The Stickman
12-04-2008, 12:20 AM
Well I have been leaning towards Pro-Touring with my present car probably because it's what I've always been about. I had an S-10 that I decided to make an AutoX and road racer. Yea I know I'm an oddball in most walks but I have a feeling I'll fit right in here. I took that S-10 and got it to out handle Vette's and other cars that should have been way better than a truck despite being way under powered with a TBI 4.3L V-6. It wasn't pretty. and it wasn't comfortable to anyone but me really. but then I was glad I had no radio just so I could hear the engine rumble. It impressed some and pissed others off. but then getting your sportscar beaten by a primer black pickup can do that. Here is a pic of that truck. I miss it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/ebay3801-1.jpg
Then I progressed into Fieros and finally found my Unicorn. An IMSA bodied Fiero with 15X10 in the rear and 15X9's in the front. They are Compmotive light weight 3 piece rims. It also had the same racing engine they used in the real IMSA Fiero's. Back in the late 70's early 80's they would call cars like this Cafe racers. Well My unicorn is sitting in a corner in my garage. While it was everything I had ever wanted, it's pretty frustrating not having the car getting the respect it deserves. it has the body and engine of a real race car and yet take it to a show or cruise night and either no one gives a second glance or even knows what it is. And well that race engine needed help, so it was torn down. More parts were bought. I bought a 4 cylinder Modified just for another engine just like it. But in the end I need someone that knows these engines to rebuild them properly because I can't. To top all that off I have been disabled since 2005 due to Cronic and severe migraines. So working on my cars is seldom. Here is the IMSA Fiero.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/myIMSA-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/Imsa_Coupe-1.jpg
And the real race car it was patterned after.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/Watkins_Glen19840708084-1.jpg
Now fast forward to the beginning of this year when I got my disability check and could afford to get me a vehicle that ran as the previous three years we were very tight on cash with my wife working very hard just to keep our heads above water. BARELY. So I needed something that fit what I needed in a car. That mainly being something I could lay down in when I got an attack. We had a Minivan, but that was totalled Christmas Morning by a hit and run driver. My wife was on her way to my parents house while I lay in bed with a migraine attack. I get a call from her hysterically crying, and I could do nothing about it. No one stopped to help, even on Christmas morning. We ended up getting a loan and my wife wanted something good in the winter and we found a Subabru wagon we could afford with what we got from my parents. Now keep in mind I had just won my disability case but had not gottne my full benefits payment. Now the minivan I could lay down in the Subaru wagon I could not. So when the big check came I knew what I wanted. I had seen it sitting for quite some time. It was big and black. Plenty of room to lay down. Dark tinted windows for my light sensitivity. It was me. It was a 1984 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. An huge wagon.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/100_0445fi-1.jpg
Now not the protouring look. But beleive it or not even in stock trim it handled surprisingly well. It has the sport suspension on it which means the biggest front bar(no rear bar) and firm springs all around. Now the wheels and tires aren't stock. They are Wheel Vintiques 15X8's with 255/60-15's. Not pro-touring rims or tires but they do make it handle. The ride is about as comfortable as one can get. All without the soft floaty feeling of a luxoboat. And the odd part is that I put on Eibach lowering performance springs and the ride feels softer and less confident. I have a rear bar but it is not a direct bolt on because the wagons were wider than their car conterparts. But nothing I can't fix. It also has a new Olds 350 so it has more power. Now it may not have blistering acceleration but it more than makes of for it on the highway were it shines. It has 2.73 in the rear and a 200R4 OD transmission. I can cruise all day and never break a sweat. Now I plan on adding bucket seats and a shiftkit to firm up the shifts and give me manual capability. I also plan on making the Olds engine EFI. Now my biggest problem is finding good looking and not outrageously priced wheels because my car uses the 5X5 bolt pattern which way limits my options. I also plan on rear discs not that I know it was an option on the 90's B-Bodies. Should be a direct swap. I also plan on bring the bumpers in closer to the body for a cleaner look.. Here is what I hope for my car to look like.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/bmp-1.jpg
I hope me and my car fit in here and are welcome.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/ebay3801-1.jpg
Then I progressed into Fieros and finally found my Unicorn. An IMSA bodied Fiero with 15X10 in the rear and 15X9's in the front. They are Compmotive light weight 3 piece rims. It also had the same racing engine they used in the real IMSA Fiero's. Back in the late 70's early 80's they would call cars like this Cafe racers. Well My unicorn is sitting in a corner in my garage. While it was everything I had ever wanted, it's pretty frustrating not having the car getting the respect it deserves. it has the body and engine of a real race car and yet take it to a show or cruise night and either no one gives a second glance or even knows what it is. And well that race engine needed help, so it was torn down. More parts were bought. I bought a 4 cylinder Modified just for another engine just like it. But in the end I need someone that knows these engines to rebuild them properly because I can't. To top all that off I have been disabled since 2005 due to Cronic and severe migraines. So working on my cars is seldom. Here is the IMSA Fiero.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/myIMSA-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/Imsa_Coupe-1.jpg
And the real race car it was patterned after.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/Watkins_Glen19840708084-1.jpg
Now fast forward to the beginning of this year when I got my disability check and could afford to get me a vehicle that ran as the previous three years we were very tight on cash with my wife working very hard just to keep our heads above water. BARELY. So I needed something that fit what I needed in a car. That mainly being something I could lay down in when I got an attack. We had a Minivan, but that was totalled Christmas Morning by a hit and run driver. My wife was on her way to my parents house while I lay in bed with a migraine attack. I get a call from her hysterically crying, and I could do nothing about it. No one stopped to help, even on Christmas morning. We ended up getting a loan and my wife wanted something good in the winter and we found a Subabru wagon we could afford with what we got from my parents. Now keep in mind I had just won my disability case but had not gottne my full benefits payment. Now the minivan I could lay down in the Subaru wagon I could not. So when the big check came I knew what I wanted. I had seen it sitting for quite some time. It was big and black. Plenty of room to lay down. Dark tinted windows for my light sensitivity. It was me. It was a 1984 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. An huge wagon.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/100_0445fi-1.jpg
Now not the protouring look. But beleive it or not even in stock trim it handled surprisingly well. It has the sport suspension on it which means the biggest front bar(no rear bar) and firm springs all around. Now the wheels and tires aren't stock. They are Wheel Vintiques 15X8's with 255/60-15's. Not pro-touring rims or tires but they do make it handle. The ride is about as comfortable as one can get. All without the soft floaty feeling of a luxoboat. And the odd part is that I put on Eibach lowering performance springs and the ride feels softer and less confident. I have a rear bar but it is not a direct bolt on because the wagons were wider than their car conterparts. But nothing I can't fix. It also has a new Olds 350 so it has more power. Now it may not have blistering acceleration but it more than makes of for it on the highway were it shines. It has 2.73 in the rear and a 200R4 OD transmission. I can cruise all day and never break a sweat. Now I plan on adding bucket seats and a shiftkit to firm up the shifts and give me manual capability. I also plan on making the Olds engine EFI. Now my biggest problem is finding good looking and not outrageously priced wheels because my car uses the 5X5 bolt pattern which way limits my options. I also plan on rear discs not that I know it was an option on the 90's B-Bodies. Should be a direct swap. I also plan on bring the bumpers in closer to the body for a cleaner look.. Here is what I hope for my car to look like.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/bmp-1.jpg
I hope me and my car fit in here and are welcome.