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

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  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I happened to look out the window, which is on the side of the house, and noticed that all of a sudden cars were stopping for something that was in front of my house,which I can't see from this window. I figured something was up, so I ran outside, and saw this big GM rollback truck with a wrecked Mountaineer with no tags on it starting to back up into my driveway!

    I ran out and hollered at them "what's up?!". The driver just looked at me with this confused look on his face. I said "You're not going to dump that thing on my property are you?!" And he said "Yeah". :surprise:

    I asked him what the name was, and the address, and said jokingly that there's no way I'd allow a POS Furd like that on my property!".

    Well, turns out that they wanted the house two doors down, which is only off by one number (I'm 2112, they're 2212). They're really pushing it, down there. The house is abandoned, and looks it. There's an early 80's-looking International school bus with busted-out headlights, three Ford extended passenger vans slowly disappearing into the forest, a '93 or so Corolla, and an early Sienna minivan...all of them with no tags on them.

    If they're trying to out-do me, I'd say they've won! At least none of my vehicles are wrecked, and they all have tags on them (except for that '52 Benz I stashed away for a friend), I have a garage to put some of them in and a long driveway to put the rest on...and I haven't graduated to buses yet! :P

    I guess it's a good thing I was home when that truck came by. Otherwise, they might've just dumped it and took off, and I would've come home not knowing what the heck to do about it.
  • fortee9erfortee9er Member Posts: 134
    After further communications with the seller of the BMW he admitted that he did not have any documentation to back up his assertions that this car was SPECIAL. He was asking $7900. and I offered him $2500. I thought my offer was realistic based on the car's condition and my first hand knowledge of how much it costs to renovate a BMW. BMW's Mobile Tradition is very proud of its parts! I tried to be as diplomatic as possible when making my offer but diplomacy did not work and the seller lost no time in calling me names and letting me know that I had offended him.
    I have been buying and selling cars for a long time and you never know how people are going to react. I would love to hear your car buying haggling experiences.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    you have earned some roofing nails in your driveway now that i know your address. :P
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Eh, the '71 442 still had the looks, and a 455, but that was a big performance step down from the '70. Low compression, more emissions, etc. That one would be worth more if he had the correct pieces in it. That's the totally wrong air cleaner for the hood. The original air cleaner for that hood had a huge vacuum operated door in the top that bypassed the aircleaner under full throttle. The sound those things made under WOT was amazing.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    ....the seller of that 442 just refers to it as an 'Olds coupe' in the ad (maybe indicating, but not admiting, that it's a clone?). I dunno. Sure looks nice, either way, and the price doesn't seem out of line.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Well, at least he didn't try to pass it off as a W30. Those are easy to spot when the "cloner" is a rookie. Black fenderwells. The W30 used red fiberglass/plastic fenderwells. Nice looking car, but the wrong shifter.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    mustangs unlimited is holding their fall event. i have been there several times, but never registered my car in 'the show'.
    not really sure what to expect. i would assume i don't have to enter any sort of judging category.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    A 383 "bored" to a 426? Er, I don't think so pal. Maybe he meant "bored and stroked"?
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    I would hope so. otherwise, that is something like .115 bore out, and I am pretty sure that would hit the water jackets on a 383! :surprise:
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    Hey, why quibble over such a minor detail?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    It's actually very peculiar to stroke a 383 to 426. If you use a 413 crank you get 432.

    I'm thinkin' this guy doesn't know what he's selling.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Chrysler actually had two different 383's, but only in 1959-60. Both were of the big-block "B" engine family, but initially they used one version for the 350/361/383 for Plymouth/Dodge/DeSoto and a raised-deck 383/413 version for the Chrysler/Imperial.

    All the raised-deck B-engines, the 383, 413, 426, and 440, used the same 3.75" stroke, so basically a 383 crankshaft IS a 426 crankshaft.

    Shifty, how did you end up with 432? I did the math, and came out to 425.59, which is close enough to 426 for gov't work. :P Also, the 383 regular-deck and the 426 have the same 4.25" bore, so it would reason that if you put the raised-deck crank in the 383, you'd end up with 426 CID. However, would a raised-deck crank fit in a regular-deck engine?
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    "you put the raised-deck crank in the 383, you'd end up with 426 CID. However, would a raised-deck crank fit in a regular-deck engine? "

    Yes, sounds fishy, I would think it's a 'rased deck engine" because it has a stroked crank. I'd think he'd be pushing the pistons into the head with just a crank swap. But '426' sure sounds good, like '427' or '327'. Certain displacements seem to bring up lots of good memories.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You know I didn't do the math---I just researched what all the big engine builders are building and selling as crate engines, and all their 383 strokers are anything BUT a 426. So they must know something.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Yeah, I just did a search on "Mopar 432 stroker" and a lot of hits come up. Maybe they bore out the cylinders a bit in addition to using the raised-deck crankshaft?

    How far is "typical" when you do a bore job? I did the math and found out that if you had a bore of 4.28" and used the RB's 3.75" stroke crankshaft, that would give you a 432 CID. The 383 uses a 4.25" bore, so .03" bigger would do it.

    Is that what they mean when they say something like ".030 Over"?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    30 over is 30 thousands of an inch overbore.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    30 over is 30 thousands of an inch overbore.

    Which would also be 3 hundredths, right? So is "30 over" a common overbore?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    yes that's pretty common on older engines but some newer engines cannot be bored at all--you just throw 'em away.
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    With build sheet - calm down dude. It's a 79 Berlinetta
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    LOL :D

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    right? I don't get that car at ALL....someone orders the fancy-pants, girly (sorry) Camaro, but with no air and a four-speed. Strange then, strange (and not so special, despite arguments of 'rarity') now. Ooh, but it has a power antenna. Start the bidding.
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    Rare does not always equal desirable. I saw an ad for an Impala SS convertible and the guy was going on and on about how rare it was because it was a 6 cyl. I don't care if it was the only one ever made and if John Delorean personally owned it, I'll take the big block, thank you very much. Did you know that there were a handful of 69 GTOs with 2 barrels? It would definately make someone do a double take at a cruise night, but when that 400 is getting choked, it wouldn't seem that desirable.

    Nobody fantasizes about a Berlinetta with AC delete, especially not in Texas
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    As Bill Maher would say: If your build sheet has the word Berlinetta anywhere on it, it's not worth squat
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Isn't the Firebird equivalent the Esprit?
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    When I worked the auto show here I had someone brag to me that they have a Jeep Wrangler with "rare" radio delete.

    I was thinking who cares. There was a million Wranglers made, most are beat up, yours is probably too, and nobody cares if yours had a rare radio delete option. I can delete my radio too by pulling it out btw. :confuse:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Many cars are "rare", or contain "rare" options, because nobody wanted them in the first place.

    The rule of thumb with collectible cars is "unloved then, unloved now".
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    "I had someone brag to me that they have a Jeep Wrangler with "rare" radio delete."

    That's where 'collectable' is different than 'valuable'. It's like those folks who collect things like Hummels, "gotta have #53b of series IX", that kind of thing. Nothing to do with actual value.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That's true, and same wtih shifty's comments.

    And in regards to that Berlinetta, if it didn't have any major popular options, who cares if it had a power antenna?

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Can't tell too much from the photo, but it's not worth much as a collectible---if it was a "driver", figure $2000 tops.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,964
    figure $2000 tops

    Probably cheaper than a real coffin! Seriously though, wouldn't significant prep have to be done to the car? Draining all the fluids, stripping anything off that could harm the soil?

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    yeah probably the same as they do at a wrecking yard---fluids out, gas tank removed, battery out----hey, kind of like embalming! :P

    This must be in some state with looser environmental laws, like maybe Nevada where you could be buried in an atomic bomb I'd imagine.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Here's a '63 Polara I know a bit about (my dad's car...). Take a careful look at all the pics, I imagine you might have a question or two...

    link title

    image

    That's me in the dark hair...
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh is that the type of setup where they hook the car's driveshaft to the propshaft of a barge? I saw that system in SF Bay once--it actually worked.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    The price for the car seems quite reasonable, too, given the cool history and the excellent engine.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Yes, there's a hatch below the rear seat, open it up and disconnect the drive shaft from the diff and hook it up to the propeller shaft between the hulls.

    It would do up to 25 knots, tow several skiers (that's what a 383 will do for you!)

    Two other neat tricks - you steer with the steering wheel, the front tires sit on turntables connected to the rudder.

    Most neat - it's not a barge, it's two hulls that fold together, if you're on the water you 'drive' up to a boat ramp, drive the car off, fold up the hulls keel-to-keel, hook it up to the cars tow hitch, and you're on your way, no trailer required. You can see one of the road wheels of the boat here, far left:
    image

    image
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Good for a lake, but the people who did it on San Francisco Bay soon learned why commuting across the bay in that rig was not a very good idea. SF Bay is fairly treacherous water. I've seen the tidal force drive the channel buoys under water, and, being a shallow bay, the chop can be vicious.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Oh, yeah-I wouldn't want to have to be on SF Bay in anything small in bad weather. This did fine though on Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and the St. Lawrence (we 'drove' it up to Expo 67, 'parked' it at the fair's marina, got a good article in the Montreal daily.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The Great Lakes can bite you in the butt though. :surprise:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    That's quite a family history and a piece of creative engeering you have there. I hope someone is able to resurrect it.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,688
    Absolutely! I am curious, though, whether you still have the catamaran portion....
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That is pretty neat. The only thing I saw recenlty that resembles it is a boat with retractable wheels of some sorts. Don't remember if you could drive on it, maybe an ATV.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,964
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    I didn't know that the made a Crown Vic Mustang. I thought that they were all GTs and LXs
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I didn't know that the made a Crown Vic Mustang. I thought that they were all GTs and LXs

    Yeah, I noticed that too. I think that era of Crown Vic only put out around 150 hp, while I'm sure the Mustang's 302 was more like 225-230 or more. I think the Crown Vic put out some pretty good torque figures though, thanks to long intake runners or something like that? But still, I couldn't see someone using one of these as parts for a Mustang...unless there's something I'm missing?

    It would be a neat trick though, to put a Mustang 5.0 in a Crown Vic. Or better yet, one of those small LTD's. Ford actually tried something somewhat like that, with the 1985 LTD LX. It used a 165 hp 302, and was a pretty good performer IIRC. I think they only made around 3,000 of them.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    $300 is a really good price for a low mileage 5.0L. Not sure what else would be usable.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    If you could nurse that transmission along, that thing wouldn't make a bad beater. I wonder how much those old Ford 4-speed automatics cost to rebuild?
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Yep, we still have the catamaran. We worry that selling it would open us up to liabilities, that kind of thing.

    My dad came up with the idea while in Japanese prison camp during WWII. Luckily, he and my mom were civillians.
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