MN12 Questions..

Topic: MN12 Questions.. (Read 1723 times) previous topic - next topic

MN12 Questions..

September 11, 2008, 01:44:48 PM

Hey guys, I've been lurking here awhile & have posted a few questions regarding my '82 mustang.. now I may be about to get a '93 cat, it's got the 3.8 & sitting at 145k miles.. car looks REAL clean, but going to see it in person tomorrow. Anything you can tell me about these cars? I know it's more a fox-cat/bird site, but this IS the place to come for all things Cougar... so.. any tips on what to look for? And thanks in advance. :D

MN12 Questions..

Reply #1 – September 11, 2008, 03:50:20 PM

You should ask the owner if the head gaskets have ever been replaced. At 145k miles I'd be leary if they weren't. Make sure the odometer is still rolling over. They are really bad to quit on those. If it hasn't had any front end work done yet then you'll probably be rebuilding the whole front suspension pretty soon.

If it were me I would hold out for a 5.0 or 4.6 since the MN-12s are so heavy. The V8s don't really get any worse gas mileage than the 3.8s.

MN12 Questions..

Reply #2 – September 11, 2008, 04:23:53 PM

Quote from: 5.0 bird;235850

You should ask the owner if the head gaskets have ever been replaced. At 145k miles I'd be leary if they weren't. Make sure the odometer is still rolling over. They are really bad to quit on those. If it hasn't had any front end work done yet then you'll probably be rebuilding the whole front suspension pretty soon.

If it were me I would hold out for a 5.0 or 4.6 since the MN-12s are so heavy. The V8s don't really get any worse gas mileage than the 3.8s.

Yep what he said. I have a 95 3.8 with the stock gaskets, but only 73,000 miles. Front end work will probably need to be done ASAP. I had to replace all four ball joints in the front end of my 95 this summer and it only has 73,000 miles. The ball joints on my 88 are still factory original.

Yeah the 3.8 is turd slow. I think my old 3.3 V6 Buick Century would kick its ass in a race.......

MN12 Questions..

Reply #3 – September 11, 2008, 04:30:24 PM

Depending on what part of the country your in,
Check the rockers for rust.
If you open the door and squeeze them from inside the jamb to underneath. you'll see how strong they are. they rot out pretty fast from the inside out. faster then the fox cars do.
if you can get the metal to move on the underside of the rocker, you may be replacing them soon

MN12 Questions..

Reply #4 – September 11, 2008, 04:47:33 PM

My 95 has some rocker rot at 73,000 miles :hick:

MN12 Questions..

Reply #5 – September 11, 2008, 05:02:37 PM

Forgot to add bottom door lip, and the entire door bottom too.
the rest, I'm not sure

MN12 Questions..

Reply #6 – September 11, 2008, 06:04:39 PM

join this forum and ask them its a MN12 tbird and cougar forum it has some fox owners but is mostly a MN12 forum.

http://forums.tccoa.com/

MN12 Questions..

Reply #7 – September 11, 2008, 09:58:37 PM

Thanks for the replies all, and I am in Oklahoma, so it's not a "bad" enviroment for rust, about avg. I'd say.. Oh, and I have a lead on a '93 Lincoln Mk VIII as well, not "exactly" the same, but I've been humming Hot-rod Lincoln all day, going to see both tomorrow, so will see how it turns out. Thanks again for all the input.

MN12 Questions..

Reply #8 – September 11, 2008, 10:19:53 PM

Get a Fox... Problem solved.... Kinda

MN12 Questions..

Reply #9 – September 11, 2008, 10:43:25 PM

i had a 93 with the 3.8,61000miles,, changed the head gaskets in two days and then "lent" it to my buddy since his tranny went.. (die hard chevy fan)says`he loves the cat, jst wishes it was more powerful! it can barely smoke the rubber:( but keeps a good cruising speed going..

MN12 Questions..

Reply #10 – September 12, 2008, 10:24:42 AM

My wifes 92 LX had 72,000 when the headgaskets went. This required a new engine! #1 piston was loose in the cylinder and #5 was scored like someone took a file to the cylinder walls.

The body is fine but it's the most flexible body I've ever owned. Flexes and creaks all the time.

The front end is still good but the upper ball joint rubber boots are gone. It won't be long now.

I do think we gained at least 30 HP with the new engine. It'll smoke the tires. It also handles great with the independant rear.

I say go for the MK VIII! Much better car and the 4.6 dual overhead cam engine is sooooo nice with lots of HP and Torque. The only trouble with those is EXPENSIVE headlights on the 98 and leaky air ride pumps, those are pricey too. I'm not sure about the 93's as to what actual engine they have.

MN12 Questions..

Reply #11 – September 12, 2008, 10:46:23 AM

Quote from: Desi;235910

....Oh, and I have a lead on a '93 Lincoln Mk VIII as well, not "exactly" the same,....

Not even close to a 3.8 powered MN-12 'Bird. If you drive the Mark you won't want the Thunderbird, trust me on this one.

And before you drive it - check the http://www.markviii.org FAQ section and the rest of the homepage tech articles and such.