All depends on how presentable you want it to be. There's a car for every wallet, you know. Even mine!
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Beag's 67 Chevelle. Supercharged Summer
- Thread starter beags86
- Start date
All depends on how presentable you want it to be. There's a car for every wallet, you know. Even mine!
Yep.All depends on how presentable you want it to be. There's a car for every wallet, you know. Even mine!
I am considering selling my 67 firebird 400, but if it doesn't sell for what I want, I am looking at sinking $10-15k and done.
I think along similar lines frequently when I see how much people in the local 4x4 club are paying for their new Jeeps. I could build one hell of a truck for $30K.
Then I'm reminded those people are what I consider "car" people.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Have to remember there are different kinds of car people. Not everyone loves roadkill.
Generally speaking I don't typically care for the guys that are more worried about flash and perception. Wheather that's a brodozed out Jeep or truck. A fancy sports car. Or whatever.
Always had more respect for the guys that had to make due with what they could afford. That was me when I was younger and that's me today. What I can afford is slightly higher but I still make due with what I can.
Plus, I just never could respect a guy that can't turn his own wrenches.
Anyone can get a line of credit and write a check.
Hard pass.
Our club gets a discount as well as a kick back from 4 Wheel Parts on purchases made by members. That number amazes me too.
That's what I was getting at. I wouldn't tell someone to deliberately imitate the roadkill guys. But I'd much rather see a jalopy on the road vs. rotting away in the garage waiting for enough funding to fix it 'right.' That mindset is what doomed our '64 station wagon. It sat so long waiting that it wound up not getting restored at all. And the same is happening to the '66 Charger, also rotting away in the same barn.
Fix the Chevelle as well as you can. Then get it on the road and don't worry about it. It'll be a lot more fun when it's driveable. Even with a 10-bolt.
True that, getting them on the road (as long as its “mostly” safe) is a primary goal to shoot for. Years of sitting (I’m so guilty of this myself) isn’t good for the mechanical parts or the mental fortitude to push on. Get them running and enjoy!
I've seen so many projects sold off because they were taken to far apart before the owner could really fall in love with the car rather than just the idea of owning the car in its finished state.
I love beaters. Drive the hell outta them and enjoy them. I'm looking forward to getting on my Camaro once the maintenance on my other junk gets caught up.
I love beaters. Drive the hell outta them and enjoy them. I'm looking forward to getting on my Camaro once the maintenance on my other junk gets caught up.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
My phase one goal was to build the suspension and brakes, ditch the carb.
There has been a whole lot of extras sprinkled in. But mainly the goal was to make a 100% safe/reliable car worthy of daily duty's.
I could have gotten away much cheaper with stock replacement parts or even a middle of the road suspension upgrades.
But that's not where my heart was and I probably would have lost some fire for the project.
This car will be autocrossed. It will see open track days. Time attack events. It needs to perform from day one.
There has been a whole lot of extras sprinkled in. But mainly the goal was to make a 100% safe/reliable car worthy of daily duty's.
I could have gotten away much cheaper with stock replacement parts or even a middle of the road suspension upgrades.
But that's not where my heart was and I probably would have lost some fire for the project.
This car will be autocrossed. It will see open track days. Time attack events. It needs to perform from day one.
That's my problem, I need to finish maintenance and small repairs on the running vehicles I have, and that takes all the time I can spare so I don't get time on my projects.
The firebird has been sitting in a garage for 20 years now
Trust me, I feel the same way. That was one point of the Xterra being a primary vehicle. That way I'd be less likely to push off maintenence and mods because I NEED it running. It's worked so far.
But the Camaro isn't so necessary....
beags86
Eastbound and Down
It's only not necessary because you have labeled that in your head.
I actually just had this conversation with my wife the other night about the chevelle going on new Daily driver status.
I guess she didn't believe me that I would? I don't know why, I used to daily my 76.
I'm not gonna drive the Camaro to the mill because the stink and saw dust. Just not gonna! But you're right, I've put it on the back burner myself. I lost the focus on it (them) when the kids were younger and the Camaro couldn't haul us all. It still can't but the wife and I go more places without the kids now. But it's on the list! Get the brakes on the Gimmy and then the Camaro goes on stands for a checkup, then tags and insurance and tire smoke! (OK, actually valve seal smoke)
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Daily driver doesn't mean it has to go to work with you. Drop off the Xterra at home and run errands or pick up the kids in the Camaro.
Of course I am a bit biased as I had a X and I know how terrible they are. Also had a 3rd gen before. So I know that wouldn't be a hard decision for me to make. The Camaro would win everyday for me.
I don't know what kind of X you had but I love mine. The only thing I would consider replacing it with would be a 1st Gen K5 or a Jeep LJ Rubicon....
I do think driving them helps a lot. I have 3 project trucks and whichever one I'm driving at the time is the on that gets the attention/money. When they're parked you forget or ignore the things that need done with them.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
They are ok. I would say they are the same as old rusty beatdown 70s Chevy truck. As least in ride, drive, wind noise and overall build quality.
Guess I just expected more is all. That's on me. Not on the people that own them now.
I was swept away in the river of popularity. Also not on the Nissan. On me.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Maybe. I bought this and didn't touch it for roughly 18 months. I am still driven to work on it/drive it.
On the flip side I have vehicle (s
) I haven't touched in 15 years.
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First Gen is a little rougher around the edges. The second gen (05+) has coilover in front vs torsion bars, R&P instead of box and idler and are a little better finished out. Still leaf spring rear which is what I wanted but my point of reference is a 3/4t truck designed in the 80s....
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Well a first generation x basically is the same setup as a gmt400 when it comes to the suspension. But yet my 93 with Fat block was a superior ride. I spent alot of money on the x thinking it just needed this or that.
After I replaced every damn part on it I cut bait and accepted it for what it is.
I don't know if they improved the body in the second generation. But that thing was like driving an empty can of baked beans.
Off road it felt top heavy to me. (could just the SUV thing) and lastly it was generally underpowered. Add in some Colorado Mt altitude and headwind and you were screwed. Mine was the 3.3 litre. Crappy fuel consumption sealed the deal. (And I like big blocks! I feel like that's saying alot!)
I am glad you like yours. Really am. But the Xterra just wasn't for me.
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