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Topic: It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside) (Read 2229 times) previous topic - next topic

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Ok, so I've been cruising the local classifieds to see what's out there in the way of a class C motorhome. I've been considering either buying one or buying an old 18-passenger school bus (a "short bus") and converting it into a camper, then spending my winters traveling the southern USA. I know, I'm only 36 and it's a bit early to be thinking about things like that, but I am just dreaming.

So I find this for sale (being a Toyota it's made of gold and priced as such):


Just what I'd like. Not too big, easily piloted through unfamiliar towns...

...So then I started thinking. I'll never buy a Toyota motor home because I would never pay what people think they're worth. Normal (van-based) Class C motorhomes are a bit cheaper, but still quite expensive and I don't like the size of most of them (too big). Then there's that "Homer Simpson" style about them, like the camper Homer bought in the first season when he was jealous of Flanders. So I thought "If someone could build a motorhome out of an 80's 4-cyl Toyota truck, why not a Fox T-Bird?"

That's when my mind snapped. I present my concept drawing of a class C Thunderbird motor home:


This would essentially be the body of a fox 'Bird (from the B-pillar forward) sitting on a 1-ton truck chassis with a motorhome body.

I know, it's crazy. Still, I'd really, REALLY love to show up at Cat Jam with something like this :mullet:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #1
cool, a turbo-home
I would do something like that.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #2
can  I barrow it to take to the races in April? That would be Cool! LOL
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #3
Oh my god man.


I saw one of those little toyota homes at the tire shop I worked at. Some woman was daily driving it I think... I dont know how that little truckthing hauled all that around. It sure was NOT a 1-ton though...
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #4
I would personally invest my time into building a teardrop trailer with a Tbird theme, lol.
1987 TC

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #5
:hick:

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #6
Quote from: bhazard;232309
Oh my god man.


I saw one of those little toyota homes at the tire shop I worked at. Some woman was daily driving it I think... I dont know how that little truckthing hauled all that around. It sure was NOT a 1-ton though...
Believe it or not there was a 1-ton payload package available on those 80's Toyotas (and Nissans, and Dodge Dakotas - I had a 1-ton Dakota). Some even had dual rear wheels. When they say "1-ton" they mean it, though - 2000 pounds is it. Full-size 1-tons can usually hold two or more tons (the F-350 Super Duty has a 6120 lb payoad).
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #7
So at first when the screen popped up I said you were crazy. I saw a family picture with a bunch of people’s heads reded out. Then I scrolled down and read and realized your still OK.

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #8
ipsd, would that be your first time racing a motorhome?  :hick:
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #9
build it!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1974 maverick lsx powered turbo car SOLD
1973 maverick Tijuana Taxi Tribute
1957 chevy LSX Turbo project (race car)
Owner of Joe Dirt Fabrication

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #10
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;232297

I know, it's crazy. Still, I'd really, REALLY love to show up at Cat Jam with something like this :mullet:


Would surely save on room expenses, maybe you could park it on Eric's front lawn...

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #11
Quote from: Innes;232441
So at first when the screen popped up I said you were crazy. I saw a family picture with a bunch of people’s heads reded out. Then I scrolled down and read and realized your still OK.


Yah cause there's obviously nothing crazy at all about a T-bird motorhome. :rollin:

It looks like a lot work, but I'm sure it can be done with enough beer and a welder. :hick:
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB SN-95 front struts and shocks, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #12
I'd love to get in on that project.
I even have a dish for the roof. :D
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook

 

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #13
Jesse James ended the show to soon he was looking for more ideas to bad you didn’t think of it then.

It's official, I'm crazy (yet another crazy concept drawing inside)

Reply #14
I used to be a scrub dog at an auto/motorhome shop. Those little Toyotas were able. I had a hard time believing it could even move, but when you got in it it drove perfectly fine. I drove a Nissan conversion as well, but the Toyota was definitely the better rig. It was a manual too. The thing is the cab rode as low as a car, and every time you got out you cracked your head on the sleeper.

One thing to remember is if you want a turbo-home, you're going to want to make that a turbo-302. That Toyota was using the R22, arguably the toughest passenger car engine ever made. I wouldn't trust a 2.3T to make it to New Brunswick hauling a camper.:slap:

Oh, one last thing, you're crazy. :screwy: I think I'd rather see a FWD Fox-bird than see yours cut up to make a motorhome.