My sport is officially not safe to drive. I'm running it until I have something else fixed and then I'm tearing out the drivetrain and sending it to the junkyard.
This is my first car I ever had as well as the car I learned how to do everything on. 9 years and almost 100k later and I seriously don't even know what's holding the front of it on anymore (like seriously have no idea). I had a ground go bad yesterday and putting it up on jackstands I just went wow...
As an idea I fixed the passenger side a year ago, it looked like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6SUv2HgE4Y
The drivers side is worse and pretty much shattered, there are shards of metal popping out of everywhere. I'll take some pics once I yank the motor out.
RIP 1987-2010
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v511/221/91/522631428/n522631428_1275083_1417.jpg)
Louvered hood, frenched antenna, shaved door handles, T5 swap
Please tell us you are not sping that cool hood !!!
hi crystal
wouldnt you want to repair it?
u deem urself as an extrodinary welder, you probably have the skills to repair it
Damin had cut in the frame and replaced some rotted spots with new material
What do you think about trying to save it
SEB
I'm sorry to hear about that Crystal.Your car was one of the first I saw when I came to this forum back in the 60's (Maybe a slight embellishment.LOL).Are you planning on replacing it with another Bird?After all of these years driving an '88 Bird,I just can't have anything else.
Go ahead and ship me the header panel,and part of your Sport will live on.
That you-tube video was ugly!!! I think it would take extensive surgery to fix that front end. But that only equals time, lot's of it, in the end.
Yeah a pure shame not to try to save it. There must be some donor car that good parts can be had and welded in place.
Well, I would hope u at least strip the car of all the good parts people always want before it goes to a crusher.
It would be the same repair That I did on mine. Took about a week to make everything, and a ton of cutting, welding and drilling. and making inner bolt sleeves. It's a ton of work to rebuild the frame and towers...... If I had to do it over, I would have sped my car too, but I just had to see If I still had the talent to rebuild it. I support your decision to s it. sometimes you have to draw a line where to stop the repairs
I never get tired of showing this pic:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg4/flstci71/Car%20Pics/TC-RIP.jpg
I am sure you know your car better than anyone else. You are correct, at some point you need to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em....
Even with as much sentimental value as it has to me, it's just not worth it. Honestly this would make a better donor car to a more solid base. My goal was to hit 300k in it (it's not far) but it's no longer a safe goal, I'd hit it in another year.
The entire front end would have to be fabbed and rebuilt (the video was of the pass. side and the drivers side is much worse) the radiator support is at least 50% rotted, doors are bad, drivers fender is cracked, quarters are both bad, deck lid is rotted, where the gas tank straps bolt up is rotted out and was hacked back together by someone. Basically there's not a solid part in the entire car. The "frame" is so out of shape that if my car isn't sitting on level ground the drivers side door no longer pops open when you hit the button.
While I love these cars this one is just seriously beyond reasonable repair. My tc which has a little rot in the pass strut tower is another story, that car is totally repairable. It's sad to see another hit the syard but between my lack of place to do the project, lack of tools to fab the parts right and lack of job to fund said project we're barely hitting the surface. If it was a car with available parts it may be a different story.
I also have a 2.5 month old baby and am a single mom so there goes time on top of it. I think I'm slapping the motor back in my ranchero to buy myself time to repair the tc. The drivetrain from the sport will be donated to build my 48 Prefect (which is the main goal to finish). The hood is definately not getting sped that'll move over to my tc and probably the fender with the antenna as well.
Oh and I have every intention of saving the VIN plate and making a necklace from it ;)
And I may have that picture beat, we shall see...
Vinnie, The header panel has damage under the drivers side headlights. When I pull them I'll send you a pic and you can let me know if you're still interested. It doesn't mess anything up structurally or visually when it's together but I figured I'd let you know.
Single mom? I thought you had a significant other. I did the single parent thing for 3 years. I learned a LOT about what one person can do when they have to. Good luck. As far as the header panel,If it doesn't harm the appearance or the function,I'm game.Pm me sometime and we can talk and maybe work out some kind of deal. .For now,two Twinkies and a glass of milk as I start chillaxin' on the couch.
Ah man.. at least you've got another one in the works to lessen the pain from losing it. :) I've actually had two birds. I had a s purchased blue V6 1987 bird ($50, and later junkyard material yet again once we were done with it). My current TC has some parts and pieces from it.
I worry so much about rust. :( I have a little bit of rust on the inside of my passenger door now I have to grind out and stop before it gets worse. It runs out under the door when its wet. Makes me sad to see it because I know the underside of mine is rusty too. I try not to think about the day I have to do what you are doing now. I'm at 205,400 miles right now.
Glad to hear you are going to let it live on in other vehicles :D
And Kudos to you on doing the single parent job. I have been doing it for 6 years now and it is a full time job in itself .
Many have tried.... All have failed.... :D
LOL, I accept that challenge! :evilgrin:
Yeah, the single parent thing is definately a job in itself, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. She's going to the nostalgia drags with me May 30 (first drags, 3 months!). Mom's a big help too but I don't like leaving her with her too much, I'd rather save that for when it's needed (like to fix cars, lol). I did decide to play redneck the other day though and had her outside in a swing while I changed my oil in my slippers (I thought I had shoes on, lol) :hick:
This bird is the first of 5. Here it is with the other 2 tc's I had. The 85 blew its motor right before I moved and the 87 got hit hard by a truck which took out the quarter and at the time I knew nothing about bodywork. The 5th was an 88 5.0 parts car I got for $75.
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1935/221/91/522631428/n522631428_1479640_6533.jpg)
That is not redneck at all . I have my 11 yr old (Shelby) pump brake pedals when it comes bleeding time :D
I just meant the slippers part ;) She loves outside, just gotta make sure she's in the shade since if she's anything like me she'll cook in .5 seconds. Even got her a set of ears for the drags:
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs556.snc3/30401_390249691428_522631428_4244374_8367184_n.jpg)
that really sux, seems like time marches and and things of more importance must take priorty. I love these cars though, seems like they still hold a more modern look of today even though they are old. At least you know everything now about these cars and you can score on your rehab and keep it forever:hick: (thats what we all hope for on our own cars)
Plus Vinnie if you use that JB Plastic Weld on any cracks or breaks that will fix it. I am a firm believer in that stuff after trying it to repair a couple of plastic parts.
Buy another 86-88 and use that car for parts. You will be better off. I have spent way too much money on my car. I am about to buy a parts car to fix the front end from my wreck.
I had a teenage girl pull up to me the other day and say "really cool car!!" - heh, that gave me a big smile for a mile :D
That's totally the learning curve. I figured out how much less I could build another car exactly the same for and it's disturbing. I would of course change some things like not doing the shaved door handles but fabbing up something custom that sat flush so I could race it...