First Muscle Car Purchase - General Advice

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On 2007-04-23 00:59, Anc wrote:
Murff: yep Ft. Lewis, although presently Camp Liberty. Unfotunantly as much as I would love a beer, I won't be able to make it any time soon. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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I'm across the street from ya on McChord.
As for the vehicle you buy, get what you want and love. Anything else you will probably think why didn't I get what I really wanted. Plus you never know, could be the start of a long lasting relationship. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
I don't think there is really any true guide of what is less troublesome when it comes to vehicles. They are all the same to me. You get a good one that never breaks or you get one that always keeps ya busy. It's a luck of the draw really. At least for the older cars.
I spent a lot of time on my '64 but can't say as it ever left me stranded anywhere far from home other than something from my own stupidity. As an example, taking it to the coast and knowing the u-joint was ready to go. Which it did.[img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
Be safe over there and good luck on finding the perfect vehicle when you return! It'll be out there somewhere and will "talk" to you when you first lay eyes on it. Mine did!

Deb

Hurry back and be careful-I work at the FIRESTONE in Lakewood and I drive a 347 88 lx ,and the Ranchero is an awsome car (there is a guy that posts here alot with a 545ci torino that would be a great template for your dream car-bright yellow) LIMA's(429/460) are very strong and available but there is no reason to go 429 when 460 is a zero cost option and now stroker kits are getting less expensive too! We will be COOKING OUT ALOT this summer at the FIRESTONE so if you come by and see us out there stop in for a burger and brat and some GREAT BENCH RACING-again thanks for your service,HOOAH! (29th sig NORTH FORT '86-'90)

Hey bud, hope things are going well over there.

Just wanted to post up some incentive. There's only two available right now (here in Phoenix)...but usually there's 3-5 lol.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/326552265.html


And...this one has no picture...
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/309093907.html

Here's an earlier one...and the rest are in Vegas...
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/car/325802124.html


And...
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/car/323374900.html

Then there's....
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/car/300040033.html


lol, these are all fairly local to me, the phoenix ones ARE local.

Anyhow man, building your own is WAY more fun than owning an original...I used to want a 67 Shelby sooo bad. Then I realized...all it would EVER be was a 67 Shelby. If I started with a similar car, I could make it the Shelby that SHOULD have been built =). Never looked back!

Cris




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Engine swaps with Fords are a PITA.

Back in high school, I swapped a 400 for a 460 in a 1973 LTD.

Those two engines use the same bellhousing bolt pattern and trans, so I thought it would be a piece of cake. Wrong.

Every part that could possibly be different, was different. Engine and frame mounts, engine drive stuff, even things like the throttle cable assembly. If I didn't have a 460 parts car, I would have been screwed.

My advice is to save the engine swap stuff for last. Just do some easy stuff with the existing engine, and save that extra level of difficulty for after you've become more proficient at mechanical work.

Plus, car choice. It is MUCH cheaper and easier to fix up a car that has plenty of inexpensive aftermarket support. For example, a friend recently paid $800 for a set of NOS taillamp assemblies for a 1966 Comet Cyclone. The piece that fits between those is also not available, and is only available as a used/rechrome for around $1600. ANY excellent trim or body part is mega bucks for cars that are not supported by the aftermarket. I recently sold a NOS in the box, trunk latch for a 1963 Falcon, with key and tumbler assembly for $525. You need a bumper? Get ready to shell out several hundred bucks to get it re-chromed.... assuming you have one that isn't beat up too bad.

These parts for an early mustang, or some other car that is heavily supported by the aftermarket are pennies by comparison.

Think long and hard before taking on a car that is not supported by the aftermarket. If you want it to look good, you'll be paying BIG BUCKS to make it look right.

Good Luck!
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Still out there? Got to love this mud. I know a guy that has Ranchero parts for sell, so give me a yell.

n20mike, truer words have never been spoken.
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