my convertable project. needs work and i need help

[NINEGEAR]

i know more about bikes than most people but not as much as most people on here. but i know about as much about cars as most people know about how to run a nuclear powerplant. in short i would say i am car retarded. anyways this is my convertable. a dodge shadow and i dont know the year. my plan was new exhaust.(hopfully something to help me save on gas) new seats. fixing the door and rust spots. new paint job eventually. and having the local car customs place put on something over the front end to give the car a vintage look. but right now this car is a major cockblock. and needs some work on it. the main problem is that it has been sitting in my aunts barn for a few years and the gas had fermented. i dont want to take the tank off but i dont know what else to do. also the engine probobly needs cleaned so i have bg quick clean in my list of things i need. at engine had problems starting and wont stay running unless i keep the gas at about 4000RPM. my idea was to put quick clean and new gas along with the old in there and hopefully that would clean the nasty out and then i would also put more good gas inside over time so less nasty stuff.

so hints or sugestions

 

[Swagger]

You're in luck with that car. Mopar was really good about cross platform sharing.
The suspension is pretty decent stock, but you cna pick and choose from other cars to get all kinda of upgrades. SRT4 struts and springs will be all but bolt in, as will the front knuckles (and giant brakes) and I believe even the rear carriers can be swapped unless it's got the goofy straight axle (can't remember). You can also swap in the front knuckles, hubs and slightly larger front brakes from a caravan. I recommend upgrading all the bushings to urethane as the stock parts are really mushy....gives an ok ride but seriously.....

If it's a manual transmission you're golden, most all the NV boxes are pretty strong but you may want to invest in some diff saver tabs so you don't spit the diff pin out if you start making real horsepower. OBX makes a decent copy of the Quaife limited slip diff. Worth looking at. Gearing should be fine though there are some OE options in some of the sport models that may interest you. Clutches for ANY horsepower/use can be had for good prices at clutchnet.com.

If you're motor is less than solid, swap for the 2.4l dohc from any of the 'Cloud' cars ei; Stratus/Cirrus. It's a strong motor and with simple bolts on, a pair of 2.0 cams you can make 170hp or so before getting serious. It'll be fun to drive....trust me. 200hp is very attainable, no turbo needed. However, find yourself the turbo motor from an SRT4 and you have the potential for a shitpot more.

Lastly, the chassis itself oh the convertible you have is a little vague and when pushed will reach handling limits faster than the hard top version. Remedy that, add some safety and some cred with a single loop roll bar. Add a diagonal brace from the passenger top to the drivers base and a couple for and after and you're dialed.

Don't give up....lots of potential there. I should probably post picks of my little dodge..

 

[NINEGEAR]

before i look into preformance i'm gonna fix the problems it has. the few rust spots and so on. and i want to make it have that vintage look i talked about earlier

 

[mysta2]

...that vintage look i talked about earlier

What does that mean? Porsche 550 bodykit?

 

[Swagger]

Now that'd be something! Maybe one of those '51 MG kits......

 

[NINEGEAR]

yo back with an update. i need to take off the fuel pump.

 

[rockcitycafe]

vintage... hahah, that makes me feel old, I remember driving around with my dad in his when I was like, 7

 

[NINEGEAR]

vintage... hahah, that makes me feel old, I remember driving around with my dad in his when I was like, 7

something like that. i was going to make the fiberglass add on myself. but first i have to get it running

 

[Swagger]

Well that'll be something! There are 51 merc body kits that more or less bolt onto a 90's Ford Thunderbird, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Do you have experience with 'glass?

 

[NINEGEAR]

Well that'll be something! There are 51 merc body kits that more or less bolt onto a 90's Ford Thunderbird, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Do you have experience with 'glass?

fiberglass no. however i used to make moulds for masks and comic convention costumes.(note i made the costumes for other people not myself) so the moulds wont be a problem. fiberglass should be easy after a few small projects. pluss i was going to make it in small peices.