Hey folks! I'm new to the wagon scene and I'm thinking of purchasing a 1985 Ford Country Squire. I have a few ideas for it like putting it on bags, running after market mags wheels, and dual exhaust with glass packs are a few but I'm not seeing much online for purchasing parts or much that people have done themselves. Is there a better wagon for me to customize or will parts off of a random vehicle work on this? Any tips and info helps! Thanks (attached pic is actual car I'm planning to purchase)
You just need to look for the parts that go to a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car, as they all fit the wagons also. Avoid air shocks, as they are not designed to hold a vehicle's weight, so air bags for the front will go where the shock and spring go, and on the rear, the airbags will replace the springs, but you'll still need shocks to hold the axle to the frame, not allow the airbags to pop their mountings. Otherwise, go for it. I'd suggest upgrading the engine induction and EFI to the SEFI package and B303 roller cam with MAF and Mustang A9L computer, Mustang shorty headers, and H-pipe with police exhaust mountings for duals. Of course, a thread on the building of this awesome wagon to a fire-breathing grocery getter would be great.
Welcome aboard TCraun. Any vehicle can be customized. It's all about what you like/want. Hope you find the right car for you.
Check out crownvic.net and grandmarq.net for more specific information on these. At the end of the day it is a 5.0 SBF so the possibilities are endless. The Crown Vic uses the same wheel lug pattern as the SN95 Mustangs so you shouldn't lack for wheel options. Rear discs from the '92+ CV and GM are relatively easy to retrofit to the earlier cars. You can also update the front suspension and brakes using some of the later pieces. Underneath nothing really changed on these until '98. Even then things still interchange with some work. I have a '98 steering box in my '91. Check the "AX" code on the ID label inside the driver's door jamb. I pulled a 3.55 Trak-Lok out of a junkyard Crown Vic wagon and put it into my sedan. A "K" is what you are looking for there. Somewhere there is a list that breaks down all of the rear axle codes for these.