I need Oppo's guidance again...

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 10/20/2014 at 08:57 • Filed to: None

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Ok so I know there are a bunch of people who will tell me this is a good idea, but I am looking for both sides of the coin here. I thought I was going to have a decision made by today, and I dreamt last night that I was daily driving this beast. 1972 Cadillac Superior Ambulance. As far as it stands right now this is mine to lose. Runs, drives, but it needs a torque converter. The TH400 was rebuilt and reinstalled with the original converter which may have been the issue to begin with. It has sat a good few years, but did start and move with a jump and gas in the carb. As far as bodywork is concerned it is not as bad as it looks, needs a front fender (rusted in the bottom), floors are surprisingly solid. Was driving in 2007. 472ci v8. If I picked it up I would stuff a Cummins 2V diesel from a '90 Dodge Ram in there, and there is one right up the street I can have. More torque and probably a decent bit more gas mileage. $1000 asking price, but it is my girlfriends brothers, and he is holding it. Could probably pick it up for $600 just to get it gone. Remember, I have a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! 401 that I have to haul from up there in a few weeks and work on, and I just cleaned out my storage from 4 cars to 0 cars, so I have room for a couple of big boats and some budget to make it work. This would preclude me bringing anything over from Europe this year. Weigh in OPPO, I want to get him an answer today.

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Merc strong up there...

Dem skirts

lots o cleaning needed

some headliner restretching needed too, and more cleaning

dem lights

who knows what this seat is from?

woo jump seat

rear heat/ a/c

kids loved it. Growing up Jalop...

thebigbossyboss > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:01

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For a second i thought this was something else.

El-Verde > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:01

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I'd definitely call this a case of "if it's really what you want, nothing else will do." it's a really unique looking vehicle and would probably be a lot of fun.

It also looks like a tremendous amount of work from here on out, especially considering the engine swap you're looking to perform.

It'd have to be a labor of love, and I can't tell you if you love it or not.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:02

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Seems like a good idea to me, but it kind of depends on what you're planning on importing from Europe, I guess. I can't see this being anything other than a LeMons Ecto-1.

505Turbeaux > El-Verde 10/20/2014 at 09:03

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I would likely run the 472 until I was sure I wanted to keep it. I am sort of meh on it, but I am sure I would love driving it around

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/20/2014 at 09:04

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base model Mercedes w124 diesel wagon with a stick

El-Verde > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:04

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I think your hesitation has answered your question for you... As cool as it is if you haven't scooped it up yet it's probably because you know you'd rather have something else.

Agrajag > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:06

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You have four empty spots? Invicta plus this leaves room for two more.

I can't see a downside to this one.

505Turbeaux > Agrajag 10/20/2014 at 09:07

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lol yeah this is certainly 2 spots worth...

crowmolly > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:08

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How far would you plan on taking the project? Short term fun or long term?

505Turbeaux > crowmolly 10/20/2014 at 09:09

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long term if I was going to invest in it. I know the return wouldnt be huge enough for a short term thing

Brian Silvestro > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:11

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I'd dd the shit out of that. It's so damn cool.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:11

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Apart from the stick, there are tons of those here already and there will be tons of them over there for decades. The ambulance is rarer and more off-0beat.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:11

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Well, not seeing any real downsides here.

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/20/2014 at 09:15

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yeah, I wanted a 2.5TD with a stick, cloth seats, manual windows and mirrors, manual heat, so it is a little more than just a stick, but still your point is taken. Thanks

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:15

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OOOOOK

I like it.

I think you should buy it, make the outside look stock.

tub the back wheels and stick giant monster wide tires on it - but (and this is very important) leave those side skirts on it!

Build the 472 to just wild crazy power.

And now you have a crazy weird sleeper dragster limo/ambulance.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/20/2014 at 09:17

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that would be the weirdest thing I could possibly do...I like it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:19

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I knew weird was the right approach. Let's make this happen.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/20/2014 at 09:21

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might be the easiest access ever to tub that rear... could sit there and do it with a beer in hand and ass in seat

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:23

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I think this would be cooler than anything from Europe. Sounds like you can put off the engine swap for a while as well since the thing is running. I'm with Montego on build plans. It could be your version of the infamous farm truck.

Roundbadge > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:24

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I love the hell out of this. I say go for it...because I'm great at spending money that's not mine.

505Turbeaux > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 10/20/2014 at 09:24

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hahaha yup it could be

505Turbeaux > Roundbadge 10/20/2014 at 09:25

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haha if it wasnt so cheap I would say no way, but this could be awesome!

Cherry_man1 > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:26

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wait that thing still runs? Really? Just with a jump and some gas in the carb?

505Turbeaux > Cherry_man1 10/20/2014 at 09:27

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went right off. wasnt even smoky and it was pretty damn quiet

Cherry_man1 > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:29

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like how long did you run it for? Cause if it didn't smoke that engine is water tight

505Turbeaux > Cherry_man1 10/20/2014 at 09:32

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I fired it off, it ran for a few seconds on the gas that was in the carb, put some more in there, fired it off, tried to die, but then started running on its own, so maybe a couple minutes? Not enough to get warm though

Cherry_man1 > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:32

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Gotcha well for whats its worth that seems like a good sign

505Turbeaux > Cherry_man1 10/20/2014 at 09:35

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I popped it into gear and rocked it back and forth a few times too. It does seem like the converter is weak though

Sn210 > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:35

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This would break the Jalop-meter! That said, if it runs ok Id skip the engine swap. You already need to fix the torque converter. I'd put my time and money into restoring it. This plus the Invicta screams 505Turbeaux to me, and I really don't know you that well! Bringing something over from the EU would be awesome, but since you aren't getting a Golf Country, i think you'll have a hard time finding something as cool as this. Good luck!

uofime > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:37

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I can see that this will be an unpopular opinion but I say don't do it. In order to make it a decent DD it's going to take a huge amount of work and cash and it's still not going to ever be a good DD because of its size and vintage.

IMHO this thing needs to be restored like a show car and then it can be DD'd a couple times a month for a laugh.

someone should save that car, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to

505Turbeaux > uofime 10/20/2014 at 09:38

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yeah it wouldnt be a DD for me, like you said, restored with my own hands and driven mostly for laughs on the weekends. I hear you

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:39

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I dunno man. The basics are right there but the interior is so dank that I wouldn't do it. I'm also not a huge ambulance fan... My vote is nay.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:39

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I'm telling you man, this is exactly how it happens.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/20/2014 at 09:40

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Gonna have to be a hell of a driveshaft made for it though. thats alot of distance...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:50

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starting point-

Roundbadge > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:51

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That backseat screams Buick to me...Park Avenue Ultra?

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/20/2014 at 09:55

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if I had that and it was 4wd, I would almost make a 4x4 out of the ambulance!

505Turbeaux > Roundbadge 10/20/2014 at 09:56

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huh could be, it does look awfully like it. Hmmmm

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:57

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I THINK WE NEED TO FIND YOU A 4X4 DONOR SUBURBAN

crowmolly > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 09:59

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Personally I think it's a great long term project that has a unique kid-friendly feel to it.

But there's a lot that needs to be done. Probably worth pricing out a lot of the repairs before getting started.

505Turbeaux > crowmolly 10/20/2014 at 10:00

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doesn't matter, I am doing all the work myself so the labor cost is nil. Metal is cheap if it needs it. Mechanical parts are cheap.

Pixel > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 10:02

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Make sure you are looking at prices for commercial chassis parts, the standard cadillac sedan suspension/brakes parts don't always interchange onto these beasts.

505Turbeaux > Pixel 10/20/2014 at 10:04

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has to be cheaper and easier to find chassis parts than for the Dodge chassied 73 Winnebago Brave I did a few years back!

Pixel > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 10:13

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I love that thing, and if I had the money/space it would be really hard for me to pass it up. But since it isn't me, I'll try and being the boring voice of reason here.

That interior shows signs of a LOT of water intrusion, from the front door panels to the rear headliner, water has gotten into this thing a lot. That means a good chance of rust issues in weird places as well as corrosion on wiring, door motors, etc. Ad to that the generally mediocre wiring on conversions like this and you are going to be chasing a lot of gremlins.

The seat in the back and the blue carpet tell me it was hacked in, so who knows what other hack work is hiding there, and in the rest of the car.

That body is *rough*. There is bubbling paint and surface rust on nearly every panel, and I see a lot of stuff that make me suspect hidden bondo(driver's dogleg, passenger rear door). You will need to do a lot of metal& body work on this thing before it looks presentable.

If any of the glass is bad, you are looking at a long hunt to find it, and possible mucho bucks to buy it. None of it interchanges with the sedans, not even the windshield.

It has been sitting on dirt & leaves for at least 6 years, the underside of this is not going to be pretty.

I'm seeing at least a new torque converter and a whole new brake system from booster out(probably including lines) before you can even drive it enough to find out what other issues there might be.

If you have the time & money to see it through, or her family won't be offended if you decide to dump it then go for it, but I doubt you'll be able to really enjoy driving it for a while.

Dusty Ventures > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 11:29

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I love old hearses and ambulances, so I'm biased, but I say do it. It would be more interesting and fun than pretty much anything on the road. And if your kids are anything like the kids I remember when I was that age they'll be waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more into it than anything you might bring over from Europe. A car is just a car, but an ambulance is COOL

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 12:04

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CUMMINS SWAP ALL THINGS!

jkm7680 > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 16:56

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So damn awesome! Get it!

bob and john > 505Turbeaux 10/20/2014 at 19:27

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uhh,

duh