24 MPG doesn't seem very impressive in 2012, does it. Then again if that's significantly better than what the Hemi achieves, I'll need to do the math on how long it'd take to break even. So far the entire project has cost under $12,000: two vehicles, transportation, parts and a tuneup for the wagon. The current estimate from the shop is another 10-15K to do the work, though that probably won't cover cosmetically weaving in non-essential features like wiper speeds, AC, 4WD knobs, etc. --------- In other news, I'm drawing up custom center console options. I'd like to do this in order to leave the original dashboard intact, instead building a standalone, bolt-in console on the transmission hump that caters to modern road trip essentials: brake controller, cup holders, iPhone docks, XM tuner, rear-view camera screen, and a tire pressure monitor for both car and trailer. I've located an entire late 40's Chrysler dash for 100 bucks, with that signature large centerpiece that has "Chrysler" stamped across the top. I don't have it in hand, but it looks big enough that I might be able to use it as the fact of an upholstered box, nesting the above conveniences inside. I imagine it would help the overall interior from looking too modern, though I don't suppose I can add this many things without it looking a bit more cluttered.
There are tricks to making the Hemi get something approaching decent fuel economy. After all, the Hemi is .1 litre smaller than the engine in Nora, and Nora manages that figure with a 2 bbl carb, 3 speed auto, with no locking torque converter, and no overdrive. Start by freeing up the exhaust. Listening to the exhaust on the Durango that a friend has, there is a bottle neck somewhere in the system. A good dual exhaust should make a big difference. A good, well engineered cold air intake that allows for ram air effect will also help. Then get the SuperChips performance tuner, and use the "Tow/Haul" settings. Those 3 things should make a significant difference to the mileage.
Welcome to the forums, Barberjohn. Great memories, and keep everyone posted on your woodifying project! If you didn't destroy the car in the process of the first attempt, it's certainly not a total disaster! Oh, and I'm sure that's the sound of your kid laughing with you, not at you. Thanks for that Mike, great points. I'll definitely look into a better exhaust, and may investigate different gearing as well. I hear that can help fuel economy for a mostly-towing vehicle vs. a daily driver. It looks like my '05 donor is the "Limited" model; seems to have a factory towing package (though I haven't seen the car in person yet). Hoping there's a tow/haul button somewhere, as was on the end of the gear selector in my mother-in-law's Tahoe a few years back. If not, then the chip settings you mention are a great alternative.
Brad - Jay Leno just posted a feature on the Derelict T&C on his website... http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/
Bredlo: Even on the Tahoe, the SuperChips makes a HUGE difference in fuel economy. A buddy of mine has an 07, and did the exhaust, the chip programmer, and the cold air intake. He regularly does over 32 mpg, using the imperial gallon. That makes it about 27 or so to the U.S. gallon, and that is not bad in the least. You should be able to come close to that with the Hemi, if it is one with the cylinder deactivation technology.
That's really impressive! We drive a Highlander Hybrid (V6) currently, and it gets right around 27 as well. That'd be a dream for this wagon - well worth the MPG hit we'll take when towing, considering we're gaining gobs of power. Not to mention a lot of fuel economy has a lot to do with how heavy your right foot is. At 39, I drive like more like my grandmother than how I did during my wild 20's in my LT1 Firebird. Sigh... I miss the days of cheap tires and gasoline. Feelin' good about this chip option, hadn't given it any thought 'til now!
Well it was about time. The wagon had been in the shop all summer... and when I finally got it home we turned around and left for a month. But I still hadn't washed the darn thing since we bought it. This past Sunday was our local antique car show, though. No entry fee, no prizes - just people having fun, eating popcorn, watching weaving demonstrations and looking at old cars while listening to bluegrass music. There were about 25 cars: 100 point Rolls-Royces, an exquisite Porsche 356, a few old Vettes, a few Model A hot rods, a Nash Metropolitan, etc. Poor kids were behaving themselves so well around all these museum pieces... so when they got to mine I encouraged 'em to really experience the station wagon: climb in, play with the big skinny steering wheel, clamber around on wood bed and hop out the tailgate, as God intended. So in preparation for this little show, I spent several hours on Saturday washing and waxing it with a special "Black box" product from Turtle Wax. Cleaner, touchup spray and liquid waxes are all tinted black to fill in scratches and eliminate the white residue left after buffing. I haven't been able to see what the dirt has truly been hiding - and am shocked at how good the 60 year old paint has held up. Plenty of character, chips and hazy spots, but nothing visually offensive. Even the flat black spray "touch up" paint used over the years blends in beautifully under the new coat of wax. Couldn't be happier. Anyhow, that's the latest!
The old T&C looks fantastic! Just the right amount of patina to say that she is a car meant to be used and enjoyed. Perfect! Are you planning on keeping the body as is, or are you going to bring it back to perfect? Looking that great, I'd be temped to stabilize the rust, and keep her the way she is. A real car, not a museum piece. The trick is going to be finding the right wheels to fit the Durango chassis, and yet still look great with the old body.
Thanks Brishay, we secretly feel that way too. I agree. In seeing some the original, preserved paint jobs at the (dozen or so) cruise nights I attended in southern California a few weeks ago, I came away feeling the ones that hadn't been done to better-than-new standards were the most emotionally relevant, for me. One had no hood or interior... just springs for seats and bullet holes up and down along the passenger door. It had as many admirers as the perfect, 1930's Auburn Speedster. As you say, originality means not having to worry about little scratches... and if we're going to take this on the road with the Airstream, I can't imagine what life would be like, wiping bug guts off a perfect paint job every night. No thanks. We may clearcoat it as is, to keep the shine where it is... but I've grown to cherish the belt buckle scratches on the fenders, smile at the spray paint on the rear quarters, and hope to patch up the little rust holes in the tailgate from the inside when we (hopefully) add a motor to the rear crank window. Our greyhounds will LOVE that window. Agreed. The giant brakes on the Durango's 17's are probably what we need to remain safe and secure. I'd have preferred to compromise with 16's (has 15's currently) but it's a game of balancing appearances and function. Perhaps someday I'll have the money to have the current hubcaps duplicated in spun aluminum, but at the larger diameter. That'd look amazing with 4" whitewalls, I bet.
Hey all, Long time no talk - then again, there hasn't been much to report. The T&C is tucked in a storage locker for the winter... and this morning I met up with the guys from the hot rod shop I'll be working with. We went to the old warehouse where I found the DeSoto roof rack. The warehouse is where the Durango has sat since arriving from New York, and the old timer disassembling it for me is a silver-ponytailed Harley rider type who asked only for the Durango's wheels in exchange for tearing it down. I happily agreed, and this morning left a big Ghiradelli's peppermint bark chocolate bar on the radiator as a Christmas 'thank you'. The body is still on the frame, but not for long - it'll be scrapped soon, and enough is gone for my experts to get a good look at the frame and running gear, and take some measurements. Looks like the width will be fine, a few inches will be added to the length, but the frame is straight and true. That also means lengthening the driveshaft a bit, and undoubtedly the 5-sp trans will require a taller tunnel than the Fluid-Drive 2 speed in the wagon. They're also confident that even with all the goofy sensors attached to the ECM, I should be able to reuse both computer and wiring harness - a not insignificant element. That will let me retain factory cruise control, fuel sending unit, radiator sensor, oil pressure... god knows what else. Hopefully it also means I can freely add wireless backup cameras and anything else designed for specific vehicle / year combos. The steering column is one prominent interior aspect that will need to be upgraded, both to incorporate the newer rack and pinion setup... as well as a new column shifter that replicates the Durango's communication with the 5-spd trans, wiper controls, cruise settings and probably even 12v horn wiring. A company called Ididit makes retro style columns, and it even comes in paint-ready bare steel so I can powder coat to match the rest of the dash. ICON's Derelict car used the same model (photo below) and it looks awesome. We'll even gain 12-position tilt. That's the latest... hope all of you are getting something old and "wagon-y" for Christmas.
Wow Brad, I wondered what you were up to. I thought maybe you were hard at work on the wagon and too busy to check in. This is just as good, and it looks like you are going to have a dynamite wagon when this is done. Merry Christmas, hopefully you'll get a couple of wagon surprises under the tree.
