Ask the Car People.SM


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

25623 messages,  Last post on May 10, 2013 at 9:03 AM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? Classic Cars

Messages Page 2482 of 2563

#24803 of 25623 Re: My '79 5th Ave got a life extension [andre1969] by texases

Nov 07, 2012 (11:47 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 07, 2012 11:42 am)
Yeah, I imagine if you put together a list of all the different things you'd like to do to all of your cars, this ratio swap would be far below the 'not in my lifetime' line...

#24804 of 25623 Re: My '79 5th Ave got a life extension [andre1969] by stickguy

Nov 07, 2012 (6:53 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 07, 2012 11:42 am)
you need to just pick one of these beasts and do it up right. Resto mod style. Crate engine (yes, I have an obsession with crate engines), modern trans, and feel free to swap out the axle. Along with suspension and brakes!
 
Can't decide if you should do the Lemans (the logical choice), or the cop car NYer, which you can keep bone stock on the outside.

#24805 of 25623 Re: My '79 5th Ave got a life extension [stickguy] by michaell

Nov 08, 2012 (6:35 am)

Replying to: stickguy (Nov 07, 2012 6:53 pm)
Can't decide if you should do the Lemans (the logical choice), or the cop car NYer, which you can keep bone stock on the outside.
 
I like the idea of a true sleeper, so the New Yorker would get my vote.
 
How nice of us to be spending Andre's money; ideally, he'll get the DeSoto running first before doing anything else.

#24806 of 25623 Re: My '79 5th Ave got a life extension [michaell] by andre1969

Nov 08, 2012 (6:54 am)

Replying to: michaell (Nov 08, 2012 6:35 am)
I'd probably do it to one of the New Yorkers before I'd do it to the LeMans, and partly for the sleeper reason you mentioned. But also partly because neither New Yorker is really worth much, so no harm done in having a little fun with them. Granted the LeMans isn't worth a whole lot either, but definitely a lot more than either NYer.
 
Do they make Pontiac crate motors? Another reason I'd hesitate to do a build-up of the LeMans is that I'd still want to keep it all Pontiac, so I wouldn't want a Chevy crate engine in there. With Chrysler it's different because they started going to corporate engines way back in 1958, when the B-block 350/361 came out. So, putting a crate 360 in there wouldn't bother me in the least, but putting a Chevy crate motor in the LeMans would feel like bastardizing it somehow...if that makes sense?
 
But then, maybe I'm making too big of a deal out of it. If my LeMans had been a '77, it would've ended up with an Olds 350 rather than the Pontiac, as it was originally a California/high altitude car, and for '77 the Pontiac engines couldn't meet those stricter emissions requirements.
 
But yeah, at this point, I'm not doing anything off-the-wall with any of the cars until the DeSoto is road-worthy. Oh, and the Ram's loan is paid off.

#24807 of 25623 Re: My '79 5th Ave got a life extension [Mr_Shiftright] by ab348

Nov 08, 2012 (4:32 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 07, 2012 9:41 am)
I couldn't possibly disagree more.
 
It is one thing to upgrade to disk brakes, change the rear end, maybe even add an overdrive automatic trans - but putting a Chevy engine in an Olds (or a Pontiac or Buick) of that vintage is a hack job, nothing else, and I don't care how well the swap is done, the car is instantly devalued. That is what flippers do when they can't be bothered to have the proper engine rebuilt and just want to fool some kid into parting with his hard-earned money. Bolt on some chrome valve covers and a Moroso air cleaner while they're at it. To the marque community it is virtually defamation of the car and its heritage. And the value of the car is significantly reduced.
 
The resto-mod craze is a very negative thing for the collector car hobby.

#24808 of 25623 Re: My '79 5th Ave got a life extension [ab348] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 08, 2012 (6:10 pm)

Replying to: ab348 (Nov 08, 2012 4:32 pm)
If the car has little market value, a resto-mod will often increase its value. it's not the purists setting the value of these cars, it's all the other buyers who want more power than one might find in gutless, emissions-strangled domestics from the mid to late 70s, for instance or who want to take a somewhat common 60s or early 70s car and make a real performer out of it.
 
What makes most domestic cars valuable (in most cases) is the size of the engine. So if the old car didn't have a powerful engine to begin with, there's little harm in making a 1967 Camaro 6 cylinder automatic into a 350 tire-shredder.
 
If you look at the value of say early 50s American cars, which has more value---a stock '51 Ford or a period hot-rod/custom. Easily the custom/rod does, because it has been given character.
 
Having said all that, I do agree with you that it's sometimes not a good idea to switch engines from one automaker to another. No reason to do so really, unless you're throwing out an old flathead or some wheezer 6 cylinder.

#24809 of 25623 It's been cold... by explorerx4

Nov 08, 2012 (6:52 pm)

and my 02 Explorer has been turning over a bit slow before starting.
I think it's time to replace the battery, bought the current one in Sept 06.
Dealer has 2 choices, 84 month for $90(same as I paid for the one that's in there now) and $110 for a 100 month.
As long as the 84 month has the same cranking power as the 100, I'll just save the $20.
I'm expecting to drive the 02 Explorer all winter so I can keep the miles off my 11 'Beauty Queen' Explorer.

#24810 of 25623 Re: It's been cold... [explorerx4] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 08, 2012 (7:33 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 08, 2012 6:52 pm)
yep, 6 years is old age for a battery.

#24811 of 25623 Re: It's been cold... [Mr_Shiftright] by michaell

Nov 09, 2012 (6:11 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 08, 2012 7:33 pm)
yep, 6 years is old age for a battery.
 
Huh - my '06 ION is still on its original battery after 77 months, 80K miles and 6 Colorado winters. Nary a problem getting it to start even in the coldest of weather.
 
And, it lives outside.

#24812 of 25623 Re: It's been cold... [michaell] by andre1969

Nov 09, 2012 (6:21 am)

Replying to: michaell (Nov 09, 2012 6:11 am)
Off the top of my head, I think the battery in my LeMans has a 4/07 date sticker on it. I do remember in June of '07, the morning I was scheduled to drive it up to the GM show in Carlisle PA, the car refused to start, so I ran out real quick and got a battery. Better to die in the garage at home, I guess, than up in PA somewhere!
 
I think the battery in the Silverado is 6/08. Both of them still start really well, although one night my roommate drove the Silverado and left the lights on, so he needed a jump. Not the battery's fault, though!
 
I'd imagine my old cars, which can be cranky to start and often sit awhile, are pretty rough on a battery.

Messages Page 2482 of 2563

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement