Would a '73 Lincoln Continental make a good donor?

I found a Continental that is in good condition for $800. I was thinking about picking it up since I need a DD anyway, and thought the 460 and the disk brakes would be good for a future project. I find cool projects all the time with no drivetrain so this would be a cheap way to get started on a project, and serve as DD in the meantime. I want a late 30's to 40's custom bagged, so thats what it would be going into. Eager to hear what everyone thinks about this.......

 

Could be a good donor for drive-line and maybe even frame?

 

As a driver it's probably gonna be a good deal. As a donor car, unless you were building maybe a mid fifties truck or some thing, you aren't going to use much. The 460 is a neat engine in a big car, but doesn't fit too well in most thirties stuff. The disc brakes are huge, but don't swap to anything that I am aware of in a practical manner. Most of the interior is too seventies for what we are doing here.

 

Thanks for the input. I think I'm going to pick it up, it would be fun to cruise around in for a while. If I only spend 800 on my DD I will be a lot closer to a project also. Maybe if I find a nice project truck I can still consider using the driveline. I do like the look of the 57-60 F100's. Hmmmm..

 

73 is one of the...weaker? 460s. My DD is a 78 cont. I wouldnt trade it or cut it up for anything. im guessing after you drive it for a while you'll feel the same.

 

Yes but the rears are wide so measure befor you buy . Also the 460 will be a real dog , just get a 1970 timing gear set and install it at TDC . You will wake that dog up ! They retarded the timing a lot !

Retro Jim

 

Well the guy told me it had 103K on it when in fact it had 210K. The interior was ratted out and the trans didnt shift into 2nd. He said he didnt tell me because it just started. Back to the drawing board.

 

I used a 71 and 73 so far also still drive my 74 T-bird as a DD that I bought to use as a donor. Yes new timing gears will wake them up ******s are fix able something you can do your self if You have the time. Me I take them to a ****** shop where I know the folks and drop it on the floor and tell them to call me when it is done. Most likely reason for not shifting is a 10 cent hose on the vacuum modulator tell him to knock off a couple hundred. And take it anyway.

 

If you make the purchase and want to sell the steering box sometime down the road....I know of someone in need of one.

 

I bought a 76 a long time ago as a donor for my 56 ford. The one drawback is they have a 9 1/4(?) diff. I was told they are damn near impossible to find parts for, but that was a long time ago. They do float real nice though, I drove mine home, and not even train tracks made her fidget...