What is the history of this 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor?

It started life as a Santa Barbara County Sheriff patrol car stationed in Lompoc, California. In 2008 it was purchased at auction by John McGann of Car Craft magazine and featured in Car Craft for an engine build, suspension improvements, and do-it-yourself paint. Matthew Tatosian and Victoria Levesque purchased it in December 2013.

What were the car's baseline dyno numbers before the engine build?

It made 208 hp and 254 lb-ft on the rollers at Racers' Edge Tuning in Downey, California, with 10-second eighth-mile timeslips (about 15.60 quarter-mile).

Which gaskets can be reused when tearing down this engine, per the Car Craft article?

Several gaskets can be reused, such as the oil pan gasket and valve cover gaskets, but the rubber timing cover gaskets cannot be reused and should be discarded.

What tips does the article give for removing the engine from the Crown Victoria?

Unbolt the A/C compressor and oil filter adapter but leave them in the chassis; remove the fan, coolant reservoir, exhaust, torque converter, transmission, and motor mounts; and remove the hood so the oil pan clears the core support and front header panel as the engine lifts straight up and out.

What issue of Car Craft is shown covering the engine teardown?

The October 2011 issue (page 53, carcraft.com).

Home/ Registry/ Ford/ Crown Victoria/ 1998-2011/ “EVIL VIC”/ Photo supermotors.net/registry/media/1020973

2003 Ford Crown Victoria P71 - Car Craft 'Build a Panther' Project Car History

Car Craft Build a Panther engine teardown article beside 2003 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor placard

Car Craft 'Build a Panther' teardown article shown with a placard for a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor former feature car; baseline ~254 lb-ft, 15.60 quarter-mile.

AI caption May 2014 · Photo 0 of 5000

This photo shows two documents displayed together, apparently at a car show: (1) a framed placard describing a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the former Car Craft Magazine "Build a Panther" project car, and (2) an open copy of the October 2011 issue of Car Craft (page 53) documenting the engine teardown portion of that build. The placard explains the car began life as a Santa Barbara County Sheriff patrol car stationed in Lompoc, California, was purchased at auction in 2008 by Car Craft's John McGann, and was featured in the magazine for an engine build, suspension improvements, and DIY paint. It was later purchased by Matthew Tatosian and Victoria Levesque in December 2013. The magazine page's photo captions cover baseline dyno figures (208 hp, 254 lb-ft at Racers' Edge Tuning in Downey, CA; ~15.60 quarter-mile), engine removal tips (unbolt A/C compressor and oil filter adapter but leave in chassis; hood removal needed for engine extraction), teardown steps (water pump O-ring reuse, timing cover stud locations, which gaskets can be reused), and an explanation of the overhead cam roller follower/hydraulic lash adjuster arrangement. A reader learns the provenance and magazine history of this specific Crown Victoria.

Is this accurate? Sign in to help verify it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the history of this 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor?: It started life as a Santa Barbara County Sheriff patrol car stationed in Lompoc, California. In 2008 it was purchased at auction by John McGann of Car Craft magazine and featured in Car Craft for an engine build, suspension improvements, and do-it-yourself paint. Matthew Tatosian and Victoria Levesque purchased it in December 2013.
What were the car's baseline dyno numbers before the engine build?: It made 208 hp and 254 lb-ft on the rollers at Racers' Edge Tuning in Downey, California, with 10-second eighth-mile timeslips (about 15.60 quarter-mile).
Which gaskets can be reused when tearing down this engine, per the Car Craft article?: Several gaskets can be reused, such as the oil pan gasket and valve cover gaskets, but the rubber timing cover gaskets cannot be reused and should be discarded.
What tips does the article give for removing the engine from the Crown Victoria?: Unbolt the A/C compressor and oil filter adapter but leave them in the chassis; remove the fan, coolant reservoir, exhaust, torque converter, transmission, and motor mounts; and remove the hood so the oil pan clears the core support and front header panel as the engine lifts straight up and out.
What issue of Car Craft is shown covering the engine teardown?: The October 2011 issue (page 53, carcraft.com).