Need info on a 1978 Lincoln Town Car

[Davis]

Hi, I need some info on a 1978 Lincoln Town Car . What is the wheelbase, rear axle ratio, and would it be a suitable tow vehicle. I know that Airstream used to advertise back in the 70`s with mostly cars as tow vehicles but would there be any towing issues and would the Lincoln`s 460 V8 be up to it? I am thinking of getting a 25ft -31ft trailer and would like to have a vintage car as the TV. Also if any of you could suggest other late 70`s cars I would appreciate it. Thanks Davis

[mustang]

The 460 is a fine engine for pulling (not gas Mileage) Plenty of torque to do any job if geared right as far as the axle ratio, there should be a tag on the differential cover, ir if it loads from the front its a 9 inch I am sure. Either way the tag or in the door jam there is a mfg plate which will give you a code then go to a linclon dealer or ford and they can tell you. Sometimes the owners manual will also give you ratios or chiltons book at the library.
The car is the frame is solid should be fine

[bake315]

The 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood seemed to be a pretty stout car in its day...

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by Davis

Hi, I need some info on a 1978 Lincoln Town Car . What is the wheelbase, rear axle ratio, and would it be a suitable tow vehicle. I know that Airstream used to advertise back in the 70`s with mostly cars as tow vehicles but would there be any towing issues and would the Lincoln`s 460 V8 be up to it? I am thinking of getting a 25ft -31ft trailer and would like to have a vintage car as the TV. Also if any of you could suggest other late 70`s cars I would appreciate it. Thanks Davis

Davis,

I tow with a 1977 Lincoln Town Car. It has the 460 CI 4V engine. The wheelbase in 127" and the overall length 233". The car normally comes with a 2.75 axle with a 3.0 optional for towing. I have the 2.75 axle. The car gets about 9 towing and 12-13 not towing. It is a dream to tow with and works well for both my 1979 Safari and when we brought the 1954 Double Door Liner home from Tampa. The 1978 is the last year with the 460 available although it was optional in the 49 state car only.

Any full size late 1970's car will work, but I would stay away from the last years when they downgraded the engines.

Please post the VIN and axle code from the door plate and we can determine the axle ratio.

My 460 has 208 HP at 4,000 RPM and 365 FT-LB at 2,000. Your 1978 should be about the same.

BTW, the looks you will receive make it all worthwhile.

Bill

[Davis]

Thanks for the replies. I do not own one yet but I am putting a plan together for a vintage combo.
Bill that is a nice looking rig you have and I bet you do get some looks cause you don`t see to many of the old Lincolns on the road or at least not around where I live. Thanks Davis

[overlander63]

1978 horsepower rating went down further than it was in 1977. I can't find my info right now (I am in the throes of moving), but I think the 1978 460 was just over 200 horsepower. The only info I can find spur or the moment is 150 horsepower for the 400...yikes!

[scottanlily]

those 400s were dogs ,terrible power .they needed valve jobs and valves and seats like crazy,but then they were a smog motor period. although they look
like 351 clevelands ,they weren't .The 460 with a rv cam would run great.
The compression ratios of 8 to 1 and smogger camshafts killed any performance in the 70s and 80s along with catalytic convertor design of that
era also .the 460 with the big cubes is plenty ,torque is the name of the game in towing ,horse power is not .

Scott of scottanlily

[SafeHarbor]

I found some info:

Model Continental 4-dr

Price - $10,396
Weight - 4,660 lbs
Wheelbase - 127.2 inches
Length - 233.0 inches

Engine - last of the 460s

Compression Ratio - 8 to 1
Carb. 4 - bbl
HP 210 @ 2200 (49 states only)

Source - The Lincoln Motorcar, Thomas Bonsall, 1981

[Davis]

Thanks for the info. everybody. Safe Harbor , I see you are a Georgia resident also.I don`t see to many posts from Georgia. Thanks Davis

[SafeHarbor]

Hi, Davis,

There are several Georgians here. Click on Portal above, then Member Search, and click only GA and do the search. You can pretty much ignore the folks with zero posts, but I think you'll recognize some of the others who do post.

There's a little bug in the search function - set it to sort in reverse order and it will work right.

There are even a couple of Airstreams in Montezuma.

Lamar

[68 Overlander]

Those 460's will drag just about anything you hook up and do it well. I remember my grandpas horse, damn that thing would pull. I'd love to have one as well as a 455 Tornado.

[klattu]

Under the body, that Lincoln is like a truck.
Better than most midsise trucks today.
Get a load leveler hitch and you will be a happy camper