1985 CHP Unit #8395 Found!

[jarhed123]

It is only 93 units away from my '85. I would say you are safe that is your unit number.

[28HopUp]

It is only 93 units away from my '85. I would say you are safe that is your unit number.

Not only that, but I spoke with Andy who owns CHP #8397, and his VIN is only 49 numbers away from mine!

So I took a hair drier and Gorilla tape to the area above my door's data tag, and was able to lift enough of the gray paint to reveal NOTHING written on the white paint. Still has a little shine left in it too. No CHP number though.

Say, what's the trick to removing the bottom rear seat cushion?

[ImEvil1]

The numbers were above the sticker on some, and below on others. Did you only check the top?

You just have to pull pretty good on the seat bottom (at the rear, where the lower cushion meets the upper, then up towards the front seats)....it's a friction fit. The rear seatback should have a couple of bolts holding it down, then it goes straight up.

[28HopUp]

Originally Posted by ImEvil1

The numbers were above the sticker on some, and below on others. Did you only check the top?

You just have to pull pretty good on the seat bottom (at the rear, where the lower cushion meets the upper, then up towards the front seats)....it's a friction fit. The rear seatback should have a couple of bolts holding it down, then it goes straight up.

I only checked above the door sticker. I'll try lifting the paint below it too and see if I can find anything looking like the remnants of painted numbers. Given how smooth the topcoat looks, I don't think I'll find anything underneath but we'll see.

Ahh, you yank from the back of the seat cushion! That made a big difference. Just as I suspected, the back seats are not original to the car either.

This SSP reminds me of an old hot rod, being cobbled together with parts from different cars:

• The original 15x7 steel spare tire I have will not fit over the front hubs because the brakes have been upgraded. Paperwork from the seller says they are SVO brakes, but the hubs are 4-lug. So what brakes do I have that are larger than the stock 85 brakes?
• The 8.8" rear-end with disc brakes also are said to be from an SVO, but they too are 4-lug. Judging by how the tires fit in the wheelwell, it doesn't appear to be the wider Turbo Coupe rear-end. So what 8.8" Fox rear came with disc brakes?
• The front-end body work shows no signs of having a hole for a front speaker. May not be original to the car as a result of a prior accident (post-auction).

I know I'll find more "irregularities" as I dive deeper into the car. I'm by no means frustrated at all. It's all part of the car's past, and as the current owner it's my job to sort it all out.

[predator20]

Originally Posted by 28HopUp

I only checked above the door sticker. I'll try lifting the paint below it too and see if I can find anything looking like the remnants of painted numbers. Given how smooth the topcoat looks, I don't think I'll find anything underneath but we'll see.

Ahh, you yank from the back of the seat cushion! That made a big difference. Just as I suspected, the back seats are not original to the car either.

This SSP reminds me of an old hot rod, being cobbled together with parts from different cars:

• The original 15x7 steel spare tire I have will not fit over the front hubs because the brakes have been upgraded. Paperwork from the seller says they are SVO brakes, but the hubs are 4-lug. So what brakes do I have that are larger than the stock 85 brakes?
• The 8.8" rear-end with disc brakes also are said to be from an SVO, but they too are 4-lug. Judging by how the tires fit in the wheelwell, it doesn't appear to be the wider Turbo Coupe rear-end. So what 8.8" Fox rear came with disc brakes?
• The front-end body work shows no signs of having a hole for a front speaker. May not be original to the car as a result of a prior accident (post-auction).

I know I'll find more "irregularities" as I dive deeper into the car. I'm by no means frustrated at all. It's all part of the car's past, and as the current owner it's my job to sort it all out.

They are probably the '87 and up 11" brakes.
The rear disc 8.8, I'm not sure. I think you can get some rear disc swap out of a Lincoln. So maybe they are different from the turbo coupes. Or could be SSBC set up.

[86NeSSP]

THe front are more than likely 87+ like Mikes said. The rear are probably Thunderbird turbo coupe probably swapped the whole rearend into the car. It's a pretty easy swap.


Good luck.

[28HopUp]

I rec'd a FAX copy of my car's CHP Assignment Card -

http://users.erols.com/hopup/chpcard1.jpg
http://users.erols.com/hopup/chpcard2.jpg


So now I have confirmed that unit number #8395 matches my VIN.

[stadair]

Originally Posted by 28HopUp

Say, what's the trick to removing the bottom rear seat cushion?

Grab the bottom of the rear seat cushion with both hands. Push rearward and then pull up.