I'm pretty sure we're done in '04

[yorks]

I work at the Windsor Aluminum Casting Plant where we cast the 4.6 aluminum block that goes in our vehicles. This is not a FoMoCo plant but rather a "spinoff", kinda like Visteon.
Management is NEMAK (a joint venture between ALFA and FoMoCo), and hourly are FoMoCo.
Iwent to an information meeting tonight where they told us amongst other things that the MM last job as far as our casting goes is the 2004 run. They expect to do 7000 more castings and that's it.
I have the document regarding a Supplier/Customer meeting to that effect and will post it as soon as I get home and can scan it.

[Menace]

Sounds like good news to me ! :banana2: :P

[SouLRioT]

I already have my MM so this doesnt worry me a bit, but would there be any chance that they would be outsourceing this to someone else? Or maybe a new cast iron block???

[Logan]

No, Currently, there are no plans for marauder past 2004.

[2003 MIB]

Not good news for Yorks. One less job in the plant, right? I'm sad for that...

[jerrym3]

I see another potential disappointment.

There were some rumors that Lincoln was going to respond to the much quicker Caddy models by putting this motor into a TownCar.

Guess Lincoln feels that the present motor has enough power to get the airport limo people around without a problem.

Too bad.

[Logan]

Jerry,

That rumor's been a little distorted. The reason marauder ever happened in the first place is because Lincoln commissioned 18000 engines (The marauder's engine) for the towncar to beef up it's power and discovered too late in the game they simply wouldn't fit due to the town cars modified hood line.

So, on the hook for 18000 units, L/M came up with the marauder, using the 32v motor in the marauder, and remainder units in the aviator and 04 marauder.

Marauder essentially came about due to a recovery from a royal screwup.

[jerrym3]

Really? Hadn't heard that before.

Strange that the motor fits under the GM hood but doesn't fit under the Towncar even though the TC looks like the hood (and the grille) were raised for the 2003 model year.

Sounds a little bit like the "Marauder/GM/CV cannot support the factory moonroof due to rollover restrictions", and yet the TC can (?).

Surprised they didn't just outfit 18,000 Mustang "super GTs" and get rid of the motors, or build some "super" police cruisers instead of taking a chance on turning a Mercury back into a performance car.

[modular46]

They did...

It's called a MACH 1 with automatic trans.

[Petrograde]

I wonder if the value of our MM's will go up after they discontinue them? Kelly's Blue Book says my 03 MM with 2400 miles in excellent condition is only worth 25K. :-(

[Agent M79]

So that's it?

The Marauder born because of a mistake? I guess a lot of births happen that way.

My '04 is on order but I was hoping the rumor that it would go on hiatus until after a CV/GM/TC redesign was true.

Kinda bitter sweet.

[Zack]

We should all pray that the Marauder does not appreciate in value
for at least five years. This will give us the oppurtunity to have a race-inspired Marauder and still be able to afford a used one for a daily driver. Thats my plan anyway...

[Merc-O-matic]

It's MACH 1 time for me, but I hear it's almost impossible
to get one (2004's) all accounted for.
Why is the MACH 1 2003 engine (the same engine as in the MM)
rated at 320HP vs the Marauder engine rated as 302HP?
Gottta love it!

[jerrym3]

I don't know.

The more I think about the beancounters approving 18,000 motors for the TownCar and then finding out that they don't fit?????

Just hipshooting here, but wouldn't it have been easier to redesign the manifold to fit under the Lincoln hood even if it meant losing a few HP? Or making more Mach1s?

[Paul Anderegg]

Just hipshooting here, but wouldn't it have been easier to redesign the manifold to fit under the Lincoln hood even if it meant losing a few HP?

The MM intake is already the most expensive and sophisticated intake Ford has ever produced. It woulda been a PITA to modify it, besides its already as low as you can get a TB.

Paul

[Directedby]

AGENT M79

When will your 2004 that you ordered be delivered?

[Agent M79]

Directedby:

I am am told in 8 weeks.

[TAF]

Paul...that "dancing spidey" KILLS me :lol:

http://64.49.221.207/pix/bubbleroom/Camp_Spidey.gif

[jgc61sr2002]

Yorks - Your info sounds accurate.:(

[RCSignals]

Wouldn't it be interesting if there was a sudden interest in Marauders for '04? :lol:

[RCSignals]

I wonder how this will effect replacement engines? I've seen some apparent "new" engines for the Marauder and MACH1 advertised for some seemingly good prices.

[yorks]

The document I mentioned earlier but didn't post yet (procrastination is the thief of time), mentions last job for the Mach also. I'll post it later today (Sat.) for sure.

"WATCH THIS SPACE"

[yorks]

Originally posted by 2003 MIB
Not good news for Yorks. One less job in the plant, right? I'm sad for that...

Actually, we've hardly been running that job for the last year or so. But our orders increased drastically for '04 Duratec blocks both 3.0 and 2.5 Litre. Also for the 3.9 Litre AJ30 block (Linc LS, Jag, T-bird).
All in all we're doing OK but thnx for the concern.
Actually we just built an addition on the plant.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by Logan
The reason marauder ever happened in the first place is because Lincoln commissioned 18000 engines (The marauder's engine) for the towncar to beef up it's power and discovered too late in the game they simply wouldn't fit due to the town cars modified hood line. Marauder essentially came about due to a recovery from a royal screwup.

First I've heard of this, but it doesn't surprise me one bit. Some of our best technology is accidental.

The way Steve Babcock explained it, he had been building this car in his head for years, then one day the boss says get busy. Steve was obviously surprised, but he didn't skip a beat. He was also very clear about the MM taking a two year nap in '05 and '06, so, the cut back in engine production seems more planned than not. I wouldn't speculate on what may roll out for '07, but I'm willing to bet it won't be anything like the present MM for sure.

Doesn't bother me either way, there's going to be enough of these cars around for tinkering and toying through the end of the decade. Even if we run out of genuine MMs, we now know enough of the "how to" stuff to take advantage of the '03/'04 CV/PI market, and still have a lot of fun.

Jerry Barnes called my MM "a real hot rod," and I kind of like that idea. Reminds me of the '57 Chevy body style, and the Chevy 409 CID engine. Both had short, but very popular runs that live on today. I think the MM has that potential.

[RCSignals]

They must have decided on, then dropped that TC plan quite some time ago, considering the development time of the Marauder before it's release.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by RCSignals
They must have decided on, then dropped that TC plan quite some time ago, considering the development time of the Marauder before it's release.

Not sure exactly what you mean RC, but if your refering to the changes in the torque converter and tranny, it's my opinion that LM responded to our early complaints on early MM behavior. Remember that we have a year of ownership under our belts, and they have a year of sifting through our rehortic on this board. I am sure something sunk in, sadly, not all of it.

The way Babcock announced this 411 to us, it's easy to see that someone read our exchanges here, and made some mods of their own, hoping that if we were more pleased with some things, we would stop chipping our MMs.

They may be done, we are not...

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by SergntMac
I wouldn't speculate on what may roll out for '07, but I'm willing to bet it won't be anything like the present MM for sure.

Sarge, I hope you're wrong, but I bet you're right...

Look what they did to the Cougar...OMFG I just had a vision of a wrong-wheel drive MM... :eek:

I need to go lie down now... :depress:

[WolfeBros]

I am betting that Sarge is right.
The current Marauder may just be the last big 4 door RWD muscle car to come out of Detroit. The last two efforts by GM and Ford failed miserably in the sales department. I think we will continue to see the two door variety for awhile. Its a shame but not enough people want them these days.:(
Damn ricers and suv's. :alone:

[Bigdogjim]

Originally posted by SergntMac
[
They may be done, we are not... [/B]

So let the games begin!

I like the sounds of this!

Only the tip of the iceberg!:D :D :D

[Crazieboutamerc]

Well I was reading MM&FF and with a letter about the MM the editor states "Due to a lack of interest, it is dead"

Tim

[RF Overlord]

My dealer received the last car of his original allotment of 7 back in January...as of approximately 1800 on Saturday August 2nd, 2003, it is still there...they put it right out front for a while, with a "Reduced to $28,999" sticker on it...now it's back in the back 40...no price on it...WTF...

I guess "lack of interest" is right...

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by SergntMac
Not sure exactly what you mean RC, but if your refering to the changes in the torque converter and tranny, it's my opinion that LM responded to our early complaints on early MM behavior. Remember that we have a year of ownership under our belts, and they have a year of sifting through our rehortic on this board. I am sure something sunk in, sadly, not all of it.

The way Babcock announced this 411 to us, it's easy to see that someone read our exchanges here, and made some mods of their own, hoping that if we were more pleased with some things, we would stop chipping our MMs.

They may be done, we are not...

Well actually I meant the idea that the reason we have the Marauder is that 18,000 engines originally destined for the Town Car had to go somewhere. The Marauder was in development, with the DOHC engine, from about 2000 or earlier, as I understand.

I agree about the future, and I'm interested to see just what the TSB for our earlier cars will be.

[Directedby]

AGENT M79

Did you get any rebate promised to you on your 2004 order??