I just picked up a 1979 Lincoln Continental town car with only 13700 miles on it. The car is in great shape, but the paint has oxidized from leaving it outside, but that's another thread. Obviously I have to replace all the existing fluids in the car including the engine coolant. What's the current thinking on putting in OAT coolant in a 1979 American car? Is it safe? Is it worthwhile? What are the advantages?
1979 Lincoln Continental Town Car
- Thread starter Tigerbangs
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Let me see what I've got.
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Amazing... 460 engine, of course?
Does it have a catalytic converter?
My old neighbors had an early 70's Caddy that was their pride and joy - only driven once or twice a year.
I'm sure it had less than 20,000 miles, as well.
(I think my dad said he once heard they put a new battery in every year?)
I moved away in the early 90's and never found out what they did with that car.
Does it have a catalytic converter?
My old neighbors had an early 70's Caddy that was their pride and joy - only driven once or twice a year.
I'm sure it had less than 20,000 miles, as well.
(I think my dad said he once heard they put a new battery in every year?)
I moved away in the early 90's and never found out what they did with that car.
I would flush and use Zerex G-05, it a hybrid coolant, part old school IAT and part modern OAT. It lasts a long time, say 5 years, but without the 2-EHA of dexcool that may cause gaskets to leak.
There was a question about engine size. In 1979, they only came with the 400 engine. The 460 was gone. Too bad, but I think the government had a part of this decision.
True story that I have that happened about 10 years ago: I used to be a mechanic for a factory that had 30+ forklifts. The owner of this factory has plenty of money and, in 1979, liked Lincoln Continentals. He had heard that the new 1980 Lincoln Continental cars would be downsized, so he went to a Lincoln dealer about 100 miles away and....get this...bought three of them. He had factory workers drive them back and when they got back to the factory, each car had about 120 miles on each odometer. Each one was a different color. So he drives the first Lincoln about 150,000 miles and he gets tired of it. He then gets out car #2 and drives it about 100,000 and gets tired of it. So this was years later now and he was tired of driving old Lincoln Continentals and all three were parked. One had 150,000 miles, the next had 100,000 miles and the third had 120 miles. They were put in a shed and basically forgotten about for over 10 years. Somebody had the idea that these cars needed to be roadworthy again and they had the super bright idea that it was my job to do it. You ever work with gas that had sat in the tank for 10+ years? It wasn't pretty. I remember that the local Ford dealer had a gas tank sender on the shelf, a needed item. These cars had some neat features, for the day, like AM/FM CB radios from the factory. Of course, they rode like you were sitting in an oversized La-Z-Boy.
The factory brought in a bunch of Germans to do an upgrade and car #1 and #2 became their mode of transportation. I remember the rear end flew apart on car #2 one day. The Germans had to take it out and see how fast it would go. The story was it flew apart at about 120 MPH. It literally exploded and luckily nothing went through the gas tank. Car #3, with 120 miles on it, got sold to a Lincoln dealer in California to sit on the showroom floor.
My advice to you is to replace the timing chain and gears before it gives you problems. The camshaft gear is plastic and will deteriorate just from being exposed to the heat and acids in the oil. I never was a big fan of the 400 engine, but I guess it will get you by with a shot of premium gas when it's needed. Good luck on your purchase.
True story that I have that happened about 10 years ago: I used to be a mechanic for a factory that had 30+ forklifts. The owner of this factory has plenty of money and, in 1979, liked Lincoln Continentals. He had heard that the new 1980 Lincoln Continental cars would be downsized, so he went to a Lincoln dealer about 100 miles away and....get this...bought three of them. He had factory workers drive them back and when they got back to the factory, each car had about 120 miles on each odometer. Each one was a different color. So he drives the first Lincoln about 150,000 miles and he gets tired of it. He then gets out car #2 and drives it about 100,000 and gets tired of it. So this was years later now and he was tired of driving old Lincoln Continentals and all three were parked. One had 150,000 miles, the next had 100,000 miles and the third had 120 miles. They were put in a shed and basically forgotten about for over 10 years. Somebody had the idea that these cars needed to be roadworthy again and they had the super bright idea that it was my job to do it. You ever work with gas that had sat in the tank for 10+ years? It wasn't pretty. I remember that the local Ford dealer had a gas tank sender on the shelf, a needed item. These cars had some neat features, for the day, like AM/FM CB radios from the factory. Of course, they rode like you were sitting in an oversized La-Z-Boy.
The factory brought in a bunch of Germans to do an upgrade and car #1 and #2 became their mode of transportation. I remember the rear end flew apart on car #2 one day. The Germans had to take it out and see how fast it would go. The story was it flew apart at about 120 MPH. It literally exploded and luckily nothing went through the gas tank. Car #3, with 120 miles on it, got sold to a Lincoln dealer in California to sit on the showroom floor.
My advice to you is to replace the timing chain and gears before it gives you problems. The camshaft gear is plastic and will deteriorate just from being exposed to the heat and acids in the oil. I never was a big fan of the 400 engine, but I guess it will get you by with a shot of premium gas when it's needed. Good luck on your purchase.
My father briefly had a '76 - I think.
Likely one of the best cars I have driven. Stunning Seats and Upholstery.
My Father traded in his 1970 Electra 225 Convertible. w the 455 and 400 TurboHydramatic and positraction.
While unbreakable, the car was devoid of personality that many of the early to mid 60's B Bodies had in spades. .
I think It had Michelin Radials (which was still something new at the time) and the 460 torque monster and 4 wheel disc brakes(!) .At least it wasn't a Mark III. They were not nearly as good.
Enjoy!
Likely one of the best cars I have driven. Stunning Seats and Upholstery.
My Father traded in his 1970 Electra 225 Convertible. w the 455 and 400 TurboHydramatic and positraction.
While unbreakable, the car was devoid of personality that many of the early to mid 60's B Bodies had in spades. .
I think It had Michelin Radials (which was still something new at the time) and the 460 torque monster and 4 wheel disc brakes(!) .At least it wasn't a Mark III. They were not nearly as good.
Enjoy!
Forget the Nu Finish.
Its not even good for GOOD paint - or at least the clearcoat that's out there.
Use professional cleaner-polish as a first step.
Of have a paint shop do it.
Its not even good for GOOD paint - or at least the clearcoat that's out there.
Use professional cleaner-polish as a first step.
Of have a paint shop do it.
That was an experiment, as much as anything. It actually did get down to fresh paint, but I was doing it by hand and it was a [censored] of a lot of work in the hot sun. I think I'm going to go by myself a good buffer polisher, and use the either chemical guys or 3M cutting compound to get rid of the oxidation. I do know that the car is going to shine just fine once it's been properly buffed and polished, but doing it by hand is a ridiculous amount of work, particularly on a car with a hood that you can land a Cessna on
That was an experiment, as much as anything. It actually did get down to fresh paint, but I was doing it by hand and it was a [censored] of a lot of work in the hot sun. I think I'm going to go buy myself a good buffer polisher, and use the either chemical guys or 3M cutting compound to get rid of the oxidation. I do know that the car is going to shine just fine once it's been properly buffed and polished, but doing it by hand is a ridiculous amount of work, particularly on a car with a hood that you can land a Cessna on
Originally Posted by Tigerbangs
particularly on a car with a hood that you can land a Cessna on
I was drinking tea when I read that, hand me the paper towels, wouldya.
particularly on a car with a hood that you can land a Cessna on
I was drinking tea when I read that, hand me the paper towels, wouldya.
JHZR2
Staff member
Nice car. I'd do Mike Phillips Meguiars #7 regimen on that paint first.
For coolant, I wouldn't go OAT, IMO. I'd go with G-05. It has some silicate, is incredibly safe, and is all good.
John Deere Cool Gard II would be another excellent option.
For coolant, I wouldn't go OAT, IMO. I'd go with G-05. It has some silicate, is incredibly safe, and is all good.
John Deere Cool Gard II would be another excellent option.
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