So a coworker of mine has an '86 Daytona Turbo Z with an 87 turbo II engine. Running and driving car that hasn't been driven for a while because he lost interest in it and has too many cars. I half jokingly asked him one night what he would sell it for and he with a straight face told me $500 with a fairly large stash of spare parts included. Biggest issues he pointed out were he thinks it would need atleast one CV axle and a clutch before long. (Clutch kit has already been bought and would be included with the car) The battery is old and doesn't want to hold a charge. And finally the t tops leak.
I almost bought it that weekend but decided it wasn't the smartest move.
Now the questions I have are:
What should one expect one of these to drive like if it's sorted properly?
How hard are parts going to be to get? Both in general and specifically stuff like the T-top seals.
Would a smart person that likes weird things try to pursue this further or just let it go?
Not entirely sure what I would do with the car if I had it but I keep catching myself thinking about it.
MrChaos
SuperDork
11/1/19 7:43 p.m.
i know the drag racers have tons of strength issues with the parts store axles. but then again they are running 10s/11s on drag slicks.
Yea those t top seals are $$$ if you can find someone selling them
I don't think I'd be drag racing it or trying to go after more power so axles probably won't be a problem. I think the ones on the car now are just worn out. The car was this guy's daily driver for a couple years and I have I no clue how many miles are on it. Honestly the t-tops are my biggest concern. I put up with enough roof leaks with my SN95 convertible.
any t-top that leaks has not yet been sufficiently covered with steel and welded shut, that's my motto.
Check and see what you can find for suspension pieces. The last time I looked anything better than stock was thin to non-existent on the ground. With stock level suspension you're going to get a genuine late 80's Dodge driving experience which isn't too bad unless you've driven any car made since 2005.
So much of finding happiness in life is learning to manage expectations.
mazdeuce - Seth said:
Check and see what you can find for suspension pieces. The last time I looked anything better than stock was thin to non-existent on the ground. With stock level suspension you're going to get a genuine late 80's Dodge driving experience which isn't too bad unless you've driven any car made since 2005.
Are you trying to say a stock suspension Daytona is going to feel like somebody scaled down my old floaty and bouncy D350 then made it FWD? Because that's kind of what I'm starting to expect now.
I think it's more like... if you hold the wheel perfectly straight, when the turbo comes on, you are going to realize you had it .025 degrees one way or the other. That's what direction you are travelling now until you lift.
So basically you guys are telling me all the reasons I backed out the first time. Hard to find or just not available parts for a bad chassis and the car's one trick is the fact that it's dramatic while still being slow.
In reply to Daylan C :
They're light-ish and they feel like it. They're not heavy and floaty, they're light and floaty. The twist beam rear axle doesn't make it better. The torque steer is less horrible than most people make it out to me and in all honesty is one of the cars most endearing handling traits.
I'll let it go. Doesn't really fit into any of my plans beyond cruising around town making turbo noises and will just end up being something else that annoys me.
Cooter
UltraDork
11/1/19 10:36 p.m.
If he decides to offer it up to the unwashed masses, let me know. $500 is a great deal for a manual G body, and the T-II is just icing on the cake.
The only parts that would be difficult for that car would be the t-top seals. Parts swap easily amongst all the K based derivatives, suspension and brake upgrades can be just a SRT Neon or PT Cruiser away, and coil overs from a Gen II Neon swap in pretty easily. I expect Vigo to be along shortly...
Toebra said:
slowbird said:
any t-top that leaks has not yet been sufficiently covered with steel and welded shut, that's my motto.
I second this emotion
Or a liberal application of caulk
I really don't want the t-tops at all if I can't take them out and would probably have them out often given the opportunity. I'm weird like that.
Cooter said:
If he decides to offer it up to the unwashed masses, let me know. $500 is a great deal for a manual G body, and the T-II is just icing on the cake.
Agreed. Put me in line as well. $500 for a running TII is a good deal. Bonus points if it's got a 555 trans.
Stefan
MegaDork
11/2/19 12:01 p.m.
Suspension parts are generally convert to SRT4 struts which also net the possibility for bigger brakes.
T-top seals as long as they aren't torn or damaged just need to be conditioned and left alone. Add a strut tower and behind the seat brace to keep the body from twisting too much and making the potential for leaks worse.
a Daytona Shelby Z won't feel floaty, it has too much spring and sway bar rate for that. New OE style struts and shocks with new ball joints/tie-rods will help quite a bit.
Torque steer isn't so bad as long as motor mounts are replaced with polyurethane, engine is centered properly and suspension is aligned well (at least a degree of negative can er in the front with half that in the rear, zero toe).
Johnnybquick here on the board (with the Consulier) runs Pilybushings.com and sells polyurethane bushings and motor mounts, etc. for the cars.
There are a bunch of other fixes and improvements you can do within the stock envelope, but that's dependent on getting the car.
I enjoyed my Daytona Shelby, took it to the Anniversary event for the Shelby Charger in Vegas. Cruised with a fellow with an 89 CSX from Portland to Vegas and we stuck to the backroads and cruised about 90-95 the entire way and still got about 30mpg. The only complaints I ever had was it was heavy compared to its stable mates (my old Rampage and 87 CSX) and the doors were a bit big/long.
Good FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shelbydodge/
I had a 88 Shelby Z in the early 90s and have been toying with the idea of diving back in.