Classic Car DD

ddavidv wrote:

ShadowSix wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: Mid-70's Celica w/ the old carb'ed 20R replaced with an injected 22RE. Nothing fancy, but it could be as reliable as a 2009 Corrolla with a little work.

See, my idea involved a motor swap, but a really basic swap. It really would not be hard to pull the 20R and replace with a 22RE, bring the ECU, wiring, assorted electronic stuff with it, come up with some kind of fuel pump solution. If you had a donor truck (easy to find here in the Land of Rust where good running Toyota trucks rust through their frame rails pretty regularly) you could do this swap in a weekend, maybe even one long day. Still, if I had to keep the stock 20R that would be OK. I'd just like to avoid fiddling with a carburetor if possible. The car would be far from fast either way.

Not that it applies to you, since you want to swap engines, but have you guys that want to DD a Celica like this ever driven one? I found it incredibly underwhelming. A Capri will absolutely whup it in every category. Now, I say this having on my list a Ford Falcon, for gosh sakes, so I see the irony. But the Celica really wasn't that great of a car. A great Toyota, yes. Great classic sporty car, not-so-much.

Oh no, I am aware, with the swap I'd be lucky to hit 60 in under 10 seconds. And that swap I mentioned would only net an extra 16 hp, from 96 hp to 112 hp (though 22RE turbo set-ups can get you north of 200hp), it is more of a reliability, MPG, emissions swap than a power swap. The thing about a Celica as a DD is that I like the way they look, with the swap it would be very reliable, and they are cheap and not very special, so I don't feel weird about parking it on the street, driving in the winter, leaving it at the long-term lot at the airport, autocrossing it, etc.

Anyway, a new V-6 Camry will do 0-60 in less than six seconds, a '67 Camaro Z/28 took seven to get there. The reason to DD a classic for me is not performance.

I DD an 81 for about 3 years and it was great. I will have another one some day.

First gen Celica...

or..

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I DD an 81 for about 3 years and it was great. I will have another one some day.

Of coarse she won't want to ride with you cause you will be stranded by the side of the road.

I would love one.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I DD an 81 for about 3 years and it was great. I will have another one some day.

One of our region members is DD one of these now. His other car is a Miata. His signature on another forum: "What kind of ass backwards world do you live in where your Miata is broken and your Alfa is your reliable source of transportation?"

ScottRA21 wrote:

That one, yeah OK. I could deal with that. Owning one, there are a few upgrades I would want done for a dd though. 5-speed conversion is the biggest upgrade. Maybe some minor power upgrades also. They will keep up with modern traffic for the most part although not nearly as fast as they look. I'm getting soft in my old age and would want AC in it also. Either the old original dealer installed AC that is rare or a modern RetroAir kit.

Ian F wrote:

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: I DD an 81 for about 3 years and it was great. I will have another one some day.

One of our region members is DD one of these now. His other car is a Miata. His signature on another forum: "What kind of ass backwards world do you live in where your Miata is broken and your Alfa is your reliable source of transportation?"

I will say that in all the years I had mine it only failed on me once, the 20 year old fuse for the injectors blew. 2 minutes later I was back on the road.

I split DD duty between my 63 Cooper S and my ae86, I have no complaints about either one. The Cooper actually gets used most out of two. I don't know why more people don't do it.

ScottRA21 wrote: First gen Celica... or..

I love the way the Opel GT looks, gorgeous car that would be a legend if not for the 240Z. That said, the no hatch thing would literally drive me crazy. When the power window in the back of my 4Runner stopped working and I couldn't open the tailgate it drove me nuts. I've led 150 combat missions in Baghdad, but loading groceries through the passenger door was almost my undoing.

I'd love a 914 2.0. I will own one some day. I've been obsessing over them since the mid 90's. Had a few close calls, but there was always some rust, or a price issue, or I was distracted by something newer and shinier. No more. I will own one, and it will carry me to work.

I'd love a late-70s 911. I'm sure it'd be a total disaster, though.

I'll also put another vote in for the Alfa GTA/Giulia.

How about E28 535is?? Comfy yet still handles well, no?

ea_sport wrote: How about E28 535is?? Comfy yet still handles well, no?

It's post-'80.

If '80s cars counted in this I'd be saying E30.

For a pre-1980 DD, this:

If you don't need a/c or a back seat, how about a rubber-bumper MGB. Those big bumpers are nice for parallel parking, and the cars are priced less than their chrome-bumper counterparts. Parts support is stellar, and the top goes down.

Also, I hate to go to what I own and I realize I'm going newer than 1980, but how about a 1974-'89 Porsche 911: classic looks and classic driving experience but galvanized bodies, urban-friendly bumpers, roomy interiors, lots of torque and the potential to have some a/c.

ShadowSix wrote:

ScottRA21 wrote: First gen Celica... or..

I love the way the Opel GT looks, gorgeous car that would be a legend if not for the 240Z. That said, the no hatch thing would literally drive me crazy. When the power window in the back of my 4Runner stopped working and I couldn't open the tailgate it drove me nuts. I've led 150 combat missions in Baghdad, but loading groceries through the passenger door was almost my undoing.

Having been using an '02 Sportage, doors are easier than the tailgate already. Stupid pain in the ass spare tire arm, and tailgate that must be opened with a key. No damned handle.

ahutson03 wrote: I split DD duty between my 63 Cooper S and my ae86, I have no complaints about either one. The Cooper actually gets used most out of two. I don't know why more people don't do it.

Because where I live, simply parking my Mini outside for a few days causes it to rust. They are made of the steel equivalent of paper mache.

If I lived in another climate, I would drive nothing but classics. I just can't stand to see them crumble living where I do.

I know several people that DD a TR7. I myself did so for years before a truck became necessary. I also had an MGB for several years, but that wasn't as comfortable, roomy, or user friendly.

MG Bryan wrote: For a pre-1980 DD, this:

You are a masochistic...

I would like for a classic DD A/C, decent mileage (preferable 20-25mpg city) and reliable. It would nice if it didn't rust but being in the south it isn't that big an issue.

OK, so... a cool 60s/70s DD.... In no certain order...

• '77+ 911
• 2002tii
• '71 Alfa GTV
• '74 Super Beetle
• '70 Camaro RS
• MGB-GT

93EXCivic wrote:

MG Bryan wrote: For a pre-1980 DD, this:

You are a masochistic...

E36 M3, that was, by far, the the least masochistic option that came to mind.

Rob_Mopar wrote: Pentastar a Plymouth. Don't know of any 3.6 V6 swaps being attempted yet. Do know the tech guy from one of the Mopar mags would like to do it to a B-body. I'm wondering if it would fit in a '64-65 Barracuda... Both this thread and Wheels' "Anybody Like Gassers" thread has had me thinking too much about projects. I guess it doesn't hurt to ponder too much.

Now I'm wondering what the 2.4 Tigershark motor - or better yet, the forced induction version they claim to be working on - would do in an A-body Dart. Probably wouldn't weigh more than that new Alfa Dart with a full interior, and might even be lighter.

93EXCivic wrote: It would nice if it didn't rust but being in the south it isn't that big an issue.

That's the thing - this is an amusing discussion for some. I understand DD classic cars in California isn't all that uncommon. But here in the "rust belt" DD'ing an old classic is almost a death sentence, unless you don't mind doing rust repair and/or can rebuild the car with better rust proofing.