Tables are always useful, hopefully there won't be any real wiring work with this build, but I could hardly imagine getting the harness done on the last PLB AW11 without one. Good for giving another layer of tool & part "shelving" if nothing else.
Tables are always useful, hopefully there won't be any real wiring work with this build, but I could hardly imagine getting the harness done on the last PLB AW11 without one. Good for giving another layer of tool & part "shelving" if nothing else.
Count me in for some work wherever you need me. I'm a good wrencher and good with electrical repair stuff in case we shred a harness.
Suggestion, if I may, since you're self-admittedly not a wrench guy... Maybe have the same folks remove as install. Nothing more frustrating than trying to figure out where the hoses and wires go when someone else took it apart.
Maybe a team to prep the new engine (timing belt, water pump, oil pump) and an R&R team?
That's the plan at least the way I was picturing it- engine drop team and new engine prep team join forces when it goes back in.
I am coming along with Robbie. I need to read through the thread but wanted to throw my mostly useless hands in the ring.
Awesome!!
I've got most of the spare parts now at home. I need to inventory them, so I know what I've got and what I don't. It's at least 6 or 7 huge bins full, many of which are very heavy. Lots of metal bits...
I can bring a folding table too. I will bring the hoist, a load leveler, a chain and a folding table. That's all I'm good for. I will have some cheap tools too, but not sure I will leave those out of sight. I need to get to work on my AW11.... although it could compete as is right now.
Bumping.
I will make a decision over the next couple days, I'm beginning to question my sanity in doing all of this. My heart wants to do it 100%. The purpose of this build is to be able to get my wife and son (and maybe some friends) seat time in a Lemons car. I don't care about seat time for me, I get more than plenty. Knowing that I have limited skills and even more limited time...I'm travelling 8 of the next 10 weekends...long term ownership of a Lemons car probably isn't the smartest idea for me. Even when I started this, I knew that part, I planned to run this car just once or twice and then move it on or see if someone wanted to be "part owner" with me and handle the mechanical side of the team. I started to add up all of the costs I would need to get on track and I'm wondering if it's the right thing. Engine, U-Haul too/from Challenge, hotel, misc parts I need, entry fee for the Lemons race, etc...and I'm probably going to be $5500 into this. All for what may be one or two races at the most. No idea what I'd be able to sell the car for after, I guess it depends on its' condition. Am I smarter to just buy seat time in someone else's car for my wife and maybe my son? It wouldn't quite be the same experience, but maybe just more logical??
Sorry to start waivering. Like I said, I so badly want to do this...the rational side of me is just bugging the hell out of me. If I don't build the car, I plan to auction/raffle it for charity.
In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
Only you know your situation, but I wouldn't be doing my duty if I didn't point out one key point:
None of this is rational. The $2000 Challenge, Lemons, project cars, etc. None of it makes rational sense.
But it's FUN. That's why we do it. And that's why parking lot builds are so cool. Unlike building a car in a shop with the luxury of time and parts, you're guaranteed to have this finished by the end of the Challenge. It won't be perfect, but it won't sit in your garage half-finished for years, either. No matter what, it will all be over Sunday afternoon.
The car is usually the cheapest part of The Challenge. But, I do love the years I was a part of it. I know you have assigned a dollar amount to it but you really can't buy what a good parking lot build really is. Wait until you meet these guys. Not to be weird or hokey but just one example, I stand in amazement of what Chris (shrug) is capable of.
This car and this group were amazing:
That's Chris out front in shades. Me in blue. Todd and Ted. Obscured is Andy Newman and Derick. Behind the camera is Jeremy (pimpm3)
if nothing else, trim some fat. This group is resourceful. Reduce the towing expense like borrow a truck/trailer or find a team member with the resources. Share a hotel room to keep those expenses low. You're in the room very little.
I very much hear where you're coming from!
Are your son/wife coming to participate in the build? To me, a lot of the fun of lemons is having "built" the car yourself. Not to mention the advantage of some working knowledge when you have to fix it during a race weekend if something happens to go wrong.
Also, don't feel pressure to do it for us. If you want to do it, heck yeah, we're here to help. If you don't we'll find someone else's car to improve/stickerbomb/nitrous/light on fire in the hotel parking lot.
Maybe not that last one.
In reply to John Welsh :
Along these trim the fat lines, there is a locally owned trailer dealership by me that rents trailers weekly at near the "daily" uhaul rate.
If you can't find a friend with a trailer, that might be an option to consider.
What if I said I was looking forward to this portion of the challenge more than the rest of it? From what I hear the real fun is being with other members on the forum and doing the silly parking lot build. Competing in a 4G powered AW11 even with the mods, probably won't be that thrilling. There is a chance I could fall in love with the car and 2zz swap it after. If I do that, it'll go back and compete again in a few years. My wife is also afraid of this possibility. I'm leaning more towards freeing up the space and money to get a lift and making my workspace even better to do the engine rebuilds in the F car, engine swap in the OBS and rally car replica project. I need lots of space for those.
I have no doubt that it's the experiences and friendships that are things you can't put a price on. I shudder to think how much I've spent on Lemons, yet the memories will stick with me forever. At least now I get paid to do Lemons stuff, so that helps. If we attend, my wife will be there but I don't think my son will. My wife will be happy to be part of it, but is somewhat physically limited as she had knee replacement surgery. Of course, the possibility always exists for me to build it and then sell it after I'm done with the Lemons race and hope to recoup some of my investment. I can make lots of strong pros and cons, I just need to get off the fence and decide. I know time is running short, so I will figure it all out very soon.
Thanks for bearing with me, sorry to potentially back out.
Tom Suddard said:In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
Only you know your situation, but I wouldn't be doing my duty if I didn't point out one key point:
None of this is rational. The $2000 Challenge, Lemons, project cars, etc. None of it makes rational sense.
But it's FUN. That's why we do it. And that's why parking lot builds are so cool. Unlike building a car in a shop with the luxury of time and parts, you're guaranteed to have this finished by the end of the Challenge. It won't be perfect, but it won't sit in your garage half-finished for years, either. No matter what, it will all be over Sunday afternoon.
You're absolutely right. Nothing about racing is rationale. Here's where I get "stuck". I want/wanted this MR2 for my wife and son to try their hand in Lemons. I don't need it for me, I get more Lemons exposure than I could ask for. My wife is in love with HPDE and loves working for Lemons, so I'm thinking she'd love a race. Yet I realize long term Lemons car ownership makes zero sense for me. Full time job, limited mechanical skills, out of a 52 week year I'm probably traveling 35-40+ weekends (between Lemons, my kids lacrosse, etc...). I simply wouldn't be able to keep a Lemons car long term. I can buy short stints for my wife from friends for pretty cheap, and see what she thinks. My son can wait a little longer if need be, he's only 18. Do I sell/donate the MR2 and/or find a "partner" in the car who wants to deal with the majority of ownership (i.e. mechanical) and just drive it when I can?
Funny enough, an option B just came up and I want the hive's take. It's for sale here on GRM... Miata truck At least in my eyes, it's uber cool. The biggest sticking point is lack of a title. If I can find a way to get it tagged in Georgia (bonded title maybe??), it could be something I can get use out of after the Challenge. Yeah, I buy and sell cars a lot, but I have a taste for really cool unicorns, so this one speaks to me. I'd still get my wife Lemons time in a different car, and we already own an HPDE car. This would just be for E36 M3s and giggles. My questions to the hive:
How hard do you think it would be to get this car Challenge ready?
How hard would it be to add some sort of windshield/windscreen for street use? Not required legally, but I'd prefer one
Would it be impossible to add a heater of some kind if it doesn't already have one?
Would it be crazy hard to add front roll protection? If I ever did want to take it to an autox or HPDE, I'd guess they'll require it. I don't need to, just wondering.
That car is beyond your skill set and attention span. Stick to what you have for the near term.
In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
It's been to the Challenge a few times before, so I'm assuming it's already ready?
With a sheet of Lexan and some brackets, it shouldn't be too hard.
I'm sure a Miata heater core would bolt in if it doesn't still have it.
You shouldn't need a front hoop for autoX or HPDE.
SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:or find a "partner" in the car who wants to deal with the majority of ownership (i.e. mechanical) and just drive it when I can?I guess I'm yer huckleberry... LOL
T-minus 1 month bump.
Watching with interest. The fiata isn't likely to be done with the way my schedule filled up but I have the room and the days off so I still want to attend.
So far things are still looking good for my plan to drive down, as long as the Toyobaru's engine doesn't sing the song of its people...and I do intend to stress test it so that if it does, it happens relatively close to home 
Do we have an updated list of what needs bringing? I won't have a lot of room in the Miata, but I'll have some
Don't give up! I will get you that compression test by the end of this weekend. (Sorry, I've been awol with school taking every ounce of my concentration. I planned to get it early during my week off this week after I finished the timing belt/water pump/steering rack on my truck-but apparently I am a slow! I will get it this weekend I promise!)
In reply to MrJoshua :
It looks like "end of the weekend" has turned into "first thing Monday morning". The plugs are pulled and I found the compression tester, I just ran out of time. Results should be posted by lunchtime.
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