1978 continental sedan project

This area is for members who are restoring their Lincolns or any other project that they wish to discuss and document with fellow forum members. You can link to your own off-site page or post all your pics and progress in the thread itself. Customizers should use the Customizer Members' Projects forum.
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

action wrote:Removing smog items may introduce drivability issues.

If you were to change the heads, with different cam you could remove all of the smog items. All of that stuff was designed together with the carb and distributor. If the changes work you are good. But I would not throw anything away.

>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Yeah I am worried about that. I have kept all the parts but the pump was completely locked up. Someone already cute out the cats a while ago. Worst comes to worst I'll change heads/cam or whatever it takes.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by action »

Interesting about the cats. The original design of a cat was to flow at least 5 times the flow of the exhaust pipe going to the cat.
The thinking was is partially plugged would still not negatively impact flow rate.

>>>>>>>>Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

I hope it runs alright with those being removed. I'm familiar with my 96 cat and egr system but I know the 78 cats were a little different.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by action »

The engine operation with or with out a cat is likely the same. A cat does a chemical change in the exhaust gas with in the inside of the converter. That is it, nothing more. There is no change in exhaust pressures or engine operation at all.

The same can NOT be said for EGR.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

action wrote:The engine operation with or with out a cat is likely the same. A cat does a chemical change in the exhaust gas with in the inside of the converter. That is it, nothing more. There is no change in exhaust pressures or engine operation at all.

The same can NOT be said for EGR.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Okay that's good news! I'm getting closer to turning the engine over day by day. Thanks for your help!
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

I got the distributer in!! About an hour spent the first night, then some research the next day. Well tonight it finally slipped in with some gentle tapping and wiggling. Also someone posted that a small blob of grease will keep the oil pump shaft from falling to the side. That was part of my problem.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

So I've got the engine (almost) done. The next big thing is the fuel system. I have the tank dropped. It looks pretty shabby, but I think I can refurbish it. Lots of rust and the pickup system is definitely shot, but I have rock auto for that ;) if anyone has any tips for cleaning a rusty tank, feel free to let me know your tips and tricks.

Image


Here is the before and after of the engine bay:

Image

Image

I still need a couple things for the 460 and the entire bay isn't up to my standards, but the complete "restore" is for next winter. I use quotations because it is altered from original and will probably never be restored and authentic.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

Oh boy. I swear I saw the fuel sending unit on rock auto. Turns out the only ones I'm seeing are $150 on ebay.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by action »

With or without low fuel sensor?

And you did remove some stuff...

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by action »

Not sure I would reuse the tank unless it can be boiled out or some other means of saving it.

You may experience some pinging or surging with no EGR.
The air pump removal won't do much.
The canister purge removal won't do much either but that was a source of burning fuel vapor that will now be lost.
Some of the overheating controls have been removed.

Has the AC compressor been removed?

>>>>>>>>>>Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

action wrote:With or without low fuel sensor?

And you did remove some stuff...

>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
I'm not sure, I believe it does have the low fuel sensor. It has a two stud contact on the electrical connector.

The ac compressor was removed so I could rebuild/ replace it.
The whole AIR system was shot for the most part so I pulled it. Still saved the parts, but I'm going to do my best to get it running without the air system.
Good to know about the egr. I have saved those comments too just in case.

Since (for now) it's a budget build, I only kept what is absolutely necessary for it to run. Would you recommend adding back In the overheating controls?

Thanks for your expertise, I still have a lot to learn!
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by action »

Two terminal sender does NOT have a low fuel level sensor.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/71-79-Continen ... XQoiJRgSIt
Do check to see this will work. The description does not impress me. Many sellers just don't know what they are selling.

For stock engines, anything that works I would put it back on.

>>>>>>>>>Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

action wrote:Two terminal sender does NOT have a low fuel level sensor.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/71-79-Continen ... XQoiJRgSIt
Do check to see this will work. The description does not impress me. Many sellers just don't know what they are selling.

For stock engines, anything that works I would put it back on.

>>>>>>>>>Action

Good plan. I will see if I can clean
and refurbish the original sender and attach a new float.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by action »

Yeah if the existing sender works -
Get a new sock
Get a new float is the old one leaks
Replace the lock ring gasket and you are good to go

>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
mz35z
Occasional Visitor
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
Contact:

Re: 1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

Sender works! Replacing those few parts and putting in my new tank tonight. Gotta love rock auto. Even with $25 shipping, the tank was still $20 cheaper than anywhere else. Exact same brand also.
Delphi fuel pump came in with the tank so I should have the fuel deliver system complete soon.

Image
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests