80's Turbo Love

[Desh]

No, this thread is not about THAT turbo love.  Anyone else around here into cars?  I've always been into them since before I could (legally) drive.  Sort of like our beloved turbo gaming system I've always had a soft spot for underdog cars or "sleeper" if you will.  I always liked having a basic looking/ type car that could blow the doors off many others on the streets.  I also dabbled in 4-cylinder stock cars for a few years as well. 

Anyways, I pulled one of my rides out of the garage as the weather has finally cooperated and figured I'd snap a couple pics.  Then, I figured I'd post a few of my previous cars and see who else was crazy into mechanicals as well.

Turbocharged grandpa style.  1986 Chrysler Lebaron GTS.  So far it just has a Mopar Performance 12 PSI computer but I've slowly been gathering parts to crank up the boost and really make it scoot.





This was a 2008 Impala SS I got rid of a few years ago when my first child was born (yeah I traded it for a stupid van).  It just had a cat less downpipe, intake and a tune by Milzy Motorsports but it would do mid/high 13's in the 1/4.







This was my 1998 Grand Prix GTP.  This was by far the fastest car I ever owned (high 12's in the 1/4) but was also the most worked on.  Too many mods on it to list but I was young and dumb and thought more nitrous through the blower = AWESOME.  After I grenades 3 engines I put it back to stock and got rid of it.



My love of the 89' - 95' Taurus SHO runs very deep.  I've owned 10 of them since 2003 and still have a beat up 95' as a daily driver.  Here's a couple I used to have.






(The black 91' in front is mine)

For a few years I raced mostly in Michigan and Indiana in 4-cylinder classes.  This was the first race car I ever drove and the first win I ever had.



I also have a few videos of my automotive exploits on my personal YouTube page (YouTube.com/shoracer14) if anyone wants to take a gander

SO!  Anyone else into mechanical money pits?  Please share!

[esteban]

I have a '96 Honda Civic CX (Cheap X = no floor mats). Honda claims 4 cylinder, but I'd put it at 3.

Street legal, no mods, desperately in need of oil change and basic maintenance.

[tggodfrey]

A lot of us are into cars...... We have to get to work.

Nice Neon....did it come with a tampon?

[Ninja16608]

Nice Neon....did it come with a tampon?

LMFAO.

[Desh]

A lot of us are into cars...... We have to get to work.

Nice Neon....did it come with a tampon?

Maxi-pad actually. 

[Necromancer]

I like cars, but I've never given much of a shit about wrong wheel drive stuff; sure they can be made reasonably fast and make good sleepers, but good luck making 'em turn a corner.  To each there own, though.  It sure looks like you're having fun, and that's the important part.

PS - how many pos GM 4T60/65s did you make go boom? 

[synbiosfan]

Never messed with turbos but I had a 72 Skylark with a 455, a 72 Monte Carlo with a 402 and a sleeper 98 chevy van with an Iroc 350 that would f*ck people up with how fast it was.

[Desh]

I like cars, but I've never given much of a shit about wrong wheel drive stuff; sure they can be made reasonably fast and make good sleepers, but good luck making 'em turn a corner.  To each there own, though.  It sure looks like you're having fun, and that's the important part.

PS - how many pos GM 4T60/65s did you make go boom? 

Amazingly enough the 4T65 in my GTP was all original except for a shift kit and synthetic fluid.  I never had a single problem with it and I got rid of it with 105k on the clock.  The 4T65HD in my Impala was also rock solid.  The only difference between the 4T65E and 4T65HD is basically a stainless input shaft.  It's hard to believe that trans in a heavy car with decent torque from a 5.3 never gave me a problem even after 46k of heavy abuse.

[Desh]

Never messed with turbos but I had a 72 Skylark with a 455, a 72 Monte Carlo with a 402 and a sleeper 98 chevy van with an Iroc 350 that would f*ck people up with how fast it was.

Mmmmm.... 72' Monte.  1st gen Monte Carlos are by far my favorite.  I would love to own one some day.  I had the chance to buy a 71' with a small block and 4 speed when I was 16 for a mere 2500.  I instead did the stupid teenage thing and bought a Honda cause I figured it could be fast and furious.

I have owned a few RWD cars but only for a short time and I don't think I have any pics of them.  I had an 82' Cutlass 4-door with a mid 70's Olds 350 that ran decent but nothing amazing.

[420GOAT]

too many cars in my life to start listing, just friend me on facebook through the group page.

[TheClash603]

I love old cars, just like I love old games.  Too bad I will never own one of these cars.

If I have an old system and it breaks, I can typically find a replacement system or a repair for $100 or less.  For a guy that is inadequate in the world of maintenance of any sort, this is a huge plus.

If you have a car and something breaks, it costs $100+ just to tow it to the garage.  Then $1000s thereafter.  This is too much of a barrier to entry for me.  Shame is I will only get a new car and get rid of it as soon as the warranty ends, because repairs scare the shit out of me.  Those repair guys can literally lie to me and take all of my money, I will never know the difference.

[wildfruit]

The cars I have owned
2002 Mk 4 golf 1.6
2002 Chrysler pt cruiser 2.0
2006 ford focus 1.6
2013 Vauxhall insignia 1.8 (Buick regal in the colonies I believe)
The last one is my favorite a pleasure to drive

[Desh]

The cars I have owned
2002 Mk 4 golf 1.6
2002 Chrysler pt cruiser 2.0
2006 ford focus 1.6
2013 Vauxhall insignia 1.8 (Buick regal in the colonies I believe)
The last one is my favorite a pleasure to drive

I'm not familiar with the power train options you guys get in Europe.  The PT 2.0 a turbo or NA dual cam?  The Insignia is a great car but again I assume 1.8 Turbo?  We get slightly larger displacement a to move our fat American asses.

[EvilEvoIX]

That Turbo Chrysler can be such a sleeper.  SHO's are nice too.  Anything Boosted can be fun.

[wildfruit]

PT 2.0 was NA
My insignia 1.8 is NA
Never had a turbo car