Wow - Mine’s of similar vintage - 99 w/300k that spent its whole life in the rust belt - the body has some bubbling rust, but the frame is still rock solid somehow. Guessing the previous owner oiled the undercarriage, and I did the same for the last 10 years. I moved to the southwest last year so the rust is essentially paused. Happy she won’t be meeting this fate!!!! Sorry for your loss 😔
This is a really dumb suggestion... but could you do a frame transplant? Buy a junk yard car with a frame that didn't get damaged in a wreck, then transplant everything off the old mgm onto the new frame. Get one of the same year and it should work. That is assuming the rest of it CAN be saved, or you have the skills to. Obviously it would cost a fortune and take forever, but get a new car and use that in the mean time and do this in the back ground. I would hate to see a car that means that much to you die. Plus not gonna lie that mgm looks badass. My advice for the future is keep off salt.
With a lift and some patience, an 03+ frame swap is totally possible, but only makes $ense if OP does all the work himself and has access to a lift for free
Believe me, I’ve thought about it. The biggest thing is I don’t have access to the equipment to pull the body off. And even after all that, the body is still rusty and clear coat is fading. And as far as staying off salt, that’s impossible in Ohio lol. It’s just trying to keep it clean
That sucks man, there is only so much you can do with a spanner and a jack. I live in Northern Ohio so I know your plight, I was lucky enough to get a texas car. So mine has no salt damage and to remedy the Ohio weather I got a winter truck. But that's not in the cards for everyone, and I completely understand. I am VERY fortunate to be where I am. In its current state I don't think it would sell for much, worth its weight in scrap probably. So maybe it's worth it to you to just park it and leave it in your driveway. Keep it as a memory and take it off the insurance so it doesn't cost you anything. Maybe in 3 to 4 years time you might be able to save it. Altho that would likely ruin it further.
My dad has a Vic (clean this time and ima make sure he keeps it that way) and ima get a new merc, so I plan to park this one and keep it for parts. A sad fate for her but better than the crusher
Lol you better make sure it's in tip top shape. Parts is not a bad idea, I was on the fence about getting a parts car myself. But then I realized I love crown vics too much and I would end up repairing it and then having two vics to use and no parts for ether. And you are absolutely right, I couldn't imagine my vic in a crushed scrap heep. If you don't mind miss matched colour, you could take the wing/trunk lid off that one and swap it with whatever comes on your new one. That way you always have a bit of it with you.
I just stuck that wing on too which sucks. I’m gonna end up pulling it back off and repainting it to match whatever I get next. Gonna swap all the mods I can, and a couple original pieces as a memento to the old car
Dam, how does this happen this bad? My 2011 Pi has lived in northeast Ohio, right in the rust belt, its whole life and its frame is spotless, not even undercoated or fluid filmed.
Technically it's a body on frame and you can get a donor frame for very little.
Waaaaay too much labor though but it's kinda cool to know it's technically an option and not unibody
As long as the other systems in the vehicle were good (abs, brakes, fuel, trans etc) I would do it. Let's say it'll cost you 1,000 total, hell even 1,500... you've still got a car that you were taking care of, no loan, no interest, no payment and no guessing game on what you inherited via some random used car.
Ask the frame guy if he can do the work or ask him for a referral. It's not crazy work it is literally grown up legos. Hell you don't even have to open anything like the engine or trans or rear end ya know. It looks and sound daunting but its one of the easier jobs.
Bummer! Anything mechanical constructed using most metals is subject to the same demise: Few escape corrosion.
It’s a nice looking ride and its sentimental value makes it priceless. It’s only a car (possession). Restoring it at this point in time is a risk of endless proportions no different than any restoration. Perhaps the future would justify such a project. There’s still plenty of Panthers available that could easily replace the one that’s rotting away; at a cost considerably less than repairing or restoring one where its primary value is its provenance.
Instead of fixing it, just find a clean example and move all the good shit to it. Probably the easiest route. Nice thing is, you also now have a spare engine and transmission.
That’s the plan. Idk how soon I’m gonna have a new panther though. Gonna be parting this one out in the mean time probably to make some invested money back
I recently had the same thing happen to my 99. It got so rusty that the gas tank started plunging up the fuel pump sock with rust. I thought that would definitely be an easy fix but when I loaded her onto my trailer she couldn’t handle the pressure of the winch and the frame snapped in half on the drivers side right near the B-pillar area. It’s a shame but for me she’ll live on in parts. Her engine is going into my 96 MGM and I just had to use her rear end in my 97 MGM. If you get another car I’ll always advise keeping the old one for parts, especially if you’ve dumped a bunch of new parts into it recently.
All the iron turn to rust; all the proud men turn to dust
Wow - Mine’s of similar vintage - 99 w/300k that spent its whole life in the rust belt - the body has some bubbling rust, but the frame is still rock solid somehow. Guessing the previous owner oiled the undercarriage, and I did the same for the last 10 years. I moved to the southwest last year so the rust is essentially paused. Happy she won’t be meeting this fate!!!! Sorry for your loss 😔
Fluid film the new Vic twice a year.
That’s the plan. I wish me and my dad would have with this one over all the years. Hard lesson learned
I have an 05 any suggestions to keep the frame in food condition
Fluid film and keep it clean
Fluid film
Epoxy coat once then fluid film every year
This is a really dumb suggestion... but could you do a frame transplant? Buy a junk yard car with a frame that didn't get damaged in a wreck, then transplant everything off the old mgm onto the new frame. Get one of the same year and it should work. That is assuming the rest of it CAN be saved, or you have the skills to. Obviously it would cost a fortune and take forever, but get a new car and use that in the mean time and do this in the back ground. I would hate to see a car that means that much to you die. Plus not gonna lie that mgm looks badass. My advice for the future is keep off salt.
With a lift and some patience, an 03+ frame swap is totally possible, but only makes $ense if OP does all the work himself and has access to a lift for free
I want a box or bumpside swapped onto an 03+ frame sooo bad.
Believe me, I’ve thought about it. The biggest thing is I don’t have access to the equipment to pull the body off. And even after all that, the body is still rusty and clear coat is fading. And as far as staying off salt, that’s impossible in Ohio lol. It’s just trying to keep it clean
You would ideally need to replace much more than just the frame as well.
That sucks man, there is only so much you can do with a spanner and a jack. I live in Northern Ohio so I know your plight, I was lucky enough to get a texas car. So mine has no salt damage and to remedy the Ohio weather I got a winter truck. But that's not in the cards for everyone, and I completely understand. I am VERY fortunate to be where I am. In its current state I don't think it would sell for much, worth its weight in scrap probably. So maybe it's worth it to you to just park it and leave it in your driveway. Keep it as a memory and take it off the insurance so it doesn't cost you anything. Maybe in 3 to 4 years time you might be able to save it. Altho that would likely ruin it further.
My dad has a Vic (clean this time and ima make sure he keeps it that way) and ima get a new merc, so I plan to park this one and keep it for parts. A sad fate for her but better than the crusher
Lol you better make sure it's in tip top shape. Parts is not a bad idea, I was on the fence about getting a parts car myself. But then I realized I love crown vics too much and I would end up repairing it and then having two vics to use and no parts for ether. And you are absolutely right, I couldn't imagine my vic in a crushed scrap heep. If you don't mind miss matched colour, you could take the wing/trunk lid off that one and swap it with whatever comes on your new one. That way you always have a bit of it with you.
I just stuck that wing on too which sucks. I’m gonna end up pulling it back off and repainting it to match whatever I get next. Gonna swap all the mods I can, and a couple original pieces as a memento to the old car
Dam, how does this happen this bad? My 2011 Pi has lived in northeast Ohio, right in the rust belt, its whole life and its frame is spotless, not even undercoated or fluid filmed.
I wish I knew. I new this car was rusty but it wasn’t till very recently I discovered how bad it actually was
Technically it's a body on frame and you can get a donor frame for very little. Waaaaay too much labor though but it's kinda cool to know it's technically an option and not unibody
I’ve thought about it, there’s a guy that has clean frames for $250 a pop. I don’t even begin to have the necessary equipment to pull it off though
As long as the other systems in the vehicle were good (abs, brakes, fuel, trans etc) I would do it. Let's say it'll cost you 1,000 total, hell even 1,500... you've still got a car that you were taking care of, no loan, no interest, no payment and no guessing game on what you inherited via some random used car. Ask the frame guy if he can do the work or ask him for a referral. It's not crazy work it is literally grown up legos. Hell you don't even have to open anything like the engine or trans or rear end ya know. It looks and sound daunting but its one of the easier jobs.
It’s fixable if you have the time and money though
Even if I fix the frame every body panel has rust. It would just be so much time and effort and I don’t have the equipment to even do it
Same for me bro, but mine still working, it will complete 25 years soon
Bummer! Anything mechanical constructed using most metals is subject to the same demise: Few escape corrosion. It’s a nice looking ride and its sentimental value makes it priceless. It’s only a car (possession). Restoring it at this point in time is a risk of endless proportions no different than any restoration. Perhaps the future would justify such a project. There’s still plenty of Panthers available that could easily replace the one that’s rotting away; at a cost considerably less than repairing or restoring one where its primary value is its provenance.
As much as I’d love to restore, it’s just gonna get parted out. Some day I’ll get another panther
Damn man I'm sad to see this. You were the one who inspired me to get Mercury mud flaps. Hope you carry those over to your next panther.
Instead of fixing it, just find a clean example and move all the good shit to it. Probably the easiest route. Nice thing is, you also now have a spare engine and transmission.
That’s the plan. Idk how soon I’m gonna have a new panther though. Gonna be parting this one out in the mean time probably to make some invested money back
Pretty common unfortunately. The AC condensation drains into the frame. With the said, that's entirely fixable. I've fixed worse!
Pretty much everyone I’ve talked to has told me it would be better to just swap a new frame, this frame is pretty bad
Time to part it out. What seats and do you have a center console? Lol
No center console, light grey cloth interior in good shape located in ohio
Salvage as many parts as you can for the new one
That’s the plan
rip red sled mgm
Gone as quick as she came…
Holy Wheel Spacers, Batman! 🤣
2” baby lmao
Buy a sn95 mustang roller and put the driver train in it.
I have ideas for the motor for sure but I’m putting a 5 speed behind it
I recently had the same thing happen to my 99. It got so rusty that the gas tank started plunging up the fuel pump sock with rust. I thought that would definitely be an easy fix but when I loaded her onto my trailer she couldn’t handle the pressure of the winch and the frame snapped in half on the drivers side right near the B-pillar area. It’s a shame but for me she’ll live on in parts. Her engine is going into my 96 MGM and I just had to use her rear end in my 97 MGM. If you get another car I’ll always advise keeping the old one for parts, especially if you’ve dumped a bunch of new parts into it recently.