Your '77 TC (body on frame construstion) is more than to pull your 23' Safari. Properly equipped (and in good condition) the TC would be rated to tow 5000 #'s at least. And the Safari will be less than that. I would recommend bolting versus welding and either way would be acceptable for mounting the hitch.
The unibody Lincolns ended in 1969. All were body over frame from that time forward. The last production Lincoln vert was the 1967. Also the last 4 door vert ever. (unless there is one from the last couple of years) A 4 door vert is such a rare thing. Almost all convertibles are 2 doors.
And Mistral Blue, the best advise I can give you is by the best example of what you want that you can find. Spend the big buck up front. It will save you money over the total life of the ownership. If you buy a fixer upper and you have to learn on it, you will get discouraged a nd your significatnt other will be concerned too over the long period of work it takes before usage. Delayed gratification can be a pain, and when the prize is achieved it's way cool.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
Here are two pictures of the hitch on my Towncar. One of the left side where it bolts to the frame and one of the center.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Regarding Action's comment on the towing capacity, the owners manual states 6,000 lbs with a 3.0 rear axle. I have the 2.75 axle.
Bill
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Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
In yesterday's Cub Scout "Concours d'Elegance" (Pinewood Derby), the "Judge's Favorite" award was given to my son Donal for his entry, Vintage Thunder, Jr. The paint used was the exact same autobody paint as used on the original Vintage Thunder. The wheels had to be extended outside the body to accommodate the track. (They can come back in.) J. Rick Cipot, aka rickandsandi, provided all of the knowhow, power tools and quite a few Saturdays in a row to help Donal create his masterpiece. And Rick's 13-year old daughter Sarah was instrumental in creating the propane tanks.
I only posted this to see if you think a tow vehicle similar to what's pictured below might work. I'm sorry if I mistakenly added too many pictures.
I'm just learning how to do this!
The '66 Lincoln is equipped to tow up to 3500 #'s with no additional equippment. (Class I and II) To tow up to 5000 #'s the 3.00 axle ratio is needed also. When new this axle ratio was a N/C option for '66.
In addition to that is a load leveling hitch (bars) if the tongue weight is over 200#'s.
Lastly the Continental required trailer brakes on any trailer over 1500 #'s.
Bill, how much does your Liner and your Safari weigh?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
The '66 Lincoln is equipped to tow up to 3500 #'s with no additional equippment. (Class I and II) To tow up to 5000 #'s the 3.00 axle ratio is needed also. When new this axle ratio was a N/C option for '66.
In addition to that is a load leveling hitch (bars) if the tongue weight is over 200#'s.
Lastly the Continental required trailer brakes on any trailer over 1500 #'s.
Bill, how much does your Liner and your Safari weigh?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Action,
The Safari has a gross weight of 5800 lbs. The Liner is unknown at this time. Empty it is about 3000 lbs, I have 3500 lbs axles and 1750 lbs springs. As I remember the gross weight was originally about 5400 lbs.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
Dry that Safari would be about 3900 based on the A/S site.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
Dry that Safari would be about 3900 based on the A/S site.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
50 gallons of water, for 400 lbs, two 30 lb propane bottles for another 60 lbs, air conditioner. Now probabley up to 4500 plus. Plenty of room for gear. I have not weighed the trailer, that is what the plate on the front states.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
Thanks to both you guys for all your input---- Bill, and "Action".....
Boy, what a busy and productive weekend for me, Airstream and "TV" wise!!
Spent Saturday afternoon and evening with a friend who is doing a complete "body off resto" on a clone '69 23' Safari. I call it the "Extreme Makeover, Airstream Edition"..... haha... He will have one of the most beautiful, and practical trailers I will ever see, when he finishes.... It is also giving me a rare opportunity to see the "entrails" of my own trailer, and that will be a great asset in a future project or resto of my own trailer. Seeing it last fall with the body suspended a few feet above the floorboards and frame was a rare opportunity indeed.
Anyways, he has given me lots of advice, and help along the way, and also given me a few "spare parts" that he will not use in his resto..... that always helps...
He gave me the quick lesson in "Furnaces 101" as we both have the original furnaces in our Safaris. I actually got motivated to inspect mine yesterday afternoon, and when I finally got it all up and running, it took me a little while to get the pilot light to stay lit, but after awhile, it took, and the furnace lit right off!!! Within minutes it was toasty warm, and 70 inside the trailer!!! Yippee !!!!. The only thing I noticed that will need attention is that the regulator between the two propane tanks seems to leak a small bit, and you can smell it.... the "overflow hole" from the bottom of the regulator seems to be the culprit. Do I attempt to repair this, or just replace with a new regulator??
On to the hitch, and TV subject. I finally got around to contacting my friend last week, who is the fabricator extraordinaire, and he loves a challenge, and he spent an evening figuring out how we would make the front brackets for my hitch, as it appeared that someone had altered this from the factory style. Bill, your hitch on your '77 TC looks way more conventional, and like what I am used to seeing.... mine may have been a vintage or a custom made hitch from back in the day....as it appears to be three times the size, and it attaches in the front section also, almost underneath the gas tank... Frankly this hitch looks heavy enough to pull a freight train with!!!! My buddy had to alter the design a bit, and he undid the "jury rig" that someone had done years ago to this hitch, and we welded two large plates vertically from the frame and he machined and drilled two mounting holes in mating brackets, on the hitch itself, and it will thence, be removable if need be. The idea of welding this baby solid scared me, cuz knowing my luck, as soon as we welded it up there in place, my gas tank would spring a leak, and I would hafta get out the cutting torch to the hitch!!!
So, anyways, the hitch is on, it is complete, and with the Reese reciever I have, the height from top of hitch ball to the ground is exactly 19". This is what my 69 Airstream Owners Manual sez is the optimum height. Now to figger out how this car will sit with the trailer hooked up, and with the equalizer bars cinched up.... I am very curious if I can cinch them up to make the car sit level, or if it will be air bag time. ???? Unfortunately, it is quite moist outside right now, here on the shores of Lake Erie, it is "snaining" outside... and the Safari is on the grass next to the garage, so i won't be pulling the "TownHouse" over there too soon..... I will try to snap a couple pictures for you Bill of my own hitch installation......
Action, I like your choice of Vintage TV with your 66 Merc with a 410. That was a neat motor, only a 2 yr run if memory serves me correctly... A cross breed between a 390 and a 428. It was replaced by the larger 428 by 68 I believe... I had a 65 Monterey many yrs ago, and always search ebay and other places for a nice one....but in Michigan, they rusted something terrible, esp. the frames around the torque boxes....
And speaking of the unibody sixties Continentals, I do remember our Michigan Unit President and his wife, back around 1971, Alvin and Marilyn Williams....They led our pack of over 150 trailers in caravan from Marshall, Mich to Salem, Oregon for the International rally that year.... Al had a '65 Continental Sedan in Gray with a black interior, boy that was a sharp car.... pulling a '65 or '66 Sovereign. But I don't honestly recall anyone else in the MI unit having one of those. I had a beautiful '64 Sedan several yrs ago, and would undoubtedly be outfitting that car to pull my Safari if i still had the car!!!. I believe they have a rear "sub frame" of sorts, and i would not anticipate any unique problems in fabricating a hitch for that car.... They all had the tried and true 430 V8 from 61 to 65, replaced by the 462 in 66, then upgraded to the 460 "385" series in mid year 68. Some 68s have the 462, some later ones were 460 equipped.
Oh well, i have rambled long enough......time to make a pot of joe !!!
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Scott Anderson Grosse Ile, Mich. 1969 23' Safari Twin WBCCI # 22426 (formerly #22425 1968-76)
When it is my time, I want to go peacefully, And in my sleep.....Just like my Grandfather.... Not screaming, kicking and in a state of panic, like the other passengers in his car were......
The only thing I noticed that will need attention is that the regulator between the two propane tanks seems to leak a small bit, and you can smell it.... the "overflow hole" from the bottom of the regulator seems to be the culprit. Do I attempt to repair this, or just replace with a new regulator??
No replace the unit before you use it again. Escaping propane isn't good for your health.
You have a good memory. The 428 was built along with the 410. Not sure why FOMOCO built the 410 for the 2 years. However is was cheap to produce. No new parts. Just the crank of a 428 in a 390 makes it a 410.
As a native Michigander, (And former employee of the blue oval.) I can relate to your weather. It is a significant part of the reason that I do not live there now. Good luck to your adventure in travels by land. Keep us updated.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
The 410 was called the mercury marauder or the 410 marauder and was a very strong runner.kicked the 390s can hands down ,unless you had a 67 390 mustang fastback GTA like we had when I was a kid ,but if it had the 410 Hmmm ,good stuff. nothing like it .Can you guys say BIG BLOCK !?
Scott of scottanlily
68 travelall 030 over 392 = 397 cid or 6.5 litres, 5 speed fuller trans, 4x4, A/C, P/S
Actually both the 390 and the 410 were called Marauder engines and the 428 was a super Marauder for 1966. Mercury was used to using that name and no longer was using it to identify the vehicles they were making. Mercury used the name Marauder in 1963, 1964, and 1965 to indicate full size fast backs bodys. Brought the name back in 1969 and 1970 as it's own model designation. And recently used the name for two years again. 2003 and 2004.
The 410 is a unique engine. It was an EZ cross between the 390 and the 428. However only found in the full sized Mercury and only for 2 years. 1966 and 1967.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
My friend is about to install a '69 (I think) 390 in his '54 Ford Wagon. He currently has a 351W in it but it just does not have the torque to pull a larger trailer through the mountains we typically frequent here in BC. He currently tows a 17' Boler (fiberglass) but is actively searching for a 50's Flying Cloud/Safari with twins. Pic of his rig attached. My sister had a '66 maurder in her Mercury hardtop and I remember it had a stunning dark blue bucket seat interior to complement the silver exterior and dark blue vinyl roof. It had the 410 and was very powerful. She sold it to buy a Starsky and Hutch car when they first came out and sadly her Merc was totalled shortly after. I loved that car for it's power and looks. Have never seen another that has all the options and looks hers did.
Barry
(Pre engine electronics)
An engine will get speed or HP from the bore size of a piston. The torque or power will come from the stroke of a piston.
Given the same displacement engine, the one with the short stroke and wide psiton will go faster. The one with the long stroke and narrow piston will pull more.
With that said the 390 has a stroke that is a 1/4" longer. It is also a 100#'s heavier than the 351.
As for the '66 Merc with everything. I have one, a Park Lane. The only missing options are the vinyl roof, 428-4V, power front vent windows, 8-track, trac-lok rear axle, tilt steering wheel.
Major optional equippment that my ride has:
A/C - heater
Power steering, front disc brakes, windows, locks, reverse rear window, rear deck lid release, 6 way front bench seat
Speed control
AM/FM radio with power antenna
Warning lights - door ajar, seat belt, low fuel
>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
As for the '66 Merc with everything. I have one, a Park Lane. The only missing options are the vinyl roof, 428-4V, power front vent windows, 8-track, trac-lok rear axle, tilt steering wheel.
Major optional equippment that my ride has:
A/C - heater
Power steering, front disc brakes, windows, locks, reverse rear window, rear deck lid release, 6 way front bench seat
Speed control
AM/FM radio with power antenna
Warning lights - door ajar, seat belt, low fuel
>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
Does your car have the power rear window, or is it solid glass?
__________________
Terry You repair things with tools. You fix things with a hammer.
AIR#2611
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