CVPI LX

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Colt45ws

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Aug 15, 2006
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What is a CVPI LX? Well it looks like a beat old CVPI.

Complete with peeling paint, and holes in the body.
But on the inside....

Adjustable pedals

Floorboard lighting

Autodimming mirror with compass
And...

Electronic Automatic Temperature Control.
None of that manual knob rubbish...
So, most of those were easy, the EATC conversion took me two weeks. It literally took me a whole saturday just to rewire the dash harness. Then I still had to add extra harnesses for example the outside temperature sensor.
My phone crashed and I lost most of the images I took, but I found this one.

Which is the back of my dashboard while I was installing the EATC. My laptop is nearby with schematics for both manual knob control and EATC so I could compare and make sure I was getting the right wire.
Of course all splices are soldered and heatshrunk. The good kind that has glue to seal it to the wire.
Funny story. I lost a whole day because it had an error code for the "Sunload sensor." Which sits on the dash and is basically just a light dependent resistor to feed back the amount of sunlight hitting the car. I thought there was something wrong with how I had implemented it so I spent all day checking everything and found nothing.
I went back at the the following day and figured out it was a bad sensor. Which is was. Replaced it and the code went away. If it was a factory car I would have checked for voltage and ground at the sensor and if there was, replaced it. But I thought I had done something wrong and so went chasing nothing.
Aw well.
It was a complicated project, but very fulfilling. I loved EATC on road trips with my old car. You might have to nudge it here and there, but mostly it works flawlessly at keeping a comfortable temperature.
With manual, I found I was getting too hot/cold so I would adjust it, then pretty soon it would be uncomfortable the other direction so adjust it once more...and repeat.
 

Full view of the dash.
Also, while I had the dash out I replaced the heater core with a new(er) one that was sparkling clean inside because the car it came from had actually recieved regular coolant changes.
And I installed a coolant filter.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Do you get off making people think you're a cop?

There's a type.



Really? Most cop cars aren't even Crown Vics anymore. Watch The Blues Brothers and lighten up a little.

Nice upgrades Colt. One of the great things about Fords of that era is how relatively easy it is to add in factory options. There are how to write ups on Ranger boards for adding overhead consoles and electronic climate control from Explorers.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Do you get off making people think you're a cop?

There's a type.


Nah.

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl


Really? Most cop cars aren't even Crown Vics anymore. Watch The Blues Brothers and lighten up a little.

Nice upgrades Colt. One of the great things about Fords of that era is how relatively easy it is to add in factory options. There are how to write ups on Ranger boards for adding overhead consoles and electronic climate control from Explorers.


Yeah, I agree. Just hook it up and run a few wires and it just works! I even had to tap into the data bus as it requires engine temperature and vehicle speed and that just works too. Im sure it would be a big pita to add a module to a newer system like that. Would probably throw all sorts of codes.
 
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Nice progress! You have way more patience than me, all those wires when you had the dash apart! We have the adjustable pedals in the Expedition, but after years of not moving them they pretty much don't work correctly anymore.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Do you get off making people think you're a cop?

There's a type.



Do you get off being a troll? Apparently so.

90% of law enforcement are not crown vics here.
 
Nice job. Lots of patience on your part lol.

With the P71's I've driven, I had the same problem with the heat. I could NEVER find the "sweet spot". I was constantly adjusting it either a teense hotter or colder like every 20 minutes.
 
Colt-how is your ScanGauge working? Are you able to get usable transmission fluid temp readings, RPM, & fuel economy numbers out of it? I'm seriously thinking about getting an SG2 for the Grand Marquis.
 


I might be showing my age a little here, but the Diplomats and Gran Fury's I drove in the very early '90's had automatic temp control. It was LOUD though, you could hear it spinning gears or something in the dashboard as it adjusted the temp lol.
 
Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Colt-how is your ScanGauge working? Are you able to get usable transmission fluid temp readings, RPM, & fuel economy numbers out of it? I'm seriously thinking about getting an SG2 for the Grand Marquis.

Yes. Mostly Ive noticed if I am beating on it a bunch during a tank the FE numbers are higher than real. I suspect it is not updating fast enough and not seeing all the fuel I am burning. But more normal driving and highway, its almost spot on everytime.

Originally Posted By: copcarguy
Nice job. Lots of patience on your part lol.

With the P71's I've driven, I had the same problem with the heat. I could NEVER find the "sweet spot". I was constantly adjusting it either a teense hotter or colder like every 20 minutes.


Yaaasss. You feel my pain. Annoying when you are driving all day and end up adjusting it every 20 minutes.

Originally Posted By: copcarguy


I might be showing my age a little here, but the Diplomats and Gran Fury's I drove in the very early '90's had automatic temp control. It was LOUD though, you could hear it spinning gears or something in the dashboard as it adjusted the temp lol.


Yeah, Panthers had an old school ATC like that too. But, only on the upper trim, just like this option. From what Ive read it was...less than reliable.
This system usually is fine though I have a control head from a 2004 which is known as a 'bad year' due to cheap o-rings used on the vacuum control motors. The dry out and break, leaking all the vacuum out.
But people have already sourced a part # for a better replacement o-ring and its possible to take apart the control head to replace them. Instructions are out there.
 
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
I liked your old CV better. Is that where you're getting all the parts from?

Yes. Ive stripped my old 2004 completely to the shell. I even pulled the wiring harnesses.
I plan to get a Marauder to take its place. I never intended the beat CVPI to be my permanent daily. Im just forced to due to money issues so Im modding it cause I can't leave anything alone.
 
Jealous.

My 2010 CVPI is down right now with either a lash adjuster ticking or a timing chain tick. I put a set of Comp Cams XE262AH cams in and it developed a nice tick on the top end. I of course cheaped out and didn't replace any timing components in the swap and it is costing me time now. It is my play car so I am not in a hurry but I want it ready for winter snow hooligan fun. I plan on getting long tubes once I get this ticking issue sorted out.

Is your car a PI or NPI 4.6? I wasn't sure when they put the PI motor in the whales.
 
Sweet!
laugh.gif


The power adjustable pedal upgrade was well for it for me, although 3 months into the (and I bought brand new pedals), they locked up. Luckily the guys on MMN were selling a CNC machined brass version of the cheap plastic gear Ford used from the factory and I've had no problems since!
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: 04SE
Jealous.

My 2010 CVPI is down right now with either a lash adjuster ticking or a timing chain tick. I put a set of Comp Cams XE262AH cams in and it developed a nice tick on the top end. I of course cheaped out and didn't replace any timing components in the swap and it is costing me time now. It is my play car so I am not in a hurry but I want it ready for winter snow hooligan fun. I plan on getting long tubes once I get this ticking issue sorted out.

Is your car a PI or NPI 4.6? I wasn't sure when they put the PI motor in the whales.

PI. 2001+ is PI
It might just be one of the tensioners is stuck collapsed. Might pull the valve covers and check the chain tension and see if you can work the tensioner with a long screwdriver. Of course if the chain is loose it mightve jumped a tooth too, so you might end up pulling the front cover anyway.
Also, from what Ive read, few of the aftermarket cams are ground with the timing correct. Most are a few degrees off. Not only that, but if you reused the factory cam gears, they are off a few degrees as well. Best bet would be to degree the cams. If you don't want to put the effort into doing that, then contact Modular Head Shop. They degree cams and if needed will sell you a adjustable crankshaft gear and tell you where to put it to be correct.

Originally Posted By: copcarguy
On eBay there's a blue Marauder with only 15K.

Nicest one I've ever seen.


Mustve missed it. Not there now.
frown.gif
Aw well. Not like I could afford it.
 
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