Do you also have 1:1 project cars?

[RSchnell]

1 minute ago, fun9c1 said:

Go look at it, what's the worst that can happen LOL? 

I already have 2 project cars now I haven't done anything with in a long time! LOL Not to mention I'd have to rent a storage unit to keep the Merc as I've no room here at home. 

[Scott8950]

This is another project i did not need but couldn't pass up.

[James2]

1:1 addiction, I got into motorcycles in my teens. I never had money for drugs, but the addiction is real. I have built several Shovelheads and currently have these. 04 Roadking (Daily) and a 79 FLH I've had for over 15yr. It's had many different versions.

[oldcarfan]

This is my 'project'. It belonged to my dad and when he passed I took it to keep it from going to the scrap yard. It's nearly rust free and it would probably start with a little work, but everytime I go out there I feel overwhelmed. I don't really know much about starting a vehicle that's been sitting for a few years and it also holds a lot of memories.

[Tabbysdaddy]

I removed the rack from the old work truck. I have to shorten it two inches to fit on the new truck. Last weekend I fixed the reverse lights, and scrubbed a lot of old coffee and soda from the front carpet while hosing it out.

 

[oldcarfan]

1 hour ago, Tabbysdaddy said:

I removed the rack from the old work truck. I have to shorten it two inches to fit on the new truck. Last weekend I fixed the reverse lights, and scrubbed a lot of old coffee and soda from the front carpet while hosing it out.

 

Those things are getting expensive now. I drove a similar style Ford truck for a while. These things are so long it takes a couple of days to make a U-turn! lol

[89AKurt]

I'm always impressed with guys who can take a basketcase, and resurrect it.  I looked at every page (to make sure I haven't posted already) and wonder why some of you build models, nice collections!

Don't know if this really qualifies, I did drive Blue Cloud home from Phoenix several years ago, and it's the first vehicle I ever worked on.  I will be the first to admit that I'm mechanically challenged, have a great mechanic who knows what he is doing.  I did replace the starter, a first for me (planned a couple hours, took all day).  Had a 307, which I didn't know existed until reading about how to ID an engine based on the serial number.

Last year I splurged, replaced with a 350 H.O. crate engine, carried over the Made In CHYna Holley copy "Brawler", which is bugging me at the moment.  This was the first day I got it back on the road, before the brakes were done.

Kept the 4 speed, but installed a locker dif, the only bling is the finned cover, which has screwed up the lateral bar (long embarrassing story).  Also ditched the front drum brakes and non-boost master cylinder, disks with power is like night and day.  I could figure out how to remove the seat, to get a professional to reupholster it, good thing because the foam pads that came with the LMC kit were not correct; I put a seat cover on before installing, and figured out how to lock the slide because I'm tall.  I've made numerous items from scavenged steel and aluminum parts.  Keeping the survivor patina, you don't see many vehicles with all original panels like this.  My left foot started hurting, using an IR thermometer saw 117º on the floor, figured that was the cause, added insulation, just throwing carpet over it.  Cardboard tube cup holders brought it into this century. 😜

Did my first RallyCross.

Camped 17 nights last year.  Made a bed cover, only bought new plywood, and a few hardware parts, otherwise scavenged bed frame rails are clamped in place for structure.  Dummy me backed into a tree doing a four point turn, bent the bumper, got somewhat bent back, then cut 3 inches off the bottom, I think it looks better. 😅

We had a forest fire recently, just below this spot, which is less than an hour from me, need to check it out.  So this isn't nearly as impressive as many who have contributed to this great OT.

[PatW]

Yes I also remember this, although mine played ball from day one!

[ChrisR]

My project 1967 Jeep Wagoneer.

Just battle to get body parts for it in South Africa!

 

[fun9c1]

On 2/21/2025 at 12:09 AM, 89AKurt said:

I'm always impressed with guys who can take a basketcase, and resurrect it.  I looked at every page (to make sure I haven't posted already) and wonder why some of you build models, nice collections!

Don't know if this really qualifies, I did drive Blue Cloud home from Phoenix several years ago, and it's the first vehicle I ever worked on.  I will be the first to admit that I'm mechanically challenged, have a great mechanic who knows what he is doing.  I did replace the starter, a first for me (planned a couple hours, took all day).  Had a 307, which I didn't know existed until reading about how to ID an engine based on the serial number.

Last year I splurged, replaced with a 350 H.O. crate engine, carried over the Made In CHYna Holley copy "Brawler", which is bugging me at the moment.  This was the first day I got it back on the road, before the brakes were done.

Kept the 4 speed, but installed a locker dif, the only bling is the finned cover, which has screwed up the lateral bar (long embarrassing story).  Also ditched the front drum brakes and non-boost master cylinder, disks with power is like night and day.  I could figure out how to remove the seat, to get a professional to reupholster it, good thing because the foam pads that came with the LMC kit were not correct; I put a seat cover on before installing, and figured out how to lock the slide because I'm tall.  I've made numerous items from scavenged steel and aluminum parts.  Keeping the survivor patina, you don't see many vehicles with all original panels like this.  My left foot started hurting, using an IR thermometer saw 117º on the floor, figured that was the cause, added insulation, just throwing carpet over it.  Cardboard tube cup holders brought it into this century. 😜

Did my first RallyCross.

Camped 17 nights last year.  Made a bed cover, only bought new plywood, and a few hardware parts, otherwise scavenged bed frame rails are clamped in place for structure.  Dummy me backed into a tree doing a four point turn, bent the bumper, got somewhat bent back, then cut 3 inches off the bottom, I think it looks better. 😅

We had a forest fire recently, just below this spot, which is less than an hour from me, need to check it out.  So this isn't nearly as impressive as many who have contributed to this great OT.

That's awesome. I love it. Gorgeous truck and scenery. And the camping in it! Too cool!  I love the original patina with the new 350. Vehicles up here in NH rust out underneath way before it has time to get some patina LOL. 

Funny you say you wonder why some of us on here build models instead of the 1:1 (I assume that's what you meant). I laughed because sometimes I say to myself if I spent the same time on my 1:1 '55 Merc as I spent on models it would probably be back on the road by now LOL. Mostly about the limited space and weather for the 1:1 vs the year round comfort of the model man-cave!

[89AKurt]

2 hours ago, fun9c1 said:

That's awesome. I love it. Gorgeous truck and scenery. And the camping in it! Too cool!  I love the original patina with the new 350. Vehicles up here in NH rust out underneath way before it has time to get some patina LOL. 

Funny you say you wonder why some of us on here build models instead of the 1:1 (I assume that's what you meant). I laughed because sometimes I say to myself if I spent the same time on my 1:1 '55 Merc as I spent on models it would probably be back on the road by now LOL. Mostly about the limited space and weather for the 1:1 vs the year round comfort of the model man-cave!

Thank you very much!  That is what I meant.😅  Local climate sure makes a difference in what everyone does.  I'm a spaz, right now I have a wild hair to purge my woodshop, started this afternoon.  Only three decades of accumulation, finding things I forgot about. 🫢  Once I get my act together, one thing sitting I need to do, is redo a glass cover for a diorama.  Now that I'm not working, for some reason making priorities is a new thing for me, not used to it.  Hang in there regarding your Merc, a good goal to have lurking over you while you're building a model. 😜

[Bills72sj]

On 5/19/2023 at 11:05 PM, Bills72sj said:

It seems that Pontiacs and VWs are popular in this crowd.

My project car is a 72 Grand Prix. It is a (51 year old) survivor with a going on 25 year old paint job. The original 51 year old 455 is still running well and the interior is all original except for the front seats being recovered. The "project" part of my car is the stereo system. Over the years, it has been "updated". I am now up to two music source units, 3 digital signal processors, 4 amplifiers and 14 speakers (though I only use 10 or 12 at a time). Surprisingly, I still have full seating and 80% of my trunk. I have a 2nd battery (deep cycle marine) to permit me to go and jam for 2.5 hours without having to run the engine. The volume level is the equivalent of a small night club but crystal clear with seat shaking (but not deafening bass). Until I get my spare 455 refreshed, I am running out of things to do to it.

Now that the stereo has been dialed in to perfection, and the dashboard has all the upgrades I want done to it, it is time to replace the engine. The, still original, 53 year old 455 is getting tired. It runs great but has blow by if I get into the secondaries. I have a spare 455 that was my first and only engine rebuild from back in the 80's. Unfortunately, it suffered a car fire with only 20K on the rebuild. I have been lugging it around with every move for longer than I have owned this Grand Prix. It is presently in the machine shop getting a couple of sleeves put in it. I have been having fun researching and ordering parts at the best prices I can find. I am going to treat the engine refresh as though I were building a highly detailed model. Every part will get special attention to make it as functional and asthetically pleasing as I can. Part of today was spent painting/clear coating the motor mounts and the oil pan bolts. It will probably take me until late Summer to put it all together. It will be my "practice" engine as I want to keep the car on the road while I go through my numbers matching after this one is in.

[Tabbysdaddy]

Two knock sensors on the truck, one is bad. Only a seasoned mechanic can tell which one.

[Mattilacken]

I have just decided to buy my old project car back, will go 500km+ in a couple of weeks to pick it up. I had this car from when i was 16 until I was 19 and sold it because the 6speed camaro was more fun. Now i would't like the camaro back but this one I just got hold of. I pay the same amount for it now as what I sold it for 17 years ago. Manny things are the same but now it has better cylinder heads so it should make around 350hp. I redid the engine ground up back in 2007 and many details with carbon fiber instead of wood. Its gonna be interesting to se how it looks when i bring it back!

When i bought it in 2005 with my dad:

2008 when i sold it:

Pics from the current seller in 2024. Need to get hold of a laguna front or at least a 1974 Malibu front, i am no big fan of the 1973 front thats on it right now.

 

 

[JollySipper]

1 hour ago, Mattilacken said:

Pics from the current seller in 2024.

That's a cool car, Anton! It does look a lot better with the chrome grille and headlight surrounds.........

[Mattilacken]

42 minutes ago, JollySipper said:

That's a cool car, Anton! It does look a lot better with the chrome grille and headlight surrounds.........

Sure does! Sadly al those parts got traded to a El Camino so i have to search al over again for parts to build it as i want it. These cars are rare here, but i came across a grill for a 1973 with al the chrome trim on it. So i sent a message to se what they want for the set. 

Edited March 10 by Mattilacken

[fun9c1]

11 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

I have just decided to buy my old project car back, will go 500km+ in a couple of weeks to pick it up. I had this car from when i was 16 until I was 19 and sold it because the 6speed camaro was more fun. Now i would't like the camaro back but this one I just got hold of. I pay the same amount for it now as what I sold it for 17 years ago. Manny things are the same but now it has better cylinder heads so it should make around 350hp. I redid the engine ground up back in 2007 and many details with carbon fiber instead of wood. Its gonna be interesting to se how it looks when i bring it back!

When i bought it in 2005 with my dad:

2008 when i sold it:

Pics from the current seller in 2024. Need to get hold of a laguna front or at least a 1974 Malibu front, i am no big fan of the 1973 front thats on it right now.

 

 

I love it! I have a real soft spot for the Colonnades. On graduation day in '88 my buddy and I took his dad's nice but unregistered '74 maroon and white S3 Laguna for a joyride around the beach, unbeknownst to his dad! His dad bought it new and had taken it off the road while it was still decent in order to keep it decent for "someday". Well it is still sitting in the same spot in his garage where we parked it 37 years ago! No one has moved it since. His dad passed away recently and my buddy is in line at a restoration shop to get her back on the road.

Must be exciting to get her back! Good luck!

[Mattilacken]

9 hours ago, fun9c1 said:

I love it! I have a real soft spot for the Colonnades. On graduation day in '88 my buddy and I took his dad's nice but unregistered '74 maroon and white S3 Laguna for a joyride around the beach, unbeknownst to his dad! His dad bought it new and had taken it off the road while it was still decent in order to keep it decent for "someday". Well it is still sitting in the same spot in his garage where we parked it 37 years ago! No one has moved it since. His dad passed away recently and my buddy is in line at a restoration shop to get her back on the road.

Must be exciting to get her back! Good luck!

Man that sounds like a real treat for your buddy! I guess its more of a original car then? Mine is mostly hotrod in that sence

[fun9c1]

14 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Man that sounds like a real treat for your buddy! I guess its more of a original car then? Mine is mostly hotrod in that sence

Yeah, his is 100% original right down to the stupid 2BBL on the 400. He's upgrading that   But the cool thing about yours is you can make it yours! I also love the "I owned it, sold it, bought it back" thing. I did that with a '96 Impala SS, but then I sold it again a second time... 🙄 But the 2nd guy I sold it to is local and doing good things with it so I don't feel so bad... the first guy I sold it to was a freaking moron. Another story for another day...

Anyway, looking forward to seeing how yours progresses! There is no wrong way to do it unless you put 22" wheels on it IMHO LOL!🍻

[Mattilacken]

On 3/12/2025 at 1:24 AM, fun9c1 said:

Yeah, his is 100% original right down to the stupid 2BBL on the 400. He's upgrading that   But the cool thing about yours is you can make it yours! I also love the "I owned it, sold it, bought it back" thing. I did that with a '96 Impala SS, but then I sold it again a second time... 🙄 But the 2nd guy I sold it to is local and doing good things with it so I don't feel so bad... the first guy I sold it to was a freaking moron. Another story for another day...

Anyway, looking forward to seeing how yours progresses! There is no wrong way to do it unless you put 22" wheels on it IMHO LOL!🍻

That’s a pitty , some mods can always be made, but keep the stock part for future if you want. 

Say what! Aren’t 22 and 24”s the best?  
this rendering I did back in 2009 is in line with what I want to do but probably I won’t go larger than “17 or “18

Edited March 13 by Mattilacken

[fun9c1]

16 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

That’s stupid, some mods should be made, but keep the stock part for future if you want. A carb a cam and a top jobb and that motor might come alive a bit and not just pour gas through it. 
 

Say what! Aren’t 22 and 24”s the best?  
this rendering I did back in 2009 is in line with what I want to do but probably I won’t go larger than “17 or “18

I don't appreciate you calling my buddy stupid, and I didn't say he wasn't keeping the stock parts. I also didn't feel the need to go into detail about all the upgrades he may or may not do since this post is about your car, not his. He and I are both well aware that there is more to waking up a motor than just slapping a 4bbl on it.

Just my opinion as I said on 22s (or bigger). Normally IMO, nothing ruins the look of a classic car more than big flashy wheels, although I have to admit that your rendering does look pretty darn good! Regardless, it's your car and not mine, and I am still looking forward to seeing the progress and happy for you that you got it back! 

[Tabbysdaddy]

Those knock sensors I got online are no good, even though they're supposed to be AC Delco. I got the wiring harness with them so I repaired the old harness and mounted the old sensors to the head to test them. They're good, the problem was the deteriorated harness. Unfortunately I have to remove the intake manifold again to reinstall them where they're supposed to be. 

[Mattilacken]

7 hours ago, fun9c1 said:

I don't appreciate you calling my buddy stupid, and I didn't say he wasn't keeping the stock parts. I also didn't feel the need to go into detail about all the upgrades he may or may not do since this post is about your car, not his. He and I are both well aware that there is more to waking up a motor than just slapping a 4bbl on it.

Just my opinion as I said on 22s (or bigger). Normally IMO, nothing ruins the look of a classic car more than big flashy wheels, although I have to admit that your rendering does look pretty darn good! Regardless, it's your car and not mine, and I am still looking forward to seeing the progress and happy for you that you got it back! 

I am sorry for of offending you and your friend, it was not my intention. I might have put my words a bit blunt. 
He do what ever he feels is right and as you say, ad a carb and that does magic whiles keeping the originality. 

I have been folowjngs Jay Lenos Chanel for years and I enjoy his take on car preservation which often involves replacing some old parts with new for the functionality of the wheicle. 
 

super big wheels are not my cup of tea since I like to drive it, and our roads up here does not go well with big wheels and low profile tires. But I want a bit bigger so I can fit bigger brakes in the future, I plan to take it to an auto cross in the future since I enjoy that and seeing big American iron going through corners usaly awes people here.

 

[fun9c1]

17 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

I am sorry for of offending you and your friend, it was not my intention. I might have put my words a bit blunt. 
He do what ever he feels is right and as you say, ad a carb and that does magic whiles keeping the originality. 

I have been folowjngs Jay Lenos Chanel for years and I enjoy his take on car preservation which often involves replacing some old parts with new for the functionality of the wheicle. 
 

super big wheels are not my cup of tea since I like to drive it, and our roads up here does not go well with big wheels and low profile tires. But I want a bit bigger so I can fit bigger brakes in the future, I plan to take it to an auto cross in the future since I enjoy that and seeing big American iron going through corners usaly awes people here.

 

Thank you for your reply. I think we are actually on the same page! Early 2000's for a few years I had a '95 Caprice X-Maine state police car with the LT1 that I put some mods into including 4:10 posi, tuning, exhaust, upgraded brakes, SS springs and bigger sway bars and autocrossed with it once. It was my 1st time and didn't do that great but respectable, had an absolute blast and got a TON of compliments on the sound and got kudos for bringing a full sized car to an autocross. It is alot of fun to see the reactions. Another buddy at the time who was also at that same event had a sweet '95 Caddy Fleetwood with the same motor but with a T-56 that looked factory. Talk about people scratching their heads!  😆🤣

Can't wait to see what you do with it! Enjoy your time with it!

[Mattilacken]

On 5/18/2023 at 4:12 PM, ctruss53 said:

And then for power I am going with something strange. I have a late model turbocharged performance background. So I got my hands on a 1995 Saab 2.3L turbo 4 cylinder engine. 225hp, 230ftlbs, in a small package. Fuel injected, dead reliable, and bulletproof. And to make it work in a rear wheel drive application, I bought an adaptor kit from a company in Poland which allows me to use a 6 speed manual transmission from a BMW M3.

Cool to see a Saab motor beeing used outside of Sweden. Here they are known for good power and i have heard many that bring out plenty of power with aftermarket turbo setups! Also common over here is to put BMW gear boxes behind any thing today. Many LS engines run BMW boxes thanks to their price and availibility. And also the option of having 8 speed and dual clutch transmissions for not much money.