A regular car can become something unique with the right tools. Using the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria P71, it’s possible to make your own police car.
How did ChrisFix convert a regular car into a police car?
ChrisFix took this vehicle from plain to polished for a local police officer by adding new headlights, a grille, and parts scavenged from the local junkyard. This easy upgrade made the vehicle safe to drive at night.
In this article about episode 1 of the series, we’ll discuss how to turn a regular car into a police car and how to fix a police spotlight that isn’t working as intended.
Converting a Crown Victoria into a Police Car
The changes made during the video were intended to increase the value of the vehicle and make it safe to drive. Let’s go over some of the upgrades available in this model.
P71 Crown Victoria vehicles are already upgraded to be used by police. They have heavier suspensions, heavy-duty alternators, larger radiators, transmissions, and oil coolers, ECUs tuned differently than standard models to allow for tighter shifting, and other upgrades.
You’ll note there are upgraded brakes and an upgraded torque converter. With upgraded rear differential gears, this vehicle has a 327:1 gear ratio. This means the vehicle has a high rate of acceleration.
Inside the Crown Vic, you will also see a special pursuit-rated driveshaft made with aluminum. This is designed to handle high-speed pursuits when needed.
The exhaust system is made with stainless steel and is a dual-exhaust system without resonators. To keep those inside safe, there is a fire-suppression system.
Most of these are upgrades you’ll find in any police package.
The Interior of the 2005 Crown Victoria P71
The interior of the 2005 Crown Victoria P71 has front cloth bucket seats, a brake in the middle, and a shifter on the steering column. A center console can be added so the officer has access to a radio, gear, and computer.
There is a standard map light as well as a speedometer. The speedometer is accurate thanks to a special calibration and certification for the police.
In the rear, the seats are vinyl for easier cleaning. The rear doors are also designed not to open from the inside.
Two additional features include a powered front seat and a tow hitch.
Upgrading the 2005 Crown Victoria P71
The vehicle ChrisFix is working with in this video was once a detective’s vehicle, and it has around 100,000 miles on it. The front grille is missing, and the headlights are hazy and full of water. The spotlight also does not turn on.
Project Police Interceptor: Episode 1
The first part of this project is to add new headlights and a grille. Fixing the spotlight is also essential. The parts were purchased from a local scrapyard in New York City and Parts Max. The good news is that a new grille was available for only $10.
Accessing the Headlights
New headlights can be installed by removing the front shroud.
First, remove the headlight, and use a flat-head screwdriver to unscrew the wiring harness. Some have a button to press, like the one in this video, which has a brown button.
If you see two tabs, just pull straight up on them, and they’ll release.
Next, just put the new headlight in by reversing those steps. Be sure to get a good seal to prevent water from getting into the headlamps.
Adding the Grille
To add the grille, the bottom should be clipped into place. The back takes bolts, which line up to the grille mount on the vehicle. There are four bolt studs that should be used. They are 11-millimeter studs.
Fixing the Spotlight
The next step is to fix the broken spotlight. The lens is held in place with three Allen head screws. It pops off easily after unscrewing them. Both the red and black wires should be attached to the terminal.
The one in this Crown Vic only has a black wire attached for grounding, so the red wire needs to be reattached. Since the light works with this simple repair, it’s fixed with only that basic adjustment.
The spotlight’s power was not working well because a power wire was not reaching around the post that provides the amperage. Taking the power cable from the light, it can be pushed around it and crimped on. Another simple fix.
Screw the trim back into place, and the spotlight is also repaired.
Learn More about Repairing Vehicles at Vehicle History
This is just the first part of the series on transforming a Crown Victoria from a normal vehicle to a police cruiser. At Vehicle History, we have more information about this model and other models of vehicles you may be interested in.
