Wedgeless this summer... :(
Discussion
I noticed something weird the other day. My o/s front tire was way out of proper camber. I took a quick peek into the wheel well and noticed immediately two problems. 1) A sway bar mount had come unbolted and 2) the n/s leading link had cracked through... exactly in the same spot I had to fix the other side last year.
I took the car to the shop and got it up on a hoist. Being able to go over the underside with a fine toothed comb revealed even more problems. The camber problem is due to the lower wishbone mount tearing away from the frame due to fatigue and rust. I also spotted at least two cross-members between the main frame tubes that had either rusted through or cracked.
Long story short, it appears that the car is riddled with terminal cancer. (rust)
I'll have it stripped to every last nut and bolt come hell or high water,... I knew I would have to someday.
Anyhow, my car is likely off the road for at least two years... I estimate it'll cost me about $30k for a full
body-off restoration.
Since I can't drive mine, you guys will have to drive a few extra miles this summer for me in my stead. LOL
Happy wedging guys.
I took the car to the shop and got it up on a hoist. Being able to go over the underside with a fine toothed comb revealed even more problems. The camber problem is due to the lower wishbone mount tearing away from the frame due to fatigue and rust. I also spotted at least two cross-members between the main frame tubes that had either rusted through or cracked.
Long story short, it appears that the car is riddled with terminal cancer. (rust)
I'll have it stripped to every last nut and bolt come hell or high water,... I knew I would have to someday.
Anyhow, my car is likely off the road for at least two years... I estimate it'll cost me about $30k for a full
body-off restoration.
Since I can't drive mine, you guys will have to drive a few extra miles this summer for me in my stead. LOL
Happy wedging guys.
Well If you look at my Race Car project.
I've done a simular thing. and it taken about 5 months and that only working weekends.
Plus a lot of stuff had to be converted or re-made. as I did not have all the parts.
And other parts have been changed.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
So if a shop is doing it, it should take a lot less time.
I've done a simular thing. and it taken about 5 months and that only working weekends.
Plus a lot of stuff had to be converted or re-made. as I did not have all the parts.
And other parts have been changed.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
So if a shop is doing it, it should take a lot less time.
30K$ may sound like a lot but it's based on quotes from shops and includes upgradees along the way.
Leather, wood, carpet and hood with tinted back window... $5,000 (actual quote)
Paint and body, $2000 quick job... OR $5000 with a show car finish. (quote)
Brand new white face gauge set (speedo/ oil preas broken) $1000 (quote)
New coilovers for the back and new front springs and shocks $750 (guess)
Halteck engine mgt. system with assoc. sensors and stuff $2500 http://haltech.com/ (the poor mans' ark Adams chip)
Replace rusty gas tanks/pot with custom fab units... $600 (guess)
New u-joints $300 (guess)
Engine rebuild $3000... (quote) if punched out to Griff 500 specs, $5000 (guess)
New calipers with vented disk kit, plus new rotors, stsinless steel lines, $1000 (guess)
I could go on, the car really needs a lot of work. At a BARE minimum I'd need to pull the engine to fix
front and rear seal leaks.
It'll kill me not to drive it, but I knew it would be a bottomless money pit when I bought it.
If I'm going to do this I'm going to do it right. To hell with a band-aid solution.
As fa4r as somementioned about shipping it to native soil for the fixes.... it cost me $2300 for the boat and another $1500 for the train olast time. That's too much for a two way trip when you double the cost.
Shipping the bare frame to someone with a jig makes sense tho.
Who has a jig for one of these?
Leather, wood, carpet and hood with tinted back window... $5,000 (actual quote)
Paint and body, $2000 quick job... OR $5000 with a show car finish. (quote)
Brand new white face gauge set (speedo/ oil preas broken) $1000 (quote)
New coilovers for the back and new front springs and shocks $750 (guess)
Halteck engine mgt. system with assoc. sensors and stuff $2500 http://haltech.com/ (the poor mans' ark Adams chip)
Replace rusty gas tanks/pot with custom fab units... $600 (guess)
New u-joints $300 (guess)
Engine rebuild $3000... (quote) if punched out to Griff 500 specs, $5000 (guess)
New calipers with vented disk kit, plus new rotors, stsinless steel lines, $1000 (guess)
I could go on, the car really needs a lot of work. At a BARE minimum I'd need to pull the engine to fix
front and rear seal leaks.
It'll kill me not to drive it, but I knew it would be a bottomless money pit when I bought it.
If I'm going to do this I'm going to do it right. To hell with a band-aid solution.
As fa4r as somementioned about shipping it to native soil for the fixes.... it cost me $2300 for the boat and another $1500 for the train olast time. That's too much for a two way trip when you double the cost.
Shipping the bare frame to someone with a jig makes sense tho.
Who has a jig for one of these?
BadRedWedge said:
Sorry to hear that Mike but $30K ... 
It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you
Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
Are you mentally ill? You've got a 1 of 35 EVER car and you'd sell it? It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
In all honesty, I still have my eye on L33's sweet 400.
Brap_Brap said:
BadRedWedge said:
Sorry to hear that Mike but $30K ... It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you
Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
Are you mentally ill? You've got a 1 of 35 EVER car and you'd sell it? It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
In all honesty, I still have my eye on L33's sweet 400.
Brap_Brap said:
BadRedWedge said:
Sorry to hear that Mike but $30K ... It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you
Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
Are you mentally ill? You've got a 1 of 35 EVER car and you'd sell it? It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
In all honesty, I still have my eye on L33's sweet 400.
Sorry to hear the news with the wedge bud. I'm afraid I sold mine.
Personally, rather than spend $30k restroing the one you have, I'd buy another. I can personally vouch for these 2 - and they are both 450's!:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/492724.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335286.htm
L33.
L33 said:
Brap_Brap said:
BadRedWedge said:
Sorry to hear that Mike but $30K ... It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you
Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
Are you mentally ill? You've got a 1 of 35 EVER car and you'd sell it? It would be cheaper to ship it back here and get someone like Dulford to do it for you Good luck anyways ... Wanna buy a nice 450 ?
In all honesty, I still have my eye on L33's sweet 400.
Sorry to hear the news with the wedge bud. I'm afraid I sold mine.
Personally, rather than spend $30k restroing the one you have, I'd buy another. I can personally vouch for these 2 - and they are both 450's!:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/492724.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335286.htm
L33.
The red wedge also looks nice, and of course I'd give my left nut to science for either, however, I did just buy
a USA spec 280i off of ebay... IOW I need a 3rd wedge like I need another hole in my head.
You say, and you're right in a way, that it is easier to buy another, but what would I do with my 390? I can't
just send it off to the wrecker's, they'd crush in on sight due to no demand for the parts. It cost me
$22k to get it from Jim's driveway to mine... too much to write off. I can't really sell it unless the buyer is
informed of it's problems, and then it would never sell.
Moreover, I don't have the cash to buy one at present. At least with a restoration I can spend a bit here, a bit there, and eventually it'll be as good as new.
L33 said:
Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear the news with the wedge bud. I'm afraid I sold mine.
Personally, rather than spend $30k restroing the one you have, I'd buy another. I can personally vouch for these 2 - and they are both 450's!:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/492724.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335286.htm
L33.
Thanks for the plug Lee Sorry to hear the news with the wedge bud. I'm afraid I sold mine.
Personally, rather than spend $30k restroing the one you have, I'd buy another. I can personally vouch for these 2 - and they are both 450's!:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/492724.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335286.htm
L33.
BadRedWedge said:
L33 said:
Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear the news with the wedge bud. I'm afraid I sold mine.
Personally, rather than spend $30k restroing the one you have, I'd buy another. I can personally vouch for these 2 - and they are both 450's!:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/492724.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335286.htm
L33.
Thanks for the plug Lee Sorry to hear the news with the wedge bud. I'm afraid I sold mine.
Personally, rather than spend $30k restroing the one you have, I'd buy another. I can personally vouch for these 2 - and they are both 450's!:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/492724.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335286.htm
L33.
Brap_Brap said:
30K$ may sound like a lot but it's based on quotes from shops and includes upgradees along the way.
Leather, wood, carpet and hood with tinted back window... $5,000 (actual quote)
Paint and body, $2000 quick job... OR $5000 with a show car finish. (quote)
Brand new white face gauge set (speedo/ oil preas broken) $1000 (quote)
New coilovers for the back and new front springs and shocks $750 (guess)
Halteck engine mgt. system with assoc. sensors and stuff $2500 http://haltech.com/ (the poor mans' ark Adams chip)
Replace rusty gas tanks/pot with custom fab units... $600 (guess)
New u-joints $300 (guess)
Engine rebuild $3000... (quote) if punched out to Griff 500 specs, $5000 (guess)
New calipers with vented disk kit, plus new rotors, stsinless steel lines, $1000 (guess)
I could go on, the car really needs a lot of work. At a BARE minimum I'd need to pull the engine to fix
front and rear seal leaks.
It'll kill me not to drive it, but I knew it would be a bottomless money pit when I bought it.
If I'm going to do this I'm going to do it right. To hell with a band-aid solution.
As fa4r as somementioned about shipping it to native soil for the fixes.... it cost me $2300 for the boat and another $1500 for the train olast time. That's too much for a two way trip when you double the cost.
Shipping the bare frame to someone with a jig makes sense tho.
Who has a jig for one of these?
30K $ is only 15k UK money. plus with all the upgrades don't sound a bad price.Leather, wood, carpet and hood with tinted back window... $5,000 (actual quote)
Paint and body, $2000 quick job... OR $5000 with a show car finish. (quote)
Brand new white face gauge set (speedo/ oil preas broken) $1000 (quote)
New coilovers for the back and new front springs and shocks $750 (guess)
Halteck engine mgt. system with assoc. sensors and stuff $2500 http://haltech.com/ (the poor mans' ark Adams chip)
Replace rusty gas tanks/pot with custom fab units... $600 (guess)
New u-joints $300 (guess)
Engine rebuild $3000... (quote) if punched out to Griff 500 specs, $5000 (guess)
New calipers with vented disk kit, plus new rotors, stsinless steel lines, $1000 (guess)
I could go on, the car really needs a lot of work. At a BARE minimum I'd need to pull the engine to fix
front and rear seal leaks.
It'll kill me not to drive it, but I knew it would be a bottomless money pit when I bought it.
If I'm going to do this I'm going to do it right. To hell with a band-aid solution.
As fa4r as somementioned about shipping it to native soil for the fixes.... it cost me $2300 for the boat and another $1500 for the train olast time. That's too much for a two way trip when you double the cost.
Shipping the bare frame to someone with a jig makes sense tho.
Who has a jig for one of these?
UK Prices do get stuff done.
Leather, wood, carpet and hood with tinted back window... $5000
can't see this being cheaper in the UK
Paint and body, $2000 quick job... OR $5000 with a show car finish. (quote)
can't see this being cheaper in the UK
Brand new white face gauge set (speedo/ oil preas broken) $1000 (quote)
£100 per gauge and sensor is about right.
Other option is to do what I've done in the RC and fitted a digital Dash. £500 + sensors. + Fitting
New coilovers for the back and new front springs and shocks $750 (guess)
SH's are about £600 for a full set. + Fitting
Halteck engine mgt. system with assoc. sensors and stuff $2500 http://haltech.com/ (the poor mans'
ark Adams chip)
Be cheaper and better to get an emerald. £1500 for full system inc RR set-up. + Fitting
Replace rusty gas tanks/pot with custom fab units... $600 (guess)
can't see this being cheaper in the UK + Fitting
New u-joints $300 (guess)
They are about £35 each x 6 if you do the probsharft so £210 + Fitting
Engine rebuild $3000... (quote) if punched out to Griff 500 specs, $5000 (guess)
Griff 500 SPEC engine rebuild is more like £5000 not $
Basic Engine re-build with new cam is going to be at least £1500 + Fitting
You going to want a new cooling systems with silicone hoses etc. Ali Rad.
So add £1000 for this
New calipers with vented disk kit, plus new rotors, stsinless steel lines, $1000 (guess)
It's going to cost more than that. more like £700-£1000 + Fitting
body off and re-ferb is going to be £2000-£4000 depends on how much needs doing. and if you want a 100% strip, and everything acid dipped. and 100% new nuts and bolts.
Sot that's about £14,000 but a lot of that is just parts price, you still going to need to pay fitting charge for all Items marked + fitting.
My Race car has cost me about 13-14K to re-build. and has most of the bits you have said done to it.
I just fired off a note to Dulford asking them this:
Thanks for the info and your post.
[edit] As for the engine seals... shouldn't be too bad, and of the 3 cracked tubes I found, only one was due to rust, the other two were near the differential where the torque is... gusset plate should work I hope.
[edit 2] Can the gas tanks be removed body-on? Never really looked that closely at the time.
me said:
I brought a wedge over from the UK and now due to a bit of driving with a broken radius arm (leading link is the name in UK i think?) the lower wishbone mount has begun to tear off slightly giving my front left tire very bad castor. Obviously there's no frame jig on my side of the ocean, I might have to ship the frame to get it fixed.
Do you guys have a jig? Or could I simply measure the good side from a couple reference points then making the torn side equal in measurement suffice with added reinforcement?
I'm assuming that since the assembly is using rubber bushes anyhow, as long as I get things within a millimeter or two it should be okay.
Would that work?
I hope it would do the trick.... certainly the cheapest option for now and would allow me to save a bundle and drive this summer.Do you guys have a jig? Or could I simply measure the good side from a couple reference points then making the torn side equal in measurement suffice with added reinforcement?
I'm assuming that since the assembly is using rubber bushes anyhow, as long as I get things within a millimeter or two it should be okay.
Would that work?
Thanks for the info and your post.
[edit] As for the engine seals... shouldn't be too bad, and of the 3 cracked tubes I found, only one was due to rust, the other two were near the differential where the torque is... gusset plate should work I hope.
[edit 2] Can the gas tanks be removed body-on? Never really looked that closely at the time.
Edited by Brap_Brap on Tuesday 6th May 19:26
Brap_Brap said:
[edit] As for the engine seals... shouldn't be too bad, and of the 3 cracked tubes I found, only one was due to rust, the other two were near the differential where the torque is... gusset plate should work I hope.
Those diff chassis tubes crack through from time to time, I just weld them up (no reinforcement) and wait for them to crack again.... usually in another 20k or so miles.Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff