Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Just to date myself a bit, the year Tom's Venture was built was the same year I went to my last Yamaha new bike school...... Even got to have one very similar to Tom's as a demo that year.... gettin' old, ain't I??????

"New Bike School"?

Then you will appreciate this picture of my '88, doing a little maintenance.

And other picture show me, my bike and a iceberg

I went to my first Yamaha school in 1970. I went to my last one in 1984. I did nothing but bikes the first half of my life.

I'm puttin' around now on this '04 V-Star 1100 Yammy.

Daver.

Nice looking bike!!!
I had a 2001 V-Star 650 that looked almost exactly like yours. The 650 didn't have enough power so I sold it and got my '88 Venture. This is my 5th season on it and I've put over 50,000 miles on it. This one is the second '88 Venture that I've had, the other one was identical even the same color.

Originally Posted by Daver

I went to my first Yamaha school in 1970. I went to my last one in 1984. I did nothing but bikes the first half of my life.

I'm puttin' around now on this '04 V-Star 1100 Yammy.

Daver.

The V-Star 1100's were nice, had one of them, it too was underpowered so I moved up to a 1600 Road Star--no more power problems..... My only new bike ride this year was a quick (and I do mean QUICK) test ride on the new R-1 Yamaha! Man, what a rocket ship that thing is!!! Zero to warp speed in about 10 seconds!!!! Oh yeah, and one quick burst on the new design Kawasaki Concours--very smooth, very fast, and totally redesigned from the old 1000cc Concours. Would make a great tour bike---on the Autobahn!

....yer' right, Dave....the 1100 didn't have much steam. I put the Vance and Hines exhaust on mine and tweaked the carbs. It runs much better now. As you can see, my scoot is set up for solo flight, so I get around OK on it.

Besides....I got all the go-fast stuff out of my system in the 70's. That's all we did at the Yamaha shop....worked on, and raced bikes. Early on, I raced Bultacos....then I switched to the Yammies.

Daver.

Daver, we certainly have come a long ways since those days, huh??? I played with a couple of the old 350 Yamahas in a variety of configurations resembling road racers, unfortunately around here there was just no place to race them (well, legal places anyway).

One of my most favorite bikes "back then" that I would love to duplicate today was a Norton 750 Commando! Had one and thought it was the baddest thing on the planet.... Turned it over to one of the local tuners for a bit of engine and suspension work, and for it's day it was very, very fast!!!!

Now it's so easy to just walk into a dealership and buy a ready built racer, don't know if it would be fun anymore or not... Though I do remember a couple of differet wannabe racers who plunked down Daddy's cash for their brand new racer (one an R-6 and the other on a Ninja) who proceeded to dump their brand new toys within a mile of the dealership, one in the driveway about 20 yards out of the shop!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Now it's so easy to just walk into a dealership and buy a ready built racer, don't know if it would be fun anymore or not... Though I do remember a couple of differet wannabe racers who plunked down Daddy's cash for their brand new racer (one an R-6 and the other on a Ninja) who proceeded to dump their brand new toys within a mile of the dealership, one in the driveway about 20 yards out of the shop!!!!!

I know what you mean. The truly scarey part....these bikes will drop a 10 sec quarter and will easily go beyond 170. Really...who are these bike for? Our young folks with very little experience...thats who. For a short time I rode with a group of 50+ bikers (hoolagin rocket racers)....I can tell you I saw some real stupid stuff. Then one by one over the course of a year they were dropping like flies until the count got to nine. 4 dead and 5 that wished they were. I dont mean to sound insensitive....but these guys were really asking for an accident. I finally came to my senses, realizing I was 32 years old and had two boys that depended on me and that I loved more. I was told that I was old and boring. In one sentence I said "I love old and boring!"...and payed my new found buddies a farewell. I do miss the gutwrenching addrenaline rush....but I'm happier knowing I got to see my boys grow up. Wish these guys would save it for the track....I dont like seeing any1 busted up like this.

Dave G

The trunk lid for Tom's coupe was really hammered...not bad for rust but lots of nasty dents and creases.... I removed the skin from the inner structure and began the straightening process on it.... Going ok but sloly....

Spent a bit of time on the Bronco this evening. Getting rid of the window channel for the side windows in preperation for the new skin that will be installed instead of the glass. Going to be a kewl little truck, but as with all projects, quite labor intesive!!!!

what year bronco II did you start with? should be a real neat ride

Originally Posted by Matt167

what year bronco II did you start with? should be a real neat ride

It started life as an '88, so fugly that it started looking better as we took it apart and threw stuff away!!!!!!!

what are you going to do for a front end? the body lines on a '89-'92 are the same, you could use a set of '89-'92 fenders, grill, hood and headlight assembly... a black STX grill would look really cool, '91-'94 also Explorer grilles fit, and are chrome with horizontal bars only... of course somthing custom would be nicer than a stock part

Originally Posted by Matt167

what are you going to do for a front end? the body lines on a '89-'92 are the same, you could use a set of '89-'92 fenders, grill, hood and headlight assembly... a black STX grill would look really cool, '91-'94 also Explorer grilles fit, and are chrome with horizontal bars only... of course somthing custom would be nicer than a stock part

No idea just yet, but probably nothing that Ford built.... Too much frontal area. Main reason (well, one of the reasons) for laying the posts back and leaning the sides in was to gain some aerodynamics over and around the A Pillars. Probably something that has a bit lower height on the front of the hood, a lower pan of sorts to smooth the air under the truck, tuck the front tires in a couple inches, and ???????. Who knows? Long time till I get to that end of the sheetmetal. Probably just wait and let the truck tell me what it wants.....

this is a '92 Ranger STX, which parts would fit your bronco II... I have a '92 Ranger XLT but it's not 1/4 as nice, same wheels too.. but there tarnished

yea, they are quite boxy in the front. certinly is the most custom Bronco II I'v seen being built.. normally ppl just lift them a mile in the sky and call it good.. few of those around here

Originally Posted by Matt167

yea, they are quite boxy in the front. certinly is the most custom Bronco II I'v seen being built.. normally ppl just lift them a mile in the sky and call it good.. few of those around here

I get nose bleeds from the altitude in any car with more then 5" of ground clearance. As of now the roof of the Bronco is at 52"---and that's with the body sitting approximately 1.5" above where the ride height will be..... I like em low!!!!!