Current Projects

Started by FlatBlackCaddy, May 06, 2005, 09:58:06 AM

FlatBlackCaddy

Hi all, nice forum here.

Anyway i figured i'd give the garage alittle kick start.

I know most of us have little time in the way of auto projects, but there has to be something that your tinkering with, or waiting to tear into.

So what project are you working on, or what projects are you waiting to start. It doesn't matter what size(though i don't want to hear changing oil as a project)?

FlatBlackCaddy

As for my own projects, i've got all sorts of crap in the line. I really need to get my act together.

Other than regular problems on my cars i do have a big(for me) project waiting to get started. I just need to clean out the garage and get started(hope to be driving it by next year).


I have a 1992 240sx hatchback that i plan to strip down to the chassis, sandblast, reseal the underside(they don't have much undercoating from the factory) and just go through it with a fine tooth comb.

I'm not too concerned with the mechanicals, i just want to get the chassis sorted out before i start sinking too much money in it. The car has little to no rust right now but all it takes is a minnesota winter to turn a good car into a rust pile(i've actually had it happen, went from pinhole to missing quarter in 4 months).

I've had several 240's and come to the conclusion that i will own one for a long time(no matter what, one should always have a fun summer car). Since i plan on owning it a long time i want it done right, and to last as long as possible.

After the 240 i have a 84 Z sitting around that i plan to do the same thing with.
I've never done a complete restoration on a car, but i'm expecting alot of work and atleast a year of the car being tore apart.

Catman

I don't have any right now.  I have a neighbor down the street who restors old Land Rovers in his barn.  He's got one that he takes out for shows occasionally.  I don't know him that well yet but eventually maybe I can get some pics, you guys will be impressed.


FlatBlackCaddy

Man you really love them preludes.


Actually i think thats the second best body style next to the last gen ones.

Run Away

QuoteMan you really love them preludes.


Actually i think thats the second best body style next to the last gen ones.
I was looking for a 240SX, and in retrospec I should have bought one that i was looking at, but this just seemed like a better deal at the time.

The 240SX had 388,000kms on it, new paint, no rust whatsoever, a nice stainless exhaust system, and a freshly rebuilt tranny. Had a folder 1" thick in receipts, wanted $1500 for it. I never got to drive it because the guy didn't have plates and lived on a busy road.

The Prelude (the one I ended up buying) had 175,000kms on it, new timing belt and water pump, drove wonderfully, and seemed pretty rust free. He wanted $2150 for it and it seemed to be in mint condition.

He didn't mention the oil burning, or a small front end crash, and as I found out a week after buying, the timing belt was never replaced and probably not the water pump either. After 2 months of ownership the tranny got notchy, and double clutching is crucial to downshift into 1st or 2nd.

So I got screwed over, but I'm in love with the way it drives and looks so I keep pouring my money into it.....helps that I can get running and driving parts cars for $300 easy from the insurance auctions.

FlatBlackCaddy

If you have access to insurance auctions why didn't  you try to pic up a lightly damaged car and repair it. In my experience you can get twice the car with the same amount of money if you go this route. However the odds of finding specifically what your looking for from the auction is pretty slim.

Rupert

I don't know why nobody ever thought of this topic over at C/D before... Great idea!
Novarolla-Miata-Trooper-Jeep-Volvo-Trooper-Ranger-MGB-Explorer-944-Fiat-Alfa-XTerra

13 cars, 60 cylinders, 52 manual forward gears and 9 automatic, 2 FWD, 42 doors, 1988 average year of manufacture, 3 convertibles, 22 average mpg, and no wheel covers.
PRO TENACIA NULLA VIA EST INVIA

JWC

#8
I'm trying to decide what my project will be.

I like the idea of finding a Triumph TR6 or maybe even a TR250. But, being a practical person, another VW bug makes more sense. I still have all the special tools I bought years ago, I know the car inside and out, plus, my daughter will be of driving age soon, and if she is going to learn how to drive a manual trans, the clutch in a bug is a snap to change.

But.......I've been eyeing this old 1978(?) Honda Civic that is sitting under the shelter of a barn just around the corner from my dealership.  I used to have a 1974 1200 and I would be fun to bring one back to life.

Catman

#9
My dad has a 1973 Corvette convertible that's a mess inside in out.  I could grab it eventually if I want it but I'm afraid it would cost too much to restore.  I wouldn't want to be 1/2 ass about it.  Besides I'm not sure if my heart would be in it since I'm not a huge fan of older cars.  Still, the car would be a sweet ride all restored.

Fire It Up

Well, my project is to fix my bike and maybe chrome all the spokes. My friend's dad has 3 real projects though. He wants to restore/rebuild his two Jeep CJ#'s and his 69 Cougar. Should turn out to be good.  


Founder of CarSPIN Turbo Club

BartsSVO

My current project is rebuilding/restoring my 1986 Mustang SVO.

For those not familiar with the SVO, it was a short production run car, being built between 1984-1986. All together, there were around 9500 built over three model years. They feature a 4-cylinder 2.3L SOHC intercooled-turbocharged engine that produced anywhere from 175 hp in 1984 to 205 hp in 1986. It had a number of "firsts" for a Mustang, including 4 wheel disc brakes, Koni adjustable shocks, 16" wheels and a factory short throw shifter made by Hurst. Like the V8 models of the time, they featured a limited slip 7.5" differential with 3.73:1 gears, quad shocks and a Borg/Warner T5 5 speed tranny. Being an enthusiast's car, an automatic was never an option. It was built mainly for tearing up the corners rather than the dragstrip, although the 85.5-86 models could easily keep pace with the 5.0s of the same years.

Right now, the block, crank and head are at the machine shop being worked over to restore them to like new condition. When I purchased the car back in December, it had a blown head gasket and apparently a warped head as I found out after I repaired it the first time around. The block is to be bored .030 over, cleaned up and shot peened. The "new" head, which I got off a 87 Turbo Coupe, was checked for cracks and flatness, and will be fitted with larger 1.89" intake and 1.59" exhaust valves along with a roller camshaft. I'm also making some upgrades to the electrical system of the car by ditching the externally regulated 65 amp alternator and replacing it with a 130A internally regulated alternator from a 95 GT.

Recently the master cylinder was replaced and apparently the previous owner swapped in some new brake calipers up front as they looked too new to be the originals. All of the Konis are going to need replacement, but given their high price I'm looking for a lower cost solution for at least the rears. Not much else will fit the front because of the unique control arms and spindles that were only found on this car and the Lincoln Contiental (which used a different upper strut mount!).

I am also having the car repainted once I finish getting everything out from underheath the hood (which hopefully I'll accomplish today). After painting I'm going to replace most of the weatherstripping most of which has long since worn out. I have replaced the dash pad in the interior and have re-dyed most of the remainder of the dash. The leather seats will be recovered once I get the remainder of the work done. Right now there is just a set of cloth seats pulled from a later model Mustang doing duty to keep the foam from deteriorating in the originals.

That more or less covers the major stuff that needs to be done to bring the car to a "like new" condition. It certainly won't be an exact restoration simply because my budget won't permit it, but it should get the car looking pretty darn good in the end. So far, my timetable is about 3-4 months to have the major work completed. Of course that doesn't include all the number of smaller things that I will replace as time and money permits.  
--Bart

1986 Mustang SVO
1995 Ranger XLT

GMPenguin

My dad had been talking about buying and restoring a '67 Ford Fairlane he found, but I doubt that will ever happen. :(  

Catman

BartsSVO, do you have any pics?  I always liked those cars.  When you have time start a thread on the SVO's in the Fastlane section with some SVO pics if you can find them!

Speed_Racer

Well, my car is always a work in progress. Still many things to be done to it before I go to college.

I have an Escort GT just sitting around.I need to get some parts out of it, thenI am going to junk it (excessive rust).

Zcarnut

I want to start building another dune buggy.Street legal fiberglass "Manx" style.
Im in the "casually looking" stage for a body or preferably a "incomplete project"/complete but needs alot of work" car.
I do drive a Honda (when im mowing my lawn).


MX793

Quote
QuoteMan you really love them preludes.


Actually i think thats the second best body style next to the last gen ones.
I was looking for a 240SX, and in retrospec I should have bought one that i was looking at, but this just seemed like a better deal at the time.

The 240SX had 388,000kms on it, new paint, no rust whatsoever, a nice stainless exhaust system, and a freshly rebuilt tranny. Had a folder 1" thick in receipts, wanted $1500 for it. I never got to drive it because the guy didn't have plates and lived on a busy road.

The Prelude (the one I ended up buying) had 175,000kms on it, new timing belt and water pump, drove wonderfully, and seemed pretty rust free. He wanted $2150 for it and it seemed to be in mint condition.

He didn't mention the oil burning, or a small front end crash, and as I found out a week after buying, the timing belt was never replaced and probably not the water pump either. After 2 months of ownership the tranny got notchy, and double clutching is crucial to downshift into 1st or 2nd.

So I got screwed over, but I'm in love with the way it drives and looks so I keep pouring my money into it.....helps that I can get running and driving parts cars for $300 easy from the insurance auctions.
Gotta be careful with those Honda timing belts.  A buddy of mine bought an early 90s Integra and was told that the timing belt had been replaced recently.  Shortly after buying it the motor quit while he was driving down the road.  Come to find out that the belt was never replaced and had finally decided to break, wiping out the head.
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

JWC

QuoteI want to start building another dune buggy.Street legal fiberglass "Manx" style.
Im in the "casually looking" stage for a body or preferably a "incomplete project"/complete but needs alot of work" car.
I found a Manx  sitting is a field with a bunch of other junk cars on a farm near Jacksonville.  I wasn't sure it was genuine and by the time I figured it out, it was gone. If I ever see another.....well, if there's two, I'll email you.  

Now, if you want an old Corvair, I know where there's a whole field of them, including a van.

Wait, you said Manx style? Well, if you just want a clone I'll keep an eye out. My family lives in MHC and Swansboro and I see one on occasion for sale, sometimes pretty cheap.

The Bartender

I'm in the process of buying a 1993 Jeep Cherokee from a friend.  It's a base model 5 spd 6cyl, with 197K miles.  It's a one owner and most the mileage was local highway driving, and I know the maintenance record.  Plus, it was $500 plus the cost of the inspection!

I don't really plan on doing much work to it, but better tires and some suspenion mods are possible along the line, along with some exterior improvements.  (The paint is shot, and some of the trim is dry rotted/peeling/faded.)
Wastin' Away Again in Margaritaville!
#3 #8 #15 #29

L. ed foote

I have an 1989 Jetta that I'd like to swap a VR6 into.  If I don't do that, I'm thinking of swapping a 5.0 into an E30.

Money's a bit of an issue, even more of an issue is finding space and a place to do the work.

Someday, someday
Member, Self Preservation Society

BartsSVO

QuoteBartsSVO, do you have any pics?  I always liked those cars.  When you have time start a thread on the SVO's in the Fastlane section with some SVO pics if you can find them!
Its Bart99GT from C/D. I figured I'd change my user name since I haven't owned that GT in about three years now. :D

Sure thing, I'll make a few tomorrow. Its covered in pollen right now and I made some significant progress on removing the underhood wiring so it is a bit of a mess right now I'm afraid. The weather sucked the whole time I had it kinda running so I never really got any good pics of it then. I'll try to document the progress on the car in the Fastlane forum. The owner of the machine shop said he should be able to get things wrapped up in 3-4 days so I'll probably start putting the engine back together in the next week or so.  
--Bart

1986 Mustang SVO
1995 Ranger XLT

280Z Turbo

Well...where do I begin?

This winter I dropped a 1981 280ZX Turbo motor into my 1976 280Z 2+2 and I've been busy ever since getting it ready for the road. So far this spring I've had the custom 3" exhaust system made, clutch slave cylinder replaced, new plugs, 02 sensor replaced, new used turbo put in, replaced a broken head bolt, put in an autometer boost gauge, painted tailight panel and I'm sure there's some other stuff too.

Right now I'm polishing my valve cover, repainting my j pipe, trying fix the starter wiring, and waiting on some parts. I need a turbo gasket, rear hatch seal, tailight gaskets, throttle boot, and a valve cover gasket. I will have to pull off the intake manifold to get at the turbo gasket so I might just go ahead and switch the manifold too! :)

This summer I hope to fix the spots of surface rust on the rocker panels, upgrade to an electric Ford Taurus fan, upgrade the starter, upgrade the alternator, remove the A/C, get an adjustable boost controller and get a subtle decklid "duck-tail" spoiler for improved aerodynamics and less exhaust fumes.

MX793

Does bird poop count as an aftermarket accessory?  Because that's the only modification my car is sporting right now.
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

FlatBlackCaddy

QuoteDoes bird poop count as an aftermarket accessory?  Because that's the only modification my car is sporting right now.
For you it counts. :lol:


MX is sporting the all new Sh*t tint 2000.

MX793

Quote
QuoteDoes bird poop count as an aftermarket accessory?  Because that's the only modification my car is sporting right now.
For you it counts. :lol:


MX is sporting the all new Sh*t tint 2000.
Well, at least until I get to a car wash.  I really need to get a good coat of wax on there too.  Haven't waxed her since last fall.
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

93JC

QuoteI'm in the process of buying a 1993 Jeep Cherokee from a friend.  It's a base model 5 spd 6cyl, with 197K miles.  It's a one owner and most the mileage was local highway driving, and I know the maintenance record.  Plus, it was $500 plus the cost of the inspection!

I don't really plan on doing much work to it, but better tires and some suspenion mods are possible along the line, along with some exterior improvements.  (The paint is shot, and some of the trim is dry rotted/peeling/faded.)











Zcarnut

#26
Quote
QuoteI want to start building another dune buggy.Street legal fiberglass "Manx" style.
Im in the "casually looking" stage for a body or preferably a "incomplete project"/complete but needs alot of work" car.
I found a Manx  sitting is a field with a bunch of other junk cars on a farm near Jacksonville.  I wasn't sure it was genuine and by the time I figured it out, it was gone. If I ever see another.....well, if there's two, I'll email you.  

Now, if you want an old Corvair, I know where there's a whole field of them, including a van.

Wait, you said Manx style? Well, if you just want a clone I'll keep an eye out. My family lives in MHC and Swansboro and I see one on occasion for sale, sometimes pretty cheap.
Thanks JWC.The car thats been sitting in someones back yard I can buy cheap would be a great find.
The only thing salvageable may be the body but thats really all I need to get started.I have a friend with a large aircooled junkyard! Hes got plenty of doaner pans,engines,and trannies.Everything but buggie bodies that is....He even has titles galore so I can make it any "year" I want between the early 60's to mid 70's.Someone told me 70' and older vehicles doesnt require inspections here in NC anymore BTW....
A Manx style clone would be fine.Seems like people with real Manx bodies think they have gold sometimes.Some of the clones are actually better body designs IMO.
Theres a barn 5 miles from my house that had two complete but (sitting forever) buggies in it.Belonged to a guy who died years ago but his daughter inherited the property.Got to find out if they are still there.The paint on one looked good enough to clean up,buff out,and show!
If so I will contact you!
A guy I know has a nice Chenoworth style street legal rail for $3800 if your interested.That buddy of mine that restores bugs built it about 5 years ago originally and its in fine shape.Needs nothing and has a 1776 engine dressed out.
Id consider it myself but the wife wants another glass buggy.
I do drive a Honda (when im mowing my lawn).


hahn

What is a Manx style dune buggy?



Gotta be patient with us upstate New Yorkers.  We rarely see the sun, much less a beach.

280Z Turbo

My uncle just bought a Manx style dune buggy. It's been totally restored. New frame, suspension, engine work, nice wheels, etc. It's been pretty fun for them.

93JC

The Meyers Manx is the preeminent dune buggy.



A "Manx-style" buggy is a colloquial term for a knockoff that looks like a genuine Manx.