New work beater

[JoeP.]

I was cleaning the garage today, and pulled this outside for a few pic's. I picked up this 1988 4 cylinder, 5 speed, 88K mile hatchback in early December as an impulse buy. I decided to piece it together for a work beater to drive this spring. The paint was chalky and oxidized, and missing the front fender extensions and most of the side mouldings, but it's a pretty solid little car. It had faded purple, bubbled window tint. It needed u-joints, a clutch quadrant repair, and exhaust leak repair, and a vacuum leak fixed on the engine. I have it almost whipped into shape now, and it drives awesome! I still plan to replace the headlights and convert the air conditoning over to 134A freon, and finish detailing the interior. Almost too nice for a beater, I guess I just got bored with the race car out for bodywork and paint!

 

[boosted gt]

the porno red is beautiful.

 

[Fordguy]

Cool.....looks like it cleaned up pretty good.

 

[white1995gt]

Everytime I like a car and think damn that's pretty nice the red interior comes up and I just go WTF :lol:

Still a nice beater though.

 

[daveg]

I did the same thing with my notch a few years ago. Bought it as a driver. Then the 8.8 rear, then complete 5.0 conversion with the auto to 5 speed mod. The stock parts to do it are dirt cheap and plentiful. The 4.10 geared 8.8 posi rear was a fun mod even behind the 4 cyl

 

[Golden]

Looks awesome! I even like the red interior, just needs black floor mats.

 

[MystryGuy]

Looks awesome! I even like the red interior, just needs black floor mats and seats.

fixed

 

[bigg]

id love to have a car like this !

 

[JoeP.]

I like the idea of black seats and floor mats, it would actually go with the two-tone dash pretty well! It is alot of red... I dunno, I'll probably realize I have too many cars sitting around and sell it before I even put insurance on it LOL!

 

[hangemhigh]

so...........that's joes idea of a beater huh?...........:lol:...........most of us on here would rock it in a heartbeat!!!

 

[Pwraddr]

That is pretty nice. Good on gas too, especially compared to the v10!!!

 

[JoeP.]

I did the same thing with my notch a few years ago. Bought it as a driver. Then the 8.8 rear, then complete 5.0 conversion with the auto to 5 speed mod. The stock parts to do it are dirt cheap and plentiful. The 4.10 geared 8.8 posi rear was a fun mod even behind the 4 cyl

Dave, Hangemhigh is trying to talk me into the same thing! I did swap in an old Hurst shifter knob I had in the garage, so maybe the transformation has already began. :gr_drivin

 

[daveg]

Dave, Hangemhigh is trying to talk me into the same thing! I did swap in an old Hurst shifter knob I had in the garage, so maybe the transformation has already began. :gr_drivin

Thats where it starts. I ended up buying a wrecked 89 5.0 vert for 300 and started swapping (its not that hard if you know all the right parts to swap). When I was done the only thing left 4 cyl on the car was the vin

 

[hangemhigh]

Dave, Hangemhigh is trying to talk me into the same thing! I did swap in an old Hurst shifter knob I had in the garage, so maybe the transformation has already began. :gr_drivin

just to fuel the flames a bit, i did some recon yesterday. i've got all the 5.0 wiring, processor, a long block, good t-5, plus an 8.8. let's get moving forward on this............

 

[Pure84GTT]

youve probably doubled the value since purchase lol


very nice car

 

[cjmatt]

If youre looking for a work beater, Ill trade you my DD Cherokee and take that thing off your hands...

 

[daveg]

just to fuel the flames a bit, i did some recon yesterday. i've got all the 5.0 wiring, processor, a long block, good t-5, plus an 8.8. let's get moving forward on this............

I have a few parts as well. I bet he could do most of the swap with donated parts!

 

[JoeP.]

:doh:You guys are killing me LOL! I think it's just fine as-is, I really don't need another project car right now. Besides, with the shifter knob and 1996 vintage NMCA license plate it's prolly pushing the power limits of the 7.5 axle now :roll:! Jim, why don't I just sell it to you and you can start a hatch collection too?

 

[DeFormula]

Looks good.

 

[cobra tom]

Tight!!!!!!