Nocones Garage other projects.

Is the engine still serviceable nestled down like that? Or is any service now an engine out operation?

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

It would likely be fine.  The body would drop relative to the engine by about 3" realistically.  The subframe for proper geometry needs to come up some.  But everything is accessible so normal service should be okay.  

Other then a radiator and hood/bumper mounts there is nothing else that needs to go in front of the engine.  I will likely run some tube along to sort of hug the radiator and provide a hood latch, but it should still allow for easy access.  

Good question though.  I hate building things that can't be serviced and it made me think about it a little more.

Day 7/30 was a lighter day.  Just got exactly 30 min and just cleaned up some tools and moved a few things around.  Nothing photo worthy.  

nocones said:

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

It would likely be fine.  The body would drop relative to the engine by about 3" realistically.  The subframe for proper geometry needs to come up some.  But everything is accessible so normal service should be okay.  

Other then a radiator and hood/bumper mounts there is nothing else that needs to go in front of the engine.  I will likely run some tube along to sort of hug the radiator and provide a hood latch, but it should still allow for easy access.  

Good question though.  I hate building things that can't be serviced and it made me think about it a little more.

Gotcha. The angle of the picture made it look like the valve cover and plugs on the drivers side would be engine out. I ASSUMED it was angle, but wanted to ask. 

nocones said:

So I present a pile of parts I am 99% certain has never been attempted before.

A Miata Subframe with a RWD converted Subaru EJ22/5MT in the front of a Panhard Dyna Z.  

The engine obviously is in front of the subframe but because of the firewall position any engine would end up that way there isn't a lot of space between the wheels and the firewall.  

Not much poke even with the 15x9s.   So it looks for sure like this will wind up with Miata subframes and RWD.  

I had been thinking a BMW 1150 or 1200 flat twin would be a great swap - like the 2CV guys do.

In reply to Gammaboy :

I had considered motorcycle power.  The flat twins would definitely match the original car, and nearly double the HP as the Panhard had 50-60hp when new.   But it's still a 1900lb car, plus weight of people.  2CVs are much lighter at ~1300lbs.  At the weight this will be Automotive power with integrated reverse available makes more sense.  

No pictures for day 8/9 of 30.  I just continued to clean on day 8, and on day 9 I did a small home project.  Tonight will be something picture worthy I hope.  

Day 10 and 11 have passed with more cleaning and moving stuff around.   Honestly I'm kinda tired of it.  There is no actual end in siight.  Almost everything is on wheels so it's easy to move but I've still spent weeks basically shuffling stuff around the garage.  I think despite the fact that I have really exciting plans for lots of this stuff it's probably just time to move on from it to free up space to do the 3 big projects I already have.  

Its very difficult though because I tell myself keeping these "future projects" around doesn't really hurt anything but it really does.  It takes up physical space but perhaps more importantly it takes up mental/emotional space.  My wife had a good observation the other day.   She said all these projects in waiting are fine if they are just waiting and the ideas I have for them make me happy but it seems like for me they are just 4 projects I feel like I'm behind on.  And she's right.  

As cool as they are and as good as the plans are it's probably time to legitimately make some for sale posts.  

Gonna spend time thinking about it all this weekend and probably get some pictures of things.  

In reply to nocones :

I'm right there with you. I have projects and project cars to last two lifetimes. Letting go of potential futures is TOUGH.

In reply to nocones :

I can resonate with that. A good friend of mine said it well once, and i'm not going to try to quote him because i'll butcher it. But his premise was that current projects cost you money, future projects don't cost you money but they cost you emotional capital in thinking/planning/wishing. And I have found that to be true for myself. Selling my motorcycles that were "oh i could do this to one some day" was a huge mental load off of me. YMMV

In reply to nocones :

not tryin ton convince you here, but R1200 air cooled engines have divorced transmissions and 120hp. they weight 100 pouds, around 200 less that a ej22. somes are turbocharging them to 180. 

ej22 sure will be way more reliable.

im considering it for mid engine locost/550 build.. 

In reply to physician :

That comment sent me in a deeeeep rabit hole looking for conversions on the net. Thank you, it was enjoyable.

Okay I'm on day 16 now.  More then halfway.  Still keeping up with 30 min or more per day.   It is helping avoid falling into a rut of not doing anything.  I force myself to even just clean for a half hour.  Many days I am motivated to do something but it's easy to string days of rudderless nothingness together and then the projects just sit.   This helps avoid that when you are in between goals.  

Cleaning continues but I got the Sambar into the lab to do some work.  The brakes where... Awful.  Also the carburator didn't work right.  It would run okay until about half throttle on the choke and idled great.  But it had no top end.  

So it clearly needed the carb cleaned.  

Hovermode engaged.  I found the left rear brake clamped off.  I figured out why.  The brake shoes where missing.   The right rear was absolutely covered in fluid inside.  One piston had seized and it seemed that the other moved to far and blew fluid past the seal.   

The front brakes where okay, nearly new pads and both calipers worked.   So after a bleed and a cleanup of the bad wheel cylinder I managed to make 3 working brakes.   Thats enough for now.  

The carb was removed and cleaned.  Harbor Freight sonic cleaner for the win here.  

This morning I threw the wheels on and drove it before work.  Man it drives much nicer.  Still a slight hesitation at half throttle but much more driveable.  

Now to decide what to do with it.  It probably will just get sold with the 360 van with the goal of downsizing the fleet.  But it is cool to play with.  I'm resisting taking it off roading.  1. Because I'll probably break it, and 2. Because I will fall in love with it.  

Does the cab of the Sambar feel cramped? It just looks pretty small.

I saw your picture compared to the Willy's truck, but I've never sat in one of those either. 

In reply to nocones :

Guess you decided what you want to do with it - didn't see a mention of the 360 in the ad though.

Its very difficult though because I tell myself keeping these "future projects" around doesn't really hurt anything but it really does.  It takes up physical space but perhaps more importantly it takes up mental/emotional space.  My wife had a good observation the other day.   She said all these projects in waiting are fine if they are just waiting and the ideas I have for them make me happy but it seems like for me they are just 4 projects I feel like I'm behind on.  And she's right.  

I can hear this, however you need at least one future project to keep you going or you die.  At the rate I'm going I will live several lives.

In reply to Somebeach (Forum Supporter) :

It's not huge but at 6' 240lbs I could use it comfortably.   It is actually less cramped then the OEM Willy's would of been.  It's wider then the Willy's and has more cab depth.  My Willy's has a ~5" firewall extension so it's much more comfortable then a regular one.

In reply to Piguin :

Yeah for now it is for sale for what I paid.  Unfortunately it does look like the market may have softened considerably over Summer.  On the 360 Van disposition is not guranteed, I am waiting to see what the result of the brake installation is.  It also will most likely get sold but "functional brakes" are a big deal on the value of those.  Mine needs some seals and boots but if I can say that they work and just need seals the value is probably $1000-1500 higher.  And it could be driven some.   If someone was interested in the Van+Sambar to continue with the chassis swap I would sell both. 

In reply to akylekoz :

I totally hear what you are saying and you are right I would go crazy if I didn't have "something" out there to think about and do.  But even if the Panhard, 360 Van/Sambar, and Autobianchi go I will be fine for future projects.  Nearly everyday I send a few FBM listings to people of cool stuff I would like to build, so I could always buy something.  I also have another "BIG" idea that I have no parts on hand for that I would start on purchasing as soon as the LMP360 got the swap and aero mods done, the MG got a hardtop fabricated and street converted, and the Willy's got a UTE tray and canopy fabricated for "overlanding".   I think I probably already have the several lives thing going also.  

And honestly that's part of the reality.  These "Projects" I have are all big nearly LMP360 level efforts.  Multiple thousands of hours over months and years of time.  Probably between everything in the garage I have nearly 10 years of projects.  And some of them have been here for 4 years already.  I am not sure if it makes sense to keep them around when my desires and ideas may change.  It probably makes more sense to buy something when I have the time vs. sit on them.  

I don't mean to give people whiplash talking about projects and showing some work and then in the next post talking about selling that project but that's kinda the thing with this thread.  This is for all the stuff that is floating around that might just be an idea I impulsively bought or an opportunity I saw that I jumped on that just doesn't work out.  

A few things happened this weekend.  

I've kept up the 30 min a day so much that it has just kinda became a thing.  Which is nice.  Lots of little stuff keeps moving forward.  

Before I put the brakes back on the 360 van.  I had to deal with a broken stud.

I drilled it and tapped it to 5/16 with a bottoming tap.   

Then I drilled and tapped a short piece of a 5/16 bolt.

Then I made a stud out of a short 6mm full thread bolt.  

I also made a purchase.   There will be more about the "why" behind this but it's a 2004 Yamaha Zuma 50cc.  3300 miles runs and rides excellent.  

There will be no mods to this right now.  I will register it and ride it some.  It's purpose will be revealed.  It is not part of a future project.  It's just a random scooter.   But I already really enjoy it.  

I've put about 150 miles on the Zuma already.  I really like this thing.  I am able to ride it to work on a mix of low traffic country roads and <35mph roads door to door, so the ~40mph top speed doesn't bother me much.  If I take the same route by car it's about 30 minutes, and the Zuma is 38 minutes.   I will trade 8 minutes for the fun of scooting.   This may stay around for a while.. or get turned into a GROM in spring..  

That is all.

All these cars and youre riding a scooter to work?? ...sounds kinda awesome tbh. I guess get it while it's nice weather out.