Very Cheap XR4ti(s) if interested

[Jeff]

Ok, I will say it now. I think we need to look at free cars. These would be great if we could get one for free but I think we need to look at the big picture and think about how to spend most of the budget to make it perform. As Pete says once we commit we cannot look back and this could be a catastrophe if it doesnÔÇÖt work out. We are a small club and this is a big big project. So letÔÇÖs all step back and think about this long and hard one last time and make sure it is not just enthusiasm leading the way.

I think the GRM committee should present a formal plan with what needs to be done before we go off and spend anyoneÔÇÖs money on cars and parts. I am not the most experienced person in this club with this stuff but let me say from what I know. Buying (or just getting for free) extra cars and parts can be a bigger pain then what it is worth, if we just jump on every good deal we find it can catch up to us in the end.

DonÔÇÖt get me wrong, this is a good deal. I just think it might be a bit outside our means at this time to jump on it without a more in-depth plan on what needs to be done to get and keep the cars and what to do with them once we have them (performance wise). I have more to say but I will hold it for now.

If need be I can ask about storing ONE in Woodstock but it must be a moving and running piece, so take that for what it is worth at this time.

[Nick325is]

This sounds like an awesome plan. However I do not see the need for buying 4 of them. If we spend 1000 on cars that doesn't leave us too mcuh to play around with for engine and suspension stuff not to mention safety stuff.
Perhaps we should pick the two best cars.

Could someone clarify the rules for selling parts off of a car.


Nick

[Ryan T]

So...what would be the point in buying 4 XR4ti's that have no titles, most likely don't run, and are going to be a big pain in the ass to store and what not.....when we could get one good condition, running xr4ti with a title and everything for the same $1,000? Doesn't that seem a lot easier? Were arriving at the same goal, one running xr4ti, but by buying a running one, were bypassing all the hassle.

[.RJ]

Buy one for $300. We dont need 4 of them....

[Evan]

Perhaps we should pick the two best cars.

[HAULN-SS]

Yeah..if you're doing a motor swap anyway, all we need is the one with the least amount of body work to be done to it. It's going to have to have new suspension up front to hold the new block most likely, and whatever other mods necessary for that (motor mounts..clearing out crap to make way for exhaust manifolds, exhaust, etc)..I say at MOST buy two of them, with the second one being mostly for selling off parts that arent used to add to the total amount of funds available for the build. Finding a decent block, probably camming it, running an exhaust system, and just getting the engine running in general is probably gonna take at least 300 or 400 dollars total..not much room left for anything else if you spend 1000$ on cars

[Dave]

if the guy is simply getting rid of them, why not just offer him $500, and tell him what we are doing with it? Perhaps the idea that he will get to see his car in a glorious role and then sold to fund a charity may have a bit of appeal to him as well.
If he doesn't want to go through the hassle of dumping them, tell him that we'll take care of that for him if he'll cut us a break.
If we can do that, I think we should keep two of them. Take anything worth something and put them into the spare shell. That will limit the amount of storage space necessary.
Sounds like fun, we've already got a Merkur expert, and is a good deal leaving us with a decent platform and ability to recoop a large chunk of funding and a good story for GRM Magazine.

[.RJ]

Even if we did buy all 4 for $800 or whatever doesnt mean that all the $800 goes against the budget - we can only build 1 car for this. "sell" the others for $799.

[HAULN-SS]

hrmm..good point...but it's still costing 800$ to the club. Might end up eating that, even if it doesnt get around GRM rules

[Dave]

true, but can only sell up to $1003 (1/2 of the year), so we have to make sure we keep track of all of that stuff.

[G.Irish]

So letÔÇÖs all step back and think about this long and hard one last time and make sure it is not just enthusiasm leading the way.

Enthusiasm is what makes everything happen, in spite of whatever obstacles have come in our way. Maybe I don't have a realistic view of the committment and enthusiasm in the club but from where I sit there is more than enough to make this successful.

DonÔÇÖt get me wrong, this is a good deal. I just think it might be a bit outside our means at this time to jump on it without a more in-depth plan on what needs to be done to get and keep the cars and what to do with them once we have them (performance wise).

Several times in the history of the club we have taken on challenges that we weren't sure we could handle and came out on top. These times turned out to be some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. You'll never know what you are truly capable of unless you challenge your limits. The same goes for MM. This club is capable of achieveing things much greater than what we've done to this point, but that means we are going to have to take on challenges that may seem to be too big.

I agree that a lot of planning has to go into this in order to be successful. The ad hoc approach definitely won't cut it for long. I think it'd be safe to pull the trigger on snatching the deal now but we need to get on working out the project management and logistics issues soon. With the combined talent, creativity and experience in the club I really don't feel uncomfortable with us taking on this project. I know some are concerned about the money but like I've said before, we can raise the money if we try.

[ScottyB]

we can only build 1 car for this. "sell" the others for $799.

Pete maybe you can answer this best....how easy is it to sell off old/busted merkur shells like these? if we tried to sell them would it take us forever?

[PDenbigh]

Alright, regardin transportation, they mean initial transportation from the source to the new owner. Sorta like "destination and delivery."

As for selling shells, it's actually not super easy. However, junkyards take 'em. I say we just establish a max amoutn of money we want to spend and I'll negotaiate accordingly. $500? I'll come out with at least two, and maybe all. We can sell the tranny's pretty quiickly (if they work), and the blocks are useful for people doing what I did to mine - the glass is pretty prized, some of the electrical componnets, the wheel bearings, little stuff like that.

[PDenbigh]

Here's the latest:

Hello Peter, they are located in the southern tip of Dinwiddie County VA to be exact McKenney VA. 23872 which is approx. 3.5 hours from JMU Please be aware that these cars are not running and that I am selling them for parts cars or general off road use. I do not have titles to all of these cars as I bought them myself for parts cars. I am asking $300 a peice or $1000 for the lot which I will included also an additional car an 86 Mustang LX 2.3l engine with less than 2000 miles on it (needs a tranny). Also there is a ford OEM shop manual for the XR,s as well as a technical data portfolio that has various schematics on the XR's along with a lot of spare parts, 2 tranny's and a complete extra motor. I would love to see these go to a good home, but please be aware that these will have to go quickly so that my father will not get a citation from the county. The deadline as I stated befor is unfortunately this weekend, I may be able to extend it if I can convince the local county ordinance enforcer to extend the time for these cars.
Thanks for the interest and I hope you adopt them .

Rick C.

For those of your educated in GRM theory, would the parts be an asset or a detriment?

[Mike]

asset.

[CaptainHenreh]

The Parts are an asset, here's why:

14) All builders shall spend no more than $2005 on their cars. The purchase price of the car must be equal to or less than $2005. Title fees, registration and insurance are not counted toward the budget. Tax that is paid and shipping (or transportation costs) of the car and parts used in the building process must be counted toward the budget.

15) All parts used at the event (including multiple sets of tires) shall be part of that $2005 budget.

16) Parts that are not used may be traded or sold up to the initial cost of the car or parts deal. In other words, if you buy a $500 Challenge car, you can recoup up to $500 of your budget by selling parts. (If you do turn a profit on selling parts off the car, we suggest you take your significant other out to dinner to compensate them for having a $2005 car hanging around the house.). Once the recouperation limit has been reached on a car or parts deals, trading is not allowed.

17) The maximum amount of money that can be "recouped" in a budget is $1002.50. This includes parts cars, parts deals and the Challenge car itself.

18) Parts that are given to the competitor by a company or person must be figured into the budget at fair market value. Sponsorships are allowed, but the values any product or service that is used in building the car must be figured into the $2005 budget.

19) Entrants must show up to the competition with complete documentation totaling, at most, $2005. Entrants must bring receipts or verifiable proof for each item on the car, including the car itself. This information will be available at registration for all entrants to view. The more information provided about the car, the better.

The GRM rules enable you, basically, to have a free car to enter the challege with, so long as that car costs under 1003 dollars. After we recoupe the money actually spent on the cars, we can continue to sell parts off of the cars in order to raise the 2006 dollars -- GRM doesn't care where that $2006 comes from, so long as you don't spend more than $2006. That's another reason why the four cars is such an ideal situation. We can take every useful bit from the three "parts" cars, without paying for any of it.

Am I making sense? It is complicated, but not overly so.

Now, the GRM committe hasn't really had time to do much. Being that it's finals week, and the end of the semester, the first thing we thought we'd do was try and get some funds before we started to do anything. But I'm with Gerald. If we can make one of these cars run, it WILL be in florida next May!!!

[PDenbigh]

OK guys, here's how we're doing:

For $800, he will give us all the cars, including the mustang..., and all the parts.

I.E:
1 86XR4ti
2 87 XR4ti's
1 88 XR4ti
1 86 Mustang LX 2.3 (no turbo)
Ford OEM XR shop Manual ($100 value right there)
2 T-9 trannies (I'm guessing T-9's, value of approx $100+ per)
complete extra 2.3 turbo engine (I'll ask if it has the turbo)

I have asked him for pictures and details on which cars have turbos, trannies, etc. I'm going to fire back and go for $700-$750 for everything if I can get the approval of Chris and Ryan (current and future presidents) to go with $800 for it all.

So, Chris and Ryan, it's in your court and the decision rests with you. He's motivated, needs the money, needs to loose the cars. Please let me know ASAP.

Thanks,
Peter

[PDenbigh]

Also, Chris and Ryan (any anyone else) let me know which is more important:

1. Spending $500 for two cars (our choice of two), but no extra parts, or

2. Spending $800 for the whole caboodle.

Thanks.

[CaptainHenreh]

Also, try to find out which (if any) have titles.

What a crazy deal.

[PDenbigh]

Greg Larson has pictures of these cars as he is interested in them too, I had a hard drive crash that contained the pictures I had. the turbo is not attached to the extra motor, I actually had it pulled and cleaned up to replace the turbo in one of the 87's, but I never got around to putting it on. all cars have the turbo chargers the one I pulled off is in the hatch of one of the cars. The cars I believe have the rear drums locked up from rust or sitting to long so they may require a little work to get them to turn. I will be there to assist and we have the proper tools and hydraulic jacks to pull the wheels and free the brakes. There is 2 manuals and 2 auto's not sure if they are the t-9's though. also there will be 2 other auto tranny's that are not in cars going with the lot. I have asked Greg to send me the pictures back, but I can describe them to you. The 86 has an almost flawless interior and exterior, it is red with white flames on the front. There are 2 87's one is white with almost flawless interior/exterior with a unique one of a kind grill on the front, and there is a silver XR that is almost flawless exterior but the interior is not in that great a shape. There is an 88 that is black, it has a small dent on the front driver side near the headlight, everything else is ok, the interior is in good shape. There will be three of us there to assist you and your crew as much as possible.
Thanks and hope this helps.

Rick C.

We can drag the cars to the trailer. The "rare grill" is nothing to get excited over.

Sounds like we could get a nice "looking" car for the concourse. Sounds like we have a selection of turbo's too (great resale item).

I'll keep this thread updated. Chris and Ryan, get back to me ASAP.

Thanks,
Peter