DTM5: This is a Low-Pressure Situation, Man

by CFlo

Despite not updating you, dear reader, on a regular basis I have been thoroughly enjoying the DTM5 after sorting out some "pressing" issues. This is the 3rd installment in that vein. I had a few theories about why the DTM5 was running "popcorn fart lean," a known problem with the car when I bought it, and verified on a local chassis dyno. Could my fuel pump be dying, not able to supply enough flow to the injectors? Could the injectors themselves be clogged or dirty, or just too small for the amount of air this (modified) 3.5L can flow at WOT? Might the tuning be utter crap, and not allowing the injectors stay open long enough at higher engine speeds? I've kept you guys waiting long enough, so in this episode of DTM5 Troubleshooting, we get to the bottom of it.

10k: Repeat Offender: 1988 Citroën CX Estate

This Citroën CX Estate was previously featured on DT, but the price has gone down by $2k, so maybe you can ignore the fact that it has more front overhang than Dolly Parton and give it another chance.  This 1988 Citroën CX Estate is back for sale on craigslist for $7,900 with new pictures (still located in Los Gatos, CA).

5k: Quick When New: 1976 Dodge Aspen R/T

The Dodge Aspen (and Plymouth Volaré) was the successor to the popular Dodge Dart platform and was bestowed with the 1976 Car of the Year award by Motor Trend.  The Aspen won't be headlining any auctions at Barrett-Jackson or Mecum in the near future, but it looks oddly cool in R/T trim and was surprisingly quick  when new.  Find this 1976 Dodge Aspen R/T offered for $6,000 in Hayward, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

5k: Classy Ragtop: 1965 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

The Fiat 1500 was a large family car built in Italy and was available as a sedan, wagon, coupe, or cabriolet.  Some will complain that its 1.5 liter engine is light on power compared to contemporary competition, but the Pininfarina-designed body is gorgeous enough to forgive any serious shortcomings.  Find this 1965 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet currently bidding for $4,850 with 4 days to go on ebay, located in Novi, MI.

5k: Whatta Creampuff: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT

At the time, it seemed like a no-brainer.  Build a lightweight, two seat, plastic body sports car with an assortment of reliable inline-4 and V6 engines from the GM parts bin.  What could possibly go wrong?  For starters, the base engine was the underpowered and unloved Iron Duke, the entire car could catch fire if you ran out of oil, the heads would crack leading to more fire if oil reached the hot catalyst and the suspension was stolen from the Chevette/Citation parts bins.  In short, a lot could go wrong, but it is still the only mass produced American mid-engine car ever built and ultra low mile examples are cheap...and that isn't wrong at all.  Find this 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT offered for $5,900 in Chelsea, AL via craigslist.  Tip from Justin.

20k: Eggplant Camembert: 1975 Maserati Merak

This Maserati Merak dates from a time when Citroën owned Maserati -- say what??  From 1968 through 1975, Maserati was owned and operated by Citroën resulting in the ultimate combination of Italian style with French flair for the dramatic.  The result is a healthy serving of Eggplant Camembert...which sounds equally wonderful and horrific at the same time....but I'd take a bite.  Find this 1975 Maserati Merak offered for $23,800 in Marina del Ray, CA via craigslist.

10k: Affordable Classic: 1972 BMW 2002 Tii

The BMW 2002 is a scrumptious collectible classic that it still affordable for the average car buyer.  The Tii version (touring internationale injected) is the premium version to get -- it adds fuel injection, rarity, and some special under hood parts to up the cool factor on an already cool car.  Tii prices have been steadily increasing for the past few years and seem like a good bet for value of a drivable classic in the next decade or so.  Find this 1972 BMW 2002 Tii currently bidding for $9,600 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Happy Valley, OR via ebay.

5k: 4-Speeds, All Class: 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280SL R107

The Mercedes-Benz R107 series roadster/coupes were sold from 1971 through 1989.  This remarkably long production life is credited to the graceful design and mechanical robustness that gave the cars of a great reputation and kept buyers returning to the showroom each year without the need for drastic changes.  The market for these cars is good right now for buyers and should start to pick up right around the time we are all riding around in driverless electric hovering google tubes and gasoline is only sold in small jugs at specialty shops.  Enjoy the gasoline while you can by picking up this 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280SL R107 offered for $5500 in Troutdale, OR via craigslist.  Tip from Alex V.

Coffee Brake: Coolest Engine Swap Now And Later

To swap or not to swap is always the question, particularly when you see a classic with a small engine such as an Opel Manta A.  What if you've already gone down that dark path of unoriginality, now you've got to ask -- is your engine swap cool enough?  Is the boogie worth the pick juice worth the squeeze?  So, the question then for today's Friday Coffee Brake is: What is the coolest engine swap you've ever seen and what would you like to see?

from corvaircorsa.com

10k: Repeat Offender: 1962 Pontiac Tempest Trophy 4

Update 7/25/2014: This 1962 Pontiac Tempest equipped with Trophy 4-banger is currently bidding for $4,049 reserve-not-met with a $9,900 buy-it-now, located in New Castle DE.

Originally posted 4/24/2014: In 1961 Pontiac engineers working to release the first generation Tempest under the guidance of John Z DeLorean wanted to offer a small displacement and frugal engine but did not have the budget for a full scale development effort.  What they did was hack half the cylinders off of a 389 V8 and create the 195 Trophy 4.  It was the first American built vehicle to have a 4-cylinder engine since the Kaiser Henry J went out of production and would rattle the fillings out of your teeth with vibration.  Find this 1962 Pontiac Tempest Trophy 4 currently bidding for $2,125 reserve-not-met and $11,500 buy-it-now on ebay, located in New Castle, DE.

5k: Nicest Around: 1972 Opel Manta A

The first generation Opel Manta "A" was a lightweight two-door fastback that shared a chassis and powertrain with the Opel Ascona sedan/coupe/estate.  Being a European branch of GM, Opel did not have a dealer network in North America, so they were sold and maintained through GM's domestic Buick dealerships.  Today most Mantas are dilapidated classics or restored garage queens, so to find one in completely original condition is a remarkable feat.  Find this 1972 Opel Manta A currently bidding for $3,583 reserve-not-met with 5 days to go on ebay, located in San Diego, CA.  Tip from Rod S.

10k: Future Classic: 1994 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4

The Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 was Mitsubishi's entry into the free-for-all cage match that was the 1990s Japanese sports car scene. Nissan had its turbocharged 300ZX and Skyline GT-R, Honda the superb NSX, Mazda the rotary screaming RX-7, Subaru sold a few funky SVX and even Toyota got in the ring with the bulletproof Supra, but the 3000 GT VR-4 was special...different...an eccentric madman in the clubhouse.  Find this 1994 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 offered for $11,000 in Houston, TX via NASIOC forums classifieds.

1k: Sad Shoeless Man Sells His 1991 Nissan Stanza

Sometimes a picture says a thousand words and other times it asks a thousand questions...this is one of the latter times. This 1991 Nissan Stanza XE is offered for $1,600 in Lancaster, CA via craigslist by a shoeless dude who stares forlornly at his soon to be ex-car.

New Craigslist Feature -- Search By Transmission

If you are anything like me, you spend a lot of time surfing Craigslist for cars, trucks & free furniture.  Probably too much time, if you ask my wife, but that is an issue for me and my therapist to work out. Anyway, Craigslist browsing is an often fun distraction from other things, but recently (okay, this happened a few weeks ago, but it took a while to publish the story) things got better -- much better.  Craigslist had added additional searchable input fields to the top of the search menu that include worthless options like paint color, size, and type, but they have also included a transmission, driven wheels, fuel and title status filters.  Halleluiah, I can find manual transmission equipped Mini Coopers, Supra Mk IV, Land Rover Defenders and Kenworth trucks all in one window!!

5k: Cheaper Elise: 2000 Toyota MR2 2ZZ-GE Swap

The 3rd generation (W30) Toyota MR2 Spyder was the last version of Toyota's mid engine runabout to be sold anywhere in the world.  It was a decent handling little car and I recall driving one new at a dealer's lot back around the year 2000; it was light and superbly balanced. The only finger that can be pointed squarely at the MR2 was that it didn't have the thrust from its 138 horsepower inline-4 even when the Celica had a 190 horsepower 2ZZ engine in the GT-S model.  Thankfully, folks have figured out that this swap is easy to do and suddenly the little MR2 has proper power to match its open mouth "wow" facial expression.  Find this 2000 Toyota MR2 2ZZ Swap offered for $7,500 in Austin, TX via craigslist.

5k: Thinning The Herd: 1980 Toyota Corolla Wagon(s)

The 4th generation (known internally at Toyota as the E70) Corolla was the last rear-wheel-drive platform that extended across the entire Corolla lineup (the AE86 coupe remained powered by the proper wheels for the next generation, but within a few years everything was front-drive purgatory).  The Corolla was a simple economy car with no particular designs on world domination, but it was cheap to buy, cheap on fuel, cheap to insure, cheap to fix, but most importantly: it was reliable.  Find this 1980 Toyota Corolla Wagon offered for $3,300 in Redwood City, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.