Wheels!

[DustyLBottoms]

Well, finally upgraded my wheels! These were an eBay special, $500 with tires!

Went from the Lace style 15x6 with 205/70/15's to
16x7 with 225/60/16's (from the 1998 & higher Conti's).

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0tmx9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/wheels1.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0tmx9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/wheels2.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0tmx9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/wheels3.jpg



The car handles much tighter on the road, better feel through corners, etc. (Keep in the mind that I already have front & rear SHO sway bars, SHO control arms, TPR strut rod & control arm bushings, and front & rear strut tower braces, plus fender braces).

Next item to watch for: Big brake upgrade!!! (http://www.shobrosgarage.com/product_info.php?cPath=156_146&products_id=236)Watch out world, here I come!

http://www.wbodystore.com/images/colivera.jpg

[Nick]

They look much better on your car than the newer Continentals. Well done.

[Steve Moran]

I like it!
The car is a looker too.;)

[pro-five-oh]

Just keeps getting better and better.

Very nice!!!

[towncar95]

very nice very nice.. can you get one more pic with the whole car?
the first one is kinda cut off. i want to see the WHOLE car :)
those wheels really compliment the car.
p.s. what are you going to do with the lace wheels?

[DustyLBottoms]

very nice very nice.. can you get one more pic with the whole car?
the first one is kinda cut off. i want to see the WHOLE car :)
those wheels really compliment the car.
p.s. what are you going to do with the lace wheels?

I'll snap some more pics tomorrow. As for the lace wheels. They won't fit once I get the bigger brakes, so
right now they're sitting with the tires on them at my shop. Interested? I'll snap some pics of them as well.

[ketyokeinnor]

very nice! i was looking at a set of wheels off a 99 for my 94 this morning at a junkyard. One was really bent up though:( would turbines off a TC fit an essex conti? i meant to try but ran out of time.

These were the type i found
http://server2.texasdirectauto.com/south_pics/1LNLM97V1TY604925/DCP_8516.JPG
2 were like new 1 was missing a center cap and one was destroyed.

[AZLincolnMercury]

Nice work Dusty! :cool:

[pro-five-oh]

would turbines off a TC fit an essex conti?

Wrong bolt pattern. Stick with MN-12 Fords, Tauruses and Contis.
And you have to get 16" wheels so you can upgrade the brakes to V8 Conti/Mark VIII specs in the future.

[ketyokeinnor]

pro,
is this page correct in saying that the conti and mark VIII and LS have the same bolt pattern and at least close backspacing?

http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/Lincoln___Vehicle_Bolt_Pattern_Reference.cfm

[DustyLBottoms]

pro,
is this page correct in saying that the conti and mark VIII and LS have the same bolt pattern and at least close backspacing?

http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/Lincoln___Vehicle_Bolt_Pattern_Reference.cfm

Yes it is. :)

[pro-five-oh]

Of course, if you wanted to go nuts and to the Mustang Cobra brakes (13" front rotors, etc) you could use 17" Town Car wheels to make that happen.

[DustyLBottoms]

Of course, if you wanted to go nuts and to the Mustang Cobra brakes (13" front rotors, etc) you could use 17" Town Car wheels to make that happen.

Town Car? I thought Panther platform was different?! I'd use LS 17 inchers.

[pro-five-oh]

Town Car? I thought Panther platform was different?! I'd use LS 17 inchers.

Its the same as the Mustang...so you could have Lincoln 17" wheels with the right size and bolt pattern to work with Cobra brakes. Just throwing it out there if someone finds a wrecked Cobra in the junkyard.

[DustyLBottoms]

Hmmm.....I know of a guy on the Taurus forums who's running 17 inch Cobra rims. But they had a whole thread devoted to the debate about whether or not they fit correctly. :dunno:

[pro-five-oh]

Hmmm.....I know of a guy on the Taurus forums who's running 17 inch Cobra rims. But they had a whole thread devoted to the debate about whether or not they fit correctly. :dunno:

Moot point, though. Upgrading to 16" wheels and Mark VIII-spec brakes is more than enough for a 3.8L Conti...even one with significant engine mods.

[DustyLBottoms]

Moot point, though. Upgrading to 16" wheels and Mark VIII-spec brakes is more than enough for a 3.8L Conti...even one with significant engine mods.

Yeah....but not everyone lives in Texas. We actually have hills. :neener: Also, 17 inch rims will let you run 13inch rotors. With 16inch rims best you can get is a 12inch rotor.

[DustyLBottoms]

Ok, here's more pictures!

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0tmx9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/car1.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0tmx9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/car2.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0tmx9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/car3.jpg

[pro-five-oh]

Yeah....but not everyone lives in Texas. We actually have hills. :neener: Also, 17 inch rims will let you run 13inch rotors. With 16inch rims best you can get is a 12inch rotor.

My Mark VIII works fine in the hills of the Texas Hill Country too. I've done a few triple digit brake tests. :)


http://www.luckenbachtx.com/Luckenbach/Texas-state-parks.jpg


Seriously though, sticky tires + semi metallic pads + 11.5" rotors will stop a Continental plenty good.

[Steve Moran]

I like the look, it seems to have made the car look shorter?

[towncar95]

dusty...
thanks for the pics. that really is one fine looking car :cool:

[JeepOwner]

impressive.