1980's mercury colony park fender question.

Well I'm new for the forums but I want to know if I can swap the fenders of a 1988-1990 Mercury colony park onto a earlier model like a 1983? I used to own a 1989 but in my area only seem to see cheap older ones. I really like the rounded 89 fender or basically the whole front clip and the rest of the wagons look identical so I thought I could probably swap the front clips. Can anyone help me out with this?

 

Different strokes for different folks I like the older pointed fronts better than the newer rounded fronts. I'm not a Ford man though so I can't answer your question about the swap. Should be able to tell by looking though. Someone here will come along and answer you.

 

The fenders were identical on the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis from 79-91.

If you are doing a front end conversion on a Mercury from a 79-87 to a 88-91, you just need the newer header panel, newer bumper, and newer filler panels. If you are changing to the older style look, you just need the older header panel, older bumper, and older filler panels. This also works for Crown Vics, but the Crown Vics also require swapping the hood. All of the hole locations remained the same from 79-91 except the filler panel holes, so you will need to drill a few new holes in the fenders to mount the different filler panels, but this is basically just all bolt on.

Hope this helps.

 

All that Ford info from a Poncho guy!

 

Yup, 84Parisienne hit it right on the head. I have done a newer swap for a guy when I worked in the body shop. The whole front clip is a direct swap, as long as you have all the pieces. Another thing to remember, if you get a clip with composite headlights, you will need the bulb holders for the newer bulbs.

 

Almost the same deal with the Fox-bodied wagons. From 1978 to 1984, you can take body parts from Mustangs, Capris, LTD II, Granada, Lincoln Versaille, 1982 Cougar Wagon, Villager...

Yeah, but a classy Canuck Poncho.

 

Ok cool and yeah I'm hoping to just swap from a 88-90 onto a 83. Lol I'm kinda a Pontiac guy myself I have a third gen bird that I did a 350 swap too even though its a Chevy engine some of my friends hated me when I painted it with the sweet Pontiac blue metallic paint. Also the little wood paneling trim pieces like the chrome outline pieces what kind of tabs are holding them in place or is that another thread?

 

It's mostly cause I grew up with the rounded front that I love it better... plus it might be slightly more aerodynamic

 

For the trim clips, you're gonna need a shop manual. Haynes has a very short Body section in their manuals, so you'd be better off finding a set for your car on EBAY. Some have CD shop manuals for cheap. The clips come off with a special trim tool that you can buy at any decent autobody supply shop. Most have instructions.

The trouble with trim clips is that the end clips are usually different than the intermediate clips, so its pretty hard to describe online. On some Ford trims, they use formed nylon snap clips, and others are the springy types.

Some newer models have trim moldings that are glued on with double-sided tape. The factory shop manuals take you through each type, which tools for removal and installation, and where each type of clip is located.

You can usually get a set off Ebay for less than what a cheap torquewrench costs. Worth every cent. The best tool to have for a good restoration.

 

Ok sweet you guys are super helpful!

 

The ends of all the straight pieces and the wheel well trim are held on with clips that have nuts behind them. The middle sections of the straight pieces are held on with plastic clips that the trim snaps to. 80% of the clips are these plastic ones. These come off easily by sticking a putty knife behind the trim to the left or right of a clip and slowly prying it off carefully so that it does not bend. Unscrew the clips with the nuts first and then use the putty knife method.

I found these scans of the body manual that deals with the trim so you know what clips are located where.

 

And here is the last page for the trim.

 

If only car dealers gave that kind of sameday service.

 

For SURE, Norm! 84Pari is on a ROLL!

 

I know, right? Who woulda thought?

HAHA! My Parisienne is very classy, and very Canadian!