Those tree frogs are all over the place up here. They can be a pest but I haven't seen them do much damage. After a rain storm we get them in the garage. I just pick them up and throw them gently back in the woods. Just wash you hands if you handle them.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Those tree frogs are all over the place up here. They can be a pest but I haven't seen them do much damage.
The only "damage" a tree frog could possibly do is to the mosquito population. Seriously! Tree frogs have got to be among the most docile, least threatening creatures on the planet. True, there are poisonous varieties found in Central and South America... but their vivid colors serve as fair warning to leave them alone!
At this point I am wondering how smartaxle is doing on getting this kit car running again. Must admit that the body looks decent in the pictures. If the frame is sound and rust free then the restoration job should go on with few major problems. Last we heard he couldn' t get the car to start. So much for it ran when we last ran it but lets let the man fill us in.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
At this point I am wondering how smartaxle is doing on getting this kit car running again. Must admit that the body looks decent in the pictures. If the frame is sound and rust free then the restoration job should go on with few major problems.
The Floorboards, however, look like the titanic. I moved the driver seat forward and it broke free from the chassis... The frame will be junked soon... Its getting swapped onto another 84 chassis, however with true lower miles, that I purchased a few days ago, then that chassis will eventually get engine swapped.
I need to start a build thread just havent had time to sit down and do it..
So the engine ran when I bought it, but ended up having issues. It actually ran great before I paid for it but that was brief. It does run, but doesnt like to stay running and had water in the oil. I dont know if the water is due to a headgasket type issue or rain. It had some makeshift oil dipstick that didnt fit and was rusty so part of me thinks its rain water that got in. The kit install was poor. There are no gaskets and the decklid doesnt even fit the rear body correctly.
The frame on the car is bad. The cradle, front suspension, rails etc were all good, but the floorpan by the seats was too gone for me. I dont like large rust repair and its just not worth it since that chassis had a branded vin anyway.
The car is getting a "new" chassis and will have the body panels swapped over. The new chassis is an 84. I always told myself Id never buy an 84, but the price was right, as were the miles. Its a 75,000 mile, very little rust, none structural, chassis that was stored in a barn since 1997 when the owner died. A friend had it for about 25 years just sitting, sold it to another friend. She didn't have time for it, so she sold it to me since the body kit will be an honorable future for it. I dont yet know if the engine will run or not, but we are working on it tomorrow. There have been personal challenges the last few weeks, so it's a slow process.
Here's an update picture of the "new" chassis taken today. its in good shape. Tomorrow we are going to work on brakes, fuel tank and alternator to see if it will start. Eventually it will get a 3800, but I'd like to get the 4cyl running so it can drive if necessary. Body will have to be cut to come off the old chassis, and want to be able to move it around for body work/paint.
quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
At this point I am wondering how smartaxle is doing on getting this kit car running again. Must admit that the body looks decent in the pictures. If the frame is sound and rust free then the restoration job should go on with few major problems. Last we heard he couldn' t get the car to start. So much for it ran when we last ran it but lets let the man fill us in.
[This message has been edited by smartaxel (edited 09-16-2023).]
I need to start a build thread just havent had time to sit down and do it..
So the engine ran when I bought it, but ended up having issues. It actually ran great before I paid for it but that was brief. It does run, but doesnt like to stay running and had water in the oil. I dont know if the water is due to a headgasket type issue or rain. It had some makeshift oil dipstick that didnt fit and was rusty so part of me thinks its rain water that got in. The kit install was poor. There are no gaskets and the decklid doesnt even fit the rear body correctly.
The frame on the car is bad. The cradle, front suspension, rails etc were all good, but the floorpan by the seats was too gone for me. I dont like large rust repair and its just not worth it since that chassis had a branded vin anyway.
The car is getting a "new" chassis and will have the body panels swapped over. The new chassis is an 84. I always told myself Id never buy an 84, but the price was right, as were the miles. Its a 75,000 mile, very little rust, none structural, chassis that was stored in a barn since 1997 when the owner died. A friend had it for about 25 years just sitting, sold it to another friend. She didn't have time for it, so she sold it to me since the body kit will be an honorable future for it. I dont yet know if the engine will run or not, but we are working on it tomorrow. There have been personal challenges the last few weeks, so it's a slow process.
Here's an update picture of the "new" chassis taken today. its in good shape. Tomorrow we are going to work on brakes, fuel tank and alternator to see if it will start. Eventually it will get a 3800, but I'd like to get the 4cyl running so it can drive if necessary. Body will have to be cut to come off the old chassis, and want to be able to move it around for body work/paint.
Very cool... I don't blame you one bit wanting to get another chassis.
What kind of air/fuel system are you going to put on that 3,800? I'd always thought a carbureted motor would be pretty cool in one of these. Not like a Rochester QuadraJet, but something a bit more unique, like three 2bbl carbs, or something closer to the original Ferrari style of fuel/air intake. I bet it would sound pretty sweet.
EDIT: What kind of condition were the 84 body panels in? Were they perfect / excellent paint? Or were they pretty much faded / shot?
[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 09-17-2023).]
Stock 3800 supercharged with 3.5 or 3.6 pulley for now, but that's likely next year. Body swap first. Work on the car will stop in November unfortunately. Using the engine id planned for my other car.
The 84 was a members car and in 1997 or 1998 they were prepping it for paint. Most panels were sanded completely or primed. Only the doors were stock red anymore. It'd been in a barn till maybe 2 months ago, then was sitting covered in a yard. Still has 25 year old masking tape around some areas..lol.
QUOTE]Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Very cool... I don't blame you one bit wanting to get another chassis.
What kind of air/fuel system are you going to put on that 3,800? I'd always thought a carbureted motor would be pretty cool in one of these. Not like a Rochester QuadraJet, but something a bit more unique, like three 2bbl carbs, or something closer to the original Ferrari style of fuel/air intake. I bet it would sound pretty sweet.
EDIT: What kind of condition were the 84 body panels in? Were they perfect / excellent paint? Or were they pretty much faded / shot?
You are not wrong.. lol. It's also just a 2x4 under the bumper so that is a reminder of those 70s sedans who's owners replaced the rusted number with a piece of wood. Would work perfectly..lol
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: You can totally use those 1970s bumper impact shock absorbers here!
I want to say it's going to need a paint job after all this... (previous builder used drywall screws through the rear roof panel and under the filler so it was a challenge to remove)
I want to say it's going to need a paint job after all this... (previous builder used drywall screws through the rear roof panel and under the filler so it was a challenge to remove)
Oh man, what are you doing ... installing T-Tops? That might look pretty good. Do you have a kit or are you taking it off a junker?
It looks as though smartaxle purchased basically a Ferrari style fiberglass body. It was obviously worth the $5,000 to him but as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. IMO, this vehicle had more problems than most of us thought. I'm certain that the end product will look great but perhaps after 100 hours of labor. Its great that this replicar was saved and I look forward to seeing the final result.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
So basically I bought an unknown body with many many layers of paint. It has MERA taillights, oddly, but I have no idea who made the body, Artero dash (yeah the ugly dash is the pisa artero dash), wheels, and a bunch of spare parts of very questionable quality. But now I have an extra cradle to build the new engine on, I think.
Reality is I don't want to pay $14 for a combo at Arby's either but prices aren't what they used to be.
When I bought this, there were three other options. Two I could afford, one no way . One body for $6500 and 10 hours driving, that also needed a new chassis because it was hit, and another for $4000 in Cali that was non running and a mess. That owner wasn't exactly being nice at all, and also refused to ship/sell it to Michigan. It's likely to have needed a ton of work as well, so I got the best I could find at the time and arguably the cheapest. I wasn't about to spend $15,000 for the third, beautiful, compete one because that is no fun and I'd have been bored of it within hours.. also it was red, and I really like these in yellow.
But yeah. Today.. goodbye old, nasty oversprayed frame with mold, three piece rear window and likely tetanus
quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
It looks as though smartaxle purchased basically a Ferrari style fiberglass body. It was obviously worth the $5,000 to him but as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. IMO, this vehicle had more problems than most of us thought. I'm certain that the end product will look great but perhaps after 100 hours of labor. Its great that this replicar was saved and I look forward to seeing the final result.
So basically I bought an unknown body with many many layers of paint. It has MERA taillights, oddly, but I have no idea who made the body, Artero dash (yeah the ugly dash is the pisa artero dash), wheels, and a bunch of spare parts of very questionable quality. But now I have an extra cradle to build the new engine on, I think.
Reality is I don't want to pay $14 for a combo at Arby's either but prices aren't what they used to be.
When I bought this, there were three other options. Two I could afford, one no way . One body for $6500 and 10 hours driving, that also needed a new chassis because it was hit, and another for $4000 in Cali that was non running and a mess. That owner wasn't exactly being nice at all, and also refused to ship/sell it to Michigan. It's likely to have needed a ton of work as well, so I got the best I could find at the time and arguably the cheapest. I wasn't about to spend $15,000 for the third, beautiful, compete one because that is no fun and I'd have been bored of it within hours.. also it was red, and I really like these in yellow.
But yeah. Today.. goodbye old, nasty oversprayed frame with mold, three piece rear window and likely tetanus
I think you did perfectly OK...
And I agree with you on this... "Reality is I don't want to pay $14 for a combo at Arby's either but prices aren't what they used to be."
These cars are just not that available anymore, and certainly not at the prices that we're used to them going for. It used to be that on any given day, I could get a Fiero for $500 bucks. Like... all day long, I could find one within 100 miles of me that I could pick up for $500. In the late 90s and early 2000s, I picked up a couple of Fieros for $250 bucks that I was able to drive. These prices just don't exist anymore.
And... we can argue about a $4,000 car 3,000 miles away, or a $6,500 car 1,500 miles away... but you found a $5,000 car that's located down the street from you. And while it wasn't exactly what you wanted... it's going to be a cool project, and I think you saved a really cool body.
I'll be following this thread for sure- I bought a 308 kit sight unseen from marketplace last week, picking it up on Tuesday. As I said in another thread, nothing can possibly go wrong! Mine doesn't come with a Fiero underneath, but my 3.8SC looks like it was painted with a cob of corn and buffed with a live squirrel so I think it'll become the Fauxrrari.
Nice frog, btw.
[This message has been edited by bandi (edited 10-08-2023).]
So basically I bought an unknown body with many many layers of paint. It has MERA taillights, oddly, but I have no idea who made the body, Artero dash (yeah the ugly dash is the pisa artero dash), wheels, and a bunch of spare parts of very questionable quality. But now I have an extra cradle to build the new engine on, I think.
Smartaxel, it's been awhile. Any progress reports?
Cute. Must've been awfully damp inside that car!
I wouldn't have the skills (or intestinal fortitude) for a project of this magnitude.
