Long story short, the rear bumper and cover ripped out of the back of my wife's Smart Fortwo yesterday while pulling it up the driveway with my car. The car rolled down the driveway, across the road, and down an embankment. Needless to say I was not amused. It still runs strong, shifts great, and is a fun little runabout. Thankfully it was replaced with the BMW i3 a year ago. Now what do I do with it? I've thought about putting the drivetrain in an old Italian car like an Autobianchina (?)
In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :
I've been looking for a cheap Smart chassis for a stupid Challenge build. Just saying ... let's hook up. Don't have to tell your wife.
Also very glad one one was hurt.
Stampie said:
Also very glad one one was hurt.
Me too. Thankfully no one was driving up the road when the bumper shredded itself!
In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :
I can only imagine E36 M3ting my self as I quickly looked up and down the road. Closest I've come was learning that a car in park doesn't hold it once you remove the driveshaft. Lucky for us it didn't get to the steeper downhill part of the driveway before we stopped it. Lil Stampie might think I'm anal about chocking but it's now a very real habit.
That sucks but glad no one was hurt.
Usually bumpers work better in compression than tension :6
In reply to Slippery :
Thing is, I was using the tow hook in its anchor point to the tow hook on my Mazda 2. Supposedly the sturdiest part.
I believe the term is "Structurally unsound."
Gotta love the tinworm.
This with out context was a "wait what???" moment. Made me chuckle.
let's hook up. Don't have to tell your wife.
Stampie said:
In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :
I've been looking for a cheap Smart chassis for a stupid Challenge build. Just saying ... let's hook up. Don't have to tell your wife.
With no disrespect intended, you sir are as a trash can to leftovers. Omnomnom.
Do you think a person could adapt the drivetrain to a Vee chassis or other small chassis? Note: DeDion tube suspension, servo operated manual 5speed, 3 cyl 1.0L. 70 hp. Curb weight of a smart is 1800 lbs.
In reply to dean1484 :
But it's her car and the paperwork's in her name!
Maybe I'll make a speedster out of it?? Shhhh, don't tell her.
Wow just looked at rear engine Fiats and they're expensive. How about an 850?
eBay 850
So I broke my pinky toe a week ago. Now that the pain is manageable I decided to diagnose the no start situation. Jacked it up, pulled the plastic cover off the solenoid, and found A LOT of rust and corrosion. Tried jumping the B+ to the start terminal. Mild sparking but no bueno.
While unbolting the battery positive from the solenoid so I could remove the starter the eyelet on the end of the cable disintegrated and the wire connector/spade terminal from the key lead came apart.
Decided to just lie there under the car and ponder my options while looking around at what I could see of the undercarriage. (Come on, you've all done it!) Rust everywhere. The DeDion tube welds, the chassis reinforcement connectors, the brake lines, the rear subframe, and on.
Feeling defeated I packed away the tools, let the car down off the jackstands, and came inside to ponder. Oh yeah, and to ask y'all what you would do at this point. Part it out? Need time and space and the capacity to pack and ship stuff. Time's the tough one. It will be getting cold soon, I coach two activities, and I work additionally for my wife beyond my regular full time job.
I have two sets of rims and tires. It's got good interior, good exterior lighting, the exhaust (one piece) is decent if not perfect (had to weld in a replacement flex section), and the engine and trans run great.
Thoughts?
See what the high value parts are, sell them, scrap the rest.
Or, list it on Facebook marketplace as a part out, letting others name their price and remove their parts.
Either way, make it go away.
Sonic
UberDork
11/4/22 6:11 p.m.
Wow, that frame rail rot. Damn.
Mr_Asa
UltimaDork
11/4/22 6:22 p.m.
In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :
1) Sell to Stampie
2) .....
3) Profit
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) said:
Mr_Asa said:
In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :
1) Sell to Stampie
2) .....
3) Profit
I mean this is what I want. It's aluminum right?
Apparently it's "Tridion steel hemispherical safety-cell". Whatever that means.
Sell to stampie
-we all get to watch his rust frustration with this AND the queens auto.
In reply to Stampie :
My understanding is high strength steel.
Stampie said:
Apparently it's "Tridion steel hemispherical safety-cell". Whatever that means.
Marketing speak. Smart made up Tridion as far as I know to refer to the shape of the safety cell.