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Jay has moved the Dakota R/T inside and begun making the basic tune-up repairs, which consisted of the usual: plugs, wires, water pump, thermostat, fan clutch, and fluid changes. One gremlin I began chasing shortly after getting the truck was an… more

There's a little thing called "service position" on Audis of a certain age. You see, as cool as old Audis are, they did this kind of dumb thing where they jammed the engine bay so full of motor that there was no room left to… more

As we know by now, I've had some unfortunate surprises related to rust on the '89 Trooper RS. The first was the driver's side floor, which was effectively, gone. What I thought was floor turned out to be a very robust carpet pad and when lifted… more

The big outlier in the garage at the moment is the 1998 Dakota R/T. I dropped it with Jay Gaston, the same mechanic who worked his magic on the junkyard-find Trooper RS. Turns out Jay worked at a Dodge dealer when these trucks were new, so I… more

Every now and again, I'm reminded that you never know how and when a contact or friend will chime in with a great idea. 

I've known Dave, the owner of Auto Europa on Martha's Vineyard, for as long as we've been making an annual trip… more

One of my favorite things about old-school cars is single-stage paint. It's a shame the industry moved away from this (though I understand why) as there are few things more rewarding than scrubbing off some chalky, faded paint and seeing original… more

We took the LX450 to Martha's Vineyard this past week, where my entire goal of getting it over-serviced was driven by the goal of driving it on the beach. So, we did this and it was awesome. Combine the experience of driving overland with the… more

I have to admit, I feel a little dumb about this one. 

A shop in the UK sells a big brake upgrade kit for the T4 Eurovan using Mercedes-Benz rotors and Porsche 996 four-piston Brembo calipers. There aren't a lot of upgrades available… more

I have been on a bender with the Lexus Land Cruiser. Here's why: we leave for Martha's Vineyard in a few days and I want to drive it on the beach. This means my wife and two young children will be in tow. 

So, that's why the A/C had… more

The Trooper RS is over the biggest hurdle it has faced since becoming a running vehicle. The driver's side floor and rocker were basically non-existent, so this represented two problems: it was the most expensive aspect of its restoration and the… more

Like Rock Park is the best.  The Vintage Festival is great.  This year it was even greater as I was able to pick up a set of NOS Hella H1 headlights for a song.  Now, I really didn’t need these, but along the way one of the lights… more

This is an incredibly dumb exercise. I bought a big brake kit for the Eurovan, with the premise being that the loss of ABS from the manual conversion somehow justifies spending money on nonsense like this.

It really doesn’t. But with the… more

When we last checked in, the awfulness of the floors in the 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS was on full display. Nelson, my trusted body guy who is going to charge me way more than he expected, has turned my porous Trooper into one that is structurally… more

I got a wild hair across my ass that I needed to address two shortcomings in my garage:

1.) I needed a truck. I was sick of hauling tires / wheels / car parts / etc. in my Eurovan, which is really in pretty nice shape. It felt like I was… more

When I bought the 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS out of a western Mass. salvage yard, I figured it had rust....somewhere. I didn't look too hard. Basically, I wanted this dumb short wheelbase Trooper badly enough that I just looked at the odometer and… more

This is my new pick-up, and first drivers car in four years. Feels so good to be back in a manual car with real driving characteristics. I will do another write up post to explain my story on how I picked this car up, and found it, but for now,… more

Big news! The 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS is moving out of Jay's 4WD shop and heading over to *another* shop; this time, it's for bodywork. I am very excited by a few things, namely: this brush guard. This bull bar, brush guard,… more

As I mentioned, a friend of mine (Joe) works for the local Lexus dealer and he's worked on my vintage projects in the past. He agreed to take on the LX450 and has been dissecting the truck in a fairly comprehensive fashion. Here are the updates… more

The 1990 Audi Coupe Quattro finally left yesterday, en route to German Motors to get its timing belt replaced along with the water pump and thermostat. This initial stage is really just to get the car safe for road use so we can decide where to… more

The '89 Isuzu Trooper RS can't have too much more thrown on it, aside from whatever shortcomings are revealed as it gets driven. Jay, the mechanic who's been bringing it back to life on nights and weekends, has pretty much done all he can do… more

I have a connection with the local Lexus dealer that has proven helpful over the years. Joe Manzi, a former technician with the now-defunct Oxford Motorcars, joined the Lexus dealer technician team in Warwick, Rhode Island, a few years back. Joe… more

One of the bigger challenges with owning a genuine Audi Coupe Quattro is the lack of model-specific spare parts. Despite looking all the world like an Audi 90 or 80 two-door, the Coupe Quattros (CQs) actually utilized numerous model-specific… more

When I was 16, I had a few bucks in my pocket from a summer job and I'm sure a few years of saving any birthday winnings from my grandparents. I also owned a 1999 MK3 VW Jetta, and after years of staring at the two-page spread of available wheels… more

The Lexus LX450 arrived with a pretty powerful stream of fluid terminating from below, and the best guess so far is the power steering oil cooler. Of course, the cooler consists of hard lines and therefore can't be replaced. 

There's… more

The 1991 Saab 900 Turbo SE convertible wearing Monte Carlo Yellow paint left tonight, bound for Virginia. After a tumulous sales process, the waters became calm and the transaction carried through as God intended. 

What's strange to… more

I've often referred to 944s as a German Pickup.  Open the hatch, lay down the rear seat, and you have the open space to rival any comparable car.  They will swallow bicycles whole or all the camping gear for two.  Here we see my… more

A few days ago, an interesting thing happened. I had three cars of my own all for sale at once: the 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde; the 1990 Audi V8 Quattro; and the 1991 Saab 900 SE Turbo convertible. The Audi and Saab were listed on Bring a… more

My mechanic Jay has been working on (what he very much wants to be) final punch-list items for the '89 Isuzu Trooper RS. I'm a little melancholy, as there was a comfort that came with knowing Jay has been fixing plenty of little items along the… more

Well, although it seemed like a pretty done deal, I confirmed today I will finally be a Land Cruiser owner as of tomorrow. I've been searching for a very specific truck - the FJ80-series Land Cruiser with the Lexus trim, otherwise known as an… more

This was a big day. I really wasn't expecting to do much when I stopped by German Motors other than to get a code read on my 2011 328xi, which finally let me know that the passenger front axle and speed sensor are crying uncle. But Gerry tossed… more

I got *really* close to selling the 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde I bought last summer. It had been sitting at a local shop that's been in business for ages, outside, with about $500 in parts sitting in the trunk. Now, mind you, it wasn't out of… more

As I got the 1991 Saab 900 SE convertible ready for sale, it coincided with entering the beginning stages of getting the rust repaired on the Mercedes Cosworth. In speaking with my body guy, he reminded me how in order to rust repair the right… more

One of the lingering jobs on the 1990 Audi V8 Quattro has been the replacement of the three main engine mounts. All three had lost their internal fluid ages ago, likely due to the fact that OEM replacements are hard to find. Today was the day to… more

Although I am planning to sell the 1991 Saab 900 Turbo SE convertible, there was one job left to do that I will likely never enjoy but is essential to selling a car as close to your desired price as possible: working air conditioning. … more

I don't know why I get hung up certain cars, but I do. The Audi Coupe Quattro has been on my radar since February and I wanted one when I bought the 1990 V8 Quattro. That's why even when that car arrived in March, I kept looking for a CQ.

When I had the blue '86 Trooper, one of the best days was when the General Grabber 31" tires went on, mounted to the stock steel wheels. It just transformed the truck, even with the stock wheel fitment and offset. 

One of the long-… more

Well, the 1991 Saab 900 Turbo SE convertible is just about ready for its close-up. I had it detailed this week by my friend Jarrad at Top Notch Auto Detailing in Warwick; he was able to correct some ills, but not all.

It presents well but… more

I swung by German Motors today to see the 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth that now runs, drives, stops, and turns without issue. It's hard to put into words how good it feels to be at this point, especially with the bodywork stage ready… more

Incredibly, my 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth has seen the open road for the first time in 10 years or more. It only went about 20 feet, but progress is progress. 

I told German Motors that the "secret" bodyshop that is… more

For a fleeting moment, I thought I gave up on the 1995 Range Rover County too soon. After all, my friend Jeff basically told me with zero effort by me to confirm that the truck was a lost cause. Aside from the engine, everything was locked up or… more

The 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS - after two years of moving it here and there, leaving it with different shops and seeing no progress - is finally running. And incredibly, it didn't even need that much to get to the day I had this weekend, where I… more

Years ago, powder coating was kind of a taboo subject. It was sort of like - what, you're not baller enough to get your wheels professionally repainted when they lose their luster? It seemed that way at the time, but after having my first powder… more

I am planning on Good Friday being especially good for me, as I will be going to the secret storage location and bringing my E46 BMW home.  I'm pretty excited, as I have a list of things that I am planning on doing to the car during the… more

After years of moving the 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS from one shop or storage locker to another, it finally left its latest home away from home running under its own power. It's a big day. 

The RS has gotten a crash course in… more

Did you ever get into a project you didn't really need to do? The Eurovan has had a cracked rear bumper since the time I got it. It wasn't a big deal but it was still noticeable. I could have absolutely lived with it, but I want to bring the… more

The short-lived experiment with the Peugeot 505 wagon is soon to be over (barring any unforeseen circumstances - God help me.) I have no real emotions with this one; it is a very cool car and I'm glad I took a chance on it. It scratched an itch I… more

The seat module saga for the Mercedes was more daunting than expected. There were rumors that a module from a W126 or W124 would work, which would have been helpful given those are much easier to find. Not true, as comparing photos of those… more

As mentioned the other day, the Trooper RS is finally under the knife after two years of moving it around to various storage locations. My mechanic, Jay Gaston who runs Jay's 4WD, is in the thick of it at the moment, taking apart the front axles… more

One of the dumber stumbling blocks with the junkyard-find 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth had to do with the interior. The original Recaro seats were in bad shape, so I bought a replacement interior not too long after acquiring the car. The one downside is… more

So, I drove the 1990 Audi V8 Quattro home the other day. This car is a peach. I rarely am surprised these days, but I find myself loving a few things:

1.) Firing up a cold V8 in the morning; 

2.) Loafing along with a slow-… more

This one stings a bit. I had high hopes that I struck gold when spotting this derelict 1995 Range Rover County LWB on the side of the interstate, but it seems like I need to cut my losses early. Well, that's the opinion of Jeff, my mechanic, who… more

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was having trouble getting the lone gun mechanic I hired for the Trooper RS revival to start on the project. I dangled the prospect of a bonus, but what seems to have gotten things moving is that I'm now paying… more

I had a chance to connect with my mechanic regarding the status of the 1990 Audi V8 Quattro I picked up a few weeks ago. Seems like mostly good news, after the big job of replacing the deadly-if-left-ignored timing belt was completed. … more

There's this guy I found on Instagram who really should have a larger following. His name is Zach and he basically has a kit that allows him to restore leather seats without having to strip them down and reupholster them. 

So, when… more

I had forgotten how satisfying bodywork is. It's been years since I've had a car in a bodyshop to get some cosmetic flaw fixed, whether it be actual accident damage, general paint correction, or worrisome rust. It's really way better than even a… more

I stopped in to Kane Motorcars the other day to see what's happened with my 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde that I dropped off there - oh, three months ago. NOTHING. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. Silver lining/ I didn't have an outstanding invoice to pay.… more

The bodywork continues at a rapid pace on the Eurovan, and I got the call today it should be ready for pickup tomorrow. The shop doing the work addressed one other area that was 50/50 in terms of them getting to it, which was a bad dent in the… more

One of the catch-22s of the 1990 Audi V8 Quattro I recently bought is that it's an interference engine. I say it's a catch-22 because it basically means I have to put a bunch of money into a car that I can't really drive until the job is done.… more

The ironic thing about my project cars is that the newest one has some of the most concerning rust. It's also the one with a bunch of money invested. The 2003 VW Eurovan I bought a few years ago and has since been converted to a manual… more

After three months with 1988 Peugeot 505 Wagon, I have some thoughts. And yes, this coincides with my deciding to sell the wagon, which is done purely in the pursuit of other projects. 

First, it's a great car. The conversion work -… more

Throughout automotive history, there have been a few constants. Two of them are that in German cars, the most desirable options are sport seats and BBS wheels. Those also happen to be the only optional features on the Audi V8 Quattro.

I… more

This was one of those jobs I really didn’t want to get done because I knew the cost would be high no matter where I took it. Replacement convertible tops are one of those items that has skyrocketed in cost since the pandemic took hold, which… more

The Audi's first real service.

Because of covid, work, life, basically everything, my '73 BMW has been sitting for almost a year on a battery tender, unmoved in a storage building off-site of my garage.  Any vehicle, old or new, left neglected will deteriorate… more

Yesterday was awesome, as I was three sessions of Track Night In America at Lime Rock Park.  If you don't know about Lime Rock… more

The pressure was building; I had to do it. I have never owned an Italian car and now I do. After a few months of searching, I not only found a low mileage Milano - I found a low mileage Milano Verde with a 3.0L V6, limited slip… more

Designing and printing the new dash defroster vents along with more cleaning up. 

I will freely admit I am easily swayed by aesthetics. I can easily forgive many, many flaws if a car or truck looks just right. 

I won't know until I drive it home this week whether I even like owning… more

When I last wrote about the 1991 Saab 900 Turbo SE convertible in its resplendent shade of Monte Carlo Yellow, the manual conversion had kicked off with the removal of the interior. Mike, the owner of Conntech, is completely slammed with work,… more

Replacing the heater core in the Audi CQ was a nightmare as it looks like it HAD been attempted before but was stopped short as firewall bolts were stripped. 

First attempt to correct some of the errors in the Audi gauge cluster.

Good news: the 1991 Saab 900 SE Turbo in Monte Carlo Yellow is actually on its way to the manual conversion I thought would start last October. Progress is progress! The shop, Conntech Saab of Warwick, is well-versed in converting 900 Classics to… more

Rebuilding Audi CQ window regulators with new cables, spools, and lots of grease. 

My over-the-winter projects included installing a new fuel pump along with an M3 baffle, H&R Sport springs, new OEM rear trailing arm bushings (RTABs, without limiters), new front sway bar bushings and endlinks, and 200TW tires.  For… more

I FINALLY find a cheaper Audi CQ project that I can work on and realize how much work this will be.

So the spring install went off without much of a hitch.  This included installation of front strut tower reinforcement plates and replacement of the upper strut bearings, as well as a replacement of the front sway bar mount bushings… more

Last weekend I actually had some personal time, and decided it was best used with a wrench in hand and a mask on face.  In my search for suspension upgrades in preparation for reduced body roll without completely sacrificing ride, I decided… more

So, what's happening with the 1991 Saab 900 Turbo manual transmission swap? Short answer, not much. When you want the best in the business to work on your classic car, it's an easy choice to be patient. Conntech Saab Specialists has, on average,… more

I have this habit of getting really hung up on a very specific car, and then obsessing over it until it becomes a reality. Wish I could harness that skill for something productive or career-related, but it hasn't happened yet. 

A few… more

Every weekend I'm trying tp pick up some deferred maintenance items in preparation for the world returning to to normal at some unknown point in the future.  Today it was changing the differential fluid.   I used Redline 75W-90 NS… more

So the E46 got a bit of quarantine maintenance on Saturday that included installation of Stop Tech Sport pads, new caliper slider pins and caliper guides all around, and a bedding-in session.  The pads feel great and stop hard, but the… more

So here is my new project.  The site will be a great place to track what happens with it, but initially I will drive it to replace my aging VW Eurovan, while fixing a bunch of deferred maintenance and neglect.  The guy I bought it off… more