Damn, sounds like a lot of time and money that has and is continuously being invested. Though as long as you aren’t some guys that even when they think they have everything under wraps, and they bring it to a meet/show only to see a similar car next to their with different work/components done; and then it fucks with them to where they end up throwing even more money into their car and change their original build, that would suck to have that mentality. I guess, according to a friend, that’s how some car guys think, that they have to keep up with the Jones’ even though they spent so much into their car. If I didn’t have motorcycles in my life, and was still a car enthusiast, I’d have one end goal and stick with it. The only shit I would replace is similar components, and I wouldn’t base my build over what some other guy has, but maybe that’s just how meet people are, as a few others on facebook have vented out their frustrations on how people would subtle degrade their ride and question their involvement into the scene. though, that’s just meets, and I’d stay away from majority of them as my time in my car would be more at the track.
Looking for somewhat clean beater since I am completely over driving stick shift as a daily. Yea I am old. Lexus LS400s are what I am looking at for now. I test drove a 96 with a 140K miles. It was like driving a cloud wrapped in leather. Holy shit, the finish on these things is incredible. If I can find one for a cheap with a straight body I will jump all over it. Extremely solid car. If I see an LS430 I could jump on that too.
then why don’t you wait and pick that up when a good one pops up. There really isn’t any loss other than the fact that you have to drive manual until then.
You can always do what they call a “rolling restoration”, so simple stuff, and build a hot motor on the side on a stand and a dedicated space for the new parts to pile up. It takes A LOT of research and patience though, important thing is to have the plan complete and take some time to ask yourself if that’s what you want. Don’t be fooled by the hotrod mags that claim “550hp 383 for $2500”. They always readily admit they already had the parts on hand and organized a series of parts meet swaps got the extra parts needed and had an inside discount on machine shop work. They also decide for the article to use an aggressive cam that is probably more at home on a dyno stand than in a street car and eats the valve springs for lunch.
When it comes to the 5.3 motors, people love them. There was a C5 Z06 owner on a Vette forum I’ve been a part of for a while who pulled one for dirt cheap and tossed a nice turbo on and he got about 750 hp out of it before it gave up, so they’re not invincible but they handle the 600 horse range no worries apparently. This doesn’t have to be a Chevy or domestic vehicle, even some type of a super light import with a light V8 would be incredibly fun as well. An old light import with a LS would be amazing.
Yeah, it’s a lot of money but if you do it right you get a bullet proof street car. You just have to be very patient. Honestly, I worried about this build because I’ve built myself into a corner with this motor. It’s a 383 with 11:1 compression, it was just made to be as spunky as possible NA. Any regrets I had quickly went away as I scared the shit out myself just giving it part throttle in first a couple of nights ago. The old 350 did the 1/4 at 14.5 at 95 mph, the new motor will put the car in the 11s and past 120+ mph…so I’m actually a little nervous about the first WOT. I don’t have a desire to keep up with the Jones’, I know there’s always gonna be faster and flashier. The bike route actually seems affordable by comparison lol. As far as the scene goes some people just want to be cynical about other’s builds. I don’t do car meets or have a desire to. But you are right a lot of car people like to talk shit.
Word no rush on my part. I have cash on hand, looking to deal with a private party seller. My only car right now is an 09 Civic SI lol. It’s fun, but man Seattle traffic is wack. On top of that, having a girl with a kid, and you can fuckin forget about driving fast and furious. If I ever buy another stick shift, it will be a real project/performance whip. Tryna look at an 01 LS430 later this week.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Gran_Turismo_-Cover-North_America.jpg/256px-Gran_Turismo-Cover-_North_America.jpg
Copped an 01 LS430, crystal white for 6. Luxurious as fuck. Will see about getting a pic later. Ballin ass beater status.
Much more indepth look at the Regera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMmdl77VOxg
21:00 mark you get to see the hydraulic system open all the doors looks like a transformer, very cool.
lol the electric motor on this thing is nuts provides 500bhp, Koenigsegg says you can wheel spin at any speed between 0 and 280kph in the dry and rip the tyres apart :lol:
I got a little bored and decided to install a few small fire extinguishers inside the car. I’ve gotten into the habit of dragging out a big extinguisher to have on standby while running the car as it is now or even when sneaking it out on the street. So I figured having some extinguishers permanently apart of the interior would be a good piece of mind once the car was actually out and driving one day…which will probably be this summer but I probably jinxed myself. To allow for full manual seat travel, it was a tight fit but worked out. It’s oriented for easy quick access to remove the red safety pin and pop the strap on the mount to get out and use. I also mounted one in the rear storage compartment behind the driver seat. So now there’s a battery in the passenger side rear storage compartment and a backup extinguisher in the compartment behind the driver. This is slowly turning into a car to just have fun in, no luggage, no grocery getting and that suits me just fine.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj622/jamallhughes/photo%201%208_zpsumtxjxqd.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj622/jamallhughes/photo%204%204_zpsc3fwvthx.jpg
Last pic is me just being a complete cheese ball
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj622/jamallhughes/photo%203%205_zpsmw0sayzm.jpg
The ultimate end goal of this car was to also dabble in use of nitrous. I don’t smoke, so the plan was to use this space where the cigarette lighter was to install an arming switch, along with a remote bottle opener switch. I won’t be running power mirrors, so that empty space on the trim that says “mirrors” would end up being the button for the purge. I put together a kit through Nitrous Express while window shopping for everything ready-to-install, and it ended up being about $2500. So it’s not happening anytime soon.
So what again is the reason for performance and safety addition? You plan to track it? Regardless, you seem to really get into this car which is cool. Can’t wait tell you have it all done, would like to see pictures and video of it.
Not that I don’t trust my own abilities of putting a car together but it’s piece of mind. Last thing I want to see is the project go up in flames. No plans to track it, it’ll just be a nice street car. You don’t want to waste your time on pictures of this heap but I’m sure I can put together a walk around vid of the stuff I’ve had my hands in. I’ve done a lot but there is so much left to do, car is nowhere close to sorted out.
I carried around a fire extinguisher in my 88 supra. You never know with these old ass cars lol.
Got the old man whip. Wood on the dash status. A few minor things to fix, but otherwise ready to cruise. Got the tape deck, 6 cd changer, and ash trays for every passenger!
http://56.media.tumblr.com/43652f41ba996eea323dbe76b2e61a61/tumblr_o1c3s26Zth1ropjj1o1_1280.jpg
http://56.media.tumblr.com/4f10bb1470a78a644fda550977244a3e/tumblr_o1c3s26Zth1ropjj1o2_r1_1280.jpg
Kinda close to that pole breh
C5 dash conversion
For sure. Was sweatin like a muhfucka after I parked.
That “old man whip” is pretty nice. Just looking at it I bet it rides nice and smooth. My dad had a 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix and it rode so well, you never felt one bump or anything. My 2009 Accent hatchback feels like an ox cart over the smallest road imperfection. Any plans for the Lexus? That 6 disc CD changer though…I remember back in the early 90s being like, “Wait…so you DON’T have to change out the CD manually?..and this ‘changer’ is in the trunk and it switches to another CD?..oh shit!” Time is flying.
I hate them. I hit mine a few months ago after I came home from a few drinks. Actually finally going to the shop today to get it fixed.
Very smooth ride, and the finish of the interior is excellent. No rattles or anything when you close a door. My main ride being a civic SI is at the opposite end of the spectrum, and I can relate to what you are talking about. With my girl having legal custody of her nephew and me having to role play as a dad on certain weekends, I wanted something “easier” to drive.
Nothing planned for it now. I like how it is a throw back in a way. I mean ash trays are all over the place and a tape deck lol. All I can think of at the moment is maybe upgrading the stereo and GPS system. Not sure how much work that would be so I need to check out clublexus forums to see what’s up. In the meantime I will have to dig out my CD holder.
Agreed. I don’t know who designed our building, but every spot is compact sized. One time I came home pretty buzzed. The next morning I saw that I had parked diagonally, thankfully the person in the spot next to me was gone for the weekend and I barely missed the massive concrete pole.
Yeah I do, I also work on my own cars and don’t let the internet and weaboos tell me how good a car is or isnt. If you drive an S2K or an NSX they never live up to their mythical descriptions. They’re fine cars, but they’re overpriced beyond belief. Same thing with a Mk4 Supra (albeit it’s a better platform) is that they’re good on paper but what’s the point in paying that much when you have cheaper alternatives with similar output?