Car search again...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rotary Junkie
  • 55 comments
  • 2,928 views
I nixed the T-Bird simply due to the RWD. But that period is not the "shining star" example of Ford at it's quality best.

If you can find an intact, well cared for 90 -95 Escort GT, you will likely have a pretty good little Ford on your hands. But have the Valve train verified sound before you buy.

As for the Lumina suggestion....
The Chevy Lumina is a sturdy automobile, but a few things to keep in mind:
1. The freaking battery is UNDER the windshield washer resevoir, and if you have the battery replaced, even the dealer's shop forgets to hook the hoses back up. So, test the washer before you drive away from the shop.
1a. Along those same lines, do everything possible to protect your charging system, as it is not the easiest thing to get jumper cables attached, even to the remote points under the hood to jump start the car.
2. If you buy from a dealer, have the main fuses replaced before you drive it off the lot.
The fuse box is under the left hand support strut UNDER THE HOOD.
3. Make sure the car has new headlight bulbs. Chevrolet makes them damn near impossible to get to without dis assembly of the front end. Pretty much REQUIRES a shop or dealer visit, and you spend at least one day without a car.

If you do those things a Lumina will serve you well.
 
You may indded want to hurry, but it is pretty high miles. And the fact that it's high miles and a manual may keep many away, cause it is surely about time for a clutch replacement.
 
I also add a caution against GM 3.1's. computer problems, in my case. that's what they get for using the ECM's for Cavaliers :P

I hate to tell you, we have a boxy eighties 3800 GM right here that DIDN'T disintegrate. they just gotta figure out where the starter bolts are. even the tires stood up to sitting around for 10 years without weather checking! since when do clamshell hood LeBarons stand up that long?

Gil: your describing the W2 Luminas, the W1 i had had a more conventional setup. except if you count how they rigged the back row of sparkplugs :P
and we also know they ONLY reason they engineered those like that was to make you spend money at the dealership, instead :P
 
Except parts aren't all that cheap for them and I don't feel like having something slower than the 6. At least not much slower.
 
Rotary Junkie
Except parts aren't all that cheap for them and I don't feel like having something slower than the 6. At least not much slower.
Click to expand...
+1 RJ they just don't give up on the Civic I guess you can say they have a passion for slowness and they wonder why rotary wins :lol: But goodluck on finding a car.
 
Sniffs
Gil: your describing the W2 Luminas, the W1 i had had a more conventional setup. except if you count how they rigged the back row of sparkplugs :P
and we also know they ONLY reason they engineered those like that was to make you spend money at the dealership, instead :P
Click to expand...

I have a Venture with similar issues.
The Lumina, thankfully, died! But not till right After I put new tires on it. FULL SET!
 
mazdaman
+1 RJ they just don't give up on the Civic I guess you can say they have a passion for slowness and they wonder why rotary wins :lol: But goodluck on finding a car.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:

We get it. You like rotaries. Not every post has to include some reference to them and how normal engines suck.

A Civic is a pefectly reasonable suggestion - Rotary Junkie just happens to not really be interested in one. Even if you suggested something yourself, it doesn't give you free reign to knock the suggestions of others based on some ridiculous bias..
 
homeforsummer
:rolleyes:

We get it. You like rotaries. Not every post has to include some reference to them and how normal engines suck.

A Civic is a pefectly reasonable suggestion - Rotary Junkie just happens to not really be interested in one. Even if you suggested something yourself, it doesn't give you free reign to knock the suggestions of others based on some ridiculous bias..
Click to expand...

Thank you. Civics make sense for most people, they just don't have any real pull for me. Unless you're talking about Keef or PB's cars before they got wrecked, but in that case you have money into a daily which is not something I wish to do.

@mazdaman: Rotary this, rotary that, gah. I might have it in my name but that doesn't mean I ZOMG MUST HAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE SUCKS. I'm not like that. Rotaries get the nod from me for track toys and funmobiles but there are certain applications where they make little sense, daily driver status being one of them.
 
homeforsummer
:rolleyes:

We get it. You like rotaries. Not every post has to include some reference to them and how normal engines suck.

..
Click to expand...
I've never said anything about other cars just civic i hate them and that's it im a piston fan just like the next guy. I just don't see why would you put money into something so slow out here in Brooklyn that's the only thing known
so yes I have my reasons.
 
mazdaman
I've never said anything about other cars just civic i hate them and that's it im a piston fan just like the next guy. I just don't see why would you put money into something so slow out here in Brooklyn that's the only thing
Click to expand...

And in a thread about searching for a daily driver the relevance of people spending money to tune them is what exactly?
 
homeforsummer
And in a thread about searching for a daily driver the relevance of people spending money to tune them is what exactly?
Click to expand...
A daily driver does'nt have to be slow not at all there are lots a cars with lots of horsepower that are daily drivers.
 
mazdaman
A daily driver does'nt have to be slow not at all there are lots a cars with lots of horsepower that are daily drivers.
Click to expand...

Sorry but if you haven't noticed I'm 16. I've got quite a lot of experience behind the wheel for my age but that doesn't make me ready for a properly "fast" car. I'm sure I could handle the power but I doubt I can handle the temptation. Besides, that's what the Jag is for; 300hp will be enough at first considering what I'm used to and it'll never see rain or snow.
 
Rotary Junkie
@mazdaman: Rotary this, rotary that, gah. I might have it in my name but that doesn't mean I ZOMG MUST HAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE SUCKS. I'm not like that. Rotaries get the nod from me for track toys and funmobiles but there are certain applications where they make little sense, daily driver status being one of them.
Click to expand...
I just had a genius idea! Buy a C4 Corvette. Put a 13B in it. It would be like bizarro world.
 
Or, even better...a 4th-gen F-body. I have the feeling more LS1s are cabbaged from those for RX-7 projects than Corvettes...
 
Huge bump time.

Aside from rot and engine/trans issues, anyone here have experience with 4.6-powered MN12 T-birds? (94-7) May have run across a '94 for the price of dirt with a hurt 4.6. Any guesses what I have more parts for than currently useful? Truck needs a block still anyway, we can use the heads and gaskets from it to screw the birdie back together and refurb those heads once we have a short block going.
 

Latest Posts

Back