Name a car you shouldn't like, but do.-Page 8| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

RossD SuperDork
9/27/11 10:06 a.m.

I too like Pintos and '80s Escorts. Turbo 'Scort for me though but I'd probably take any clean Escort. I still mad I let that sub challenge money rust free turbo escort slip between my fingers!!!!

sethmeister4 New Reader
9/27/11 10:23 a.m.

So ugly, so cool...

late 80's Stanza wagon

Eagle Vista Wagon-- My parents had an early 90's one when I was a youngster in Canada. It's like a Colt Vista or Eagle Summit, and according to Wikipedia it had an SOHC 4G63. Ours was 5 speed, and I remember my newly licensed older brother peeling out in it many a time.

80's Toyota Tercel wagon-- My folks were sportin' an 85 model when I was born. They drove it for a while and it took a beating! Theirs wasn't 4WD, but it was a 5spd. There's a guy in GA putting a 4AGE into one...sick!

Cobra New Reader
9/27/11 10:35 a.m.

Yes, it's mine. Yes, it's so wrong to love it but I can't help it. It's a hilariously fun daily driver in swapped form and surprisingly quick.

garaithon New Reader
9/27/11 10:43 a.m.

What is swapped in the z24? My buddy had one that looked just like that in high school. We had way to much fun with that car, and we are always talking about buying another one and making it fast!

Cobra New Reader
9/27/11 10:52 a.m.

garaithon wrote: What is swapped in the z24? My buddy had one that looked just like that in high school. We had way to much fun with that car, and we are always talking about buying another one and making it fast!

3400 from a Grand Am GT. It might get a 3500 soon if the prices of those engines keep sliding.

I could toss a snail on it as-is, run 12psi through it, tune it, and hit 11s in the quarter.

Trying to make it turn better is the fun part...that's my winter project. :)

92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
9/27/11 10:57 a.m.

^And it's not very slow.... My butt dyno says that car is a low 14s car, maybe a high 13s if it could get a good hook.

garaithon New Reader
9/27/11 10:57 a.m.

We always thought about swaping the S/C 3800 in but never looked into any of the details... It seems like it should not be to hard.

Then when we start thinking about making it turn and we give up...

ransom GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
9/27/11 10:59 a.m.

I don't even feel bad about my Pinto curiosity. The parts get used on other stuff to make them turn...

And Le Cars are just strangely charming.

And the Metro almost got a spec rally series.

Now the Chevette... Of course, like may be too strong a word, but still...

Cobra New Reader
9/27/11 11:04 a.m.

3800 is a little more involved. It's a 90 V6 where the car came with a 60 3.1. 3400/3500 blocks are 60* and pretty much bolt in with a fabbed front mount.

3400 is a pretty common swap, 3500 is getting more popular as prices drop.

Making it turn shouldn't be too bad. I've got a friend that's built a few custom suspension parts for his that is gonna help me out with mine. It should turn a bit better this summer. :)

darkbuddha Reader
9/27/11 11:11 a.m.

Ford EXP... nothing but a gussied-up Escort, but I like it:

Especially with the later nose:

LainfordExpress Reader
9/27/11 11:28 a.m.

Apexcarver wrote: What can I say? we had one, it handled like a pig on stilts, blew a head gasket and just didnt think it was worth fixing. I have ended up missing it.

Learned to drive in one of these. The digital speedo was toast and would only disply 37 or 72 mph. You'd get to 72 and it'd switch, then slow down to 37 to get it to switch back. Also, it had the single worst thing ever on a vehicle: a manual sunroof that required a WWE (WWF in those days, mind) to open. I like it though. The middle seats would rotate 180°, and it got decent mileage, IIRC.