We got many car lovers here?

[Gold Man]

Hi guys,

Just felt like posting this since I myself bought a car recently. Still working on getting her fully road-legal, and since I now enter the realm of car ownership, wouldn't mind connecting with some of yas who have cars/are knowledgeable about cars. Perhaps we can at a later point rename this "The Car Thread" and talk about cars in general? Just a thought.

Will also post photos of my new ride if requested.

[Led]

Well you need to at least tell us what you have

[Gold Man]

Well you need to at least tell us what you have

Very well, I present to you, my first car, a 2001 Toyota Celica GT-S in Spectra Blue.
[spoiler]



[/spoiler]

[Drunken_Master]

Suhweet ride!   

2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL
1979 MG B
1976 Chevy Monte Carlo in candly apple red
1991 & 1992 Toyota Previas. Parts I have to add to the 92:  new drilled vented brake hubs, 18" arelli assasin rims, super charger, intercooler, new pistons, etc etc.  I think I'll switch the SC to turbo. If you ask why, search for "drift race previa"

[Gold Man]

Suhweet ride!   

2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL
1979 MG B
1976 Chevy Monte Carlo in candly apple red
1991 & 1992 Toyota Previas. Parts I have to add to the 92:  new drilled vented brake hubs, 18" arelli assasin rims, super charger, intercooler, new pistons, etc etc.  I think I'll switch the SC to turbo. If you ask why, search for "drift race previa"

Nice assortment, and Candy Apple Red always looks good cars.

Also, did not know a Previa could drift like that! I see why ya would go to a turbo. Crazy thought, couldn't you "twin-charge" it with the supercharger and turbo? Or would that be too many parts and not enough space?

[Ultimo]

And I present my 1973 Ford Ranchero, Squire model!
[spoiler][/spoiler]

This is the latest picture I have of it, from about a year ago when I had to tow it home from my uncle's garage.
It's been broken down for close to 2 years, I was driving down the interstate when a bearing around the piston spun loose, causing oil not to get to two of the pistons properly and after a few minutes the bearing exploded, sending metal shards all over the block and causing the engine to lock up. We've very recently gotten the engine all taken apart, but we're still looking for a machine shop to get the block cleaned up for us. I'm hoping one day to get this car back to being a weekend driver as a Resto-Mod, but that's going to be a while.

My current drive is a 2005 Mustang GT in a dark Tan color. The car technically belongs to my father but the way he talks, I think he plans on transferring it to me when I move out.

[Drunken_Master]

Crazy thought, couldn't you "twin-charge" it with the supercharger and turbo?

A twincharged Previa LOL.    Hmmm.    I think there IS enough room!     OK a quick search finds that people are TOY-ota-ING with the idea.  I'll put twincharging on the wish list!   

[Gold Man]

And I present my 1973 Ford Ranchero, Squire model!
[spoiler][/spoiler]

This is the latest picture I have of it, from about a year ago when I had to tow it home from my uncle's garage.
It's been broken down for close to 2 years, I was driving down the interstate when a bearing around the piston spun loose, causing oil not to get to two of the pistons properly and after a few minutes the bearing exploded, sending metal shards all over the block and causing the engine to lock up. We've very recently gotten the engine all taken apart, but we're still looking for a machine shop to get the block cleaned up for us. I'm hoping one day to get this car back to being a weekend driver as a Resto-Mod, but that's going to be a while.

My current drive is a 2005 Mustang GT in a dark Tan color. The car technically belongs to my father but the way he talks, I think he plans on transferring it to me when I move out.

Sweet ride man! Shame to hear about the block blowing up like that though. Currently in the midst of making my Celica fully road-legal actually. We're getting a new set of tires put on her tomorrow, and then next Tuesday taking her to the Toyota dealership in-town (which happens to be the first Canadian Toyota dealership in the country), to see what she needs for safety and possibly emissions testing.

As for the Mustang GT, is it an auto or manual? Just curious.

A twincharged Previa LOL.    Hmmm.    I think there IS enough room!     OK a quick search finds that people are TOY-ota-ING with the idea.  I'll put twincharging on the wish list!   

Hehe, glad to see I could be of some advice. I knew the Previas had a weird setup, with the engine in the back and the supercharger up-front (or at least the JDM models did), but I wasn't sure if you could cram the turbo up there with it or not.

[Drunken_Master]

I knew the Previas had a weird setup, with the engine in the back and the supercharger up-front

Yup, they called it a mid-mount engine which resulted in a very low center of gravity for such a tall vehicle.  With the 18" rims and low profile tires, cornering is surprisingly tight!  Bumps are REALLY uncomfortable tho.

Forum posts estimate I should be able to tune to between 400 to 500 HP.  That's a big improvement!

[Drunken_Master]

I was driving down the interstate when a bearing around the piston spun loose

I feel your pain.  I had a 78 New Yorker Brougham, fresh coat of Diablo Red.  $800 car with $5K of work put into it.  Pretty much the same thing    oil pump shaft broke (I guess).  I exited the interstate and the 6.6L engine seized and I barreled right through a red light at a very busy 5-way intersection with no power steering or brakes on a 4,700 lb boat, amazingly right between the cross traffic!  Took me a while to get over that one.  I parted it out / scrapped it.  BTW, still plenty of parts for sale!   

[Gold Man]

Yup, they called it a mid-mount engine which resulted in a very low center of gravity for such a tall vehicle.  With the 18" rims and low profile tires, cornering is surprisingly tight!  Bumps are REALLY uncomfortable tho.

Similar handling to my Celica it seems. Granted mine is lowered on Koni suspension and shocks, but even with the summer slicks that have some extreme tread wear, she tackles corners like she's on rails. As a side effect, lowered ride height and stiffened shocks means you feel the bumps.

I admit though, not all is perfect with her. I could go into detail, but I figure I might bore ya with the stuff wrong with it. I'll just leave at this: short ram intake + check engine light = not going to pass emissions testing.

[Helios]

Sweet first ride going to be purchasing my first very soon. I was thinking along the lines of a used Ford Escape or a Jeep. Im jealous of yours man, shes a beauty

[Gold Man]

Sweet first ride going to be purchasing my first very soon. I was thinking along the lines of a used Ford Escape or a Jeep. Im jealous of yours man, shes a beauty

Hehe, thanks

My honest opinion though, don't go for a Jeep. FCA's products don't exactly have the highest reliability record as of right now, though if you're planning on a Wrangler I've got no complaints there, just stay away from their crossovers or SUV's. Ford's aren't too bad though, and I'd say between the two you'll get more miles outta the Escape, or less work needed to maintain them.

[Gold Man]

So, figured I'd update yas on the Celica:

We took it to the dealer, they gave it a look over, came back with $2500 in parts and labor for an estimate. Though through what I believe was divine intervention, my dad bumped into one of my uncle's the same day he got the estimate. He's a retired mechanic with around 40+ yrs of wrenching experience, he gave the list a lookover, said he could get it all fixed up for $950. So, we took it to a friend of my uncles who owns a lift, and about 10hrs of labor later, we got the rear brakes (rotors and calipers), parking brake shoes, stabilizer links (on all 4 corners), Mass Air Flow Sensor, and blower resistor all repaired. We also did an oil change and put a new cabin air filter in her as well while we were at it.

After that, we got the exhaust fixed up (needed a new bit of piping) at the local muffler shop,  and replaced the rear hatch supports  (my first bit of wrenching on my own car!) Used two 9-piece wrench sets I bought (both SAE and Metric, also my first tools as a soon-to-be mechanic), and my dad's socket wrench tool kit.

Did the emissions test today, turns out the issue was the catalytic converter. So, due to this, we got a pass on condition: We've got basically 1 year's grace to find a catalytic converter at a wrecker's to replace the failing one on the car currently. So, 50% on the way to being fully road legal, just need to have the dealer do a final safety inspection to approve of the repairs, but otherwise, she's shaping up.