Progress Thread Amy's 83 Capri 5.0

[Davedacarpainter]

Nah Amy, they have it all wrong. You should make your capri as nice as that one. Doing the build is fun and it bonds you to a cool hobby.

Now, if you have $20k, go buy that capri! Still build yours though.

 

[RaggedGT]

C'mon now Dave,I'm always one for a build- make it a Capri build and I'm your biggest fan.... lol

 

[95BlueStallion]

I would be writing a check for that 2300 mile 86 capri and call it a day. You will be $20k into that rust bucket before you know it and it still wouldnt be as nice.

There is something to be said about restoring a "rust bucket" rather than letting it go to scrap. Stop criticizing someone else's car and decisions just because they differ from yours. Even if she spends over $20k on her car restoring it, its much easier to do over time then to come up with $20k at once. Plus you have the memories, experience, and pride that goes along with not just writing a check because you prefer to take the easy way out.

 

[JETHROBOEAN]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/...ry-capri-rs-5-0l-just-2-000-mil/#slide-286633

 

[amy83capri]

I gonna look at it this way how many women can say hey I rebuilt that sweet car over there from the ground up and it probably could out run your car lol

 

[cleanLX]

I respect that you want to save, restore your car, just thought I'd give you an option, or, show you whats out there.
I'm betting by the time it's all said and done, the money will be a wash. Pay now, or pay over time.
Sometimes money up front is not what you want to do, and I get that, mine is going to sit for a year or 2 because I simply don't want to plunk out cash right now.
Spending money on these older cars... It's a hard enough decision to make to when you have the "cash", more so if you need to finance.
Sometimes, such as in your case, you just want to make it yours through blood sweat and tears dagnabbit.
Good luck with your build, looking forward to watching the progress.

 

[amy83capri]

thanks for showing me some options and for the good luck. hope I will have an update soon.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Alright Amy, what's up with your Capri? We want more information.

 

[amy83capri]

alright since my last post I got the motor on the engine stand and started to take off stuff slowly and taking lots of pics along the way. what is the best way to get as much extra power out of this thing without spending a ton of money. I know you can get aftermarket heads and intake. would it better money wise to get a set of new complete heads or clean up and rebuild them myself. any input would be great thanks in advance!!

 

[General karthief]

Aftermarket, whats your goal, spirited daily driver?

 

[amy83capri]

mainly just want a nice fun car to drive in the spring and summer and maybe take it to a car show or two in the summer.

 

[General karthief]

There is a lot of debate here on heads, If its just a driver I would go with a replacement aluminum head that does not require a bunch of aftermarket parts to work, no special headers or valvetrain gear to buy, stock rockers, valve covers, intake and headers bolt on and your good.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Really depends what you have to spend Amy.

If you have the money for an HCI install, it's worth the money. Of course that leads to the surrounding upgrades as well. Though exhaust is the really the only one you'll really want to add with the HCI.

If you're satisfied with the current power level, then just clean the engine up a bit. Do a check of your main and rod bearings while you have the engine on that stand. Now would be the time to check them. Pull the heads too and clean up the combustion area and check the cylinder walls to see how they are. Be sure to get a new set of head bolts when you do this. The old ones are TTY.

It really depends on what you're wanting from it for the advice we would give.

 

[General karthief]

The TTY head bolt thing was a topic of conversation several times around here and jrichker straightened me out on my 89, I don't think the 83's TTY but new head bolts is never a bad idea, I also forgot thats got a carb so she could get a cam with some overlap and sound really cool without sacrificing driveability

 

[amy83capri]

can I get a better cam with out changing everything else in the motor. if I can get ahold of some 351 heads what else would I have to do to the motor. also what kind of power increase would it have

 

[85ragtop]

can I get a better cam with out changing everything else in the motor. if I can get ahold of some 351 heads what else would I have to do to the motor. also what kind of power increase would it have

The 351 head's alone aren't going to do much. If my memory serves me they are basically 302 head's with bigger combustion chambers. It has been many years that I have messed around with anything stock. 83's were not roller cams either I believe. I used a Voodoo cam in my 84. It sounded great.

 

[General karthief]

Have you checked out a head, cam, intake kit? I know your not building a race engine, just want something fun to drive right?

 

[85ragtop]

Just make sure you find out if it a flat cam or a roller cam. HCI kits are great as long as you get the correct style cam. I went through that once. A lot of profanity that day.

 

[General karthief]

I went back and read your posts again.
Your engine didn't come from the factory with a lot of hp. To get the most for your money you should check what the factory compression is. I don't think you have a roller motor, a quick intake pull and you will know, this is where a decision needs to be made, if this was mine, and keep in mind I'm a low buck kinda guy, and this was a non roller engine and it ran good with no smoking or oil consumption I would go long tube headers and aluminum intake with a small 4 barrel carb then concentrate on a gear change (355's) and suspension/brake rebuild/upgrades.
If the engine is a worn out turd I'd find a roller block and rebuild it with heads, cam and intake with a small 4 barrel carb, keep in mind that you are still going to need to address the gear and suspension/brakes rebuild/upgrade.

 

[General karthief]

I want to see how this go's, I really like capri's and there ain't many left.