Seems I haven't gotten around to updating this in ages, and I'm going to swing it a bit into a different direction. I'm going to come out and say it right now, I have far too many projects, far too many things I would like to have or have completed for a lifetime of work to ever achieve. As a transition to talking more about the minutia of each of them I'm going to do a brief run-down of the biggies here, so I can refer back to them later. These are in no particular order, at this point, just a listing as them come off the top of my head as I sit here right now.
Project one: 1970 MG Midget Arkley: The Arkley kit was purchased already installed (poorly) on a very rusty and engine-less car, and a replacement tub has been scrounged to transfer the kit too. Motivation for this vehicle is planned to be a Geo Metro 1L 3-cylinder bolted to a Suzuki Samurai 5-speed manual transmission and mostly stock Midget running gear. This is hopefully going to be a fair-weather non-highway commuter, and if it goes as planned should be 40+mpg. Currently the kit parts and most of the engine bay stuff is unbolted from the Arkley tub and I need to start the cutting and patching on the new tub before bolting it all together.
Project 2: 1992 Isuzu Trooper: The trooper was a screaming deal from e-vil-bay, sadly with a blown motor. Initial plans were to replace the 3.2L DOHC V-6 with a 2.8L push rod V-6 I had out of an '89 Trooper, but the logistics of making the transmission work without the engine computer feeding it data are over my head at this point. Current plans include an '89 Chevy 4.3L V-6 paired to either a 200R4 or NV3500 and converting it to 2WD which I prefer or a 700R4 out of an '83 Suburban to keep it 4WD. Currently the front axle is unbolted from the chassis and suspension but not yet removed and both drive shafts are out, and it's sitting on jack stands.
Project 3: 1973 Opel GT: This was purchased completely for resale, as the GT really doesn't interest me much but I have a ton of Opel parts sitting around. After getting it home the rust issues it have are worse than initially thought, so I'm going to use it to practice some sheet metal welding and fix it up a bit before I put it on the market. I'm waffling daily as to whether I should keep it stock or drop something exotic into it. It currently sits as I got it, engine and trans out and the rest pretty much complete.
Project 4: 1972 Opel 1900 Sedan: This was purchased in a package deal with the GT and is hopefully going to be my new daily driver when I sell the Mini Cooper. That same aforementioned Isuzu Trooper 2.8L V-6 will be going into it with either a Toyota 5-speed bolted up using a Jeep bell housing or with a regular Chevy S10 2WD T-5. The motor still retains the Isuzu deep but short front-to-back oil pan, but has been modified with a FWD timing cover and pulley set-up to shorten the engine a bit, as well as an Edelbrock 4-bbl carb manifold and Mallory distributor. Should be plenty quick int he little bugger, might need to swap in the Toyota truck rear axle I was initially planning on using in the Kadett. Currently the car sits as purchased, not run in several years and no attempt to start the motor at this point.
Project 5: California Friendship 1 Sidecar installation on my 2006 Katana 750: A fixed rig would be too easy, I want a leaner, and since sport bikes aren't supposed to have side cars the chassis and mounting points on the bike are all going to have to be fabricated by me. I'm optimistic, but we'll see. Body for the sidecar is in my spare room, getting some sanding and paint prep as I get to it watching TV or what-not along with the Samsonite saddlebags I want to paint to match and install at the same time.
Project 6: Locost #1: My friend Dorri and I are building a Locost, the first hopefully of at least two, maybe 3. This one will utilize a Miata rear IRS set-up and fabricated front arms with Opel Manta front spindles featuring BMW/Volvo brakes. Still undecided on drive train, but the chassis was sized to be able to (barely) fit all the biggest engines in my shop right now, including the Toyota 5MGE that I recently sold and a small block Chevrolet V-8. This should mean pretty much anything smaller should fit, and it ends up being the one I keep it'll probably get an Opel drive train, but if Dorri ends up with this one it'll be an SBC for sure.
Project 7: Locost 2: This one was supposed to be the one for Dorri, featuring a late-model Camaro rear and Corvette spindles to match the SBC V-8 and Corvette rims all around. This one might not happen as I'm leaning towards Locost 3 for myself more and more and Dorri would then end-up with Locost 1.
Project 8: Locost 3: Locost 3 is going to be a ground-up redesign of the classic chassis, mostly because it'll be a mid-engine unit featuring a Toyots 1NZE from a 2--6 Scion XA. Currently still in the doodle stages the biggest hurdle was crossed last week when I figured out how best to successfully build the rear suspension using a combination of the stock Scion spindles and Miata IRS geometry. Currently it's little more than the loaded sub-frame from the Scion sitting on my motorcycle trailer in the carport, and I may decide it would serve me better as a trike, but time will tell.
Project 9: Morris Minor Traveler: This was purchased to be a gift for my father. It's hardly more than a rusted out shell, but I may still fab up a scratch built chassis for it and make it a runner. I'm leaning towards stretching it a bit and making it a pickup instead of van, and installing something small and fuel miserly in it like a Festiva engine coupled to a Miata transmission. This is pretty low priority though, really little more than something to ponder on once in a while.
Projects 10 (were done with whole cars for a bit): Big-ass BBQ Grill: Big fire-suppression pressure vessel, about 125# of steel and 200gal capacity, 5' tall and 3' diameter that I want to turn into a custom BBQ grill. I want it split into two halves, one side set-up for propane and the other for charcoal. Currently waiting on me getting the plasma torch operational again and purchasing some steel to build the framework out of.
Project 11: Engine Coffee Table: What's left of an old Maxwell flathead 4-cylinder engine out in th shop, want to drive out the pistons, remove the crank and cam, then paint the block flat black and toss a piece of glass on top for a coffee table. Not sure why I haven't got to this one, lazy I guess. Maybe this weekend? Companion piece could be the MG block and crank that came with the replacement body tub turned into an end table and lamp.
Project 12: Opel 2.2L Turbo motor. This should be the top of the Opel CIH food-chain all said and done. Features a 1.9L block, 2.2L crank, 2.2L head with over-sized valves and porting, custom pistons, hot cam, new lifters, roller rockers fixed by Jim in NZ, sheet metal intake manifold with SDS EFI injector bosses, Mustang throttle-body, custom fabricated exhaust manifold, turbocharger, intercooler, aluminum flywheel, S10 clutch, T5 transmission, Crane Hi-6 ignition with boost retard and a slew of other parts still waiting final assembly. Need to decide which block to use and get it machined, then start the wrenching. So many parts, so many $, years and years into this one. This engine is bound for my Opel Kadett wagon race car, which you will notice isn't even brought up here yet, because it's still at my folk's place in SD and none of thos projects are listed here yet.
Project 13: New Dual Opel car trailer: Going to have a 24' deck plus a bit more on the tongue for the Opel to hang out on, feature dual torsion axles with hydraulic disc brakes actuated via surge coupler, and weigh in under 1000# if all goes as planned. Not something you want to load a couple of '74 Impalas on, but should easily handle 2k# Opels two at a time. Currently waiting on the gas kit to come in for the MIG welder and me to borrow Mike's truck and fetch the steel.
Call that good for this installment, I'll add some pictues and more information later.
