First Blog: Everybody Loves a Project

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5) 09/24/2014 at 19:27 • Filed to: None

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Though not always for very long.

Now me, I get bored quickly...and that means I need multiple projects, so I can jump back and forth between then.

Hold on, let me back up just a little bit.

My name is Kurt, I'm 30 years old, I live in Rhode Island. I've been a car guy my whole life, I'm generally the 'guy who knows about cars' to my friends who don't, and I've owned a little bit of everything.

The first car was a '89 Dodge Shadow ES, affectionately called Mr. Peabody (Mopar guys will get it). In between then and now, I've owned around 40 cars...I've never had a ticket, I've never wrecked one, I just get bored. Quickly. Usually in about three months.

So about two years ago, I purchased from my grandfather a 1984 Jaguar XJ-12 Sovereign. Imported from Germany sometime around 1989, my grandfather bought it in 1991 and it's just so beautiful I can barely stand it.

One of the problems with the Jag is that at the moment, that's the only picture of it I can find where it isn't on ramps in my driveway or garage, having some service or other being done to it. The other?

It kills me to say this, because I love this car, but it's not fun. It's new-Lexus quiet inside, it's powerful (Euro-spec high compression V12, 300ish HP, and all the horses are still in the stable), and again...it's gorgeous. But it's not hoonable. I can't modify it. It just is.

What's a boy to do?

Yeah, then that happened.

You probably guessed where this was going, based on my name. It's a 1969 Corvair Monza. The original 140 was seized, so the previous owner put in a 102. Luckily, the 4 speed is still intact.

I was actually trying to buy a Toyota MR2, but kept striking out (which is a fun subject for a later blog), and I'm so glad I did.

The Corvair runs and drives, the tires are good, the interior looks like this:

Not bad, right? The body has various character dents, some character rust, and even a tiny bit of character rot in the front valance. But no character in the floors or frame, that's all solid.

So what's the plan? Right now, the plan is to drive it and enjoy it. Over the winter, maybe do a little body work and install a slightly hotted up 140 to match the neat badge on the trunk.

I'll be using this space to chronicle the projects, big and little, that I undertake on both the Corvair and the Jag. I also spend most of my day on the road, so expect to see some cool stuff from all over New England (read as: rusted basket cases).

Thanks for reading, and thanks for having me here on Oppo.

Blondude > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:35

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Needs moar Corv8!

Or not. It'd be nice to have you around here a little longer...

$kaycog > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:39

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Nice first! Welcome to Oppo!

My citroen won't start > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:42

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I like you already, welcome to Oppo!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > My citroen won't start 09/24/2014 at 19:43

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Thanks, glad to be here!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > $kaycog 09/24/2014 at 19:44

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Thanks, I'm pretty excited about it. Seems like the place to be.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:45

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hehehehe

hi

i own an 85' xj6

(and guess what mine is on jackstands right now)

and this is my other car a '76 alfa romeo spider

everyone needs a separate hoonmobile if you own an old luxury car

HammerheadFistpunch > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:46

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Welcome, great post. There are a few resources you might be interested in checking out.

The oppositelock directory and

The project car ...uh...project

Again welcome

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 09/24/2014 at 19:48

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Ha! One of the many cars I almost bought before I stumbled upon the Corvair was a '74 Alfa Romeo Spider. Very nice looking XJ6, too...I spend a lot of time wishing that mine was green.

$kaycog > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:49

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Indeed, it's a great place to be.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > HammerheadFistpunch 09/24/2014 at 19:54

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I'll definitely have to add this to oppoprojects. I've already got a backlog of picture updates from the little things I've done since picking it up.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 19:59

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haha that would of been pretty crazy if you had bought the alfa

the xj also has the light tan interior too which i think makes the green look even better

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 09/24/2014 at 20:05

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Oh yeah, that's the combination to have. I don't think I've seen a British car that doesn't look best in green with tan interior.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Blondude 09/24/2014 at 20:25

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"Hey, this car is really light in the front on the highway, how should we improve it?"

"...bigger engine in the back?"

"Fine, but move it forward a few inches."

Nobi > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/24/2014 at 21:00

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Welcome to Oppo! Personally, if it were me with the Jag, I'd go the full Roadkill and make myself a Draguar. That's just me though. Good luck with the Monza. I absolutely love those cars.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Nobi 09/24/2014 at 21:14

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If the Jag was any other Jag, I'd probably be going for a kind of rat rod...a while back I was looking for an XJS to strip out and modify. But this XJ12 is probably the best series 3 XJ I've ever seen in person, so I'd feel really weird about modifying it. I'll have a write up on that car and why it's special to me probably next week.

Jobjoris > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/25/2014 at 03:33

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Can't modify it? This didn't come from Coventry having four exhaust-pipes!

Welcome, love that Jag. But to hoon that V12 you'd have to put it in something else. Like an MGB (very long thread, I just kept on reading it so if no time just skip it!).

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/25/2014 at 03:50

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Shit yeah :) series Jaaag and a Corvair. Now that's a man with similar tastes to me. I've always thought that if I could import one car from the States it would be a Corvair, and I'd love to read an oppo-review of the XJ12.

I've also got tons of projects on the go, which means when you run into an impasse with one, you can do something on another until parts arrive or whatnot. It's the sensible option, honestly...

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jobjoris 09/25/2014 at 06:32

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MGB was the answer before Miata. Now that you mention it though, an MGB with a Jag V12 does sound pretty sweet....

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/25/2014 at 06:37

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It's really the only way to do it. I'm maybe he most impatient man on the planet, I don't want to wait two days for parts. Ever. So if I can keep myself occupied with the Corvair for those two days while I wait on some weird British part for the Jag, that's a plus.

And an Oppo review of both cars is in the works. I just need to have the Jag out for pictures, probably Sunday if the weather is nice.

Jobjoris > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/25/2014 at 06:54

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After a while this guy switched it for a Ford V8 if I remember correct as the V12 in question wasn't as good as he believed/was told to be. That's when I quit reading the thread...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/26/2014 at 04:35

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Can't wait :) I still need to do an opporeview of my XJ40. I've driven it for long enough now to know the lie of the land. I'd love to try a series XJ6 just to see how it compares.