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Thread: The Bo0sted Bastard

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Hastings, mi
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    The Bo0sted Bastard

    It was suggested in another thread that i should have a build thread here, i was reluctant, but here we go.....
    Little back story to start..

    I have always liked the ford panther platform cars. Well I always liked big 4 dr sedans. I've had a few gms and fords over the years. Grown to like the 03+ ford platforms. They have a lot of good things going for them.

    Few yrs ago I had purchased a 05 p71 (crown vic police edition). I did a lot of work on it and it became a pretty fun car. I really enjoyed driving it, but I've always wanted a marauder. Not sure why I couldn't of been happy with the p71 as very little serperates the two cars from each other then mostly cost of purchase lol.

    What I started with on the 05
    FB_IMG_1526345592664 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    This was the 05 before I sold it
    Copcar by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180421_144644 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I ended up doing full obx header and xpipe and impala ss tailpipes.

    Circle D torque converter and aggressive jmod with all the valve body upgrades I could find.

    Had the 3.27s swapped out for 3.73 gears.

    And a Tune from Marty at Mo's Speed Shop (kinda the go to for these cars and tunes).


    Album on that
    https://flic.kr/s/aHskYoV4eq

    Enough on the p71.


    So I decided earlier this year I wanted to get a Marauder.

    One of the most obvious differences in the MM vs the other panther cars is that the MM was the only one to get the dohc 4.6L which gave a little more power over the 2v 4.6L
    E707DB5A-97E7-4C8D-8F6A-EA4AFFA5840F_25 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    So I found one that i felt was a decent buy online in a suburb of chicago. It was a high mileage car out of texas. I was sold on the texas idea as it was most likely rust free (and it pretty much was). I rented a car and me and a buddy drove down to get it. Bought it, turned the rental in and drove the MM back home. I believe I purchased it in april.

    Of course it had 20's on it, bit neglected mechanically and had a few other issues. The wheels were bent pretty bad and had really loose ball joints, struts worn out. Dead battery. We ended up rotating the tires so the "best" wheels were on the frt. and avoided every pothole we could on the drive home. Praying for no flats (no spare) or broken bj's lol. Rotors all warped to hell etc.

    E707DB5A-97E7-4C8D-8F6A-EA4AFFA5840F_5 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    E707DB5A-97E7-4C8D-8F6A-EA4AFFA5840F_3 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180420_152039 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
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    43
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    It had a crown vic bumper on it at purchase. Guessing the oem had gotten damaged at some point (couldn't find any other damage). If your familiar with these cars, the front and rear bumper covers are only specific to the MM (mercury marauder). With that said there really isn't any aftermarket production and oem are no longer made. So the only option is used oem. And the market knows this and you pay as you would expect. They rape for them, seems lately if the cars get damaged its not uncommon for insurance companies to total them due to cost to repair. Thankfully I have a guy at a local yard who gives me deals and they happened to have one. So i was fortunate not to pay "market value" on it. The only difference in the bumper covers from a G. Marquis and a MM is the MM had fog lights.
    20180420_125302 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I picked up some fair cond oem wheels that had near new tires on them (same hookup as the bumper cover, same car actually, taht car donated a few parts to me).

    20180421_173041 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180420_193227 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180420_173203 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Hastings, mi
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    Of course I took care of those frt end issues.

    20180420_101353 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    While the body was near mint from rust, alot of the rubber wasn't from the texas heat.

    Found some mint door seals at a local upullit and swapped all that rubber out.
    20180428_124754 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180428_132918 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Its nice working in a place that does glass. Buy the glass at cost and tip my guy $20 and he swapped out the glass frt and rear.
    20180425_125501 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180425_141929 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    The p71 donated its tinted rear light housing to the marauder..
    20180421_092229 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180523_181052 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Hastings, mi
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    The seats in the car were a bit worn from 225K of use. That same donor from the yard that sacrificed its other parts also gave up its frt and rear seats. The original ones were worn enough that the gods head emblems on the frt seats were almost worn off.

    20180422_155632 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180422_155636 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    Now I didnt just steal things from the p71 and not upgrade certain things on it as well. The old marauder seats ended up getting installed in the p71 which is a nice upgrade from the worn cop buckets.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
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    43
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    Of course I had to turn the exhaust note up.

    Deleted the rear cats (rear cats on these cars are not o2 monitored, so no SES light) and took the oem mufflers off for some flowmasters.

    20180422_122115 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    Click for sound
    20180425_194823 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
    Age
    43
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    The previous owner had installed a toggle onto this trim piece (MM specific) for a radio bypass to play dvds.

    20180422_171052 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    The blend door motor was bad. If your good enough and dont mind some cuts and scratches you can change it out w/o fully pulling the dash.
    20180422_211944 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Of course I upgraded the stock speakers and and put a new one in the trunk. The truck setup is only temp. thats one of the items on the winter list to change.
    20180429_163541 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    20180429_164528 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Of course I had to do the tuner thing and paint the calipers. Decided on blue as red is over done on these cars.

    20180429_164341 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I purcahsed a 03 mach one mustang chin spoiler and added it to the car (very common thing done to any of these cars, I had also added one to the p71).

    The oem wheels just werent cutting it for me either so the p71 donated the American Racing torq thrusts to the MM. I swapped the near new coopers off the oems so the MM kept the nicer tires. OEM the MM has bigger rear tires then frts from the factory as the p71 has the same size on all 4. Thankfully both cars have 18"s wheels so swapping rubber worked out.

    20180427_174628 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I also got all the windows tinted dark as well as a third of the windshield.
    20180427_174608 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    The MM also come with a floor shifted trans. (not MM specific, you could get a certain packaged crown vic with a floor shift) And in frt of the shifter is two gauges (these are MM specific).

    However the oil pressure gauge is simply a switch. I believe if its like 5psi of oil pressure is all that is req'd to make the gauge move. So the gauge either reads zero oil pressure or 70 psi. It doesnt actually sweep. Its just either 70 psi or 0 psi. I swapped in a direct replacement generic auto meter gauge that does actually sweep and reads true.
    20180422_171241 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
    Age
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    The overhead compass is common to fail on these panther cars as the heat soak from the roof damaged the resistors on the boards. I ended up having a coworker replace them for me (way better at that **** then me).
    20180425_200919 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I also ended up regearing the rear axle from the stock 3.55's to 4.10s to wake the car up. I knew eventaully I would be upping the power under the hood so with the regear I opted to install a yukon limited slip, all ford racing bearings and gear set, cobra driveshaft flange and replaced the factory 28 spline shafts for some chromo 31 spline shafts. And a new diff cover. I also swapped out the factory rear sway bar for a larger dia one.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15284031 87712.jpg_1528403190240 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    At removal of the old shafts, appears I wasnt to far off from having bigger issues. The oem shafts are known to be soft and get chewed up alot and leak.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15284036 29753.jpg_1528403631133 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15284036 21067.jpg_1528403625426 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    Along with the regear had opted to get it tuned by marty to accommodate the gear swap.

    20180427_104551 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    Even outwith any mods, a simple tune on these cars (any Panther) really improves the quality of driving. Ford has the transmission shifts setup so lazy and soft its difficult for a "car guy" to drive em. I mean these things lug in overdrive at like 45 mph they shift so soon.

    At this point I had the MM and the P71 at the same time. And the MM was more comfortable to drive and offered a better quality of a ride (MM had air ride in rear vs coil like the p71).

    But even with the tune and gear change and that DOHC motor I felt the P71 was still more "fun" to drive. The seat of the pants fun driving was better in the crown vic. I attributed this mostly to the TC I put in that car vs the stock unmodded trans in the MM.

    So I drove the MM for awhile like this contemplating my next move. The intent with the MM from the get go was a fun DD and fast. I felt I had achieved everything but the fast part. So near end of july early august I decided to take the next level. I sold the P71 to fund the changes to the MM to obtain that "fast" aspect.
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
    Age
    43
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    So with the p71 gone I started buying parts...


    Tracy Lewis oil catch can setup.
    20180813_082005 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    The MM is a returnless fuel system. So my future plans required a return system. The older panthers were return style and there sending unit drops into the newer cars fuel tanks. So I ordered up a new sender and installed a warlboro 455 e85 comp. pump.

    20180710_162851 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I hooked up with VSRacing to purchase my power adder kit..
    20180702_112919 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180629_091807 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180629_102946 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Of course the new parts required more room under the hood so I had a buddy make me up a shroud to fit a contour fan setup fit the oem radiator. This setup was 2-4 inches smaller then the oem fan setup.

    20180805_213731 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Hastings, mi
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    Posts
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    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
    Age
    43
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    Well, this is the part of the story where if you bleed blue, you have issues with gender identity etc. Thank you for viewing my build to this point and calmly stop scrolling and close the window.






















    I warned you.
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  11. #11
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    Dec 2014
    Location
    Hastings, mi
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    43
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    Now, the oem motor and trans was nearing 230K miles. I had my eyes set on a target of 600hp. Now to get the marauder drivetrain to this point was gonna require ridiculous $ and work. I've had all the arguments and ran all the #'s to get the DOHC there and I wasn't interested. I did my research and I opted out and said no thank you. I was gonna stick with what I knew and what I considered the easier, cheaper, and more reliable choice....





    So I played the "over done" choice..
    #bstdmrc #lsswappedmarauder


    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15311573 79940.jpg_1531157382841 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    I still had the 2005 5.3 from my jeep sitting on the floor under the work bench.

    So I started on the LS swap. I opted for some swap parts from Dirty dingo. Most the parts I used were mustang swap parts as there really isn't any specific panther to ls swap parts available.

    adjustable motor mount plates. This retain the factory marauder motor mounts and bolt them to the ls block. Also adjustable frt to back a inch or so.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15301315 58926.jpg_1530131560612 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    SS2 cam to go in to replace the factory cam and pac valve springs. This was the only changes to the stock long block. Left everything else as is with 150k miles on it.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15301056 64185.jpg_1530105665612 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15306704 88087.jpg_1530670491353 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr
    Last edited by cheapthrillb2; 12-23-2018 at 08:40 AM.
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  12. #12
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    Hastings, mi
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    Truck pan was gonna sit to low so I purchased a swap pan kit off ebay.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15306723 24879.jpg_1530672326333 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Figured with the pan off and throw on a pick up tube support
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15306720 25166.jpg_1530672028372 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I played with a few different maniold ideas, I really didnt like how that was gonna setup and work.

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15308379 59817.jpg_1530837962622 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15308378 63734.jpg_1530837867029 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    So I opted for the hooker setup...
    20180711_091747 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180715_154818 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    20180715_154828 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    The hooker setup offered a nice crossover tube setup that I liked. You can see the oem motor mounts bolted on with the adapter plates. I didn't like how the pass side sat close to the manifold so I made a little heat shield to protect the oem rubber.
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  13. #13
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    Dec 2014
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    Hastings, mi
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    I needed a different trans to put the power down, as the only trans I had at the time was the 4l60 with the AA kit for the 231 in my possession and wasn't about to stick a 4l60 into this setup.

    I found a used 200K mile 4l80E at a yard and pulled the trigger and hoped for the best "sonicajy:.

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15303970 43279.jpg_1530397047066 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Pulled the pan and was grateful to find it relatively clean.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15303973 08847.jpg_1530397311274 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    So Installed a HD2 kit and buttoned it back up.

    I also sourced a edge racing torque converter 'to my needs from High Gear Transmission in Conklin, mi. Joe at High Gear built both my 4L60 and the 4L80 currently in my jeep.


    I started test fitting the combo in the car and decided the factory accessories werent gonna work for my needs. So I hit up dirty dingo again and sprung for there swap setup that retained the truck Alt and PS pump.
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15313591 00822.jpg_1531359103834 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15322914 59878.jpg_1532291464787 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15322838 21845.jpg_1532283824660 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    I really struggled with turbo placement but finally decided where you see it.

    I had decided the battery was gonna get relocated to the trunk, and the ecm and fuse box was gonna mount where the oem airbox was located.
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

  14. #14
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    Jul 2004
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    The Dirty South
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    Keep em coming......

  15. #15
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    Dec 2014
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    Hastings, mi
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    Up to this point I had kinda been taking time and was kinda shooting to have it driveable end of august, atleast enough to drive end of year for a few weeks.

    However my dad had ran into some serious sudden health issues and he really wanted to go for a ride in the car during Grand Rapids Metro cruise (end of august). So I kicked it in high gear and just started doing what it took to get on the road with the intent to "undo" the things I didn't like this winter.

    So the pics here on out keep that in mind lol. I did some things I wasnt thrilled about or how things turned out. Build kinda turned to "sloppy" to get it done in time.

    Intercooler mounted with min. modification to the car surprisingly.

    20180709_171732 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr

    Picked up an aem truboost controller
    MSGR_PHOTO_FOR_UPLOAD_15301056 40469.jpg_1530105642625 by Cheapthrillb2, on Flickr


    I also picked up some snake eater performance 1500cc injectors and a warr performance DBC throttle body.
    2003 budget built marauder-LM7 5.3 SBE 4L80E VS racing 78/75 turbo and other things
    1.56 60' 6.80 1/8 @ 104 mph 10.5 1/4 @129 mph
    #BSTDMRC #LSSWAPPEDMARAUDER
    Instagram -
    Cheapthrillb2
    lsswappedmarauder

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