Blake Noble

GMTG74 is right about trading it up ...

Yes.

You both (?) need to learn sentence structure, proper grammar, and proper spelling. Also, with regards to the statement that the horsepower figure for the Shelby Charger is incorrect, I'm afraid it isn't. Granted, yes, the caption is below a picture of the GLHS model that made more power, but I thought we were all old enough now to actually read long pieces of text and not look at the pictures first. I'm going to bow out again now. I'm not afraid to throw rocks at a hornet's nest.

I'll have some big news to share on this project in the near future.

Not this'un. It's a '72 Cutlass Supreme that was ordered from the factory without a vinyl top (which explains why it's so solid and not a pile of rust on wheels).

It's dad's now and he's really been working with it over the past two years. The interior is just about 90 percent finished and, after the paint job is done, the whole car will be about 90 percent there. That paint, by the way, still needed to be wet-sanded and buffed in those pictures. The guys at the bodyshop who are lining it out really know their stuff. The paint is a Chrysler color, Black Cherry Metallic according to the paint chip. GM had a similar color called Burgundy Mist back in the late '60s and '70s, although this is slightly darker. Some '70 model Cutlasses could be ordered in Burgundy Mist and that color really seems to suit them, so perhaps that's why this old Chrysler minivan color works out so well on the old Olds. After it's out of paint, he's going to throw a set of black Olds Rally rims on it with all of the chrome beauty trim. I can't wait to see what it's going to look like put back together right.

Remember the Cutlass? Well, this is what it's turned into. Thought you guys would enjoy this glimpse of the near future as much as I did.

Oookkkkaaaaayyyyyyy then ... right.

Ahem. I believe the reason why this post has been ignored is because I've solved many of the issues presented in this thread.

Short answer: no. Long answer: the Chevrolet Captiva is a largely different beast from the Chevrolet Captiva Sport (read: Saturn Vue/Opel Antara with a bowtie) that is sold here in America to rental lots, and in Mexico to people who should really know better. We don't get the Captiva here (yet ... in some form or another), thus we won't get this revised version here. Not that I'm bothered by that; this looks like John Candy in an Aveo suit.

Learn to love your backseat DVD player. (Seriously, I haven't found one in my area that doesn't have the goddamn thing.)

I see a simple workaround to make the Smart Glass function work for a big old stiff like hyper (lighten up son, I'm kidding): limit how dark the front windows and and windshield can go. For example, while the sunroof, rear passenger windows, and rear window can all reach a healthy dark tint, the front windows and windshield can only reach a tint roughly equal to half of that. As for the Threat Warning Package, there is a workaround there too: simply offer it as a part number or an "aftermarket" system that can be dealer-instaled or third-party installed only. To further elaborate, you install an app and a system update to CUE and then install a new antenna. I think an integrated radar detector would sell like hotcakes.

I own two out of the three of them.

Remember on the previous page how GMTG74 liked the my XJ's more "squared-off" front-clip versus the softer one found on the newer models? You know, I think I just found the best of both worlds. I ran into the following video on YouTube ... ... And noticed the owner of that particular Cherokee blended the newer header panel into the older fenders. I absolutely love the end result here. It's fantastic. I think some sanding on the newer header panel might be all it should take for this mod to turn out right. I also pulled up the driver's side carpet today. Yes, I have a little swiss cheese under there.

Sure, I could've written an op piece on the V8-6-4, but I don't think it would've or could've held the same weight as this piece. Everyone knows the story there, no one cares anymore. That was the thinking here. Besides, the argument has been made (even on these forums) that the 8-6-4 wasn't much of a flop either considering that many V8 engines built today feature cylinder deactivation. I don't have to defend myself here. Like I said, even over a year later, this article still does its job.

I'll let that speak for itself. It's over a year later and this article can still spark a discussion.

The Benzo 5-speed automatic can be dimwitted, but if you find a decent one, it shouldn't cause you any headaches (as long as you avoid the dog-tastic 2.7 sludge bomb). LX cars with the 3.5 or 5.7 are pretty rock solid.

I farking lurve these JK Rubicon rims:

I've put restarting the teardown process off until Saturday. In the meantime, I couldn't help myself; I had to pick these up. I have to swap out my rear driver's side door (it has some rust that they didn't show me), but I do have four doors for the Heep now with crank windows and manual locks, all for about the same price as buying new seals and weatherstripping for the old POS doors! Best of all, the seals are still in excellent shape on the new doors and I also kill off the crappy wing windows in the process. After the doors are on (and the strikers are relocated/updated), it's on to the front clip, sending it out for a little rust repair, and then paint. If everything goes right, even on my modest budget, the first phase of this little project should be finished by Fall. Let me say that -- fingers crossed -- this has been the smoothest project I've had yet, and I'm still very pleased with it. There's more where this came from in the pipeline. Stay tuned.

Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. Although I will admit my Astra would've been a much better car if it had the five-speed manual gearbox. Anyway, cool car and good luck!

I'm going to finish ripping the rest of the interior out, after I head out of town to buy some new parts. I know I soaked the hell out of the bolts yesterday, so maybe letting them sit all day today will make a miracle happen.

It's okay to laugh.

This is turning into more of a build thread now. I'll also make a note here that I found a hoard of dead maggots in the carpet. So, yeah. This Jeep is getting vinyl seats and floor in the near future. Anyway, anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with the rusty bolts on the passenger side seat? I've already tried PB Blaster and a damn breaker bar to no result. While it would be funny, please, don't suggest using a torch on them with the carpet still in the Jeep. It's uniframe. The XJ is partially French, so it has to be weird different.

Yeah, it's mainly a problem with older XJs like mine. You can blame that entirely on the stupid wing vent windows. When the seals go bad or are deformed, they're only good for throwing water in the floorboards. This is the main reason why I will be swapping out the front doors for a newer set. I have to keep my fingers crossed the PB Blaster I bought will work and the stupid bolts come off of the studs. Yeah, it's pretty cheap to restore and build one of these. For example, two new rocker panels only run $50 bucks each. You can still pick up most of whatever you need out of your local junkyard as well.

This is the real cause of "death wobble" in a Heep: