First (possible) Challenge build thread

Stampie (FS) said:

In reply to 03Panther :

I sent you a PM.

I’ll list the junker projects here, so everyone can see em! You do get first dibs! - I’ve enjoyed your style this past year ... or lack there in!!

Will part out any of the following "stuff" if I can find two or three different folks that want different stuff of 'em. I cant let y'all negotiate with the financial manager... she would pay you to come get 'em off her front lawn!!!

Best Value Project:

97 Firebird Formula T-top LT1 350 W/6 spd. MT.  Black on black. Car is 100% original. Even has the original OptiSpark!! Ok, 99.998 - aftermarket stereo. High end from 2004. Original owner still has title in her name. She bought it new, and put 172K trouble free miles on it. Was never a cream puff, but never abused either. Needed a thermostat replaced every couple years (never did figure that one out!) Spark plugs, oil changes and tires. One Alt., and I put a fuel pump in it after it sat in woods for several years. Need interior put back in, (it cleaned up very nice), a windshield and all the parking lot dings... a couple are pretty severe - have good parts already removed from parts car.

98 Firebird shell. former V6 AT. Gave most of its parts to restore a different 'Bird. The body panels left happened to be the sides I needed! Fate! Left fron fender gone; I needed the right. right headlight assy. gone... I needed the left. Etc. It cost more in gas to go from N. Central Al up to central TN and back to get it, and then to Lower AL, than I paid for it! Death cart, anyone?

Best combo  deal:

2000 Blazer 4X4 with 2H, 4H, 4L or electric automatic AWD. All dash buttons and servo's still working, despite high miles.  Was still being DD'd till engine developed a knock. Sounds like a rod to me. Blue ext. and black leather interior. looks good despite high miles. Door hinges sag; pin kit may do it... or maybe not. Pass. front door mising door panel.

AND...

98 AWD Astro Factory conversion. Not raise roof or panel van with conversion windows. Factory windows with leather cushy captians chairs. Dont know it rear bench folds out for bed, or just flat for ??? (all factory benches fold fwd) Supposably only needs a fuel pump, and tank is out. he broke the plastic on the first pump he bought, putting the tank back in. Bought a nother pump... broke that nipple putting tank back in - tank is still out. thats how I bought it, and have not touched it since.

Put the transfer case in astro (why I got it - astro's dont have a low range) or put the astro engine in the Blazer. Either is a good option, but my wife is not going to ride in either one!

and / or

99 astro RWD with beefed up trans... need a head gasket. Still runs ok, but white smoke in exhaust. I did the intake, but was disapointed that no evidence of leaking. Upon assembly, still white smoke! Def. a head gasket. Life changed, no longer needed and has sat waiting for me to get a round tuit!

Also, I have a 06 Magnum Wagon with the tiny 2.7 V6. Another one with white smoke out the exh. But with the Aluminum block and head, I doubt a simple head gasket will do the job. Life changed, yada yada... never did pull the heads to see.

Minor damage to both front corners form 2 different deer. I bought it after po hit a deer, banged out the fender and door edge, taped the headlight and motored on... I put new aftermarket projection lights in, and was loving the car, looking for a cheap fender and drivers door. Cleaned up the interior, and had long term plans. A deer got the right front nose/fender this time. A month later the minor cut in rad hose took the car off the road! The temp. gauge never climbed (I think water level was below sensor) and I noticed it had overheated on interstate... when it got so hot it would not drive any more! Cooled off while i hitchiked to town for hose and coolant. Fired it up and it drove fine, with LOTS of white smoke!

Ill keep the front seats and send it to the scrap yard if nobody wants anything off it.

And the 2.7 Dodge/Chrysler had oiling problems with was in the earlier FWD cars. Same engine, but the updates fixed that problem. I wont tell ya its fast, but the folks that swear its so slow its dangerous in traffic, have never driven anything slow!!! Its actually quite peppy considering the weight, and got 27 mpg on the hwy.

A 2001 26 foot (23 foot box) tag along camper. needs MAJOR cleaning and minor repairs, and a 36" tripple slide 5th wheel needs MAJOR work, and major cleaning. Only reason its not a float bed yet, is I have too much junk in it.

A industrial floor model mortising machine from my father in laws wood shop. His business (Harris and Shrader) built most of Homestead, but they found out years ago that it was cheaper to hire a cabinet builder than do them selves. Him and his partner could throw some block, though!

A well built wood lathe from the same shop. I think its about 80" long. at least a 4' center to center. 10" swing or so... id have to check this weekend, if I don't work again.

Oh, and I have a 99 freightliner FL50 Cabriolet Sportliner .., doesn’t look as good as that anymore, but I don’t want 30K for it either!

Aluminum western hauler bed with questionable mounting did not hold up to my use!

$7500. Mechanicals all in good shape. Only has around 140k on it... I’ve had it since 99k miles. And since that’s when it started needing stuff beside oil changes and fuel filters, I know it intimately!!!!

and I’m extremely negotiable in next couple days to anyone that will help me get $900 to go get this package deal....

For last 3 years I’ve pland on putting a few hundred an a lot of elbow grease in the FL 50, and asking ‘bout $10-12k for it, but wife is as tired of looking at it as she is the rest of the junk... er... projects!

I may have hesitated too long, due to the 2nd car part of the deal, but prolly going to a better home!

anyone want to help me “build”an Astro AWD for Radwood?  Legitimate starting budget of $300, and I have a fuel pump... replaced as bad on other van, but turned out not to be. Left aftermarket one in, rather than drop tank again. If any interest I can get it running, and find out “true” condition before we start turning into a challenge build. 

Do you have more pictures of the FL50? What does it need to drive it to Pennsylvania?

Don49 (Forum Supporter) said:

Do you have more pictures of the FL50? What does it need to drive it to Pennsylvania?

Batteries. And fortitude.

Batteries. And fortitude.

In reply to Don49 (Forum Supporter) :

I’ll post some pictures as soon as I get to my computer. 

Finally a break ot work!

FL50 Cabriolet Sportliner needs a lot more explanation; and then get som pics from my phone loaded. Bought with only 99K miles. Cat 3126B (7 litter, or 442ci) 275hp/800tq, with HP Oil injectors. Allison 3060 World Class 6 speed. Cruse Control, and exhaust brake (inadvertently called a Jake Brake ala big rigs, by light duty truck owners!) Looked brand new. Obviously never abused or worked hard. Problems started almost right away, cause the only maintenance that had been done was simple oil change! $8000 in repairs later doing most of the work myself over two years towing a light camper around, and it finally ran as well as dealer told us it did. Also added FASS (air dog) pre pump and filter. All new metal fuel lines and added a dual tank switch, instead of drawing from both tanks at the same time. Allison now has new filters and complete swap to TransSyn fluid. New water pump (didn't get core in in time, so have that around somewhere... core charge was as much as pump!) and new power steering pump. And new Alt.

Rear air ride suspension, air ride cab, air ride seats, and 22K lb air ride RV hitch. Yes, it floats well down the road!

Medium duty trucks use the same air ride seats from the factory as the big rigs, but the cab floor raises more, so your head hits the ceiling if you put enough air in to not bottom out. Cabriolet, although a VERY expensive conversion, cut a lot of corners during construction, as I found as I worked on it. Extended part is fastened well, but is just added by cutting a hole in back, about 4" smaller than the back, and bending a piece of sheetmetal (not painted) into a 3x3x3 channel, and setting it over the the hole in the factory cab, and their "sleeper." Up the sides and along the ceiling. And covering with interior. Not in the way on the sides, and be hard to do better in the ceiling, although it is in the way, but created a raised step in the floor, to step down to the "sleeper" floor (single piece of sheetmetal... not painted or protected in any way.) I cut that ridge step and cab floor out, and replaced with (painted) metal, so it's flat from where cab floor first raises all the way to back! And painted Cabriolet's floor as well. covered with insulation board and plywood. Have not repaired/replaced existing interior yet. A LOT of work for something 90% of the planet would never know was better! Seat mounts are now on a flat floor, and 4" lower, so they can be used as air ride!

Aluminum Western Hauler Bed Cracked along back top seam. We welded it up a few times, but kept getting worse. Replaced amd unbound rubber mounts, but still cracked. From sagging, it drug on a parking lot curb... real bad now. We have figured out how to fix it perm., but I don't have access to a welder for aluminum here, nor a guy to to run it! Will prolly have that addressd by summer.

Needs two new batteries, but I have cores, and can "borrow" two from my motorhome to drive it.

Steer tires are OK - 245/75R22.5 - regroveable. And two drive tires (drive tread not acceptable on steer axle) are almost new (and regroveable.) Need two more tires on rear. I would put new steer tires on front, and move existing front to rear - some cupping starting. Alignment checks fine, as well as suspension and steering, but slight cupping. Noticed yesterday one of the bald tires is separating for sitting.

Needs wire run to dual fuel switch, an a screen filter at each tank... before switch. Switch ports are small enough some trash from a bad station plugged it one time. Has the 30 micron air and water separator filter on air dog (FASS) pump (electric). Will prime fuel system as soon as you turn key on, and would supply HPOP if mechanical pump failed. 20 micron filter after that pump, on same housing. Goes to factory mechanical lift pump. Will run run with mechanical pump only , if electric pump fails. Factory post pump filter is a 2 micron. But I was still on the side of the road, getting diesel on my decent pants, cleaning the port in the switch!!!

Whats it need to drive to PA? or California? Two batteries (one would start it if warm.) A tire - two would be best plan! And an adventurous car guy. I would do it, even being an old fuddy duddy these days!!!

What would it take to be comfortable? Or for my wife to do it?

Two tires.

Two batteries

Find AC leak and charge system. I think leak is in 12 foot long line to rear AC unit. But worked with a  charge in the spring.

Both doors need some adjustments to open and shut better, and seal when shut. Both electric windows need adjustment/attention to keep air/rain out while moving!

Drivers seat has been reassembled with passenger upholstery (cleaner) and partially installed. I can bolt that in better.

Carpet mat and carpet cut out and installed.

Passenger seat upholstry washed and re assembled.

Set up a filter screen at each tank. I have non matching stuff for that!

To be pretty again?

Fix or replace the bed (make a steel one!)

Paint . Either a little and a lot of buffing, or a paint/wrap job!

Redo entire interior.

Buff out wheel simulators (stainless) and reinstall.     Speaking of that... if ya want the "lug nut wrench" I could include the 4:1 multiplier I bought to remove and install the 400 ft/lb Lug Nuts. But ya prolly want to call a roadside repair company if ya got to that point. I had 7 hrs in one side for a rear brake job one time in a campground... Just getting the two wheels off and back on. More time for the emergency brake repair! But I got it done, and did not have the money to pay anyone!

Other pictures did not load, so I’ll throw this on now  

How long is that rear deck?  I've thought one of those would make a great hauler with a car on back.

Existing is 8'

Will fit in the same parking space as a 4 dr dually truck! And will get in /out easier.  Has great visibility. And can open the door and step down without my gut having to squeese in while not scratching the guy parked next to ya!!! Wide part of door is above almost all other cars and trucks you might park next to.

I have a bike I want... he might throw some cash in with, and drade for this, but is not sure how to get the cash...

even though it did not sell in time to get the "other" deal, I'm still  very negotiable... until that bike sells. For a sure deal, he would hold the bike for me.

The electric fold out couch for the "sleeper" part is still in Linden TN... I could drive it there for a look see for the PA gentleman if he is serious... Insurance and updated tags will cost me a fortune just for the curious.

Stampie, I can get her cleaned up enough you can stay in it during the Challenge this year! Porta potty, microwave, cooler and a generator! My mate's shop in TN will stretch the wheel base for us dirt cheap, but the rear axle weight rating is high enough to not mind the overhang. He also offered to do that... to haul a car for me!