Acclaim Build, From Day One

"Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness" (long-voyager-2nd-edition) 01/08/2019 at 12:40 • Filed to: Acclaim, Engine Swaps

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Repost with added info/pics to date.

As most of you know, I’ve been working on my latest addition, 1994 Plymouth Acclaim 2.5L/Auto (well was). This is the day I brought her home:

After screwing with the 4 cylinder for a couple months trying to sort cooling issues, I decided my van’s old motor would be a better fit, so I set to work swapping wiring, refinishing engine bay, and throwing new gaskets/fresh paint on the engine:

Swapping wiring harnesses under hood.

Requires pulling wiring from behind the dash.

Which leads you to this.

Finally get it back together.

Engine Out.

Needed some color in my life.

Shiny new engine.

Dropping her in.

Trans bolted up.

Everything mounted.

This madness leads to more madness as we decide to go full custom outside as well:
 

So I laid down a base on the spare hood/fender I had.

Then my paint crew set to work making it “out of this world”.

Then I added clear, installed them, and did some work on the SRT4 wheels I picked up.

Now it’s 2 months later and she’s back on jackstands as I’ve been trying to figure a limp mode issue since the drivetrain went in. Numerous computers, sensors, and wiring harnesses changed, only to find the trans was junk from the start leading to most of my issues. Now I have a donor sitting in the driveway and I’ve started tearing into it again:

Donor

Taking things back apart.

Got the new trans in, which also required swapping the wiring harnesses again to match the newer trans:

Got it all swapped in and working.

Then I set into refinishing the body to take care of the couple rust bubbles and typical paint peel:

Pulled her into my grandpa’s garage to lay down the new color:

Pulled her out to bake and get back together:

Drove her home and snagged some more pics:

Got my exhaust redone to get rid of the tiny 4 cyl exhaust and installed my SRT4 wheels:

That was this summer. Since then we’ve been driving and enjoying the hell out of it. It’s quick, efficient, rides great, and gets a lot of attention.

She’s currently in winter mode, awaiting spring so the SRTs can go back on:

As it stands, we just plan to enjoy it and run it til the wheels fall off. Not really any future plans for this old girl, she’s about perfect the way she sits.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 12:49

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You are a mad man. And I love it!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 13:09

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When are you going to Stance it. 

mazda616 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 13:27

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Amazing! I love it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 13:32

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And for the second time today, Lee Iacocca just popped a stiffie. 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 14:11

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The notchiness of the back half of the body has grown on me.

Is there any reason you kept this and the van as autos instead of doing a manual swap?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 01/08/2019 at 14:33

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Daily drivers and bad knee.

My old Acclaim was swapped to a manual, with a light flywheel and a stage three 6-puck clutch. It was fun, but absolute hell for daily use. Pretty sure this car is quicker than my old one, while being infinitely better for day to day use.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 14:35

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Ah that’ll do it. Have you looked into manual valvebodies? Could be a hoot.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/08/2019 at 14:36

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Uh............ NEVER!

Jokes aside, it’s a WI daily driver, stancing would be a waste. If it ever leaves DD status, I’d maybe lower it a couple inches, but it’ll never see stance.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 01/08/2019 at 14:39

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Actually had a built auto in my old one before swapping to a manual. It was a lot of fun, but the resulting broken axles from the “snap” shifts and the hard launches (high stall TC) weren’t worth the hassle.

They’re both electronic 4 speeds, so they adapt to how they’re driven, and are quite responsive when pulled into D as it changes the shift mapping.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 14:55

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i can relate to that. for all my love of lowered cars I’ve never lowered my own car because I’d rather be able to drive where ever without worrying. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/08/2019 at 15:18

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I don’t mind tastefully lowered cars, stance is pointless and dumb to me though, sorry.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 15:20

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no it is. lol.

I do think your car would look at better just like an inch lower. to my eyes t hose SRT wheels look too big right now.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/08/2019 at 15:23

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Well stock size are 14s..........

MM54 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/08/2019 at 16:51

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This car deserves much acclaim!

I’ll see myself out.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/08/2019 at 19:20

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Right after he does a mid-engine/FWD Viper V10 conversion...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 01/08/2019 at 19:21

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“The notchiness of the back half of the body has grown on me.”

You know, that could be a tumor.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > MM54 01/09/2019 at 06:55

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