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patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/21/15 7:49 a.m.

i started buying and building challenge cars in 2005. i've yet to actually make it. things always happen or life gets in way.

find structural rot mid build(Z34)

blow out oil pan end seal and cook motor after swapping in manual trans(turbo grand prix)

sold a couple to fund house/wedding

sold when wife got pregnant(circle track 40 pickup)

traded for a t56 because i got ADD(92 sonoma)

and the WRX - sold without engine because PO hacked it too much to overcome under budget. pulled the v8 yesterday afternoon and it's ready to leave.

so i have no planned challenge car this year, again, and a green light to have at it, especially because my wife's brother is moving to orlando so it'd be an excuse for her to visit.

the only thing on my plate right now that's there on budget is a wrecked rendezvous that cost me $915 to buy back from the insurance company. and trying to make that low enough not to roll over on sticky tires and go faster than a 17 second quarter mile is not something i plan to do if it can even be repaired enough not to eat tires.

there is great temptation to save up some cash, buy something that's close to ready, and spend some time prepping/sorting and just take it, not caring about make/model as long as fun could be had. then see if anyone wanted to buy it down there or along the way home. i have a hard time selling cars and a very hard time buying cars that don't have a v8. was toying with just finding an LT1 camaro or bird, sticky tires, nitrous, done.

TL:DR not sure if there is any point here other than rambling and musing about my inherent lack of ability to actually get to florida in october.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce PowerDork
3/21/15 8:14 a.m.

I would (and am seriously considering) getting something simple and running in the $1000 range. Clean it, sort it, put on a set of tires and some interesting vinyl and drive on out with Deucekid #2. No motor swaps or rust fixing or anything huge. I should be able to peel the vinyl off and get my money out of it when done and have a grand old time.
And yes, I'm just rambling too.

sethmeister4
sethmeister4 Dork
3/21/15 8:17 a.m.

Do it! I'm finally going this year after years of talking about it...I guess as long as my motor swap goes well. . I say find whatever sounds cool, make it run, and come on down!

Smarta$$ McPoopyPants
Smarta$$ McPoopyPants MegaDork
3/21/15 8:57 a.m.

This year may be the year the hongtard twins return. We wrenched on the Festiva for the first time in YEARS last weekend.

Best of luck!

mndsm
mndsm MegaDork
3/21/15 9:00 a.m.

I see at least two people in this thread that need turbo mx6's.

JtspellS
JtspellS SuperDork
3/21/15 9:10 a.m.

Can the rendezvous run without major work? It seems just to get down there and having fun should be the goal at first, and then after getting the feel making something competitive, I know I've convinced my friend to help in finding a project just to see what it's going to take and was thinking of going that path.

And you never know how well it might do, I can put money on the fact you will stand out as well!

SVreX
SVreX MegaDork
3/21/15 9:23 a.m.

I've been pretty much every year since 2004.

That DOES NOT mean I always brought a car (although I brought 2 once).

I've rarely been competitive. Placed in the top 10 only twice. This year was the first time I got a trophy of any kind.

Just get there.

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog SuperDork
3/21/15 12:28 p.m.

As much as I want one of your V6s (after Easter, sadly), you could always follow my plan and plunk it into a Chevette. OR an early Cavalier (Cimarron!), Citation, etc.

Or just start searching CL for anything between $100 and $700. Guarantee you find something within an hour that way!

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/21/15 2:43 p.m.

well the 2004 3400 has your name on it.

i am going to attempt to fix the rendezvous for winter driver, as my dad wishes to buy my roadmonster, presumably so he can have a sedan to go with his woody wagon. or because he knows just how bulletproof a 350tbi/late 700r4 is when it's in a car that doesn't tow anything or turn any real rpm on the highway.

i think in a couple months i shall start looking for something that checks boxes of fun, decently quick, and handles nice and just pick something of that up and bring it down. a v6 5 speed fiero checks those boxes for me, as does a 5 speed 4.3 boxy s10(plus drop and zq8 sway bars, just like the 92 sonoma i got rid of, duh), etc...

drummerfromdefleopard
drummerfromdefleopard GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
3/21/15 3:19 p.m.

I have a spare BG chassis, though the drive train and rear subframe needs to be removed (I have another rear subframe for it)

moparman76_69
moparman76_69 UltraDork
3/21/15 3:53 p.m.

I've got a Daytona I'll sell you...

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 UltimaDork
3/21/15 4:35 p.m.

Though I had attended for a few years in a row helping Aussie Steve, this year was my first year fielding my own car.
I see The Challenge as a combination of "built right" and "bought right". Clearly, the Infiniti Q45 was all about the "bought right" side of the equation. With that said, I will be back again next year likely skewed heavily to the "bought right" side of the equation and I expect again that I will have the time of my life.

I find this sentance pretty humorous...

patgizz wrote: or because he knows just how bulletproof a 350tbi/late 700r4 is when it's in a car that doesn't tow anything or turn any real rpm on the highway.

...considering that I stumbled onto this today.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4926840964.html

The reality is that I will likely not find the time right now to track this seller down so I'll turn the idea over to you. Since it is close to both of use, we could team up on the project.
Of course, this all depends on the extent of the issues and general condition of the car not reviled in the pictures. And, the purchase price.
I'm dead serious when I say I'll team up. Heck, I'll even front all the cash.
Cash I have. Time I'm short on.

If you are more of a purist, this shape warms my heart:
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/4941934505.html

Another option:
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4942322699.html
Claims it won't shift over 3rd gear. Heck, if towed to the event, I think I could complete the drag passes without 4th gear and I dont even need 3rd for the autox. There are manual trans options. I might be able to get the the trans from last years car.

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog SuperDork
3/21/15 4:38 p.m.

If you want an S-10 just find one with a bad 2.8 (easy), a T5, and no rust (hard) to swap the 3400 into. Find a 94-95 4cyl/5spd. bell housing and it should bolt right in.

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 UltimaDork
3/21/15 5:45 p.m.

Confession: I have written an email to the Q45 seller.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/21/15 5:58 p.m.

i saw the Q earlier and almost emailed you the link.

i'm in the same boat. i have cash for the right car, but time is now at a premium with 2nd kid, have to wrap up the repairs to the rental house now that someone is living in it, and there are other vehicles way more important to me that deserve the time. i got sidetracked with the WRX last year and could have easily had the chevelle engine replaced in that time. i did get every $ i had into the wrx back at sale plus have a really great 350 sitting here from it now, so if i could find something that has a bad small block it would only take half a day of playing around and it would be back. i'm willing to spend a few days sorting, but just don't have the time to squeeze every last minute and recoup every last penny to build the proper car this year, or probably for the next several. something that checks the fun boxes, and forget about making that big splash.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/22/15 10:25 a.m.

here's an example of the crap i usually fall for

and this is closer to what i should be looking at

something that a nice warm 350 that i have about $100 into could be stabbed into and finished in a weekend, and that the used circle track parts market would work with. and big fat 15's. FAT.

sethmeister4
sethmeister4 Dork
3/22/15 3:37 p.m.

That q45 is awesome...just sayin...

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/22/15 4:43 p.m.

Car or not, come for the party.

kazoospec
kazoospec Dork
3/22/15 4:46 p.m.

Shared this little gem in the classified ads.

http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/4935965116.html

Of course its a bad idea, but that's what makes it so awesome.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/22/15 4:48 p.m.
kazoospec wrote: Shared this little gem in the classified ads. http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/4935965116.html Of course its a bad idea, but that's what makes it so awesome.

Yeah, someone needs to bring that.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/22/15 5:24 p.m.

2 door boxy blazer would work too.

i've never actually seen a bradley running, they're always sitting in the grass somewhere.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce PowerDork
3/22/15 6:05 p.m.

Did anyone ever race a Bradley? Could you vintage race one? Why do I want one?

turboswede
turboswede GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/22/15 6:33 p.m.
mazdeuce wrote: Did anyone ever race a Bradley? Could you vintage race one? Why do I want one?

Are any actually running?

They are just VW bugs, so you have that going for you and against you.

oldopelguy
oldopelguy SuperDork
3/22/15 8:13 p.m.

Wasn't the rendezvous AWD? Seems like that drivetrain under the body of something like a cadavalier with flares to make up for the width and you would have something.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/22/15 8:30 p.m.

nah just FWD. i have impure thoughts about a 4x4 rendezvous utilizing a trailblazer chassis/drivetrain. but that's the kind of stupid crap i get myself into that i'm trying to keep myself out of. i get nuts and don't mess with sane combos most of the time. see carbed 350 rwd WRX. or 40 pickup on circle track tube chassis. or RWD converted w-body grand prix with IRS. the 5.3 LS swap in my impala was tame for some of the stuff i've had pass through my garage. changing the 350 out in the chevelle to a 454 is downright mundane. i have to prod myself through the easy stuff because i think i crave the challenge of doing something that there is no internet instruction manual for.

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