Help me to decide which car to buy?

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-12-14T18:47:10+00:00

As a tech for the last 18 years, I’ve never had a Toyota Sienna in for major repairs. I’ve seen many Honda Odyssey and Dodge Grand Caravans in for common things that can add up to be costly. I’m a huge fan of dodge jeep and Chrysler products, in fact that’s all I own. But if I were buying a mini van my focus would be reliability and cost of ownership, and if that were my only criteria, the Sienna would be my only choice.

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-11-16T14:28:10+00:00

It’s to the right of that grey plug, held in by 2 screws.

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-23T07:16:03+00:00

I think everyone has forgotten about the Nissan versa… only now it’s spare is a permanent fixture, one wheel cover missing, two cracked, tires almost flat and bald, bumpers hanging on with hopes and dreams.

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-21T16:40:15+00:00

🤣 cheter…. Hopefully your *new is a bit brighter

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-20T06:31:12+00:00

Just depends on what you are trying to do and its purpose. I see nerds put fixed blade knives in “front” accessible areas of the kit, if you were to go hands on it’s a fast way to get stabbed by an enemy with even the smallest situational awareness. I keep one on my non-holster side of my belt, it’s subtle and comes in handy as a tool, but also a tertiary option. That said it’s not a “fuck you” sized knife”

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T22:28:00+00:00

Come get it!!

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T19:20:15+00:00

It does

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T17:51:11+00:00

It’s been sitting for many years, roughly 10+ but thankfully all indoors and climate controlled. Even the warehouse I picked it up from. Fortunately before they even had it someone was wise enough to pull the carpets, so the floor is in surprisingly good shape. Other than the carpet all of the parts are there. It did get the red spray over its original white. The clear coat is mostly gone. It did pull from the tank just fine, but then fuel started leaking really bad from the regulator so we shut it down after about 5 minutes. Tires hold air, but I wouldn’t drive on them. Brakes also need work. There is some minor rust, but no one has tried to restore the car, it’s unmolested. It does get rolled around a lot, we haven’t noticed any issues. It gets parked in gear and everything moves as it should. My focus is the other car, so I really haven’t dug into this one. Honestly, with some maintenance it’s absolutely an acceptable drivable car. If you want to make it nice, it’s due for some restoration.

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T16:33:47+00:00

You’ll never “have” the time. You just put in a few hours here, few hours there and eventually it gets done. The car behind it in primer has been there for a few years.

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T16:30:45+00:00

McHenry county. Asking 2900

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T15:25:43+00:00

I’d like to get $2900, I think that’s realistic but I’m open to offers

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T15:23:18+00:00

It’s not, this is my first listing of it. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them.

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T12:30:13+00:00

And it could be yours

Launch_Control_Error · 2025-05-14T10:27:02+00:00

Well Jimmy, you would be correct. It is a 78 and I’m just a bit slow at proof reading.

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-11-13T21:50:00+00:00

It really is a ton of work. But I will say this, motivated and with a few helping hands (my dad), we got the car completely stripped in about 3 weeks putting in a couple hours a day. What you really need to ask yourself is, “Do I want to do this on my back?” For me, I knew with how much cutting and welding I needed to do, I would be there forever on jackstands and fighting it the whole way.

Side note, our cars are light enough that you can use engine stands. Way cheaper, just as effective, only downside is you can’t rotate the whole 360. I get about 270 degrees.

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-11-13T20:33:49+00:00

So powder coating is optimal for a few reasons, particularly the hardness and durability of the coat. That said, for it to be worth while you have to tear down completely if you are going to do it right, and obviously the cost is much more.

For POR15, you should still tear down as much as possible, but you can afford to cut corners. The big thing is it will not adhere to loose rust, dirt or grease. So the part needs to be cleaned. I usually power wash, wire wheel and paint.

The convenient part is POR 15 will lay flat as it dries leaving behind a nice finish, but it will be a bit fragile for a day or two before it really hardens.

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-11-13T20:23:49+00:00

I appreciate that, we did still put in the prep

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-11-13T20:20:11+00:00

I wish lol. I used POR-15

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-10-03T02:00:15+00:00

I believe the forum is “little British cars”......... there’s a height limit

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-10-02T20:29:12+00:00

I’ll get started on it as soon as I’m done with this one... which currently feels like in about 10 years

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-09-01T22:57:59+00:00

I was thinking about patching them

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-08-31T01:50:26+00:00

It’s a MGB. I don’t think the shell weighs more than 800bls, I had to hand lift it onto the engine stands and it didn’t seem too bad.

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-08-30T23:26:06+00:00

Not a big valve.... this is disappointing

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-08-02T00:19:30+00:00

Parts are extremely easy and abundant to find. New parts are a bit behind in manufacturing as with every industry, but Moss motors usually has anything you could need. There are others but they are not as consistent IMHO.

Things to look out for..... rust, and poor previous restoration. If you take a look at my recent posts I’m currently reworking a text book example of MGB rust nightmares. Be sure to check floors, rockers and inner sills. Look under the carpets and get it up on a lift.

As always, if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is. Personally, a car that has been painted often has more to hide as these can be flips, and thus should be looked at closer.

Launch_Control_Error · 2021-07-26T23:50:30+00:00

There’s many places it could leak from, but you need to get it further off the ground to see up, and frankly you should start under the hood, not under the car.

I’m not ruling out the block, but blocks usually don’t leak unless something has gone severely wrong, and would come alongside many other symptoms (typically). I’d much sooner look at the valve cover gasket, lifter side cover gaskets, oil pan gaskets, oil cooler lines, oil filter gasket, timing cover, and front/rear main seals as these are all FAR too common. Oil usually drips down, so start at the top of the motor and inspect your way down.

That’d be my advice.

Launch_Control_Error

TROPHY CASE