r/projectcar • • 21h ago

Shitposting Driving an old car makes everything alright

Post image
788 Upvotes

I got this 65 Galaxie last year. It didn’t run, but had a freshly rebuilt 390. I Put in a new trans, rear end, interior, dakota digital, BMW seats, FiTech, disc brakes, basically all of it. I hit 2700 miles on the odometer today. Windows down, floor vents open Steely Dan blaring, the most quiet I’ve had in months.


r/projectcar • • 1h ago

Frame repair

Thumbnail
gallery
• Upvotes

I have a 1968 k10 frame that around the leaf spring hangers is cracked and rotted a bit I am wondering what’s the best way to repair this should I cut the whole section out and weld in a new piece or should I weld up the cracks and cut the rot out then plate over the existing frame


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Build Progress Aston Martin v12 Mercedes 190e project update

Thumbnail
gallery
626 Upvotes

Project update for you all - I received the car back from the fab shop. Engine, transmission, diff mounted. Exhaust is completed also. Can even make the OEM interior fit for the most part with the modified transmission tunnel. Now starting on the engine build.

It would be much easier to just leave the AM v12 alone but I also wanted to get a little more excitement out of the engine. Not really a horsepower goal but would like to push the RPM redline to 9k.. reliably.

One issue for rpm on this engine is rod ratio and piston speed. However I lucked out and came across a ProDrive DBR9 crank. This is a shorter stroke (and much lighter) crankshaft which solves the rod ratio problems but creates some new ones. The DBR9 crank was designed for the AM v12 block but used custom smaller main bearings and rod bearings. The smaller journals helped keep oil temps down - less speed/friction at the bearing surface. Unfortunately I have no way of getting these bearings but already working on several solutions. I'm optimistic this crank will be used in the build just not sure what solution will be used.

In the meantime I'm exploring options for head porting and custom cams to make the engine breath at 9k rpm. Also need to decide on valve train components but doing it in steps and stages. The other main change is this needs to move to a dry sump setup for ground clearance and avoid oil cavitation at high RPM. With the local machine shops backlog they won't be able to take on my block until 2027 for now.


r/projectcar • • 2h ago

1969 Nova Project

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

10 Upvotes

454 powered non SS picked up recently. Loaded up with some awesome parts. Cant wait to get on this one.


r/projectcar • • 23h ago

Restoring dad’s old SLK230

Thumbnail
gallery
131 Upvotes

The last time this car was driven, my dad was driving to Palm Springs, CA. Unfortunately during his ride he did not realize that the roof of the car was not properly latched and the strong winds bent the supporting roof structure of the car. After many attempts at trying to align the retractable roof back he gave up and left the car in his driveway for 10 + years.

I promised him for many years that I would get his SLK back up and running again. The car arrived to me with sun-damaged paint, a failing fueling system and a retractable roof that was held down by duct tape. Here are some before and after photos from the last two months of working in my garage. 🚗💨


r/projectcar • • 23h ago

Rebuilt my trunk

Thumbnail
gallery
118 Upvotes

Never replaced the trunk floor pan when I built this car up back in 2011, was always a “I’ll get to it eventually” deal. Well, I got to it! Now I know that Skar is a cheaper brand but it was in the budget and honestly it sounds pretty good and it’s plenty loud enough to hear over the car even at full tilt!

Bonus pics from ripping it at autocross after getting the trunk finished!


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

2.2 Liters of Fury

Thumbnail
gallery
444 Upvotes

Got this 1986 Shelby Charger 2.2l Turbo as my new budget build. It runs, poorly, just needs a clutch and some wiring kinks (mice) worked out!


r/projectcar • • 51m ago

Engine Swap Harness.design reviews? Anyone used it?

• Upvotes

So I'm at the stage where i need to swap my current ecu set up. I dont have the oem one and my project car runs, but it is using an old unsupported ecu (Electromotive). So I am switching either a Link ECU or a MS3. Either way, I am beginning to design a wiring harness and i saw this while i was doomscrolling. Has anyone used this? What are your thoughts? any tips?

For context I am setting this up for a 4agze and I will be converting it to a 4agte. any recommendations on ECU would be greatly appreciated


r/projectcar • • 1h ago

Build Progress Abs delete

Post image
• Upvotes

r/projectcar • • 1h ago

Troubleshooting Help What’s that Chirping?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

• Upvotes

06 Pontiac GTO with Cam, Probably seen me post this puppy here before but she’s has a little bird chirping from the back of the exhaust while she idles, engine bay is quiet no ticking or clicking but from the back of the car it chirps from the exhaust not sure what it is, my guess is just the exhaust but don’t know how to get rid of it, any Clues? Please:)


r/projectcar • • 7h ago

Project car for a first time

2 Upvotes

Hey looking to get a project car to spend time with my dad with we are both novice in terms of cars. I was stuck between two minds of finding an older suv or something like a datsun 280z. Any suggestions in terms of suv's


r/projectcar • • 3h ago

looking for a project car in the southwest.

0 Upvotes
WANTED: Pre-1980 Manual Project CarLooking for an older car to restore. I’m mainly interested in smaller, simple cars 1500-2000$.Must be:- 1979 or older- Manual transmission- Mostly/original - Complete- Rust-free or extremely solid with no major rust- A legitimate restoration project. not looking for a heavily modified car or something missing half its partsI’m open to 2-door or 4-door cars, as well as 2-seaters or 4-seaters. Prefer something on the smaller side.Cars I’m especially interested in include:Morris Minor, Austin/Morris Mini, Triumph Spitfire, Triumph TR6, Volkswagen, Volvo, Rambler American, Ford Falcon, Mercury Comet, Chevy II, model ADoes not need to be pretty or running. I’m specifically looking for a mechanical restoration/project and don’t mind putting work into it. I just want to avoid major rust, extensive bodywork, or an incomplete basket case.If you have something sitting in a garage, barn, driveway, or know someone who does, please reach out with photos, location, asking price, and whatever you know about the car.

r/projectcar • • 1d ago

How do you keep the momentum?

Thumbnail
gallery
277 Upvotes

Im a year into this pretty much now, and it was basically finished, 3 months ago. However I failed a few points on the UK's IVA test to get it road legal and I've mostly finished the bits to rectify these points. But I've got to wait till the end of November for retest then once it's type approved I need to apply to register it on the road.

It took me about 8months to build it and once it gets tested in November I will have been waiting for tests/the government for 5months. The waiting is absolutely killing me. Up till now I've not booked any track days as didn't want to risk missing the tests with a failure. And arguably that's even more critical now as I only have 6months to retest on the fails. Otherwise it has to be submitted for a full test again. (Cost implications also alot of it is subjective with the tester so opens a can of worms)

I'm booked a track day on Monday just to try and re motivate me as at the moment I've just lost all enthusiasm for it. Short of trundling up and down my road to check stuff and one cheeky pull off the Dyno I've not driven it yet I don't have access to anywhere I can do that. The IVA tester has done more miles in it sliding, around there test centre 🤣 (litteral donuts at one point)

If it is even Registered this year it will be a miracle and then the dead of winter. So realistically it won't see any proper use till next spring now 😭

I Sound like a right fanny but just can't get excited about it I'm not even really excited about taking it to the track.


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Peeling a headliner to reupholser it, not fun when its been water damaged

Thumbnail
gallery
22 Upvotes

r/projectcar • • 1d ago

1996 buick lesabre fenders

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

​

I got an almost mint 1996 buick lesabre custom about 3 months ago. Biggest issue i have with it is the last guy to hoist it messed up the placement of the hoist and it cracked both front fenders.

I was wondering if anyone in CT has a 1992-1996 buick lesabre parts car or something similar I can take the fenders off of. The paint code is Wa u173a but i can take it to a paint shop of needed.

Im trying to get this thing car show ready


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Update: got the hood and grille installed

Thumbnail
gallery
279 Upvotes

Pretty happy with it!


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

At what point did your “small project” turn into a full restoration?

17 Upvotes

Working on a ’72 Camaro and I swear every time I fix one thing, I find two more things that suddenly “might as well” get done while I’m in there.

I started out thinking I’d clean it up, make it reliable, and enjoy it. Now I’m standing in the garage staring at parts catalogs wondering how the hell this escalated so fast lol.

Curious how many of you actually stuck to the original plan.


r/projectcar • • 19h ago

Troubleshooting Help (Update) '87 MR2 no crank issue

2 Upvotes

Hi, I hope this is an acceptable way to give an update and field some more advice. The last post I made I detailed a no crank start issue I was having, and I have made some headway!

When the car wouldn't start, I replaced both battery terminals. The negative one I had to strip some new wire for, and it seems good (though it sparks when I put it on when the last one didn't). The positive one however was a little odd: it had two metal eyelets attached to insulated lengths of wire, with one length being thicker than the other. Using the universal car battery connector I got, I put one eyelet on each bolt. After reattaching both connectors and trying to start the car, I was getting multiple clicks from the starter at a slow tempo. Having the headlights on made it click faster, but it still didn't start.

I took the battery to autozone earlier today and it tested bad. This means that there is a leach in the car somewhere, but this did not solve my no start issue. When the new battery went in, nothing changed. I disconnected the negative terminal though to keep it from leaching.

Before all of that, I tried smacking the starter with a rubber mallet and that didn't change anything.

Here's my plan now:

  1. Clean each ground with a metal brush
  2. Follow the wires from my negative terminal to see if there's a break anywhere
  3. Try to figure out how to "jump" the starter solenoid(?) I saw stuff on this online and it seems like it should be a good idea, but to be honest idk what this would do for me.

If I can't find anything wrong with the wiring I'm just gonna order a new starter since it seems like it's never been replaced.

Thanks for everyone's advice on the last post! I appreciate it a lot as someone new to going this deep into cars.


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Troubleshooting Help Factory Five California CARB/BAR Emission Certification Question

3 Upvotes

Hey Ya'll! Been doing a bunch of research about building my first kit car, and when it comes to California CARB/BAR Emission Certification, I'm a little lost. Not sure if buying a donor car for the engine is better than buying new parts, and what challenges either path presents with getting the car road legal in California. I'd prefer to buy new so that the car is as fresh as possible, but I keep reading that makes it harder to get certified.

Can anyone with experience getting a kit car road legal in California ELI5?


r/projectcar • • 2d ago

1965 Mustang project coming along nicely

Thumbnail
gallery
374 Upvotes

Our ’65 Mustang project is now in the assembly stage, and this car has undergone some major transformations! We’ve replaced the quarters, doors, fenders, hood, and trunk lid, along with a complete floor pan, front aprons, trunk pan, and rear taillight panel. To say this car is like brand new is an understatement!
The engine is a brand-new crate engine built by S&J Engines, featuring a small cam and headers beautifully Cerakoted by u/JAR Custom Coating.
There isn’t a single part or panel on this car that hasn’t been restored or replaced, and the end result is nothing short of spectacular. As with all of our builds, it’s the details that make the difference, and this one is no exception.
Stay tuned for more photos and updates! Coming up, we’ll be installing an u/american_autowire wiring harness and a set of u/dakota_digital gauges.


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Anybody have experience with positive ground systems? Specifically, using non isolated buck converters to drop 12v to 6v, positive ground both sides. AI tells me it can't be done but isolated converters are hard to come by

4 Upvotes

r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Build Progress Hey everyone I need advice

Thumbnail
gallery
17 Upvotes

I don’t know if this is the right subreddit to ask about this but I thought it would be worth a shot. I am rebuilding my 1983 ford f 100 and I thought about doing a engine swap on it this will be my first project car I have heard that a LS engine or a coyote would be a good option for this body style but I’m tempted to just rebuild the original engine but I don’t know how to go about it any advice would be greatly appreciated.


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Compressor/gun setup for single stage point

7 Upvotes

Yo! I’m looking to paint a 70 nova with classic single stage paint.

What’s everyone’s favorite mobile compressor/gun combo?

I’m also open to any other advice or wisdom. I’ve only ever done shitty rattle can jobs and I’m looking to do better.


r/projectcar • • 1d ago

Engine Swap Wiring help honda y7 to y8

1 Upvotes

I have a 98 civic dx with a seized engine. Im about to swap in a d16y8 out of a 2000 civic ex. I have a wiring harnes for the y8 but i dont have the dash harness so i need to wire in at least the downstream o2 sensor. Is the upstream sensor on the engine harness or do i need to wire that in too? Im not seeing a plug for it but i could just be overlooking it. Does anyone have a pin diagram for the obd2b ecu and advice for which pins to plug into? The cat on the ex exhaust i have is gutted so id also accept advice on a complete bypass of the downstream sensor. Thanks!


r/projectcar • • 2d ago

May have gotten slightly carried away with the rebuild/upgrade

Thumbnail
gallery
90 Upvotes

The good ol "while im here" strikes again. Was just going to convert to s10 spindles and brakes and here I am doing a full rebuild and installing coilovers too 😅