Idea #2 - I see oddball, 70's fiberglass cars pop up occasionally on CL. Why not find some overlooked car and bring it up to date with modern brakes, decent motor, a top-notch working suspension, etc. It's popular among the ProMod crowd, why not the Kit Car crowd?
Jim Pettengill wrote: As a Mk. 1 MR2 owner, I would LOVE to see you do one!! AND the Ferrari.
Ferrari-swapped MR2?
That might be a bit of a tight fit . . . 20V with forced induction might be cool, though.
based on my observation that everything that's been in the grosh is either a wagon, or has a hatch, or a frunk... I think you should re-engine a type 3 squareback wagon to WRX so you knock off all three in a single car. 
I also agree with Mrs. Deuce about taking on a challenge car. Might as well align a long time goal with a "lets see what I can do with this writing thing"... in a lot of ways that's what your other "popular threads" have going for them too (that they aligned with long-term goals, and were interesting to you so that you stayed engaged writing about them).
Waiting for a Ferrari you'd be willing to drag home to Mrs Deuce is going to take a while. Might as well build a challenge car while you're waiting.
And might as well build a challenge car that can be passed down to a Deuceling at some point as a DD.
So, buy up something with hail damage and some minor running issues, learn PDR, get it running right, add spray, and go to the challenge.
Keep eyes open for Ferrari or Maserati projects.
I notice that you are often needing to remove stumps from your property. Perhaps a tool that, once restored, is up to the task.
There is ample supply if you need parts. Some fluency in Russian required. Teams in Washington to help if needed.
Edit:
Just a thought:
I have followed pretty much all of your threads from the Grosh to the One lap and the Broken Benz. What they all have in common is a journey of discovery. You launch into things that you do not know much about, and then proceed to overcome each obstacle as it presents itself. That is story-telling.
There are lots of neat car builds out there, but for the most part they are just skilled people doing what they already know how to do. As readers, we can admire that, but we cant really go along for the ride because they are operating at a level that the reader does not relate to.
.
John Welsh wrote:I have the right car/model for you. A complete Bastard car. The product of a joint venture where both parties now pretty much deny the car ever existed.
Imagine:
2 door coupe
215 hp stock
6 speed manual
Rear wheel drive
15.2 sec 1/4 mile stock
Large stock rubberYou are even better suited for this over me since you do not fear the engine in ways I would.
Real examples can be found towards Challenge prices. I almost had one with a dented B pillar that "totaled" the car.
Fresh tires for one of these is expensive enough to make an owner want to unload the car. This works great for The Challenge since tires are exempt.
I'll just point out that Howard picked one of these up to finish OneLap after rolling his 'V... so there'd be a certain 'poetic symmetry thingamajiggy jenesaisque' about building one up and taking it to out run him in the 'vette.
Hmmmm...a lot of parameters. Challenge/ONE Lap/UTCC/creature comforts/road worthy/kid hauler/etc.
With your penchant for Tectonic performance luxury how about a budget M5 clone? Start with a 540i. Get it down to 3100 lbs with judicious lightening of heavy seats, sound insulation, maybe lexan door glass, sunroof delete/ etc. Some mild, inexpensive power upgrades. , sticky tires. ,etc.
Better yet find a wagon to haul stuff on one lap. If you find a wrecked 540i sedan with a 5 speed I know of a suitable rust free never wrecked 2002 525it wagon chassis for cheap you can transfer bits to.
Der Donnerwagen!
NOHOME wrote: Just a thought: I have followed pretty much all of your threads from the Grosh to the One lap and the Broken Benz. What they all have in common is a journey of discovery. You launch into things that you do not know much about, and then proceed to overcome each obstacle as it presents itself. That is story-telling. There are lots of neat car builds out there, but for the most part they are just skilled people doing what they already know how to do. As readers, we can admire that, but we cant really go along for the ride because they are operating at a level that the reader does not relate to.
I think this comment captures well what makes your projects interesting to a large audience. Other popular threads from other people are similar (the current Jalpa project, the Challenge minivan on a car chassis thread). The common theme is 'how is this going to work out?' So, consider this a vote for a project where you don't have all (any?) of the answers/knowledge when you start.
Of course, your writing style is also a big part of the entertainment.
NOHOME wrote: Just a thought: I have followed pretty much all of your threads from the Grosh to the One lap and the Broken Benz. What they all have in common is a journey of discovery. You launch into things that you do not know much about, and then proceed to overcome each obstacle as it presents itself. That is story-telling. There are lots of neat car builds out there, but for the most part they are just skilled people doing what they already know how to do. As readers, we can admire that, but we cant really go along for the ride because they are operating at a level that the reader does not relate to.
You're right. There is a degree of "I'm not sure what I'm doing but I'll figure it out" going on in a lot of what I do. Finding projects that let me keep curiously learning is the real trick.
Hmmm.......MazD, what would the Duecelings like Daddy to build next? Do they not have a say in your shenanigans? Or is your motorized fiefdom an entrenched monarchy (ok oligarchy Ms.D included)?
Another advantage of the early MR2 is how much stuff you can cram into the front and rear trunks. If I'm traveling to a gig by myself, I can carry tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, a native American flute, a horn stand, a sackful of microphones and cables. I can't event fit just the tenor case into the luggage area of my C4 Corvette. Back when I used to run R-comps, I could carry a full set of 195/55 - 14 Kumhos on 14x7 rims, a small floor jack, helmet, small ice chest and a "bagpipe" lawn chair without removing the passenger seat. Used to get interesting looks when I'd pull all of that stuff out of such a small car. Not relevant stuff for a challenge exclusive car, but definitely relevant in the real world.
You'll need coilovers to get big tires on the front, though, most anything of a decent size will hit the underside of the front struts, 205/50 15 is iffy, depending on the tire and offset. I run 195/50-15s, but I'm not concerned with really fast times these days.
I got your email, but it looks like this has changed directions since then.
Mrs. Deuce is a smart lady, that we all agree with. I saw this the other day and remembered it when I saw her suggestion to you: No reserve F348ts that needs awakening
Popular themes from this thread and others of yours.
OLOA
Challenge
DIY stuff
So, you had mentioned in a previous thread the triple crown of grass roots, doing UTCC, OLOA, and the Challenge in the same car.
Do that 
My vote would be the least rusty inline 6 cylinder e36 bmw you can find. the Non M's are still challenge budget money if you find the right one. M3 bits can all bolt on for more sportiness as needed....And I know you said no engine swaps but the m3 engines from the same variant are quite literally plug and play for a 20% power increase with much less work than you just did on the Mercedes.
Although lots of other vehicles would meet the ability to do the triple crown too.
In reply to Jim Pettengill:
Waiting to hear back about the MR2 mentioned earlier in this thread. I've driven a couple, but oddly only on dirt. They do seem to push a lot of the right buttons and I have a friend who is all about Toyota four cylinders of all sorts.
In reply to Sonic:
Well, nothing is set in stone and everything is interesting, and I missed you two on One Lap and would love an excuse to stop by.
I have a '67 IH CO1600 COE that runs that could be delivered to you for a shockingly low price, particularly in the July timeframe when my brother is moving to Houston.
In reply to oldopelguy:
You good sir, have a PM. 
It's a bit off of your route... https://lacrosse.craigslist.org/cto/6104605154.html
Mercedes 600 range? SL, CL or S class inexpensive to purchase intimidating but able to be worked on.
Or Hybrid... you already have experience with the Insight and Volt. Might be able to get ahead of their decline and define a methodology on rescuing one of those vehicles. (Or applying their drivetrain to a different body.
mazdeuce wrote: In reply to Jim Pettengill: Waiting to hear back about the MR2 mentioned earlier in this thread. I've driven a couple, but oddly only on dirt. They do seem to push a lot of the right buttons and I have a friend who is all about Toyota four cylinders of all sorts.
I'll get back to you after I get home from work.
mazdeuce wrote: In reply to oldopelguy: You good sir, have a PM.
And you, sir, also have a PM, with pictures.
Here's a dumb idea: pre-88 XJS V12 with ITBs, equal length headers and Megasquirt. Also, since they use a TH400 you could probably find a bellhousing for a TKO500 that will fit.
Honestly mercedes amd carpentry have never been high on my list of interesting things but ive followed and read all of both threads purely because of your writing. It comes across well as a normal guy doing life things. If you do a challenge car i think it should be something diffrent. Mildly built but sorted out as something other then what everyone knows.
oldopelguy wrote:mazdeuce wrote: In reply to oldopelguy: You good sir, have a PM.And you, sir, also have a PM, with pictures.
You guys can't comprehend how cool my inbox is right now. If you're a fan of watching me wade into a project where I don't know what I'm doing AT ALL, you're going to like this.
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