1:1 cars

[Greg Cullinan]

I say buy a Mustang. Part are readily available and reasonably priced. As a plus it is a car that you can fix up if you ever wanted to.

I am mechanically inclined.I guess you can say my Dad raised me that way.f he was doing some fixing,I was helping.

I grew up on motorcycles or dirtbikes and took them apart when necessary.Same with cars when I was younger and labor costs were not in my budget.

I still do everything around my house myself just out of pride.I like things to be the way I want it and to sit back and say I did it. But as I am getting older

I figure do it while I can.

Edited November 1, 2010 by Greg Cullinan

[Nova-ss]

Yes,I'm a Electronic mech for all automotive systems.I've rebuilt through all stages of automotive repair,Engine,trans,electrical,body,and helped a friend who owned a interior shop.I'm a Diesel mech and have worked on race cars and shows cars and now for the last 15 years mix sound for concerts and record live sound at the shows along with repairs.so yes I know how cars work.Thanks,Chris

[whale392]

Guess I'll throw my hat in this ring. Do I know how cars work? I learned to read/write/count with tools in my dads shop. He is an ASE certified Master tech in all 8 fields of auto, 6 of heavy truck, Fleet Diesel certified, Chrysler Gold Star certificate winner for 15 years running, MOOG chassis school certified, Viper/Viper Coupe certified, NHRA member since 1956...........and I grew up with him in the shops/at the dragstrip/behind the wheel of a 150" FED. Later, I bought a 1965 Dodge Coronet500 convert and stuffed a 440+6 from a 1969&1/2 SuperBee into it and drove it through my last two years of High School. Now I still own the 'vert, but I also own and modify FOX chassis Fords.

My career field; A&P aircraft mechanic with a list of qualifications a mile long. Do I know anything about how cars work............maybe?

[Longbox55]

My budget is about 5k.I also would have to buy some extra wheels and some blizzaks for the snow.

What about the older diesel mercedes,aren't they supposed to be bullet proof?

5K? Again, S10 4x4, or maybe and Explorer or Cherokee. Can be found inexpesively, throw on a set of BFG All-Terrain KO tires and you won't need a second set of tires for winter. I'm running that very setup on my '85 S10, 1/2 to time I don't even have to engage the 4wd drive, as the traction is that good with the All-Terrains. My Blazer has never failed me. Only major repairs has been a transmission overhaul, and I had to put an engine in it due to some overly agressive driving (sucked a valve jumping railroad tracks). Otherwise, only routine maintainance (brakes/tune up) and a front end overhaul (balljoints/idler arm).

[oversteer]

Fascinating stuff.Does anyone like the Pontiac Bonneville?

I'm trying to get something bigger than a Civic.

I like VW's and the Chevy Blazer too.

[Agent G]

Never worked on a car in my life,(I'm a bike guy) but I have driven 100,000's of miles. My old police department has mostly stuck with GM since about '84. I have seen vans go 300,000 + miles, and all the cars seem to have absorbed all the punishment we gave them in an urban area.

Where I currently work, we had a '98 Century with 100,000+ as an undercover car. Looked like heck but it ran well and gave great gas mileage. More than that it was comfortable.

I drove a Pontiac G4 as a rental and was impressed with it. I despise the new Impala but concede it is a good passenger car.

My current ride is an '05 Lincoln Town Car, 22-23 mpg city, 30+ highway and comfy as heck. Wife has an '05 Civic and it is a fine little car. We did an 1800 mile roadtrip in it and got 35mpg + on the freeway. If I was in the market now I'd go with Ford or Honda for a new car, Toyota for a good used car.

G

[charlie8575]

Fascinating stuff.Does anyone like the Pontiac Bonneville?

I'm trying to get something bigger than a Civic.

I like VW's and the Chevy Blazer too.

As stated before, the Bonneville is essentially a Le Sabre. That established, a Bonneville is a good choice, as well.

The 3800 is a strong, long-lived engine that's remarkably efficient, quiet and reliable. The automatic transmission is reasonably stout and will stand up to New York City and its environs with reasonable care. I've never heard of the front hubs failing, though. The biggest thing you need to watch is rust in the rocker panels and underneath, which can be helped by washing the car regularly, especially in winter.

Only the 3100/3400 had trouble with intake manifold gaskets from what I've seen and been told. As those only came on midsize and compact cars, if you're concentrating on a C/H-Body, you needn't worry about them. They're basically good engines, but as previously mentioned, the intake manifold gaskets can be problematic. However, if you get them before they fail, you'll have no problems with the engine otherwise. You'll know if it's been done by red RTV around the intake.

As to extra tires, most people I know with these cars don't run snows. They're heavy enough to have decent traction even with regular tires. However, it might be a good idea to get a winter set if your car has aluminum wheels to keep them from getting too badly chewed up. Blizzaks are good snow tires, as are BF Goodrich Slaloms and Cooper Weather-Masters.

Charlie Larkin

[ChrisPflug]

Keep up with the maintenance and the 3800 will last a long time, the upper intakes are available aftermarket for reasonable money

While working at the local GM dealer we had a customer with just under 300,000 miles on a '95 Olds 98 with a supercharged engine and around 350,000 on a similar vintage 88

Also, living in Michigan am fascinated with the longevity of the factory stainless exhaust

[Adam144]

I'm 26 and have been a gearhead my entire life. As a baby apparently I made different engine sounds for different trucks, cars, and motorcycles before I said my first words. I couldn't leave the house as a toddler without a 1:64 hot wheels in each hand (it was always a tough choice of which two cars to take). Now? I own a 1974 Datsun Z, a couple Jeeps, and I do all of my own maintainance. I'm currently doing a frame up build of a 95 Jeep YJ, have done everything from minor repairs, to engine gaskets, to motor swaps and full suspension work.

I suppose I come by it honestly though from my parents, my dad is wired the same. He's obsessed with cars like myself. He has a 2009 Nissan 370Z, a 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo and a couple of Jeeps. We work on our own vehicles and it's quite a hobby for us, it has kept us close my entire life from my teenage years where I raced motocross which likely kept me out of a lot of trouble and our bond strong.

[Agent G]

Keep up with the maintenance and the 3800 will last a long time, the upper intakes are available aftermarket for reasonable money

While working at the local GM dealer we had a customer with just under 300,000 miles on a '95 Olds 98 with a supercharged engine and around 350,000 on a similar vintage 88

Also, living in Michigan am fascinated with the longevity of the factory stainless exhaust

I can not recall anytime the exhaust was replaced on any police car I drove. Maybe constant running combined with the stainless was the clue.

G

[evilone]

Ok it sound to me that everyone here is well rounded in the automotive industry and have good ideas to fuel economic vehicles so im not going to challenge anyone at that game LOL. You have 5K to invest in a car so the diesel mercedes is outta the question.Reasons why: its a mercedes that mean expensive up keeping cost, its a diesel that too means expensive up keeping cost. Now if i were in your shoes i would go put that 5K down on a 2011 ford fiesta or a 2011 mustang (V6). Reasons why: they have awesome fuel economy,they are cheap to up keep, and you have all the awesome ford technology to date and you have a warrenty if bought from a dealership. If you want to check it out got to www.ford.com and look it up. But if ford is not your cup of tea you can go get a chevy cobalt they have a boat load of aftermarket add-ons (if you get the ss version its way more fun to drive) and are cheap to up keep as well and you have a warrenty if bought from a dealership. But i find the problems with any imports are that some if not most (especially german) are expensive while domestics tend to be less expensive.

As for my credentials im a certified ford technician, a 609 certified A/c technician,currently becoming a smog technician,and i have 1.5yrs in the field from being a UTI student.

[2LaneBlackTop]

I`m an automotive painter and collision repairman since 2002, Started my senior year before graduating.

I have motors manuals from 1971 chevelles all the way to the 32 fords.

The books have specific details. I have many other piles of books.

PM me if you need to know anything like poly hemi`s 409`s or flatheads, ECT. The books are so old they are fragile.

I`d be more than happy to share this info.

[CAL]

Just curios,do most people that enjoy building model cars know how 1:1 cars work?

I know I dont.

Rich

Yup, don't do it for a living any longer, but I still work on my own cars.

However, I grew up in a Porsche shop. I worked for Porsche, VW, Audi, Toyota, Mazda and Honda, worked on pretty much everything under the sun, built racing engines for 3 years and was on a TAFC pit crew, was offered a clutch man position on Tommy Johnson Jr's car and help with a Camel Light Porsche, club 962, crewed for a 944 Firehawk team. Been in the car biz for 35 years and cannot seem to escape the industry. And I have actively tried. I even went back to school and got a bachelor degree… to no avail though. I am just a car guy, it's im my blood. Now I am the regional office manager for a warranty/admin company and deal with mechanical and service claims and broker specialty cars on the side.

And yes, Buicks have a very low claim loss ratio.

Toyota's are okay, they don't break down as often but they are more expensive to repair than your domestics and even Hondas.

Some else mentioned Cherokee. Yes an older Cherokee is pretty bullet proof, run away from Grand Cherokees though and old Explorers are not much better.

I see insurance actualarial all the time I can kind of give you a good idea what is good what is bad, how often and what breaks down on most cars and you'd probably be surprised at the results.

Edited November 4, 2010 by CAL