Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

I remember back in '94 going car shopping with my family. My dad wanted a black '91 Z28, while my mom wanted a 1990 Geo Prizm with rust bubbling on the top of one front fender. I, for once, was being practical; trying to steer my mom (This was going to be a car that she was going to drive; she wouldn't have liked the Z28.) into a '92 Mitsubishi Diamante. Then my mom saw a burgundy '91 Chrysler New Yorker that she liked even better than the Geo. At that point, I gave up - walking back to the truck and thinking to myself, "I'm glad I'm adopted."

(This is what the New Yorker looked like, BTW)
https://pic.armedcats.net/p/ph/phoenixsac/2011/08/20/chrysler_new-yorker-1988-91_r4.jpg
(It makes a Volvo 740 look like a Lotus Esprit.)
 
NooDle said:
it is impossible, I tried....
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You weren't trying hard enough. Apparently US Smarts rolling over is more common than you'd think.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f181/rolled-my-smartie-40079/

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/fo...sty-there-smart-crash-miami-33592/index2.html

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f4/personal-crash-test-8069/

Apparently, blown engines are pretty common too, I would presume that would be from trying to run the on the freeway fast enough that they don't become an F350's hood ornament.
 
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Spectre said:
You weren't trying hard enough. Apparently US Smarts rolling over is more common than you'd think.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f181/rolled-my-smartie-40079/

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/fo...sty-there-smart-crash-miami-33592/index2.html

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f4/personal-crash-test-8069/

Apparently, blown engines are pretty common too, I would presume that would be from trying to run the on the freeway fast enough that they don't become an F350's hood ornament.
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To be fair two of those instances were traffic collisions, it doesn't have the Reliant Robin issue of rolling over in normal driving conditions!

Who would be stupid enough to take a Smart car on a highway anyway? Isn't the top speed something stupid like 80mph (and it takes about about 5 years to get to reach that speed)?
 
captain_70s said:
Who would be stupid enough to take a Smart car on a highway anyway? Isn't the top speed something stupid like 80mph (and it takes about about 5 years to get to reach that speed)?
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Americans that believed the sales droids' and Smart USA's pitch would be who. Half the time when I see a Smart forTwo, it's on the highway screaming its little three cylindered heart out.

Yes, that's right, Smart's US sales organization is telling people that it's fine to take these heaps on the highway.

Also, most cars don't want to roll or fall over at all in traffic collisions, whereas the Smart seems to be pretty prone to it. Not even the previous microcar champions in the US, the Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift and the Daihatsu Charade, did that.

In the IIHS crash test, it barely missed rolling onto its side - by just a hair.

Imagine what happens when the hammer of an F150 with a Ranchhand guard hits it.
 
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Just felt like leaving this somewhere to see what people think, but didn't know where to so I'll just leave it here.

Some fun from the other night:


Comments/suggestions/constructive criticism welcome!
 
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Bad Bowtie said:
Just felt like leaving this somewhere, but didn't know where to so I'll just leave it here.

Some fun from the other night:

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Still slower than my Hondas. :evil:

I'd also point out that it's not a great idea to be posting videos of the commission of what is considered a felony (street racing) in many states to a public forum that is known to be frequented by the police.
 
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Bad Bowtie said:
Come spring the LS1 SS could probably show some taillights on a couple of your bikes :p, but I don't know enough to say all of them.
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You need to read the addition to my post. We *really* don't need to be placed on law enforcement's list of 'known street racer sites' because all sorts of unpleasant things happen next.
 
Race track??
 
I did not even watch the video because I know it was not at a track. But you coud avoid the street racing by going to a track.
 
GRtak said:
I did not even watch the video because I know it was not at a track. But you coud avoid the street racing by going to a track.
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That costs paper and doesn't let all the hunnies see you frontin'.

I feel like I need a shower just from typing that.
 
GRtak said:
I did not even watch the video because I know it was not at a track. But you coud avoid the street racing by going to a track.
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Yup, he could. But he posted an illegal street racing video. Apparently he doesn't know rule 3 of "How To Not Get Caught Doing Something Illegal" and instead prefers to promote the usual stereotypes of F-Body owners. :dunno:
 
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So I'm thinking about putting coilovers on the back of the Dakota. The rear shocks aren't likely to pass inspection in their present state (outer sleeve has completely rusted away) despite their still working fine and a set of decent shocks is $50-60. Monroe has a set of coilovers for $100/pair, though. Supposedly they're good for an extra 1200lbs before the ride height starts dropping. The lolsprings are pretty tired and don't hold weight very well - they're compressed to near-flat around 1000lbs. Even the lame-assed axle is supposed to be good for 3000lbs. New springs are prettymuch out of the question until I do an axle upgrade - new replacements are $200/pair and for that money, I could have an entire junkyard Dana and some fender flares.

Anyone have any thoughts beyond "lol, that truck is eating you alive and you should just sell it and get a real one"?
 
I wouldn't be too concerned about the frame mounts. They're centered on the bottom face of a crossmember (well, it's a pretty flimsy looking crossmember as those things go.)
The axle tube mounts, however... Those might be problematic since they're welded to the side of the tube.

These are the shocks in question: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=60652 (@$92 for the pair)

Those are some mighty inexpensive helper springs - the first few I found were priced similarly to an entire new spring pack, so I kind of stopped looking.

I'll have to take a closer look at the mounts tomorrow and see what they're actually made of. I have to go figure out what I screwed up putting the driver's side drum brakes back together anyway.

I could always go full-retard and do both, and then break the rear end and therefore have an excuse for that Dana swap.
 
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