Keeping track of my "Island of Misfit Toys" (DSM, Turbo Mopar, B6T, LS1 F-Body and more)

I seem to have a real problem. I “identify” as someone who has a large piece of property with a pole barn and lots of space to accumulate broken/junk/project cars, when in reality I have only my suburban homes driveway and a 3 car garage to collect them. I grew up with my parents having more cars than drivers at their house, so having only one car has always been a foreign concept to me. However, it’s gotten real out of hand in the last 2-3 years.

The name “Island of Misfit Toys” originated in a thread I made here a couple years ago where I posted a picture of a DSM and Turbo Mopar next to each other, which prompted someone to comment that I had an Island of Misfit Toys and an understanding significant other. For the record, that SO is probably ready to put a pillow over my face if I bring home another car.

I’ve now run out of “manageable” parking space. I could (and probably would happily) bring home more, but at this point it would necessitate daily rounds of automotive musical chairs to get regularly driven vehicles out for mine and as well as my GF’s inconsistent schedules which usually don’t overlap. She’ll probably also leave me if I bring home one more…

I’ve made a goal to get them all at least moving and stopping under their own power by the end of this summer, and to have two of them leave “project” status enough for me to say they’re done. Maybe updating this will keep me motivated to meet them…

Here's the current "project fleet" in order of newest to oldest:

2000 Chevy Camaro Z28 (LS1/Automatic)
1994 Dodge Dakota (5.2 V8/Auto)
1993 Mercury Capri XR2
1993 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (Manual)
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T
1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (Manual)
BONUS: A complete drivetrain from a 1994 Mercury Capri XR2

Once I dig up some good pictures, I'll make a post with some details and back story for each one.

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We can start with this thing.

2000 Chevy Camaro Z28 (LS1/Automatic)

Current status: Runs and drives, but needs work

Short description: Recently bought cheap to fix up and let my GF use as a DD in the summer to take some strain off of her all year DD which seems to be living on borrowed time

Needs/Issues: Radiator/coolant flush, window motor, exhaust, a tune up and some TLC

Long term: Maybe install some long tube headers, exhaust, LS6 intake and some suspension goodies and get a tune

I love catch all thread. 

In for DSM pics. 

Next up is this pig.

1994 Dodge Dakota (5.2/Automatic/RWD)

Current status: Runs and drives, but needs work

Short description: Bought this for cheap a few years ago to use for pick up truck stuff. It was originally a 3.9 V6, but a trans issue evolved into me swapping in the engine/trans from a V8 example a couple years ago. It has since gained a set of Doug Thorley headers, custom 3” exhaust and Mopar Performance PCM. Since it’s an auto, for the past couple of summers it occupied the GF’s summer DD job that the Camaro is taking over. She drives this thing like she’s filming a Fast and Furious movie, and loves doing burnouts in it (has a 3.55 rear with whatever Chrysler calls both wheels leaving patches).

Needs/issues: Most suspension parts are badly overdue for replacement, has one rusted through body mount perch causing an unbearable vibration at idle, exhaust and every fluid other than brake leaks somewhere, had some really bad rust repair done by a PO that is coming undone and it’s WAY thirstier than you’d expect (like 10/11MPG average - likely from a header collector leak right next to the O2 sensor)

Long term: Fix issues and continue using it to haul stuff and do burnouts. I also have a ported throttle body and a complete 5.9 Magnum motor which could be incorporated at some point.

Longer term: Swap entire recently refreshed drivetrain into a much cleaner and preferably extended cab Dakota shell

Then this thing...

1993 Mercury Capri XR2

Current status: Immobile

Short description: Got this thing for $500 in rough shape, mostly because I already had a lot of parts laying around from a Capri XR2 that I had recently parted out. Was advertised as needing a trans soon, but ran and drove. I installed a new waterpump, timing belt and alternator, ditched a bunch of stuff like AC and cruise under the hood, and installed seats and door panels from a mint XR2 found in a nearby U-Pull place. I then set out to drive it…

Needs: Turns out it did need a trans. I went about 9 miles and on a 2nd to 3rd shift the diff tried to leave the trans case. Made it home and has been in the garage ever since. Also needs stuff like shifter bushings and soft brakes addressed. It also has no radio.

Long term: Since it’s been parked, aside from a replacement trans that I already had, I’ve accumulated a ton of stuff to get this thing back on the road: A new clutch, top and complete suspension/brakes (both nearly new) from an XR2 that was recently parted nearby, shifter bushings, and a whole host of other crap that’s been piled up in the trunk and back seat. I also have a sizeable collection of Probe and T-bird IHI turbo junk to make a nice “hybrid” turbo, as well as a bunch of spare intercoolers and plumbing that are likely to end up on the car somehow.

Here's the first DSM...

1993 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (Manual)

Current status: Sort of in storage, but would likely run and drive OK. See the last pic...

Short description: Hard to keep short, but here goes. This was my first car, purchased in April 2003. Way back in 2004 and 2005 (when automatic turbo DSM’s were as uncool as 420A DSM’s), the car went through an auto to manual swap, (blown) 7bolt to (completely rebuilt) 6bolt swap, and a major refresh that included a complete interior swap that eradicated the original “porno red”, new clutch, radiator, all new brake/suspension parts, motor mounts, etc. etc. etc. Since then, I’ve lost count on how many alternators, ECU’s and turbo’s the car has gone through. It received minor refreshes around 2010 and 2014 before it’s sat since summer 2017. It would always usually get some attention in the summers where it used to make annual trips to the DSM Shootout. It’s never really been modified past lowering springs, a 16G turbo and full exhaust. From sitting outside broken for so many different lengthy stretches, the clear coat fade on the hood got so bad that I grabbed an ugly junkyard hood and painted with chalkboard point. When I used to go to the DSM Shootout, this was a huge hit with attendees partying at the hotel, especially if they enjoy drawing male genitalia.

Needs: A lot. It’s basically due for the same type of refresh it got 15 years ago, and then some. The body has lots of clear coat fade and some rust forming, the trans unsurprisingly grinds 2nd gear, it leaks lots of oil and has a good bit of blow by, has a bunch of electrical issues, the engine bay is filthy, the engine wiring harness has broken/disconnected wires, the stock intercooler is pitted and full of pin hole leaks and the suspension is tired.

Long term: This one is probably shelved until the other smaller projects are in order. I’d like to pull the drivetrain and rebuild the motor, install a new clutch, maybe get the trans rebuilt while guys are still doing that, and extensively clean the engine bay. I’d also like to freshen up the suspension/brakes.

Longer term: I’d really like to “rip off the band aid” on making power with a DSM. I have a TD05 20G turbo laying around and I’ve always wanted to make it into a somewhat quick and reliable DSM on a stock frame turbo. I’d need to go out and get a set of cams, DSMLink, a front mount intercooler and a decent trans/clutch. It’s been my goal since I bought it, but the car frequently breaking, acquiring other cars and life has always gotten in the way.

Next is the turbo Mopar content...

1991 Dodge Spirit R/T

Current status: Runs and drives pretty well, but has issues that need to be sorted

Short description: A buddy of mine came into this and wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep it. I had to have it if he didn’t keep it and that’s how it worked out. When he got it, the car had been disassembled and suspected to have a blown headgasket. The car was loaded with boxes of parts that were either spares or removed from this car or other cars. I lightning rounded the puzzle of putting it together and replacing missing parts in time to make SDAC in 2017, which was practically in my backyard. It made one event, and that’s where the blown HG was confirmed. I did the same last spring, this time actually replacing the HG, and it made it all the way to Cincinnati for SDAC last summer… where it sheared the teeth off of its oil pump intermediate shaft and was fixed in the hotel parking lot.

Needs: The turbo needs to be replaced. The wastegate is rusted shut and oil is leaking past the seals and being burnt. 3rd and 4th gear grinds on the trans, it has a nasty clunk in the front end (I’m suspecting it sat on jack stands for a very long time while taken apart and needs strut mounts), the PPO’s custom made 3” straight pipe is hitting the rear spring and it has some minor leaks here and there. I also need to address some shortcuts made to get the car to SDAC at the last minute, like a zip tied in radiator where it lacks the stock intercooler, and a melting pop bottle acting as a coolant overflow.

Long term: Fix all the issues, maybe add some injectors and an ECU calibration and enjoy and preserve what is probably the nicest car in my fleet.

The other DSM...

1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (Manual)

Current status: Immobile, and not actually at my house

Short description: This was actually my Dad’s car. When I got the 1993 Talon above, this one went up for sale in my parents subdivision for really cheap a week later. My Dad ended up picking it up and I had the awesome distinction in high school as the guy who’s Dad was also into DSM’s. Despite this not being my car at the time, I did more of my HS driving in this car as mine was always broken. I think my Dad’s plan was always to restore it, but me having to use (and unfortunately abuse) it in my teen years always put the project on hold after the car was made roadworthy. Once I graduated my Dad rebuilt the motor and set off to finish restoring it. However, some setbacks with the rebuild, and a desire to get into a project car more appropriate for a middle aged man (a ’66 Thunderbird), put it on the backburner indefinitely. It hasn’t done any meaningful driving since early in 2007 and has been just been pushed in and out of his garage from time to time since then. He wants me to take it.

Needs: Not completely sure. In the break in after the rebuild, the car went through about 3.5 quarts of oil in around 120 miles. Before it was shelved a new turbo and head didn’t sold the issue, so it has to be something in the bottom end, likely rings. I guess the car also blew a brake line at some point when my Dad was moving it out of the garage. It was rusty when I drove it back in 2004/05, so I’m sure it isn’t any better after sitting outside for a few years (albeit under a cover)

Long term: Not really sure. I could at least get it roadworthy and not burning oil and relive my senior year of HS, or do some his and hers tandem with my GF. Or maybe just part it out and use it for spares for my other DSM, or put them motor in something else.

BONUS – The complete drivetrain, engine harness and ECU from a 1994 Capri XR2

Current status: sitting in my garage

Short description: I pulled this out of an ultra rare 1994 Capri XR2 that I parted because it was too rotted out to save. I saved it because I’m told it belongs in a Festiva

Needs: Other than a Festiva to call home, the bottom end might need rebuilt. The PO of the 94 toasted the headgasket and no joke, it looks like they replaced the entire cooling system with that “Stop Leak” junk, which turned to some chalk like substance and seized the bottom end. Will also need a trans, since that’s been donated to the previously mentioned Capri.

Long term: Someday it will go in a Festiva

Sounds like truck first. All the rest are going to need a truck foing truck stuff. 

And while youre rebuilding the suspension, 3/4 drop needs done. For safety of course.....

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

The nice thing with the Dakota is that even with it's issues, it's always ready and willing to do it's truck duties. It's needs are probably going to go on the back burner so I can get non-moving vehicles moving.

As for lowering, I think the most I might get into is modifying for a set of 97+ lowering leafs to level it out a bit more with the V6 coils that are still installed up front.

UPDATES:

Still working on getting the Camaro roadworthy so my GF can daily it, but the new radiator that came in from RockAuto derailed my progress:

I also did myself no favors by adding another "project?" to the mix:

1997 Geo Prizm "Poor Man's Harlequin?"

1.8L/C52 5speed, has been pretty well gutted (No carpet, driver airbag, AC, PS, etc.), some cheap coilovers, Storm GSI wheels, front strut bar, intake, header, full exhaust and set of 2000-06 Celica GT-S seats custom installed.

It obviously came in at well under challenge price. Needs a battery, some tires, a lot of sticker removal and some TLC. It burns a ton of oil and leaks trans fluid too. Multiple accidents are to explain for it's wannabe harlequin look, which actually includes a cool color in Polynesian Green, and a couple of rare 1 year option colors in Canyon Red and Apricot Ice... Don't ask me how I know those names... Otherwise it drives around fine and made an hour long trip home without issue. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with it... My GF absolutely despises it.

Here it is under a local dealers Chevy/Geo sign that has somehow survived since at least 1997, and at a local Cars and Coffee with my buddies AE92 Corolla GT-S.

That Harlequin Geo is amazing, and that 1.8 7A-FE can take 4A-GE mods- though you likely know all about that. Subaru TD04 turbo's stick to them like glue and work well with the displacement, and several MR2 groups on Facebook even have charts for what to do for what power level.

Had to say what I would do first, TBH. The Camaro can be finished in an afternoon so 'whatever', but the truck and the Shadow both need welding and in-depth work. Hard to say.

GIRTHQUAKE said:

That Harlequin Geo is amazing, and that 1.8 7A-FE can take 4A-GE mods- though you likely know all about that. Subaru TD04 turbo's stick to them like glue and work well with the displacement, and several MR2 groups on Facebook even have charts for what to do for what power level.

Had to say what I would do first, TBH. The Camaro can be finished in an afternoon so 'whatever', but the truck and the Shadow both need welding and in-depth work. Hard to say.

Still not sure yet what I'm going to do with the "Poor Man's Harlequin"... I'm suspecting the 7AFE needs rings, so if it's ever to make more power, that'll probably need to be addressed first. I kind of like the idea of swapping in a 20V 4AGE someday, but not sure this particular chassis is worth the investment lol... After living with it for a 3 weeks or so (which has mostly consisted of jumping the dead battery and moving it around my property when I play "Musical Cars" to get a different vehicle out), it needs a thorough going through. I think all but one of its tires lose air pretty quickly, it has a nasty clunk in the front when you turn the unassisted wheel, it's leaving puddles of trans fluid that contain metal shavings, the shift linkage really doesn't like to go in first, it has some bad tint that inhibits rearward visibility, the custom mounted Celica seat on the drivers side causes the floor to flex and make annoying clunking sounds, has some electrical gremlins that are no doubt contributing to it's bad battery, and its carpetless floor is missing plugs that need to be addressed before the car becomes a home to mice and yellow jackets.... For now it's an ornamental conversation piece.

Shadow?!? Did I buy another car and forget about it? J/K, I'm guessing you're referring to the Spirit. The Spirit doesn't need any welding, just the mounts that attach the strut to the towers up front.

As for the Dakota, it's been brought out of hibernation and has performed some of it's truck duties without issue. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but the vibration that seemed to be caused by the rotted cab mount hasn't been present. Otherwise, it pulled to the right just a tad, went 133 miles on a fill up, and a trans leak from new trans lines with quick connects that refuse to connect to the bottom of the radiator properly is getting more prevalent and annoying.

As for progress made, the Camaro is pretty much done.

Replaced the water pump, thermostat, radiator and cap, but had some issues that made me think it might've had a blown head gasket. After thinking I had purged the system of air properly, I kept getting coolant boiling out of the reservoir. At the same time, an open oilcap and/or dipstick would emit a notably visible amount of steam while the car was idling. For the boiling, turns out I had a nasty clog in the heater core and likely hadn't purged the system of all air since I wasn't opening the "steam line" on the engine while filling the coolant like most LS guys recommend. Cleaned out the system again and bled with the line open and haven't had a boil over since. PLEASE DON'T EVER USE THAT HEADGASKET LEAK STOP CRAP. I'm STILL seeing floating glitter after multiple flushes of the system... For the steam, I discovered that the hose for the PCV system was disintegrated in multiple places. Replaced the hose, which runs behind the intake manifold and under the cowl and was an absolute blast to do, and steam no longer emits from an open oil cap or dipstick. Just to be safe, I ran a hydrocarbon test on the coolant and the fluid stayed blue.

I still need to install the drivers window motor/regulator and button the door back up, but I've been daily driving it this week to make sure it's 100% to turn over to SWMBO for her summer DD duties. I'm kind of jealous, because it's a much nicer car to live with than you'd expect. I think I'd still prefer a T56, but with an auto it's still fun to drive. It sure would be nice if it would stop raining here in SE MI so could take the tops out though... I'm curious to see how it does on gas at the end of the week. It hums along at 1-1.5K RPM's cruising on my commute. My GF wasn't thrilled when she learned it should run on premium, although that's probably her having a nasty flashback of DDing the Dakota last summer which got about 11/12MPG on premium, which is a requirement due to the Mopar PCM. I think if it cracks over 20, she'll be fine with it. Then again, the way she drives this thing is downright scary, so it might not do as great.

A while back, I picked up a used set of 96-99 17" SS wheels for it since they've always been my favorite wheels on these cars. I had some rubber put on them yesterday and installed them after work. I love the look of it now.

All told, after looking at what these sell for around here, my total investment of somewhere around $3000-3500 and couple weekends of work seems like a bargain to get a good running/driving LS1 F-body with a good condition and (for the most part) functional interior. 

Next up will be to go through the car's suspension and brakes, give it a good detail, maybe a set of new plugs/wires and replace the not so great sounding front speakers. Here's how it looks as of today:

Not sure what I'm going to work on next. If I decide I want to take the Spirit to SDAC in a few weeks, I'll give that the attention it needs and then get to the Capri. If not, I'll put the Spirit on the back burner and start tearing into the Capri since having the T-tops out of the Camaro has given me an appreciate for open top driving...

How did you "un-clog" your heater core? My 98 was not putting out much heat last winter, previously it had been a blast furnace.

Thats my favorite PCM in Dakotas, I got one stashed away for future project. 

In reply to Agent98 :

We did this while changing the radiator. Ran some Blue Devil flush through the system and let motor run to temp (and boil) a few times over the previous couple weeks. With the motor still kind of warm, we drained and removed the radiator and it's hoses. Then we disconnected the heater core lines from the WP and ran the hose through them. For a little while, running water through both lines produced little flow through the other line. Eventually, a glittery dark orange clump probably made of stop leak and the gunk produced when Dexcool meets air came shooting out of one of the lines. That was followed by a much more consistent albeit dirty stream of water. We continued running water through both lines until it came out clear.

This car also had no and/or weak heat, but I think it was from an air pocket, since it improved slightly at higher RPM's.

In reply to Professor_Brap :

I like it too. While I planned my V8 swap maybe 3/4 years ago it was at the top of my wish list, but they started to appear as out of stock everywhere they were sold new like Jegs/Summit/etc. and I started watching for them on eBay and Facebook groups. Grabbed a couple for cheap/reasonable prices, because in both instances the sellers weren't sure if they were actual Mopar Perf. units, or a stock PCM that got put in the box for the Perf, unit after someone installed one decades ago...

Struggled for a while to find a way to identify if they truly were the perf. parts. Most suggested I pony up for a DRB or find someone that has one for OBD1 to scan it to see. I figured if I just installed it, some placebo affect would make me think it was if it wasn't, and I still wouldn't be sure. It was also hard to find info other than a generic description about what actually changes, and warnings about using 91+ and not towing. Eventually I found some super old forum post somewhere that mentioned the rev limiter increase to 6K RPMs. A buddy and I topped the truck off with 93 and drove it to back of an abandoned Kmart. Floored in neutral with the stock PCM and it hit some slow bouncing rev limiter at 5500. Did a burnout and then swapped in one of the supposed Perf units. Rev limiter hit a fast bouncing 6K and then the truck did a much nicer burnout. Still need to check the 2nd unit.

In reply to shelbyz :

I got a known good Mopar performance, and one I reflashed, I need to see if it matches. 

Forgot that I made this here... Since I'm stuck at home, I might as well update.

The reason for lack of update is probably because I unfortunately haven't gotten any of my project cars "done" since last Spring. I ran into some health issues for most of July, had a whole bunch of wedding and family related stuff through August, September and October, and then helped my GF search for and buy her next DD (a 2008 Escalade). With what little time I had to wrench before I pack up my unheated garage and go into my usual winter hibernation, I spent it giving my DD Honda Fit some overdue love and tried to get my GF's previous two daily drivers (a Ford Escape and Jeep Patriot) sale-worthy so I can get them out of my driveway.

Working on uploading/re-sizing some pics to include on updates to a couple of cars.