1978 continental sedan project

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mz35z
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1978 continental sedan project

Post by mz35z »

Hello everyone! I've already spent many hours browsing these forums and learning a lot. I'm the very happy new owner of a 1978 continental sedan 460. I've been passively searching for years as this is my dream car and I finally found an amazing deal. I had to get it.


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In Michigan, most of these have a lot of rust. This one has one pinky sized rust hole and a little bit of surface rust. My 96 explorer has about 10x more rust than this big beauty. Couple more pics.

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I found a seller who wanted it to go to someone who wanted to restore it. They turned down offers from guys wanting to demo derby it and just take the engine from it. My plan is to do just about everything but pull powertrain (if I can get away with it). Great condition caramel leather interior that could use some reconditioning. 73k miles. All original with locked up A.I.R. system. Most emblems and trim exists, but I've already found a guy parting a 79 out so I'll be able to get the rest of the trim.

This is my first restore project so this forum will be of great value to me. If anyone has insight or recommendations, please let me know!

I'll be posting regular updates and pictures here.
So far I have only
●drained, removed and flushed the radiator
●removed the back seat to open the trunk
●While the back seat was up, I realized there was a squirrel living under it collecting 100s of pinecones. I made sure he wasnt there anymore. Little bastard ate the corners of the back seat to get into the trunk, but I believe I can stretch and sew this back up.
●as much as this means, there was no antifreeze in the oil or vise versa.


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Last edited by mz35z on Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:16 am, edited 8 times in total.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
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mz35z
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Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
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Post by mz35z »

Images are fixed now.
Just made a very large rock auto purchase after inspecting much of the boat
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
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action
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Re: 1978 continental sedan restore

Post by action »

Good Luck.
Looks like a big project.
>>>>>>>>>>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
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mz35z
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Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
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Re: 1978 continental sedan restore

Post by mz35z »

Image
Well I got the engine all apart. Very good condition besides a little oil sludge built up. Replacing oil pan, valve cover, intake and head gaskets. Repainting intake and valve covers while they are out also. Despite it looking impossible, I was able to remove the oil pan with the engine in. Jacked it up a few inches while watching clearances. Also the sway bar had to come out. I didn't want to get a cherry picker just for a bad oil pan gasket.
I also found some good news while I was under there. Newer starter and the catalytic converters have already been taken out.
Matt Zufelt. 78 Continental sedan with 460/c6
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mz35z
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Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:56 pm
Location: West bloomfield, Michigan
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Re: 1978 continental sedan restore

Post by mz35z »

action wrote:Good Luck.
Looks like a big project.
>>>>>>>>>>Action

Thanks! Biggest car project I've done, but I'm ready. :dance:
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
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Re: 1978 continental sedan restore

Post by action »

Where in Michigan are you?

>>>>>>>>>>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 restore

Post by mz35z »

Hazel Park. Are you in Michigan?
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
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Re: 1978 continental sedan restore

Post by action »

I get to Belleville once a year. Usually for Dream Cruise. Missed this year due to medical reasons. May still come out later this year.

>>>>>>>>>>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 restore

Post by mz35z »

I'd like to meet up with you local guys eventually once I get mine up and running. Not sure about the dream cruise but some of the smaller classics meet ups a may do.
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 »

Very productive evening on the sedan. Pulled harmonic balancer, water pump and timing cover and replaced the timing set. Surprisingly, the old nylon cam gear was still in very good condition. none the less it had to go:
Image

A couple more hours in and the timing cover and water pump were cleaned and put back on.

I was also able to (carefully) jack up the engine and slide the oil pan out. I dont have access to a cherry picker and I know if I pull the engine I'll want to just rebuild the whole thing. so at least for now, more basic stuff. I had to remove the sway bar to slide the oil pan out, but it went pretty smooth after that.
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 work has been very busy lately, but I was about to get out there and get a few more things done. Oil pan has been cleaned up and painted:
Before:
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After:
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There was decent pitting, and a few dents and scrapes, so I wasnt too worried about completely restoring it. Just removed rust and gave it a coat of a new "ford blue".

The valve covers have been cleaned and will need to be hammered out. Whoever owned this prior reefed on the valve cover bolts (I'm assuming to stop a leak) and warped the holes out.

Image
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 »

If tight is good.
Tighter is better, right?

>>>>>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:If tight is good.
Tighter is better, right?

>>>>>Action

Hey I think you're on to something!
:lol:
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 »

Just a couple more things done this weekend.
Intake manifold has been cleaned up and painted, oil pan installed despite it being very difficult. Next time I'll be pulling the engine if I need to drop the oil pan. :doh:
Odd was I torqued the bolts to specs but it seemed like a little too much. The cork gasket started to bulge out in some places.
Next step is looking into removing the smog system completely. I have a good idea of what to do, but this forum and some outside resources will help me finish the job.

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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 »

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
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
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