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So I bought a hold-me-over-'til-the-Mach-is-done car...

  • Thread starter Thread starter DarkBuddha
  • Start date Start date Feb 23, 2006

DarkBuddha

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
2,215
1
47
Seattle & Tampa
Feb 23, 2006
#1
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #1
Please excuse this cross post if you seen it on another forum already, but I'm pretty psych'd. With the Mach in limbo because of lack of time and access (I'm in Seattle, it's in Tampa), I decided that it's impossible to turn wrenches 3000 miles away. And since my wife and I have been sharing one car, her soul-less '03 Corolla and her '92 Corolla before that, for the last 7 years, I lost my crap and went and bought another "enthusiast" car.

Specifically, I bought an 1989 Merkur XR4ti. 2.3 turbo (non intercooled version of the SVO Mustang motor), 175hp, 5 speed, IRS, leather interior, etc. The kicker was that it only had 59000 original miles (documented), and it had only been driven 3500 miles in the last 9 years. It even came with a K&N filter, full 3" exhaust, a new clutch, and new Goodyears. And I got all the documenation, owners manuals, service records, service manuals, magazine articles, etc. All for $1200.

The strange thing was the guy wasn't even selling it... I just knocked on the door and asked. Turns out he's primarily a Land Rover enthusiast, but he's got a '02 Viper and a couple R model Volvos. I found out about the Viper when I noticed the huge turbo and 10 pistons sitting on his bookshelves in his office. Can you say 800hp!

Anyway, I'm pretty psych'd about this little car, and I've got some fun low budget plans for it, including an intercooler and ECU upgrade. I should be able to get it to 220hp without much effort really. Here are some pics for your amusement:

http://img116.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=asfoundresized2hq.jpg
 

5.0StangRacer

New Member
Sep 16, 2003
227
0
0
Damascus, Maryland
Feb 23, 2006
#2
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #2
congrats man! now go tear up some ricers who have no idea what it is! and picutres no workie
 

DarkBuddha

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
2,215
1
47
Seattle & Tampa
Feb 23, 2006
#3
  • Feb 23, 2006
  • #3
Thanks... oh, and try the pics again. I wonder if the url got mis-formatted.
 

5.0StangRacer

New Member
Sep 16, 2003
227
0
0
Damascus, Maryland
Feb 24, 2006
#4
  • Feb 24, 2006
  • #4
works now! look great, have fun!
 

69 Rustang

Member
Jun 9, 2004
307
0
16
Orange County California
Feb 24, 2006
#5
  • Feb 24, 2006
  • #5
You know, I did that about a year ago when I bought a 73 Fastback. Now I have two project cars in pieces... What was I thinking??? I did have fun driving it for a few weeks though... LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE and don't get too involved in trying to build two cars at the same time! Actually, I think my truck needs a paint job too, maybe I will take the moldings off it, weld the holes shut, fix the dents on it, and---oh wait, there I go again...
 

Max Power

Active Member
Jul 31, 2003
1,774
1
36
St Paul
Feb 24, 2006
#6
  • Feb 24, 2006
  • #6
Fun to drive, funny looking as hell. My dad had one of those turbo Merkurs. I remember a fair amount of lag.

$1200 seems like a deal to me!
 
B

bnickel

Founding Member
Aug 21, 2002
5,640
3
77
lubbock, texas
Feb 24, 2006
#7
  • Feb 24, 2006
  • #7
Max Power said:
Fun to drive, funny looking as hell. My dad had one of those turbo Merkurs. I remember a fair amount of lag.

$1200 seems like a deal to me!
Click to expand...

an intercooler amd bigger turbo will fix that!

nice going DB, but don't get too hooked up on it 'til the stang is finished. just driver the merkur until you get the stang home and driveable and then you can play with the merkur all you want
 

DarkBuddha

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
2,215
1
47
Seattle & Tampa
Feb 24, 2006
#8
  • Feb 24, 2006
  • #8
bnickel said:
nice going DB, but don't get too hooked up on it 'til the stang is finished. just driver the merkur until you get the stang home and driveable and then you can play with the merkur all you want
Click to expand...
I'm thinking the same thing... just clean it up a bit, collect parts as the come along, but no high effort or big money stuff until the Mach is done.
 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 18, 2002
2,166
44
98
Cape Cod, Ma.
Feb 25, 2006
#9
  • Feb 25, 2006
  • #9
Hey Buddha; it's a shame to leave the Mach just sitting there lonely an all, send me the keys and I'll park it beside my Ragtop, it will be much happier here on the Cape , I'll even lay down a nice shag rug for it in the garage
 

DarkBuddha

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
2,215
1
47
Seattle & Tampa
Feb 25, 2006
#10
  • Feb 25, 2006
  • #10
WORTH said:
Hey Buddha; it's a shame to leave the Mach just sitting there lonely an all, send me the keys and I'll park it beside my Ragtop, it will be much happier here on the Cape , I'll even lay down a nice shag rug for it in the garage
Click to expand...
Uh, what's that saying??? Oh yeah... OVER MY DEAD BODY!

Seriously though, the Mach is still my priority... I was just so damn tired of driving my wife's soul-less Corolla. There was not ritual or spirit in the car at all. I always drove it at 9/10 and even then it was just plain boring and slow. It was time to find something to have a bit more fun with is all.
 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 18, 2002
2,166
44
98
Cape Cod, Ma.
Feb 25, 2006
#11
  • Feb 25, 2006
  • #11
DarkBuddha said:
Uh, what's that saying??? Oh yeah... OVER MY DEAD BODY!

Seriously though, the Mach is still my priority... I was just so damn tired of driving my wife's soul-less Corolla. There was not ritual or spirit in the car at all. I always drove it at 9/10 and even then it was just plain boring and slow. It was time to find something to have a bit more fun with is all.
Click to expand...

Well if you feel you must kill yourself first I wont try and stop you, but don't you think that's a wee bit extreem?
 
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