Why so high?

[some bloke]

My shortlist is around 20, with an indefinite number of possibilities depending on tonight's Euromillions win. I'll have to factor in the size of the storage shed as well.
Top 5:
63 Chev Belair with a 409 and 4sp
38 Ford pick up with a hot flathead
29 A Roadster with a high winding 283 and 4/5sp, fenderless
39 Ford coupe or maybe a Lincoln Zephyr coupe- stock would be ok.
Chopped 49 merc

[aeropilot]

newsatten said:

Hey RR how about this ?

Looks a lovely little car,
My Lotus has these fabulous square’ish headlamps too
Maybe they all did ?
Mine was a G plate car,
This does look very complete
Currently at 26k which is probably half what the seller wants !! Lol

That's an Australian made one, so not really considered a 'proper' one by many.....they were not same spec as UK made 'original's
In terms of the original 883 UK made Twin Cam's, over half had the square headlamps (as did my G-reg one originally) but they changed over to the round headlamps in autumn of 1969, so there were round headlamp Twin Cam's made from late '69 through to end of production in May '71.
Many owners of square headlamp Twin Cam's converted their cars to round head lamps during the 1970's, so by end of the 70's there were very few original square lamp cars left (mine had been converted to round lights in the late 70's)

[ratrod 2]

newsatten said:

My list consists of about of about 4 cars,
That are possible and maybe a 100 which aren’t

Yes mine would be about 100 + as well,

Wish i was like my mate who has owned his MG C roadster for some 40 years and doesn't

want anything else,think he's had the same wife for 50 years ,

Life would be so much simpler,

[ratrod 2]

Anyone who thought they missed out not going to Wheels Day i can tell you that you didn't miss much ,

I'm a little bit biased going to Rushmoor arena for so many years ,Brooklands before that but didn't enjoy today one little bit,

The boys from the Surrey Street Rodders were working hard today and yesterday and doing their best with what they had,

Can't be easy finding a new home for what must be the largest rod American and custom car show this side of the M1

Surprised at the amount of cars that turned up in the heavy morning rain but there was a lack of the really tasty gear that is normally there.

Being wet , cold and muddy, as well as the new venue not helping.

Got caught up in the grid lock on the A34 then the M3 just rounded it off nicely,

[newsatten]

ratrod 2 said:

newsatten said:

My list consists of about of about 4 cars,
That are possible and maybe a 100 which aren’t

Yes mine would be about 100 + as well,

Wish i was like my mate who has owned his MG C roadster for some 40 years and doesn't

want anything else,think he's had the same wife for 50 years ,

Life would be so much simpler,

Totally agree!!
But we’re all strange so will always be looking for the next best thing!
I viewed the TA’ s this morning, really hoping I would just glance and walk , but the scruffy barn find car
Really does have potential!!
99.9.% complete, perfect dash crash pad,
Instrument housing and engine tuned Ali in perfect condition
Interior all ok but dirty,
The roof had some rust pitting to the centre,
Hood is rusted out across the front section,
Small amounts of rust to bulkhead,
Still need to check floors, chassis rails and trunk area,
Screens smashed as is the drivers door glass,
Front and rear quarters have small amount of corrosion to extreme lowers sections, but definitely would repair,
I think is very doable, 3 owner car, 65or 85 on the clock,
Couldn’t make out due to dust !!
Numbers matching HO 400 Ram Air 111 but don’t know if it’s a M21 or a Rockcrusher 22

[ratrod 2]

newsatten said:

ratrod 2 said:

newsatten said:

My list consists of about of about 4 cars,
That are possible and maybe a 100 which aren’t

Yes mine would be about 100 + as well,

Wish i was like my mate who has owned his MG C roadster for some 40 years and doesn't

want anything else,think he's had the same wife for 50 years ,

Life would be so much simpler,

Totally agree!!
But we’re all strange so will always be looking for the next best thing!
I viewed the TA’ s this morning, really hoping I would just glance and walk , but the scruffy barn find car
Really does have potential!!
99.9.% complete, perfect dash crash pad,
Instrument housing and engine tuned Ali in perfect condition
Interior all ok but dirty,
The roof had some rust pitting to the centre,
Hood is rusted out across the front section,
Small amounts of rust to bulkhead,
Still need to check floors, chassis rails and trunk area,
Screens smashed as is the drivers door glass,
Front and rear quarters have small amount of corrosion to extreme lowers sections, but definitely would repair,
I think is very doable, 3 owner car, 65or 85 on the clock,
Couldn’t make out due to dust !!
Numbers matching HO 400 Ram Air 111 but don’t know if it’s a M21 or a Rockcrusher 22

Me i couldn't even think about buying it as the labour alone wouldn't make it viable,I would be better off buying

American Pete's blue bull nose for £65K and have a ready to drive car and still end up in front of the white car financially

and not having the wait of 2 years or more having it restored,but you can save a shed load money doing this yourself,

A big investment and no going back once started.

On the other hand not the car you long to own but easier on the brain just seen it listed today a rather lovely 77 Trans Am , sorry it is auto

rare car in silver with red interior, I love a period silver or white /cream classic with red interiors ,

Sounds and looks a decent car with 47,000 miles genuine ,

The guys asking £21K which is probably negotiable although the guy doesn't sound desperate ,

It's on "UK Classic American Cars " ,takes 2 seconds to join up to their forum via Face Book,

"unusal car sales uk "is worth joining too while your there, they are mainly yanks and rods.

Just a thought while your in T/Am mode.

[aeropilot]

ratrod 2 said:

Anyone who thought they missed out not going to Wheels Day i can tell you that you didn't miss much ,

I'm a little bit biased going to Rushmoor arena for so many years ,Brooklands before that but didn't enjoy today one little bit,

The boys from the Surrey Street Rodders were working hard today and yesterday and doing their best with what they had,

Can't be easy finding a new home for what must be the largest rod American and custom car show this side of the M1

Surprised at the amount of cars that turned up in the heavy morning rain but there was a lack of the really tasty gear that is normally there.

Being wet , cold and muddy, as well as the new venue not helping.

Got caught up in the grid lock on the A34 then the M3 just rounded it off nicely,

Shame.
I had a feeling, and especially when a lot of people started turning up at NAMCO from Wheels Day by 1.30, so they must have left WD by 12.30 to get to NAMCO, which didn't say much for WD.

[Motorama]

ratrod 2 said:

Anyone who thought they missed out not going to Wheels Day i can tell you that you didn't miss much ,

I'm a little bit biased going to Rushmoor arena for so many years ,Brooklands before that but didn't enjoy today one little bit,

The boys from the Surrey Street Rodders were working hard today and yesterday and doing their best with what they had,

Can't be easy finding a new home for what must be the largest rod American and custom car show this side of the M1

Surprised at the amount of cars that turned up in the heavy morning rain but there was a lack of the really tasty gear that is normally there.

Being wet , cold and muddy, as well as the new venue not helping.

Got caught up in the grid lock on the A34 then the M3 just rounded it off nicely,

I feel a bit better now I’ve read that, we decided to give it a miss, driving hour and a half to park in a muddy field with more rain forecast in a nice car just didn’t sit right with me , haven’t missed many over the years and wondered if I’d done the right thing, sounds like I did

[P5BNij]

ratrod 2 said:

newsatten said:

My list consists of about of about 4 cars,
That are possible and maybe a 100 which aren’t

Yes mine would be about 100 + as well,

Wish i was like my mate who has owned his MG C roadster for some 40 years and doesn't

want anything else,think he's had the same wife for 50 years ,

Life would be so much simpler,

I've got two lists, one for yanks and one for Italians! The yank list has about ten likely suspects while the Italian one has three times as many.

I do envy you having a nice 'pot' from the C2 sale, I'd be dangerous if it were mine

[newsatten]

[quote=ratrod 2]

Me i couldn't even think about buying it as the labour alone wouldn't make it viable,I would be better off buying

American Pete's blue bull nose for £65K and have a ready to drive car and still end up in front of the white car financially

and not having the wait of 2 years or more having it restored,but you can save a shed load money doing this yourself,

A big investment and no going back once started.

On the other hand not the car you long to own but easier on the brain just seen it listed today a rather lovely 77 Trans Am , sorry it is auto

rare car in silver with red interior, I love a period silver or white /cream classic with red interiors ,

Sounds and looks a decent car with 47,000 miles genuine ,

The guys asking £21K which is probably negotiable although the guy doesn't sound desperate ,

It's on "UK Classic American Cars " ,takes 2 seconds to join up to their forum via Face Book,

"unusal car sales uk "is worth joining too while your there, they are mainly yanks and rods.

Just a thought while your in T/Am mode.

Nah just be buying for the sake of it, no if i cant have what i want not buying anything!
And yes i agree it need a massive amount of work, but its what i do so apart from the size and bother locating parts from the US which is also a painful and fraught passtime these days,

But the dilemma is definitely a thing, buy this and work my nuts off again, or buy something virtually turn key and improve etc,
The one thing thats not negotiable is the trans , got to be a Manual end of lol................................................

[LeighW]

newsatten said:

Totally agree!!
But we’re all strange so will always be looking for the next best thing!
I viewed the TA’ s this morning, really hoping I would just glance and walk , but the scruffy barn find car
Really does have potential!!
99.9.% complete, perfect dash crash pad,
Instrument housing and engine tuned Ali in perfect condition
Interior all ok but dirty,
The roof had some rust pitting to the centre,
Hood is rusted out across the front section,
Small amounts of rust to bulkhead,
Still need to check floors, chassis rails and trunk area,
Screens smashed as is the drivers door glass,
Front and rear quarters have small amount of corrosion to extreme lowers sections, but definitely would repair,
I think is very doable, 3 owner car, 65or 85 on the clock,
Couldn’t make out due to dust !!
Numbers matching HO 400 Ram Air 111 but don’t know if it’s a M21 or a Rockcrusher 22

Please buy it, I really want an interesting build thread to follow! Joking apart, it's the car you want and you have the skills, so...

Did my annual oil change on the Firebird this morning, got it ready to take for a spin and then the heavens opened.

When you give a good prod on the throttle, the old girl is smoking a bit from the left bank, looks like I might be looking for recommendations for where I can get a SBC freshened up this year. Shame importing a crate motor is so bloody expensive these days.

[newsatten]

LeighW said:

newsatten said:

Totally agree!!
But we’re all strange so will always be looking for the next best thing!
I viewed the TA’ s this morning, really hoping I would just glance and walk , but the scruffy barn find car
Really does have potential!!
99.9.% complete, perfect dash crash pad,
Instrument housing and engine tuned Ali in perfect condition
Interior all ok but dirty,
The roof had some rust pitting to the centre,
Hood is rusted out across the front section,
Small amounts of rust to bulkhead,
Still need to check floors, chassis rails and trunk area,
Screens smashed as is the drivers door glass,
Front and rear quarters have small amount of corrosion to extreme lowers sections, but definitely would repair,
I think is very doable, 3 owner car, 65or 85 on the clock,
Couldn’t make out due to dust !!
Numbers matching HO 400 Ram Air 111 but don’t know if it’s a M21 or a Rockcrusher 22

Please buy it, I really want an interesting build thread to follow! Joking apart, it's the car you want and you have the skills, so...

Did my annual oil change on the Firebird this morning, got it ready to take for a spin and then the heavens opened.

When you give a good prod on the throttle, the old girl is smoking a bit from the left bank, looks like I might be looking for recommendations for where I can get a SBC freshened up this year. Shame importing a crate motor is so bloody expensive these days.

Haha
Something will happen 👍
And don’t worry about that to much, probably your value stem seals a tad on the hard side !

[aeropilot]

some bloke said:

My shortlist is around 20, with an indefinite number of possibilities depending on tonight's Euromillions win. I'll have to factor in the size of the storage shed as well.
Top 5:
63 Chev Belair with a 409 and 4sp
38 Ford pick up with a hot flathead
29 A Roadster with a high winding 283 and 4/5sp, fenderless
39 Ford coupe or maybe a Lincoln Zephyr coupe- stock would be ok.
Chopped 49 merc

Nice list

[roscobbc]

newsatten said:

Haha
Something will happen ??
And don’t worry about that to much, probably your value stem seals a tad on the hard side !

Why not take it for a 20 mile run? - get it nice and warm and see how it is when you return. Does it actually 'use' any significant oil? - is there any 'blow past' from the breather?

[roscobbc]

newsatten said:

Numbers matching HO 400 Ram Air 111 but don’t know if it’s a M21 or a Rockcrusher 22

Does it really matter about the M22 - other than some supposed stronger internals and the infamous 'whine' there isn't a lot of difference to a M21 - ratio's will be the same. I've been running close to 600 hp/600+ ft/lbs tq with sticky wide tyres for the last 10 years with zero issues.......OK so I don't do max revs/dropping clutch drag strip pullaways......but neither will you.

[aeropilot]

LeighW said:

When you give a good prod on the throttle, the old girl is smoking a bit from the left bank, looks like I might be looking for recommendations for where I can get a SBC freshened up this year. Shame importing a crate motor is so bloody expensive these days.

If it does get worse and you do get a few quotes, compare the quotes with getting a crate motor anyway.

Roadcraft stock Blueprint engines here in UK, which will still be cheaper than personal import of a crate motor from Blueprint or elsewhere.

[ratrod 2]

Motorama said:

I feel a bit better now I’ve read that, we decided to give it a miss, driving hour and a half to park in a muddy field with more rain forecast in a nice car just didn’t sit right with me , haven’t missed many over the years and wondered if I’d done the right thing, sounds like I did

Baring in mind the distance there and back take it from me you definitely did the right thing,

Just think you will still be cleaning whatever you drove down in and probably finishing it tomorrow as well,

Not like putting a quick bucket of water over your daily.

You might not even be home yet still sat in grid lock .

If it wasn't for the fact i 'm near by i don't think i would have gone either.

[newsatten]

roscobbc said:

newsatten said:

Numbers matching HO 400 Ram Air 111 but don’t know if it’s a M21 or a Rockcrusher 22

Does it really matter about the M22 - other than some supposed stronger internals and the infamous 'whine' there isn't a lot of difference to a M21 - ratio's will be the same. I've been running close to 600 hp/600+ ft/lbs tq with sticky wide tyres for the last 10 years with zero issues.......OK so I don't do max revs/dropping clutch drag strip pullaways......but neither will you.

No not really, if the car genuinely has all it parts and was made with a 21 then great,
The motor is definitely a WS which is correct but need to look at its vin to confirm whether it is indeed matching?
But to be honest im not particularly bothered one way or the other!
All the Matching stuff is bks to me,
These are old cars and should be thrashed!
Doing this causes wear and damage which can be fixed,
Engines let go for all sorts of reasons and 50 odd years is a very long time !

I’ll just mull it over for the time being,
But as a retirement past time it could be just what I need,
Plus I’ll tick that all important want off the list ,

This all sounds like a no brainer but it’s a big car and will require a the full Monty !

[LeighW]

roscobbc said:

newsatten said:

Haha
Something will happen ??
And don’t worry about that to much, probably your value stem seals a tad on the hard side !

Why not take it for a 20 mile run? - get it nice and warm and see how it is when you return. Does it actually 'use' any significant oil? - is there any 'blow past' from the breather?

I'll hopefully take it out this weekend, looking dry fingers crossed. It doesn't use much oil, no, it did breathe a bit but since I sorted a pcv setup it's better. The oil smoke is only from the left pipe, on throttle not the overrun which makes me think rings/bore wear.

[LeighW]

aeropilot said:

If it does get worse and you do get a few quotes, compare the quotes with getting a crate motor anyway.

Roadcraft stock Blueprint engines here in UK, which will still be cheaper than personal import of a crate motor from Blueprint or elsewhere.

Thanks Aero.