Good story - stick with it. ;)

You can tell I didn't knock it down, as it's stationary. Had I hit it, it would have still been airborne when that pic was taken.....:-X04

RW- She's a beauty! A few man hours and she'll clean up like a charm. Are you planning to use it as a DD?

'83- I'm 50/50 on agreeing with you. There's a ton of econoboxes from that era that should be put out of their misery. But at the same time I can't stand most things made after 2000. And the 70's had their fair share of bad looking sedans.

I guess I'm a little more biased since I was born in '90. In my mind that crx is still only ~10yrs old. I'd probably own an early 00's Super Duty, but otherwise Ford trucks stop after '97 for me.

Another piece of the puzzle is pricing. I got my license in 2006, and muscle cars were at a bit of a peak around here. A good muscle car was running $40k+, and even hot rods were $30k or more. I didn't want to spend the $ I did have on a civic or altima. But thanks to reliability these 80's oddities were out there for the taking. Here's a pic of my first two cars I got for free while we're on this. And, I think 85-95 or thereabout were the pinnacle of DD's for a DIY guy.

PS- I finally got a vacuum gauge, I know you'll be please haha. I'm sure I'll be coming to you for guidance.

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...87325is009.jpg

LOL. No, you're 100% with me on it and you don't know it.

I can't stand any of the new vehicles that are being produced. They seem so cheap and impersonal to me, and half of them all look the same! Not to mention the out of sight prices.

To me, the last good trucks made were 1996 F150's, and 97 250's and 350's.

The last good cars made, were to me, in 1974. Anything after that and you can forget it. Granted, they've made a lot of good cars since then, but nothing like pre-75. :-jammin

RW, I've seen photos of your trucks before. I love the old 74. If I get another truck, it'll be a 76 250 highboy 4x4, and I'll build that for fun. Fun as in a remote-mount Eaton M90 force feeding a 300 running 8:1 forged pistons. Built up to the tune of 400 horsepower (which becomes startlingly easy with a blown 300). Blown, balanced, and cammed. Better get a deep pocketbook for that though. :(

A fella can dream. :D

That is some avatar! That what you need to get around in South Carolina? Haha.

There's a mid 60's F250 on 44's near me that you might have some fun building.

I think my dream garage constantly rotates, but the constants are always: Early 90's diesel '350, quad cab and dually. '67 Mercury Cougar. 6x6 5ton with a White engine. A restored Travelall. 1938 Lagonda, either saloon or drop head.


I've been reading about built 302's in Colony Parks all night. NEed to stop, the wallet is getting itchy haha.

Finally ordered some new window rubber for the ghost today. It'll be nice not wonder if the window will shatter going up and down.

Will the turn signals work on the Cougar? ;)

Haha, I can't imagine keeping a set of them running.

How's your trip?

I've always wanted to fix one of those sequential turn signal systems. Fairly easy with today's technology, but they were cool when they worked on the Cougars. And, I've always liked the '69 Cougar best, probably because Diana Riggs drove one in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. That is my favorite Bond film, partly because I've been to Piz Gloria, the mountain-top in Switzerland where the movie was filmed.

As for the trip, it is going well. Currently in DC (Alexandria actually) with our son & DiL. Have been doing odd jobs to fix things up around the house, but think I'll have the list finished tomorrow so my wife and I are headed to Annapolis on Thursday for an outing. Then back toward home on Friday, stopping in Nashville with our daughter, SiL, and grandtwins that night and on home on Saturday. But, our son is going with us as he has a job interview in OKC next week, so will help with the driving and fly home later in the week.

Maybe I'll get back to the shop in another 10 days or so. Am chomping at the bit to get started on the flywheel spacer, so while I am having fun on the trip I'm also thinking about that.

I went and got my truck saturday and finally been driving it. I sure do love it. Itscleaned it up an amazing. Anyway I finally got the tail gate and bumper mounted . And I also cleaned it up and took a few pics . I hope you all like.

http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/...2391000583.jpg

http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/...2390999562.jpg

And here my bumper and tail gate pic

http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/...-30-09_329.jpg

I don't say this enough out here, but that thing looks pretty good and I'm jealous. :)

Why the 1987+ tail lights?

That is one sweet looking truck! I like that style of wheel well trim, not the more common trim that is a couple of inches away from the lip.

That is a nice truck. I'm not a fan of the 4-wheel drive pimp rims that come on these newer trucks and stuff though. I like a plain old wagon wheel.

No, but they're really good tires and came on the truck when I got it. 31x10.5x15 El Dorado MTZ. They're a mud and snow radial tire with a really great tread pattern, and they're quiet! :D They also grip really well. I can idle along in 4-wheel low and stomp on the gas and I'll just bite into the dirt, won't fling a bit of anything.

http://i45.tinypic.com/hvtft5.jpg

We will see if she runs better now.

New valves. Should be a big help. Are you sure the head is flat? Doesn't look to have been decked this round.

I would get a straight edge and check it.