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

qbrozen · June 2006

Bump on the hood tells me its a turbo, correct?

What happened to that guy looking at the 3000GT? This would be a much cheaper starting point (and cheaper to keep going).
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/176371361.html

andre1969 · June 2006

there's an old saying that one mile of wear and tear on a police car is equivalent to two on a regular car. So a 106,000 mile Crown Vic copcar is roughly equivalent to a 212,000 mile civilian model.

I dunno if that's true or not. I had an '89 Gran Fury that had been a sheriff's car for Richmond, VA. It only had 73,000 miles on it when I bought it, but its engine had been replaced, a 75,000 mile 318 pulled out of a wrecked Diplomat. It really wasn't a bad car, although it did eat starters. And a fuel pump, two power window motors, and a distributor. It also needed new valve cover gaskets, a new front gasket, and a new rear main seal (or whatever that gasket that makes it leak out the back by the tranny is called). I got the front seal and valve covers done, but the rear seal wasn't leaking that bad, and would have been prohibitively expensive.

That car also needed a new radiator and freeze plug. Evidently someone ran good old fashioned straight water through it at one point. It got crappy fuel economy around town, like maybe 11-13, but surprisingly got 20+ on the highway. I thought that was really odd, considering its EPA rating was a horrible 13/15.

In the end, the water pump went bad on it, and I quit driving it. Then I discovered that a lot of its parts were a direct swap onto my '79 New Yorker. It's gone now, but its wheels and two of its power window motors are now on my NYer.

It made it to about 118,000 miles when the water pump went out and I'm sure would have gone further, but I was just tired of it and it was one car too many.

Shifty, what kind of police car did you have?

british_rover · June 2006

The bump does not necessarily mean turbo. All talons had bumps.

I think turbo talons were TSI trim levels but I just can't tell from that picture. I need to see the back to be sure cause the wheels just aren't enough to tell.

For the eclipse the two trims you wanted were either GS-T for a turbo fwd car or GSX for turbo AWD.

qbrozen · June 2006

huh. ok. i'll take your word for it. i always thought (someone told me at some point, i'm sure) that the bump was to make room for the turbo. And I suppose that could still be true, but the hood came on all cars.

Yes, TSI is the turbo, and TSI AWD was also available.

andre1969 · June 2006

that bump was on the hood to make room for the turbo as well. Or am I thinking of those first-gen Ford Probes, where they had to put the bumps to make room for the strut towers?

qbrozen · June 2006

ok, you guys have sufficiently talked me off the cliff.

british_rover · June 2006

The turbo was actually mounted just under the exhaust manifold in the front of the motor. The bump I think is actually to clear the top of the cam gear cover. If that was done so that the motor could be pushed up and back so that the turbo could fit in the front I do not know.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

I had a Dodge Diplomat police car. A friend and I went halfies on it, and we rigged it with a light rack and magnetic decals (you can NEVER drive these on the street without a lot of SIGNAGE that says MOVIE CAR--usually we trailered it) and we rented it out for TV and commercials. I have a photo somewhere of me dressed as a cop driving it.

Turns out TV and commercial work doesn't pay enough for single car work. If you rent out a fleet of multiple cars to a production company per day it makes more sense.

lemmer · June 2006

I drove the '$10,000' Mustang to lunch today. It drives very well for a '96. It is spotless in and out and seems to be in wonderful mechanical condition. Really the only negative is that the car has been repainted in spots, but it still looks good. The other thing is - man, that car feels loose. They might have been this way from the factory, but shutting one of those big doors seems to cause shaking and rattling throughout the door as well as the whole car. Even on smooth roads it seemed to creak and groan constantly.

We should have put down the top to make some of this less noticeable/more bearable, but I don't think he ever puts the top down. I suspect he is too afraid he might get a slight crease in the top.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

If you think the '96 has a flexi-flyer chassis you should drive the old 5.0s.

You can buy frame stiffeners for these cars but if you don't weld them in you got nothin; the bolted ones will work loose.

Your friend has to just realize that all he owns is a used car.

qbrozen · June 2006

There has GOT to be an extra zero on the price of this Prelude

Don't drink and type:
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/176298800.html

oh yeah, i can't think of a better "collector car"

fintail · June 2006

Oooh, it's beautiful, I love it. Looks just like mine, but undoubtedly nicer. I want those tires.

That's a very late car, near the end of 220S production, which is a good thing, as they were upgraded (discs etc). I see it has the optional center armrest too, uncommon.

If it's as nice as it looks? Maybe 6-7K ish to the right buyer (not just a guy off the street). Good ones are becoming harder to find by the day, and that one looks fantastic. If it really is superb with genuinely no needs, a MB enthusiast could pay around that asking price and not be hurt...you can't get a bad one to that condition for near that money.

fintail · June 2006

One for 'british_rover' - not exactly a project

stickguy · June 2006

It is likely that the owner can afford to do it right. Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi live in Rumson (as does my wifes cousin, so I have been there), and it is possible that Bruce isn't even the richest man in town!

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

Well plenty of people "collect" cars in their backyard. :P

lemmer · June 2006

Lot of money in this 944. I like the color.

qbrozen · June 2006

Well plenty of people "collect" cars in their backyard. :P

That's true. And the car does some collecting of its own, too. It collects bugs, weeds, rust, etc.

qbrozen · June 2006

Depending on who you ask in Jersey, you would think Bruce and Jon have houses in every town in Jersey.

i've been in Jon's house ... I can't remember where it was, though. A friend's wife was his road manager, or some such thing. It was a LONG time ago. A nice studio in the basement and a Young Guns poster by the bedroom, that's all I remember. Wish I found my way to the garage, now that I think about it.

british_rover · June 2006

That looks about market correct for a 95 softop with those kind of miles.

As long as it has the good tranny at least. I don't remember if all 95's have the good tranny or if there was a certain date that they changed over.

toomanyfumes · June 2006

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/car/176541605.html

stickguy · June 2006

I always suspected that the people (kids?) that do these ultra custom sport compact tuner cars spent way more than the finished product would sell for. Now I know how much!

At least start with a civic or Integra that someone might actually want as a car.

Guess they are like any type of custom. The odds of finding someone with taste just like yours is remote.

fintail · June 2006

I saw a Land Rover Defender like that pulling a boat and trailer today. So at least one is out there working!

ROFL at that Cav...he means $78.00, right? Yuck...he could have at least started with the newer style.

fintail · June 2006

Old school vacation combo

Shame this little thing is so far gone

bumpy · June 2006

Bump on the hood tells me its a turbo, correct?

Naah, the hood bulge just means it has (or had) the DOHC version of the 4G63, rather than the SOHC version. The first-gen Neon did the same thing.

qbrozen · June 2006

I don't see $28k there. He's probably thinking "well, if I charged $100/hr for all my time ...."

All that work and he didn't even add forced induction. What a waste of time. I'll never understand why people put so much time, money, and effort into making a base car with a base engine a bit faster when it would have been cheaper and easier to start with a faster car to begin with.

Its like those folks who pop up on the "engine swap" discussion asking things like "how do I swap a V8 into my V6 camaro?" Ummm... here's a tip. Sell your car and buy a Z28 to start with. Cheaper, eaiser, more reliable, and ultimately faster.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

My rule of thumb to anyone who asks me about modifications is that 10 to 15% of MSRP is plenty to spend and STOP right there!

The logic of it is that one could justify a 10-15% add-on to the price of the car in used condition, because this is essentially what the price guides or "blue books" do for options or improvements. The 8 cylinder version will be worth that much more than the 6 cylinder, or AC + alloy wheels + leather = 10-15% more, etc. etc.

I'm modifying my car but I'm cutting it off at about $1,500 bucks. That's it no matter what. And I'm sticking to things that really improve the car, that's another rule of thumb. Even my "keep cool" seat covers actually do something--a) protect the seats and b)allow air circulation under your body. And they look nice.

lemmer · June 2006

I am liking this local Fiat.

What are the pros and cons and how much is it worth?

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

Maybe $4,000--$6,000 tops for a stunner.

Nice driving car, way more civilized than an MGB, which is a dog cart in comparison, parts not too hard to find but not exactly at your fingertips like a B.

This model is fuel injected I believe, which is good, very good. Cons are probably substandard quality of interior and chrome, difficult to work on (accessibility).

Fun car and if you have a Fiat mechanic in your area, why not? It's twice the car an MGB is for half the price, but then it will ALWAYS be half the price no matter how much you put into it.

qbrozen · June 2006

You still looking for an autocross car?

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/176687677.html

qbrozen · June 2006

At least its the year suggested by Shifty as being the least of all evils, right?
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/176672141.html

qbrozen · June 2006

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/176585708.html

lemmer · June 2006

I would buy that Miata if it was in my neighborhood. Needs nothing for $2,200? Me thinks it needs something.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

It's only 240 HP so maybe not too scary...but I still wouldn't want to go around a sharp curve in it. Your basic gearhead ridiculous vehicle.

lemmer · June 2006

Once again, I doubt this Jag is really in my idea of "awesome shape" for $1,300. If it was, I would buy it as my family car to go along with the $2,200 Miata.

I'll pass on the Jeep. Why a Corvette engine? Wouldn't a similar Chevy truck engine have a better torque curve and cost less?

qbrozen · June 2006

The engine itself wouldn't necessarily scare me if it wasn't for the condition of the vehicle. I just worry when someone goes through the trouble of transplanting a vette engine, but then takes a hacksaw to the rear fenders. When the obvious details are half-assed, it makes me wonder how well the complicated stuff was done.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

Don't ever buy an old XJ6, no matter how cheap, no matter if it's mint. If someone gives you one, sell it, preferably without even starting it up if you can avoid it. Buy an 80s era BMW 735 and be happy.

british_rover · June 2006

Yes but I just closed on my house yesterday and I am still coming to terms with that so no spending money on anything stupid.

bumpy · June 2006

10-15% can be pretty harsh. I spent that much just putting new plugs, cap, rotor, and coil on the SE-R.

british_rover · June 2006

That is just regular maintence though not a modification.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

That's not really a modification though. EVERY car needs those.

So I'm thinkin' like this: If you need new tires, you can buy OEMs for $75 each or performance tires for $150 each, so really you've only spent $75 X4 of your modification budget.

lemmer · June 2006

How bad could it be? Certainly no worse than an 80s era 735?

I look at a Maserati BiTurbo or a 750iL and it just looks unreliable, so I get it. I look at an 80s XJ6 and see a nice fairly simple sedan - no turbos, no AWD, no digital dash, no stability control, just a good looking British Caprice.

Clearly this is not the case, so feel free to blast away. I like it when you get really worked up and just demolish a car.

andre1969 · June 2006

like design the rear brakes on the XJ6 to be somewhat "inside-out", where you have to end up dropping the whole rear-end to change the pads? Or something strange and needlessly complicated like that?

fintail · June 2006

The Jag also has British electrics (and propensity for rust)...nothing else need be said

But at least it's not one of those 12cyl models that always seemed to lose oil pressure by 25K miles ot so.

fintail · June 2006

That pretty blue fintail has really been making me think...what should I do with my car? I've always thought of giving it a refresh - bodywork/paint, engine renovation, wood etc...but I have a hard time facing that this money will for the most part be burned - the car will not be worth much more compared to what these will cost. The car has great sentimental value for me - most people my age have not had the same car for so long - so I do intend to keep it. But the restoration bug gets in me now and then. Maybe after I clean it up this weekend I will be less gung-ho about it.

lilengineerboy · June 2006

Sorry for backtracking an old post.
The bump on the DSMs is to make room for the cams (on a DOHC vs SOCH). The turbo is low on the exhaust manifold. The later first gens (pre-95) have the best motor and brakes, the 95+ had some issues with "crank walk" http://www.answers.com/topic/eagle-talon

The 3000GT/Dodge Stealth barnicles are to clear the shock towers.
The bump on the WRX and Evo is to clear the intercooler.

british_rover · June 2006

Yeah I had always heard the story that on the 3000GT the first time they shut the hood on the prototype they screwed up a measurment and punched holes right through the sheet metal with the shock towers.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

It's really hard to express how bad the XJ6s are. One must stand in amazement that they were ever able to sell them. There are so many engineering defects I could fill this page. Here's just a part of my repertoire--- The rusting "saddle bag gas tanks", the need to drop the entire rear suspension to service the rear calipers, the chronic fuel line cracking and leaks, the chronic overheating, the defective rack and pinion steering, the rusting back windshield areas, the high failure rate of the automatic transmissions (which can't be rebuilt, you just throw them away)---it goes on and on.

The BMW 735 is an outstanding car, probably the best BMW ever made IMO.

True Story: Friend of mine some years ago inherited his mom's mint XJ6, a 1982 I think...and in two years + he had put $14,000 into it. True he was fastidious while mom was not, but still.....

The XJ12s are even worse---they like to catch fire.

british_rover · June 2006

i actually saw a fairly good condition 735i the other day. It was in black looked ok.

About 5 years ago I had a chance to buy a 735i at a local auction but passed on it cause it had 329,000 miles on it.

I don't even remember what it eventually sold for but it was too much money.

Mr_Shiftright · June 2006

that's too much mileage. A car like that is basically worthless.

qbrozen · June 2006

its ok. post was just yesterday (i think ... i lose track of time).

I hate to be picky... but ... the bump on the WRX is actually an intake scoop to get air to the intercooler. On the EVO, the intercooler is behind the front bumper, so the air scoop on that car is pretty much for show (although i suppose you could argue it helps keep the engine cool).

As far as the DSM bump, I think british_rover may have been more accurate when he said it was to clear the timing gear. The cams themselves would have nothing to do with this, but the gears that drive the cams, yes. And I did find some pics on the web that seem to support this. You can see the timing gear cover sticks up above anything else in the engine compartment and right around where the bump would be located on the hood.

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

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy