Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

Mr_Shiftright

the project seems pointless..the whole IDEA of Mopar "muscle cars" was power. This is like breeding a 300 lb poodle that wets the carpet.

andre1969

the project seems pointless..the whole IDEA of Mopar "muscle cars" was power. This is like breeding a 300 lb poodle that wets the carpet.

Yeah, but 2nd-gen Barracudas were really only musclecars if you got one with the 340 or one of the rare bigblock or Hemi models. Otherwise it was just Chrysler's version of the ponycar. A slant-six Barracuda was a rough equivalent to a 6-cyl Mustang/Camaro, while the 273 and 318 models sort of equated to the 283/307/327 Camaros and 289/302 Mustangs.

So think of this Mazda/Barracuda as a modern update of a base-level Barracuda. An 80's interpretation of the secretary's car, which is what the original Mustang was. Or an alternative to a 4-cyl 1985 Mustang or Camaro, but with more style. There are much better 4-cyl powertrains to work with though, than a 1985 Mazda 626!

Mr_Shiftright

Yes but this isn't a 1985 car. This is a 60s Mopar, so the concept of 4 cylinders is ridiculous to me, given the context of the times in which it was produced.

It's a mutt, Andre, let's face it.

andre1969

it's a mutt, but so is my dog, so I'm not overly concerned about pedigree. Now I'm not saying that I'm anxious to make the guy an offer on the thing and be the first on my block to own one, but I still think it's kinda neat.

I wonder how conceivable it would be to take an old Mopar A-body and put the 250 hp 3.5 V-6 and 5-speed automatic from a modern Charger in it? I wonder how it would compare to a modern Charger in terms of performance and fuel economy? I think that powertrain is rated at something like 19/27 in the Charger. Now a Dart or Barracuda isn't going to be as aerodynamic as a new Charger, but it's also got less frontal area and isn't nearly as heavy, and would ride on smaller tires with less friction, so who knows? Economy might actually be a bit better! And in a body that light it might be a good performer too.

Sure, it's nothing that you'd make money on doing, but if I had more cash lying around than what I'd know what to do with, I think it would be interesting to try.

fintail

Looks like a decent old hauler for almost nothing

qbrozen

'67 Monterey

qbrozen

for some reason, i thought these came standard with power leather seats?

qbrozen

correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Mitsu Starion the one in that Top Gear video BR posted a while back where they tried to get the best car for a preset amount of money and then ran it through various tests and finally destroyed them in a rally?

I love his rule of thumb for how great on gas it is.

qbrozen

Lots of miles, but at least its reasonably priced.

jlflemmons

The cynic in me always kicks in when I see things like "ac just needs charging" or in the case of the Starion "turbo just needs a vacuum line". If it just needs a vacuum line, why didn't the owner just replace it?

Sort of like "needs brakes". Could be pads, or calipers, or master cylinder.

I remember reading a funny article on real estate. "Fixer upper" was defined as cracked slab, termites, and roof falling in. Was there a similar glossary for used cars?

:shades:

qbrozen

Alrighty... forgot to give the update from this past weekend's activities.

So I installed the exhaust from the header back ... more on that in a bit.

My father took a look at the carb and, after some discussion and fiddling around we figured out that it wasn't dropping to idle because it was sticking "somewhere." So we installed an extra spring that now pulls the linkage back to idle when you let off the gas. Done.

He then discovered the fancy high-tech timing adjustment method on this vehicle ... a slotted distributor mount (VW Bug anyone?). And the adjustment bolt was loose AND one of the distributor cap screws was completely missing, giving it the ability to lift up off the rotor. Fixed those items.

So now it was running "pretty good" until it warmed up and I see exhaust smoke shooting out from around the header. Yikes! The biggest culprit seems to be the feedback pipes (emissions crap) that moves some exhaust back into the air cleaner. They basically attach to the header like brake lines (metal to metal flared ends with a retaining nut). I took it apart, cleaned it all up, and reassembled, but to no avail. I have NO idea what I'm going to do about this particular problem. I WOULD remove it and cap everything off, BUT the engine is, in fact, smoking through the exhaust and my father feels this will result in an automatic fail at the inspection station. Capping off these lines will only cause more smoke to find its way out the tailpipe, correct?

Anyhooo.... he's got me worried because he feels this is an indication of bad rings. Good grief I hope not. I've now ordered all the tuneup pieces and a new exhaust manifold gasket. after that, we'll see what we see. I will take it to inspection next week come hell or high water and keep my fingers crossed. If it fails for smoke .... well ... I think I may try and resell the darned thing.

michaellno

Oooo, I really wish I had the scratch to get that! Not that I like all the doo-dads that they've added (dual exhaust, side pipes (!!!), dual antennae, the chrome wheels), but that my grandmother had a '67 like that (baby blue repainted to a drab beige) and I would love to have one similar to it someday.

q: sorry to hear about the issues with the Mazda .. hope it all works out for you in the end.

BTW, got a nibble on the Subaru today ... a nice lady called who has recently moved to CO. She was going to talk it over with her husband and get back to me. The only downside is that she is in Boulder and I am at the other end of the city ... literally a 60+ mile drive. Hoping that we can meet in the middle somewhere so they can see and drive it.

lilengineerboy

Mitsubishi's answer to the old 240 SX...2.6 litre truck motor (not 2.8 as the add suggests), same one that came in normally aspirated guise in Chrysler k-cars and the D-50 Ram. One of my friends had 2 or 3 of these at various points. Like most cars of the era, it was over-tired and it took a huge front sway bar to get it to change direction. They also didn't quite have fuel delivery down for turbo charged cars yet. As long as I am talking about quirks, it had a "rear-abs" unit that activated abs on the rear wheels only without a proportioning valve, so modifying the brakes was very challenging and the stock ones didn't have the feel or drivability they should.
My friend made a custom intercooler by welding several smaller units together, and then installed a larger turbo. The head gasket held but the cylinder head started to crack between the spark plug and a valve.
There are many, many (a whole lot) of cheaper more reliable ways to go fast than with this car.

fintail

Decent looking early Barracuda

british_rover

The starion was the car from the car from the cheap coupes that aren't porsches episode.

It would have won too if Clarkson had not gotten too crazy with the overboost.

british_rover

A nice rally car that is not in California. Too much money though. :mad:

Grrr another one but too much money as well.

qbrozen

That monterey is definitely cool ... but for half the money, that barracuda fintail posted gets my vote.

andre1969

I think the seller is a bit silly with the opening bid, but I think this 1977 LeMans is a cool wagon.

I'm kinda surprised though, that it just has the 350 transmission. I figured something like this, with the added strain of the 400's torque and the station wagon's weight, would warrant a 400 tranny? I also heard that you could get a 4x8 sheet of plywood in these, but in that rear shot, it doesn't look like there's enough room between the wheel housings. Unless it was supposed to sit on top of them or something?

jlflemmons

Somewhere back in the fog of my mind I seem to remember that with Pontiac, the TH350 was standard equipment, the TH400 was optional.

But, then again, I barely remember the 70's ...

:shades:

british_rover

For some reason I really like this one.

qbrozen

i'm not sure where the appeal is .... the price maybe?

british_rover

Yeah basicly and it seems to have been well put together originaly just needs updates to meet the new regs.

qbrozen

just remember that it was well put together a LONG time ago. As we all know, time is unkind to automobiles, no matter how well constructed.

andre1969

that someone would do that to a Citation.

andre1969

that this tired old beast has absolutely know upside, especially needing engine work, but I've always liked these.

lemko

When I was a kid, I delivered newspapers to a guy who had the Oldsmobile version of that car. I think they called it the Cutlass Cruiser.

fintail

$13.5K for a miled up 22 year old Mercedes, and it comes with a bonus dent in the door. Sign me up!

Mr_Shiftright

totally batty seller.

$3,500 is more like it. I just saw one for sale in similar condition for this price.

andre1969

that this one is "impoted"?

Makes me think of that joke about the man who went to his doctor for a checkup and when he comes home says to his wife, "Honey, get me my tux! If I'm gonna BE impotent, I'm gonna LOOK impotent!!" :shades:

qbrozen

anybody want this $200 audi?

lilengineerboy

Man that isn't even a quattro so its like a 1.8 liter 4cyl. Thats a parts machine.

british_rover

NO

qbrozen

if it really runs .... what happened to shifty's beater competition? Maybe this would be a good candidate.

benjaminh

Nice condition:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DESOTO-FIREDOME-STATION-WAGON-1956_W0QQitemZ22003- 3666616QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6190QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

benjaminh

Nice car. Check out the dashboard on this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1956-PACKARD-400-2-DOOR-1-OWNER-COUNTRY-CLUB-BARN- -FIND_W0QQitemZ130032553675QQihZ003QQcategoryZ6389QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZV- iewItem

jlflemmons

and a gray market, to boot.

boomchek

The color is sky blue. For $2000CDN I think they got a good deal.

boomchek

This guy is dreaming. You can get an E class wagon 10 years younger for about the same or better price.

benjaminh

It has "surface rust only," but it's in humid Hawaii and so that seems iffy. Not much of a bargain at $16k in this condition:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PACKARD-TOURING-SEDAN-1938-ALL-ORIGINAL_W0QQitemZ- 320033767672QQihZ011QQcategoryZ6389QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mr_Shiftright

6 cylinder Packard in this condition?

Maybe $6,500 if you wanted to be generous.

You can buy this car in near show condition for $20,000 or less.

Crazy seller, once again.

fintail

Wow, that's the best color, like my fintail. Factory color name at the time was "China Blue" and it might even still have had the DB334 paint code my fintail has. For 2 grand, it sounds like a deal indeed.

boomchek

I'll put up a photo when I can

fintail

I know it's not the best powertrain for ease of maintenance, but at this price...it's tough to resist

fintail

Nice old ride for the money, good colors

fintail

Not the prettiest car, but for the money...

Mr_Shiftright

Well the first day of the 24 Hours of Lemons (fun jalopy racing for any car $500 and under + safety equipment) is over, with a great deal of carnage and human folly.

A fintail Benz showed up to race and is hanging in there---not the best cornering of the bunch (some are far worse) but slow and steady does it in a 24 hour race.

More details at www.24hoursoflemons.com

It's not a demo derby or a contact race and some of the drivers in these shabby cars are quite expert (two them drove Daytona recently!)

yours truly was the "bricker"--I pre-tested the cars by placing bricks on the gas pedal for 1 minute. Most cars had jury-rigged throttle stops to subvert this test--which is fine, we reward imagination.

fintail

I think the fintail should win, they did well enough in period competition anyway. Which model?

Mr_Shiftright

Not sure...looks like an old 220Sb --you never know, the old tortoise and hare story could repeat...but 24 hours is hard on old wrecks. There's a Rabbit diesel that might win just because it won't have to stop for fuel. I think the lighter cars have the best chance.

Results will be posted!

fintail

I'd laugh if a Rabbit diesel won a race...that would be the first time in history for sure.

I bet my fintail could handle 24 hours, but it's not a complete heap either.

Mr_Shiftright

Winner was a Toyota Corolla, second a BMW 528e...the fintail actually did finish...something like 24 cars made it through, which is remarkable...there was some banging and bumping but not too bad. It is of course an endurance race, so the most # of laps wins.

The good drivers took the top spots as you might imagine, since patience and steady driving are what you want in endurance racing.

You know, if you stayed on the high side of the track and let all the crazies beat their cars up and use up their tires and fuel, you'd probably finish in the top ten.