CVPIs and Antennas

Spartan925

Spartan925

Warriors' Watch Rider
I plan on purchasing a Crown Victoria of the Police Interceptor variety in the near future. I'll use it for Warriors' Watch rides when I can't ride the bike (if I do end up keeping it) specifically when we move the Huey or do a funeral escort. I want a big car with lots of room and power for not a lot of $$$ and the CVPI seems to fit the bill.

One of the additions I plan to make is to install a HAM and a CB. The HAM, because I have a license and it also makes for a great scanner to find out what's going on on the road. And the CB because out Huey driver and a few of our riders use it and it'd make communicating during an escort much easier.

The radios, of course, will require mounting antennas to the car. I had mentioned this in a Facebook post and a friend brought up that I could end up getting unwanted attention from PD if I drive around in a CVPI with antennas on it and wind up getting pulled over a lot so they can make sure I'm legit. Now, he has no LEO background that I know of...and he's Canadian, so he could be completely off base here. But it made me curious because I couldn't be certain that what he was saying was accurate or not. I figure if I don't have red/blue lights or any sort of livery on the car trying to make the car look like something it isn't, I shouldn't have any problems.
 
Shaggy

Shaggy

Zoinks!!!!
Kids buy old cop cars all the time and drive them around. It's not a big deal. As long as you don't try and put emergency lights on it or paint it to appear like a cop car you'll be fine.

As for the "decent power" comment.... the Crown Victoria barely had enough power to get out of its own way. Rated at 225hp if I recall correctly. The only notable difference between the Interceptor and a regular CV was an oil cooler and an upgraded alternator. There are probably better options out there for a big car with a decent motor.
 
C

Crazyninja

Member
The later model Crown Vic's used the Cobra motor and were rated around 300 for the police CV. However, remember these cars are driven hard, one pedal down to the floor at all times. You should really expect this to be a maintenance project. They are driven hard with little regard for longevity.
 
}Dragon{

}Dragon{

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ ︵ ╯(°□° ╯)
Crazyninja said:
The later model Crown Vic's used the Cobra motor and were rated around 300 for the police CV. However, remember these cars are driven hard, one pedal down to the floor at all times. You should really expect this to be a maintenance project. They are driven hard with little regard for longevity.
Click to expand...

It's amazing where you can take a "rental"...:laughing
 
Spartan925

Spartan925

Warriors' Watch Rider
Crazyninja said:
The later model Crown Vic's used the Cobra motor and were rated around 300 for the police CV. However, remember these cars are driven hard, one pedal down to the floor at all times. You should really expect this to be a maintenance project. They are driven hard with little regard for longevity.
Click to expand...


Yeah, definitely aware of that. I'm paying attention to not just miles but idle hours in the ones I'm looking at. The dealer I found that gets a lot of them has one that had been an unmarked/undercover unit that should have seen lighter duty. I've seen some that were insurance investigators that are still PIs but without the wear and tear.

And I test drove one last week and maybe it's me being used to my wife's Civic, but it had plenty of power for me.
 
Shaggy

Shaggy

Zoinks!!!!
Crazyninja said:
The later model Crown Vic's used the Cobra motor and were rated around 300 for the police CV. However, remember these cars are driven hard, one pedal down to the floor at all times. You should really expect this to be a maintenance project. They are driven hard with little regard for longevity.
Click to expand...

That is incorrect.

At no point did the Crown Victoria get the DOHC 4.6L V8. They were ALWAYS built with the SOHC motor.

The Mercury Marauder was given the DOHC 4.6L.
 
C

Crazyninja

Member
My mistake. They had Marauder parts, but not the Cobra engine. The latter models are the better ones to have.

Good luck!
 
auditude

auditude

Wut, bodda you?
They also have upgraded brakes and suspension in addition to the oil cooler for tranny; partly why you see so many of the retired units out there as taxis.

They can be picked up cheap at the state auctions. Ymmv
 
brichter

brichter

Spun out freakshow
"a friend brought up that I could end up getting unwanted attention from PD if I drive around in a CVPI with antennas on it and wind up getting pulled over a lot so they can make sure I'm legit."

An antenna will get you pulled over in Canadia? LOL
 
M

MysterYvil

Mr. Bad Example
In the late 80s I had an '85 Diplomat, black with white doors.

While the paint was legal in Illinois, there were enough LEOs who didn't know that, to the point that I basically rattlecanned the doors.

Ditto when I had an eight foot aerial for my CB; legal, but it garnered me a few unnecessary encounters.

The worst encounters didn't come from LEOs, though. Nothing makes Joe Citizen get all lawful faster than thinking there's a cop behind him...
 
khill

khill

Well-known member
I LOVE mine.......
 

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Spartan925

Spartan925

Warriors' Watch Rider
I just filled up my father-in-law's V-8 F-150 today since we've been borrowing it...my debit card is still recovering. Can't be much worse than that.
 
khill

khill

Well-known member
Spartan925 said:
^ Oh, that's nice. What have you seen as far as average MPG?
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The engine is all stock except for an aggressive dyno tune. With the 3.27 gears, 18-22mph was pretty normal. Now with 3.55 gears, I'm 17-20....

Funny people think they fast.....they are dog slow....

Ken
 
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