet) cars had hubcaps with all the FORD logos missing.  While neither of us has ever heard of this being an issue, supposedly other folks HAVE had them fall/wear off.  A search for used ones with the logos intact proved we are a minority... most didn't have any logos.  But a couple of decent sets were found in the end...

OH, I almost forgot... Todd actually won 2.5 cars at auction.  The .5 was a 2014 Interceptor Sedan that we took some parts out of and then junked.  Cost him about $100.

... and Crown Vics Were There!

... and Crown Vics Were There!

... getting shot at in Orange County, CA!

Nells Comments on a Vic Owner's Video

I don't look around YouTube too much.  Way too many people with way too many opinions I don't agree with.  But I did accidentally come across this video, in which a man describes 5 things he dislikes about his Crown Vic.  I decided to watch it and see what he has to say.

He mentions in the beginning that he doesn't hate the car.  Seems to me there's little he DOES like.  Watch for yourself:

Now, I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  But I just HAVE to share some thoughts that popped into my mind while listening to this man's:

1 – I agree for the most part, sorta… When Vic 1.0 had its winter wheels on, it looked more police-y.  Vic 2.0 is dark blue and has police hubcaps and an antenna, so people sometimes are weary of it.  But with both cars, I'd think the fuzzy dice hanging in the window and vanity plate would dispel any incorrect thoughts...

2 – I disagree.  The car doesn’t feel big.  Maybe I am just used to it.  My '86 Pontiac Parisienne did more so, the '88 Grand Marquis a bit less than the Pontiac.  2b) Well, what do you expect?  A big car with a V8.  It's no Prius!  But MPG depends on the rear end you have and also varies depending on how you drive.  23MPG/HWY can be done with 3:55s, even better with others.

3 – I HAD a Vic with traction control and it was a horrible system.  Always drove with it off.  Not having it now is SO nice.  If you know how to drive, you don’t need traction control.   3a) RWD is for performance, whether people like it or not.  All wheel drive is of course very good for performance AND control.  BUT NOT all current Ford police vehicles are AWD.  3b) regarding the rear tires loosing traction, that is based on tires.  Goodyear Ultra Grips do just that.  Worn RS-As will loose traction more, as I found out when I took over Vic 2.0.  

4 – what do you expect in a police car for “necessities”?  The regular versions didn't have a whole lot more, granted.  But personally, I hate cars with too many gadgets.  I'm in it to drive, but watch TV or surf the Internet.  What you don’t get in luxuries you get in cool things like aluminum driveshafts, dual exhaust, bigger brakes, stab-shields in the Leer-made seats, fire suppression system, 140MPH gauges, etc.

5 – Suspension… sure, a Vic of ANY kind isn’t a BMW M5.  But I drove a ’98 with the Handling Package for 15 years.  Super comfy without being floaty.  I could throw that car into turns like nothing.  The regular versions I have driven were indeed a bit too floaty, but those cars were not made for the same hard use as the P71.  They also had different tires, with higher shoulders which I could feel made a difference.  

To his credit, the YouTuber also did a "5 Things I Love" video:  https://youtu.be/lo84XbTmcow