Buttercup - My '76 Montego MX Villager

Discussion in 'Station Wagon Projects' started by n2fordmuscle, Sep 8, 2014.

  1. Krash Kadillak

    Krash Kadillak Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2008
    Messages:
    20,657
    Likes Received:
    1,845
    Trophy Points:
    798
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Springfield, Oregon
    Found out the mid 70's FMC intermediates are actually bigger than the GM down-sized big cars from the late 70's - early 80's.....

    ................................................Wheelbase.....Overall Length....Width
    '76 Montego MX wgn:.................118"...............223.2"..............79.6"
    '81 Pontiac Bonneville Safari:......116"...............216.7"..............75.4"
     
  2. Fat Tedy

    Fat Tedy Island Red Neck

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Messages:
    18,099
    Likes Received:
    1,095
    Trophy Points:
    1,108
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Not my choice of wheels:oops:, BUT, I really like the stance!!:dance:

    [​IMG]

    Beautiful wagon you have, was one 4-sale on my island with a parts wagon posted............... if I only had cash the size of my dreams:p
     
  3. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    22,124
    Likes Received:
    1,435
    Trophy Points:
    808
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Central Illinois
    That wagon is perfect. I love how it looks. All it needs is a more masculine name like MONTY !:rofl2:
     
  4. Silvertwinkiehobo

    Silvertwinkiehobo "Everything that breaks starts with 'F.'"

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2014
    Messages:
    14,928
    Likes Received:
    2,950
    Trophy Points:
    710
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    That's the first thing I thought, and hope that my '79 Chero will have the same stance with similar-sized wheels.:jumping::dancing::D
     
  5. crownvictoria

    crownvictoria Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2015
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    10
    Location:
    southern Germany
    really a nice car, indeed! (y)
    how much is it lower now in front with the new springs?
     
  6. n2fordmuscle

    n2fordmuscle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2012
    Messages:
    1,594
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    183
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Canton, GA
    Thanks! The springs lowered the front about 1 1/4".
     
  7. crownvictoria

    crownvictoria Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2015
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    10
    Location:
    southern Germany
    thanks!
    I am thinking about lowering my crownvic too, currently sitting much too high in my opinion. So this gives a good idea how much I should go deeper.
     
  8. n2fordmuscle

    n2fordmuscle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2012
    Messages:
    1,594
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    183
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Canton, GA
    Does your '84 Crown Vic have coil springs? I'm not familiar with them. If so, another option is to cut a coil from the existing coil springs. Some folks don't recommend it. But, I've had absolutely no issues with cutting coils on a couple of my cars, as long as you don't go overboard. I wouldn't recommend removing more than 1 coil, maybe a little more. Here are before and after pics of my '77 LTD II wagon after removing 1 coil from the front original springs. It dropped the front a little more than inch.

    parkinggarage1.jpg

    afterlower2.jpg
     
  9. crownvictoria

    crownvictoria Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2015
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    10
    Location:
    southern Germany
    yes, it has coils!
    Usually I wouldn´t recommend to cut the springs too.
    Maybe with my Ford it will work, but I would loose some pretension, of course, and that´s what I am worrying about. I´d prefer a nonlinear, progressive (is this the correct description??) spring rate. So the length of the spring will stay the same and gives some pretension when the car is lifted.
    And of course, coil spring cutting is strictly forbidden in Germany---:D
    So, when it comes to the inspection, it would be better to have springs that look original :162:
     
  10. modrisco

    modrisco New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2015
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Alberta
  11. n2fordmuscle

    n2fordmuscle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2012
    Messages:
    1,594
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    183
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Canton, GA
    Yep. Eaton is what I used on the front of the Montego wagon, instead of cutting. Side note: I ordered 2" lowering springs, which are supposed to lower it 2" from the factory height. Since the original springs had settled, I experienced a 1 1/4" drop.
     

Share This Page