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Building instead of "buying".; Maybe we should start from scratch...
Topic Started: Jun 3 2015, 01:50 PM (405 Views)
supercrust
Corpse Pilot

Last night Mrs. supercrust and myself were discussing our trip to see the XFI Kraken is selling.

He'll be the first one to fairly describe its issues; it's under $1000 or less, and he'll cheerily explain why. The car has many good points, and we considered it- maybe still are considering it. It has some horn trouble, but, man, the rest of the body is super nice (at least as far as my limited skills could detect) ... It's needs a fender and door, included.

So, we started thinking about it. Maybe what we ought to do is find a nice Metro with a dying engine.

Could we get one, make sure the rest of it is OK, and pre-emptively send it out to get the horns replaced before bothering with the risk? Just how expensive *would* it be to get horns done on exactly what we want while we (re) build an engine with the features we want? Maybe we'd pay a bit more, but, you know, it's kind of a "pay me now or pay me later" thing.

By the time we pay to travel around and find what we want in the condition we want, it may end up costing more than a build and *still* have motor, horn, transmission, or engine trouble we couldn't detect easily.
We don't want to mess this up. We want a driver, and we intend to put high mileage on it when we get it. You can go ahead and argue that we shouldn't, but we are trying it regardless. It is the plan, and we are fully committed. We're well aware that these are old tiny cars. We have our reasons, and our desires, and that is that.

It would sure be nice not to start with mystery valves and a head/block we know hasn't already been rebuilt once long ago. Remove the frame questions, and add one of those Canadian braces... start *out* with zerks and maybe small drains in the horns...

Any ideas or comments?
Edited by supercrust, Jun 3 2015, 01:51 PM.
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Spud
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I always buy dead vehicles needing exorcisms for myself. When I get done I know it won't need fixing until usual when things get old and worn out.
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Murf 59
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I have a rust free 93 needs an engine, and a rust free 95 auto 4cly. Has issues with the engine and trans. But they are both a good place to start.
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Freeman
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The Family Man

This is common practice with Hondas. You see torn up 280k engines in rust free bodies all the time. Someone takes it and swaps in fresh rebuilt motor, new control arms, shocks, struts, gears, synchros, clutch, throwout bearing, and then puts on another 300k.

I recently did this myself. I thought about it. I could spend $1000~1500 on a new engine and trans (40k miles) and get a ton of life out of it via proper care. I like the chassis that I had and I had already installed an arm rest, new seats and few other things that really make it a more enjoyable ride.
Edited by Freeman, Jun 4 2015, 11:04 AM.
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

i have 2 storys here for this one-

red geo i bought with a mild 250k and drove that till its dying day, original struts original seats original everything. got a rebuilt motor from my dad, put in a better trans, did all the supention carpet insulation interior upgrades body upgrades cosmetic and performance upgrades. i have spent about 3000 on this car and now its a fully working sweet car great mpg reliable as sun rise, no car payments great mpg and super quiet interior, AC bangen sound the works. 3 grand roughly *excludeing stereo*

blue geo- project estimated build cost 6-7000 no more than 8000 tops, it will have lots of HP tint interior upgrades esteem seats for those long trips body kit for looks, turbo charged for those up hill stress wory free passing times, upgraded suspention for a plush ride, airconditioning that you wont have to turn off to pass or go up a hill, i want a roof rack for luggage, it will have upgraded brakes for stopping worry free, sway bars and many many other noce things.

do i think building over buying is good? yes i do my GF bought a 2013 yaris its loud inside lots of road sound, squeaky plastic bits and i trust my metro more because its "newer" it handles better it accelerates faster gets better mpg and is only a small amount less space inside, it is only a 2 door and hers is a 4 door. she bought this car and its great but she makes payments on it, i am debt free and my car has proven itself worthy over the last 20+ years to be a good runner for multiple owners. so yes starting with a clean chasis and adding freah parts that are ready and waiting is a great idea provided time and space to assemble. oh yea i forgot, my suspention has been over hauled to have freah grease where as the oem yaris who knows how much or how little is in the tie rod links ball joints rack etc. and we all know that manufactures dont add all that much grease to these parts, just enough to "work for a while"
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supercrust
Corpse Pilot

Murf 59
Jun 4 2015, 10:47 AM

Sadly, I live on the other side of the country
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