I make bad decisions

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 03/07/2016 at 09:55 • Filed to: None

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One of the worst was this damn Mustang. I bought it for NADA trade in value and then have spent around $700 on parts and a few weekends worth of working on it to fix a ton of stuff. I’m thinking of taking it to a few dealerships and seeing what they’ll give me for it. If any of them can get me enough to get me out of my loan I’ll more than likely do it. It’s not that I can’t afford the loan, I’ve just gotten past the honeymoon phase and realized that I really don’t want a mid-2000s American car. I want a mid-90s American V8 station wagon.

oh fuck yes

I’ve wanted one of these for about 7 years now. Big American V8 that can be gently massaged to make silly amounts of power, rear wheel drive, insane hauling ability, decent fuel economy (25+ highway, from what I hear), comfy (because couch 90s Buick), reliable, can be fixed with a hammer and duct tape, super easy to find parts for. Will nicely compliment my tiny RWD Japanese sports roadster.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 10:00

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Maybe sell the Stang then have a couple weeks with your Miata before making any more buying decisions. As someone who’s also somewhat impulsive occasionally, thinking on stuff for a while is usually best. I went through this when my Fiat packed in and went through 100s of ideas before settling on something I actually liked and worked for me, 11 months on and I'm happy with my choice still.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 10:07

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Try and get one with the optional towing package. Those cars can tow more than most unibody SUVs. And yes, I mean SUV, not the CUV thingies. The 7-row “THIS IS STILL A TRUCK” boxes. The cadillac sedan can tow 7000 lbs. Read that again. 7000 pounds. Cadillac sedan. Your fleetwood can tow your escalade.

E92M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 10:11

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Not to be “That” guy, but V6/Auto/Convertible..... Be ready to take a bath.

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 10:14

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Do your homework if you buy an LT1 car.

The WP/Opti stuff is overblown, for the most part. But parts availability is getting tough, and some of the stuff that is available is shit.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 10:34

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are those wheels Mazda b series wheels on that wagon? If so, not a bad Idea.

Howie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 10:54

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Did you buy the Mustang thinking the same thing? Also I don’t see how the same duct tape and hammer thing doesn't apply? Mustangs from the S-197 on down are pretty easy to work on and parts are readily available (Hell you can completely restore a fox car with NOS, reman, and aftermarket parts). Now the big power thing I get, if you bought a GT with a 2 or 3 valve it gets expensive to make power unless you go with a power adder.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 11:11

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I’ve been seriously thinking about getting one of these roadmasters, doing an engine/transmission swap, upgrading the suspension, and having an unkillable battlewagon sleeper that will seat eight and tow 7000 lbs.

Jayhawk Jake > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/07/2016 at 11:32

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He's turbocharging the Miata, so it'll blow up soon

KnowsAboutCars > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 03/07/2016 at 11:35

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They look like American Racing wheels to me. I’ve never liked that wheel.

mr2gud2u > crowmolly 03/07/2016 at 11:36

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Check the factory codes to make sure you are really getting an LT1. If you have time to wrench it can be an easy car to work on. I would have bought a cappy wagon, but truth be told I was tired of GMs 90s build quality.

crowmolly > mr2gud2u 03/07/2016 at 11:39

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This is a good point. V8 does not necessarily mean LT1.

deekster_caddy > crowmolly 03/07/2016 at 11:46

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‘94-’96 were all LT1. You really want a ‘95 or ‘96 though, unless you are an old school SBC guy, then you want a pre-’94.

deekster_caddy > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/07/2016 at 11:47

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That’s one reason I keep hanging onto my ‘73 LeSabre. It’s my tow rig. Same basic chassis as the 1/2 ton pickup ‘73-’87 so they must have done something right!

crowmolly > deekster_caddy 03/07/2016 at 11:48

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Crap, I spaced. Wagon.

Yeah, you’re right. And yea, vented opti.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jayhawk Jake 03/07/2016 at 11:52

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If you do it right they can hold some boost. No more than 15psi and even then you want to do head studs and gasket

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jayhawk Jake 03/07/2016 at 12:01

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Depends how good of a job he does I suppose. Miatas seem to turbo pretty well.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Howie 03/07/2016 at 12:06

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I have an ‘05 V6. So many stupid engineering decisions on this car that it astounds me, and something breaks on it weekly.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/07/2016 at 12:06

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What engine/trans would you put in it? A head swap and cam could make pretty decent power out of the stock LT1

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/07/2016 at 12:07

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Towing package also has an LSD. Burnouts for days.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/07/2016 at 12:08

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My family has owned several of these and they’ve been some of the best cars we’ve had. I just don’t like having only one car, especially one made in 1991 because if it breaks in a way that I can’t drive to work I’m kinda screwed. Backup transportation FTW

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > E92M3 03/07/2016 at 12:12

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V6 auto hardtop base model listed for $10k on carmax. They gave my mom $8k for her 2005 PT Cruiser GT convertible with broken-ass motor mounts.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > crowmolly 03/07/2016 at 12:13

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Any way to convert the optispark to something a bit more modern other than re-wiring everything and running a megasquirt?

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:16

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https://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/…

To be honest though, I don’t know how necessary it will be. If the front of the engine is in good shape/not leaking and you keep an eye on it you will probably be OK.

You can also jam a vacuum hose adapter in the weep hole of the WP and divert it away from the opti with a small length of hose.

Schaefft > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:20

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Hell yeah!! I can only support this idea, don’t paint yours blue though. Keep it white, gold or maroon with the original vinyl wood. Can’t get better than that!

Howie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:28

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Sounds like you got a lemon - I’ve got on 09 V8 car been a pretty good ride since I bought it new and it has nearly 92k on the clock. My only big complaint are the door panels when you have the vinyl inserts.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:35

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Not sure. I’m thinking something a little more modern but just as easy to fix that will drop in like an LS with some sort of swap to manuel. The idea is to have something about as reliable as a new car without the downsides of current new cars. I want a big American whale that’s hardier than most modern trucks.

E92M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:37

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When? In 2007? If carmax has that hardtop for $10k, they gave no more than $6k for it.

deekster_caddy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:43

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Optispark isn’t that bad unless it fails. ;)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > E92M3 03/07/2016 at 12:55

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She gave them her PT last year I believe

Sam > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 12:59

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Miatas usually don't break, unless you do something to break them. Try to avoid hopping curbs and it will be perfectly fine for a long time.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sam 03/07/2016 at 13:10

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lol, yeah. I worry about my water pump, though. I was told it’s been replaced and there was a bag in the trunk for the kit to replace it (with the old parts in it) but there are some strange noises coming from the front of the motor at just above idle speeds. Of course, I still have aforementioned curb hopping damage to finish fixing...

E92M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/07/2016 at 13:30

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Well it never hurts to see what they will give you. I’ve been disappointed with their offers myself.

mr2gud2u > deekster_caddy 03/07/2016 at 17:04

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94-96 cappys had a 4.3. The 9c1, Roadmaster, and Impala SS got the LT1 treatment if I recall. The 4.3 looks just like the LT1 at first glance. Checking the codes us your best bet.

deekster_caddy > mr2gud2u 03/07/2016 at 21:29

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Wow, no idea they ever put a 4.3 in any of those. What an awful idea!!!

bryan40oop > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 03/08/2016 at 00:06

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LT1 is a bitch to work on.

shop-teacher > deekster_caddy 03/09/2016 at 09:08

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Here’s the really weird thing, it’s not the tried and true 4.3 V6. It’s a weirdo 4.3 V8 that looks exactly the same as an LT-1 at first glance.

deekster_caddy > shop-teacher 03/10/2016 at 17:04

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I’ll be damned. Never knew about the L99. Now I do. Thanks!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet…

It’s just a short stroke LT1! Crazy.

shop-teacher > deekster_caddy 03/10/2016 at 19:39

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No problem!

I learned about it on Oppo too :)