Don't want to be accused of sneaking in an ad, if so, pull this post, but while looking through CL, I found this. Whoever did the body work and shot the paint, is amazing. Thought you guys might appreciate it, too.
Here's the link:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/fct/ctd/2033824500.html
TJ
SuperDork
10/31/10 7:29 a.m.
Valiant effort, but I'm not sure if it's the best ever.
Yeah, it's shiny, but you really can't judge it until you're face to face with it.
Looks like it spent some time in the hyperbolic paint booth.
MPG 19/27? I thought that was No/18.
~Alex
Can a 318 bolt up to that transmission?
Dan
pres589
HalfDork
10/31/10 9:32 a.m.
In reply to 914Driver:
Assuming it's all stock, you really wouldn't want to do that; the rear axle used in those (IIRC, grain of salt, etc) is some real weak ass thing that you'd want to replace with something with some beef to it. Trans should bolt up, would probably want to rebuild to V8 specs though.
Or just, you know, replace with something that has an overdrive and a lock up TC from the beginning. Other stuff to swap as well to make it a V8 car but the engineering was done by the factory so not hard to figure out.
914Driver wrote:
Can a 318 bolt up to that transmission?
Dan
Nope, bell housing is different.
neat little car.
honestly though, stuff always looks better online.
belteshazzar wrote:
neat little car.
honestly though, stuff always looks better online.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure your avatar is the best black paint job of all time.
while it's not a "paint" job, I was most impressed by the flat black vinyl wrapped Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series with a GT-style wing on it, 700 horsepower twin turbo V12 that sounded absolutely terrifying, in flat black. it's the stuff of nightmares. the kind of nightmares you just can't get enough of
'64 Valiants look good in any color.
There's flat black, wrapped Maserati Quattroporte on the Detroit Craigslist that's pretty decent looking.
nice looking, but I don't think I'm up for the price tag.
slantvaliant wrote:
'64 Valiants look good in any color.
I think you're prejudiced, Bub!
I think I saw a couple of dimples in the hood.
High school buddy of mine had a white one like that, right down to the interior color and pushbutton transmission.
914Driver wrote:
Can a 318 bolt up to that transmission?
Dan
no- but even if it did- why bother?
a 360 or 340 goes wherever a 318 fits (unless you were talking about the old 318 big block)
but, really, an LS engine is lighter and better in pretty much every way and a 9" rear axle is easy to weld spring perches to..
Neighborhood kid had one when I was in high school. Red, 225 slant six, four speed convertable.
I have a list ....
Ian F
Dork
11/1/10 9:09 a.m.
1988RedT2 wrote:
Yeah, it's shiny, but you really can't judge it until you're face to face with it.
Agreed. My g/f's Spitfire has some pretty amazing black paint. When the bonnet is up, it can be used as a mirror. The car was apparently painted out in western PA... and while mechanically it needed a lot of attention, those guys obviously knew how to paint. From 20 feet... or even 10 feet... it's drool-worthy... but upon closer inspection, there are the nicks, chips and scratches you expect to find a car that is driven once in awhile. The nice part is that while the car was originally blue, they did a good job of painting everything inside and out. It was only when we removed the dash panels that we found the original blue.
That looks a LOT like the one I had a few years back, but it's in nicer shape.
Someone in Hillsborough NC recently offered to swap a Valiant of this vintage to my son. It needed some engine work but looked pretty good. If anyone's interested, I'll see if I can find out how to get in touch with the owner. No affiliation.