Restomod's on Brutus

[ArdWrknTrk]

And here we step into the shady world of homogulation vehicles.

i.e. you need to sell X (50, 250, 500?) of these cars in order to race them.
Never mind that you could sell 99% of them to your unofficial race team, and keep a few for yourself.

From Gary's Superspeedway example to Hot Hatches for Gymkana, Hill Climb and Rallye, everybody does it.

[ArdWrknTrk]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I said the 429 was available in the Mustang back then so it wasn't a restomod.
If you were to do the body work I would call it a imposter/clone, not a restomod.

The term I like for this is Replicar.

It is a replica.
True to the original in as many ways as possible, without stepping over the line.

Didn't Seinfeld recently get accused of trying to rip off a buyer with a vintage Porsche RS?

Again we go back to -the other side of the coin-  "Bought, not Built"

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Replica or replicar  works for me.  

[ratdude747]

Ok, here's another borderline case: my '84.

The only "modern" upgrades I've done to it that are visible are a new head unit (one that's meant to look stock from a distance though) and a CB radio addition. Less visible modernizations are a heated O2 upgrade (over the stock 1 wire O2), relay isolted radio power wiring, and rubber fuel lines with a clear plastic fuel filter. The tires are the stock size but clearly not a stock model (they're Hankook's)... and the shocks are aftermarket (KYB Excel-G's, a "stock-replacement" model). I did install aftermarket brake pads too... but the rest of the braking system is all stock or stock replacements.

There are some period correct swaps made with OEM parts too... mirrors (dunno what was stock, since it had aftermarket garbage when I bought it), instrument cluster (Tach and Trip odometer upgrade), headlight buzzer, and underhood retractable light.

I wouldn't call it a restomod since I kept the often-deleted stock emissions and feedback carb... the entire driveline is stock (other than new u-joints, which doesn't count IMHO). Not a pure restoration obviously... but one notch below?

[ArdWrknTrk]

A notch below what?
There's no such thing as a 'numbers matching' '80's Ford pickup.
While that sort of thing might be nice for a museum piece, I question the sanity of people who go that far with their personal vehicles.

I know a few, and the whole "concours" scene is a little unhinged from those I've had contact with.

It sounds like any other 36 year old truck.
When some parts wear out they get replaced with currently available stock. (shocks, brakes, tires, U-joints, wipers, battery, etc.)

[85lebaront2]

I guess my Chrysler konvertible would be a restomod as externally it will just be a nice looking 1986 K body Lebaron convertible, mechanically it has a 1988 short block and 1987 Daytona Turbo II intake with a 1989 Garrett turbo, 1991 Turbo automatic with lockup converter. Front suspension is upgraded to a 1989 J body Lebaron and the same on the rear including the disc brakes.

Interior will have the 1989 dash with either analog or digital gauges (wired for both), 1992 Imperial full electronic ATC system, 2001 Sebring 6 channel Infinity stereo. Only exterior clues will be 15" Aluminum wheels (Chrysler optional) with 205/60R-15 tyres and a small "Turbo" label on the front fenders. If I can find one, I will put one of the turbo hoods on, they have louvers to exhaust heat at stoplights.

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Bill; Your little Chrysler is going ot be really cool by the time ur done.  Me, i would think it would fall under the catagory of restomod, but again nobody really knows what the actual definition really is.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I think sleeper would be the closest term...... and I LIKE IT!

While 205's might have a time hooking up, that old man in the next lane is gonna eat your lunch.  

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Just have to love the expressions on there faces.  I got that alot when the 88 was running the roads

[85lebaront2]

The look on the Mustang GT driver's face when it sank in that the 1985 was a 4 cyl car that the exhaust buzz gave away was priceless.

Fun story on it, my son was dating a lady who lived in Northern VA. He had borrowed our 1993 Grand Caravan and been cut off at the "mixing bowl", Springfield VA interchange and had to go into DC and come back. The next trip he took the 85 konvertible, same thing happened, someone cut him off, his reaction "no damn way" and stood on it, digital speedometer only has two digits in MPH mode, but I had set the US/Export switch to Export. He said it went on up to 99, then 00 followed by 01, 02, 03 etc. I said "and?" he said it got to 21 before he let off in front of the clown and hit the brakes for the exit. Needless to say that's why the 86 has rear discs now. Mull on that, 121 mph in a K car and still pulling!

[85lebaront2]

Jim, the K car was designed for 185/80-13 tyres, the 1985 Lebaron had them and fake wire wheel covers. I moved it to 195/70R14 Kumhos on the 4 bolt aluminum wheels. The 1985 Turbo models were supposed to have 5 bolt running gear, but because mine came with the 2.6L Mitsubishi engine (Chrysler equivalent of a stock Ford M-block), it had 4 bolt running gear. The 1986 models except the L body base non-turbo models all had 5 bolt running gear. 205/60R15s will actually rub the inner splash shields at full lock, but were optional for these cars.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Oh, I'm not saying that is a skinny tyre for that car.
Just that is seems narrow for the power you're trying to put through it.

I have this vision of wire hubcaps and acres of fake wood grain, with smoke billowing from the front wheel wells!  

[85lebaront2]

The thought has crossed my mind to find and AWD minivan in a junkyard and see if the stuff can be modified to go under a K car. One other thing, the turbo models came with equal length drive axles to help with torque steer, and it will still try to take the wheel out of your hands!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Yes, I remember that those cars got equal length axles.

I don't know how bad the feedback is in one of them though.

Were there any chassis similarities with the Town & Country mommymobiles?

[85lebaront2]

Yes, but the S body (vans) are wider track and leaf springs in the rear, front suspension on the early ones is just a widened K member to allow for the track width difference.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Was that true of Fwd as well?

I thought those things had torsion tubes in the rear?
IIRC, plenty went under homemade utility trailers?

[85lebaront2]

They have a hollow tube axle that comes up outboard of the springs. Front on the FWD is just originally a wider K-car setup (1984-87) after that they were built beefier, now a lot of the front end is aluminum castings.