Re: The 83's Project Thread

[Iago]

Do you know anything about that Kizashi? For a current production model, it looked kind of interesting.

[East]

Made the first page: http://www.ridelust.com/the-50-most-famous-cars-of-all-time/

The response I have been getting from people all day has been overwhelmingly positive now that the floors are in. I ended up running up to my mechanic to get it inspected.

The car feels so much more solid now. There is so much less body flex and there are so many less interior "creaks" The stiffness made the worn out suspension even worse though.









and for comparison

[Seamaster]

When are you getting the Cylon eye installed?


Iago: As far as I know it's a decent small to mid-size sports sedan with fairly luxurious interior for the price. Of course, you can do better from an all-out performance perspective and there are a few things in the car that were knocked in reviews, such as a clunky six-speed shifter and front-wheel drive in the sport version. Make that four-wheel drive, add a turbo and a slick shifter and the car would be a complete winner. But then it'd cost much more . . . .

[Iago]

Well, I do not think that there is much that I can do to change Eve's heart being set on a Lacrosse, but I was just curious.

[Seamaster]

If she's set on a Buick, get her to look at the Regal GS.

[Iago]

No dice. I know that it has been getting rave reviews, but she loves the look of the Lacrosse. And to be fair, it is a sharper looking vehicle than the new Regal.

[Seamaster]

The Regal GS is pimped up, but if she prefers the look of the Lacrosse, then that pimping won't change her mind. The Regal is easier on the wallet, though.

[Iago]

Well, we will never buy a new car anyway. We are hoping to find a slightly used, say 2010 vintage. Let someone else eat the drive-off-the-lot depreciation.

[Seamaster]

Wise decision. I'm not sure how things play out in the US, but Canadian car values decline by up to 65% at the three-year mark, depending on make.

[Iago]

Well, various figures are always floated around about how much a car depreciates the moment that it leaves the lot, but I am not sure about the three year mark. We will probably target the two year old range.

[PhotoOtaku]

3 year residual values are talked about a lot, I think because that is how long most leases are.

[Iago]

Nice to see you lurking around, PO, even if only to discuss residual values!

[Seamaster]

It's also on the cusp of most warranties.

[Iago]

Good point.

[East]

Here are some more before pictures of the floor.



And here is this weeks project, More metal replacement.






Note the freshly painted and wrapped hugger orange 76' firebird in front (well back) of it

[Seamaster]

For a moment, I thought you were talking about the calendar.

[Iago]

I am still trying to parse "hugger orange."

[East]

All finished, He even blasted and repainted the tower bracket even though the bearing inside is probably shot. Its good for now though until i get my spohn brackets and new struts.

[ADOR]

If you need to run a test on anything let me know I have desktop dyno 2000, desktop dyno 2003, drag 2003, car test 200 and I just got some updated software cheap off ebay. Not the newest but new is over 100 I paid 5 bucks plus shipping so that give me now.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sim&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_ipg=200&_sop=15&_sac=1&_osacat=0&_armrs=1&_ssn=speedliquidators

If you want your own cheap there you go. I think the current version is 5 or 6 these are version 4.

[East]

So much crap left to do on this car i am just glad the metal work is almost complete.

[Iago]

Too much for me, but if you enjoy doing it more power to you!

[East]

Ah, The joy of acquiring and shipping door shells and all of the hidden expenses such as replacement bushings pins strikers locks, lock trim rings, handles, weatherstripping etc.

Almost done ironing out a deal for 2 door shells off the same teal camaro the strut tower and seat supports came off of. Had I not opted for reproduction pans this car would be 1/3 91 rs at this point...

Oh I forgot to mention I bought a hood latch support bracket off of a later model firebird to reinforce the area as the early birds had a tendency to crack where the hood latch mounts. GM later rectified the issue with fore mentioned bracket.

Its sort of a safety thing so I am not sure if it was recalled. At this point I don't much care I am just glad I have the bracket to put it together properly.

[East]

I got the hood latch support bracket and the doors are on there way. I wont find out exactly what I got with the doors (if anything) until friday. I am hoping maybe the glass sweep weather stripping is still on them because I really dont want to purchase replacements until the car get painted. I can't see installing them and then removing them again. Just increases the chances of them getting messed up so for that reason I would be grateful if he left it on there. I didn't ask about it specifically because I didn't want to risk him trying to sell it to me for extra.

A door for 1 of these cars fully loaded weighs in at about 95lbs. According to ups the package is 150lbs for both shells so other then weatherstripping it is doubtful there is anything still on them. The glass and window mechanisms are deferentially not there. That is ok though because I have good stuff on mine to work with. Just needs to be swapped into the new shells. Might replace the actuator solenoids and window motors while I have it apart just not to have to mess with it again in the near future. It would really piss me off to get the new door panels fitted and all and have to pull it all back apart again for something stupid that should have been replaced when it was already disassembled.

[Iago]

UPS shipped a 150lb package?

[East]

You would be surprised what they will stick inside a semi.

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