Do you also have 1:1 project cars?

[Falcon Ranchero]

3 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

That's all part of a project. You're fortunate to have a mostly complete, running vehicle. Buying a basket case may seem cheaper, In The long run it costs more in time and money. The one basket case I have is a long term, very valuable harley project. I've slowly accumulated parts over the past five years for that one. And mainly it's been that long because a want all oem, original parts and pieces. You'll be able to track down everything that Lemans needs, very popular platform, and a ton support on them. Don't forget G.M.'s have a ton of interchange with parts, any old junkyards around you may have what you need.

I have to agree that we made the right call on buying the LeMans; I mentioned before somewhere on the forum that we also looked at a 1980 Camaro Z/28 that had been parked in a garage since 1982-ish. That car was exremely complete, but since it sat for so long, it definitely needed quite a bit. Price was $10,000 firm, no lower, and I can guarentee by the time you could actually get it on the road you would've spent maybe an extra 10-15 thousand on it. The LeMans was $25,000, and it is in pristine body/interior/mechainical condition, but so far we might have spent an extra $2,000 already, probably won't spend any more than $5,000 to get it all together.

As for junkyard parts, there maybe used to be an option like that, but living on a border town that makes metal, any cars in a junkyard or in the bush were at one point totally extracted due to a metal shortage a while back. Only places where there's no chance of ever being retrieved easlily are there still some cars. That being said there are people in town with parts; our own mechanic has a friend who might have quite a bit of parts we need so eventually we'll get everything. 

[johnyrotten]

13 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

I have to agree that we made the right call on buying the LeMans; I mentioned before somewhere on the forum that we also looked at a 1980 Camaro Z/28 that had been parked in a garage since 1982-ish. That car was exremely complete, but since it sat for so long, it definitely needed quite a bit. Price was $10,000 firm, no lower, and I can guarentee by the time you could actually get it on the road you would've spent maybe an extra 10-15 thousand on it. The LeMans was $25,000, and it is in pristine body/interior/mechainical condition, but so far we might have spent an extra $2,000 already, probably won't spend any more than $5,000 to get it all together.

As for junkyard parts, there maybe used to be an option like that, but living on a border town that makes metal, any cars in a junkyard or in the bush were at one point totally extracted due to a metal shortage a while back. Only places where there's no chance of ever being retrieved easlily are there still some cars. That being said there are people in town with parts; our own mechanic has a friend who might have quite a bit of parts we need so eventually we'll get everything. 

As long as you have options,  that's all that matters. Nice looking exhaust on there, by the way. 

[bobss396]

20 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

That's all part of a project. You're fortunate to have a mostly complete, running vehicle. Buying a basket case may seem cheaper, In The long run it costs more in time and money. The one basket case I have is a long term, very valuable harley project. I've slowly accumulated parts over the past five years for that one. And mainly it's been that long because a want all oem, original parts and pieces. You'll be able to track down everything that Lemans needs, very popular platform, and a ton support on them. Don't forget G.M.'s have a ton of interchange with parts, any old junkyards around you may have what you need.

My '59 Ford was a basket case. I was very close to being over my head with it. I dug and scoured for everything I needed. And I still need a few things.

I found out later that the car was sold as part of a divorce settlement from the wife of a famous Ford restorer. He likely withheld a slew of parts as an "up yours" gesture.

Chrome trim pieces set me back, along with new clips, around $1700. Missing interior pieces another $500.

The doors took a donor Edsel door and some Ranchero door guts from Washington state. With the glass and puzzles, seals, etc that total was $800.

[johnyrotten]

3 hours ago, bobss396 said:

My '59 Ford was a basket case. I was very close to being over my head with it. I dug and scoured for everything I needed. And I still need a few things.

I found out later that the car was sold as part of a divorce settlement from the wife of a famous Ford restorer. He likely withheld a slew of parts as an "up yours" gesture.

Chrome trim pieces set me back, along with new clips, around $1700. Missing interior pieces another $500.

The doors took a donor Edsel door and some Ranchero door guts from Washington state. With the glass and puzzles, seals, etc that total was $800.

I've been slowly assembling a 1950 Harley FL. The parts hunting pain is real. I'm lucky enough to know a small "indy" shop with a very knowledgeable old-timer. Pan head harley parts fetch a premium for oem,good condition.

[Tabbysdaddy]

Since it's very hot out and the A/C doesn't work, I finally decided to change the passenger side window motor on the old work truck. It would go down about a third, but a few weeks ago it quit completely. I've done plenty of window motors before but this one was more of a pain than usual. Mostly because the included bolts interfere with the mounting and operation of the regulator. First I had to grind the heads mostly off two of the three motor mounting bolts so the regulator would even move. Then I had to clearance grind two of those on the nut side to get the regulator to sit properly. But it works now.

[webestang]

Well, since I sold my 85 Mustang coupe 😢 I can spend all my attention to fixing up my 88 5.0 vert.

This is what happen a coupe of years ago which my Ins totaled her but I was able to buy it back and still got $4500 from the lady that cause it.

 

Time to make it look like this again more to come later......

[johnyrotten]

1 minute ago, webestang said:

Well, since I sold my 85 Mustang coupe 😢 I can spend all my attention to fixing up my 88 5.0 vert.

This is what happen a coupe of years ago which my Ins totaled her but I was able to buy it back and still got $4500 from the lady that cause it.

 

Time to make it look like this again more to come later......

It's crazy how they total them out due to age and scarcity of parts as they get older. 

[br67]

Aussie Ford Falcon XY Ute

Known as a Ford Ramchero here in South Africa

still a bit of a way to go on it…

[WillyBilly]

This is my current pile of bad decisions. It is faster than my 87 grand national, 94 and 96 impala ss, or any of my fox bodied Mustangs in stock form and is on par with both of my 09 Pontiac G8s. It is a 2014 Cadillac ATS4 AWD Performance Collection with a 321 hp 3.6 Direct Injected Dual overhead cam VVT engine.  5.4-5.6 sec 0-60, and mid 13.5-14 second 1/4-mile times.

[89AKurt]

Just a little detail.... where have I heard that before.  Fakerri didn't have any back-up lights, and don't know about the wiring.  I have a mobil mechanic who got the turn signals and hi/low beam switch and lights working.  He will complete the wiring for these cool LED lights, I made the mounts.  I didn't want to drill new holes, there were 4 existing holes.  Tube steel scavenged from a trashed awning.

One is still hooked up to the AAA batteries for testing.

What it looks like. 🫣  Needed a turn signal switch thingamajig.  Made in USA. 🇺🇸

Road near me.

[Russell C]

2 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

.... these cool LED lights ....One is still hooked up to the AAA batteries for testing. ......

Enzo purists sent screaming off into the night, redux. 😂

[bobss396]

Splurged for new repro mirrors for the Belair. The old ones were too short, likely for a smaller car like a Nova.

Now I can drive a little more safely. Changing lanes is no longer an issue.

[WillyBilly]

16 minutes ago, bobss396 said:

Splurged for new repro mirrors for the Belair. The old ones were too short, likely for a smaller car like a Nova.

Now I can drive a little more safely. Changing lanes is no longer an issue.

You had me at Belair. I love all things B-body.

Drivers mirror to body seal is backwards. The passengers looks correct.

[bobss396]

Just now, WillyBilly said:

You had me at Belair. I love all things B-body.

Drivers mirror to body seal is backwards. The passengers looks correct.

Very possible. I will take another look at it. They were a pain to get in place. The indent for the bottom is very shallow and fiddly to hold.

[Falcon Ranchero]

Gave HS a hand wash yesterday after we came back. Not a cloud in the sky so the paint looked extra awesome. And the neighbourhood was dead pretty much all afternoon and it was just amazing on a beautiful day like yesterday. Hasn't been like that in maybe over 10 years. Got the spare rim sanded down more and my dad primed it last evening. No spare centercap but a plastic lid basically the exact same size and chrome anodizing from some garlic glass jar looks like it'll work perfectly after putting a pontiac logo sticker in the center. And finally later this week we'll 100% have a wiper motor installed, and washer fluid container. Progress.  

[89AKurt]

I was looking for the "Irked" thread, makes me wonder if guys really like having projects.  Getting "new" remanufactured parts, don't get me going..... Shoulda done a Wilwood upgrade.

[Falcon Ranchero]

HS should be coming back later today after a sleepover at the mechanic's shop. Should 100% have a wiper motor, a couple other little things, and maybe a horn.

[Falcon Ranchero]

Update: it’s back and yes finally a wiper motor has been installed. But still missing parts for the washer fluid sprayer and missing parts for the parking brake. Turns out though, it had a horn the whole time. Mechanic pressed it and it honked once. Though now it’s not honking so the horn relay connection must be very faulty or something but pressing all three buttons and it doesn’t honk now but apparently it did so I dunno.

[johnyrotten]

42 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Update: it’s back and yes finally a wiper motor has been installed. But still missing parts for the washer fluid sprayer and missing parts for the parking brake. Turns out though, it had a horn the whole time. Mechanic pressed it and it honked once. Though now it’s not honking so the horn relay connection must be very faulty or something but pressing all three buttons and it doesn’t honk now but apparently it did so I dunno.

Old car things. It happens.  Switches get sticky,corrosion happens, bad connections ect. The fact that it worked one time tells you it's probably not a big deal,just gotta pin point the culprit. You'll get it figured out.

[stitchdup]

47 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Update: it’s back and yes finally a wiper motor has been installed. But still missing parts for the washer fluid sprayer and missing parts for the parking brake. Turns out though, it had a horn the whole time. Mechanic pressed it and it honked once. Though now it’s not honking so the horn relay connection must be very faulty or something but pressing all three buttons and it doesn’t honk now but apparently it did so I dunno.

i'd look for dirty or corroded contacts or even a loose wire. if it worked once its probably nothing too serious

[bobss396]

I had the Belair in for the inspection yesterday.

There was a high-end '65 Impala there for some AC work. It had an LS in it, air bagged. 

Edited Tuesday at 10:22 AM by bobss396
jjbkussa

[Mattilacken]

Just got me a project car after all. I got hold of a 2003 Cadillac CTS with the 3,2l v6 for almost nothing, 850usd. These are quite rare over here in Sweden. I Have not seen one IRL ever here were I live as I can recall so finding one in decent shape for a bargain was my lucky day. 
Previous owner had junked the last engine due to a cam belt failure and replaced the engine, but never bothered to connect a thing to the engine. So I have a puzzle to lay later when vacation ends.

Interior is I great shape and the body is in decent shape except for some scuffmarks and a small rust damage on the right rear flare. Kids are interested and want to help so that’s fun! 
 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Mattilacken

[Tabbysdaddy]

I wanted to fix the a/c on my work truck, but I felt guilty doing it when my wife's better truck a/c wasn't working. So I fixed her a/c last Saturday, new accumulator and orifice tube and a junkyard compressor. It's ice cold again. Mine I diagnosed as a bad compressor clutch, so I picked up another junkyard compressor this morning and I just now finished swapping the clutch from it onto my truck. I was really looking forward to finally having a/c again, but unfortunately the drivers side is stuck on heat. I'll have to pick up the motor that operates that door. The compressor comes on now though and the passenger side was blowing at 60. I figure it's that warm because the drivers side stuck on heat.

[Mattilacken]

6 hours ago, Tabbysdaddy said:

I wanted to fix the a/c on my work truck, but I felt guilty doing it when my wife's better truck a/c wasn't working. So I fixed her a/c last Saturday, new accumulator and orifice tube and a junkyard compressor. It's ice cold again. Mine I diagnosed as a bad compressor clutch, so I picked up another junkyard compressor this morning and I just now finished swapping the clutch from it onto my truck. I was really looking forward to finally having a/c again, but unfortunately the drivers side is stuck on heat. I'll have to pick up the motor that operates that door. The compressor comes on now though and the passenger side was blowing at 60. I figure it's that warm because the drivers side stuck on heat.

Sweet! Be glad that you have junkyards close by with a lot of cars in it and that you are allowed to take stuff by yourself. Here the yards usually charge you half the price of a new part. Some times you can get parts for a decent price.