Is this '86 Laser worth it?
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/11/2004 6:23:59 AM
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71RoadRunner
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There is a good chance that it will be a money pit and the turbo reduces the fuel mileage. It might get better gas mileage than your truck however. If your looking for a car that's good on gas and is cheap and easy to work on then get a Neon, you will get around 35 MPG with a Neon and only around 18 or so with a turbo Laser.
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71 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Auto. Modified
04 Dodge SRT-4 2.4L DOHC Turbo Intercooled 5-spd. Modified
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/11/2004 3:26:37 PM
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Racer Rob
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thanks.
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'98 Ram Sport 5.9 4x4 -Gas guzzling plow truck
'05 Cobalt 5 Speed - Lease, everyday beater when its not in the shop, shoulda got a Dodge...
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/11/2004 11:06:42 PM
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71RoadRunner
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Not a problem. They are great fun when they are right, but when they're not they're a complete nightmare.
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71 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Auto. Modified
04 Dodge SRT-4 2.4L DOHC Turbo Intercooled 5-spd. Modified
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/11/2004 11:12:13 PM
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Dodgegirl19
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 71RoadRunner
They are great fun when they are right, but when they're not they're a complete nightmare.
I can second that... ;)
~Amanda
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/12/2004 12:50:30 PM
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87Indy500
Posts: 269
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You guy's and gal's have got to be kidding me....
These car are sooo easy to work on that its almost a joke. Parts are cheap and easy to find.
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Troy
87 Dakota 4X4 Indy500 Pace Truck
87 Dakota 2X4 360/727
87 Shelby GLHS #844
87 Shadow ES Turbo
85 GLH Omni Turbo (blue)
86 GLH Omni Turbo (blue too)
74 Dart Sport 360/727/8 3/4
70 Challenger 440/727/8 3/4
68 Dart GTS 340/4-sp
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/12/2004 12:58:56 PM
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Dodgegirl19
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I never said it's hard to work with or find parts for... but I'm having a nightmare of a time locating this noise now. LOL! That was my point. I'm onto valve train and exhaust... I'm really thinking it's a leak at the intake manifold or damn close to it. The turbo is going to be replaced along with the head gasket... I think that'll fix all the "problems". Just got to pin point this noise... :)
~Amanda
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'The Lady In Red'
1994 MODIFIED Dodge Ram 1500 Sport
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/13/2004 2:22:55 AM
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71RoadRunner
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 87Indy500
You guy's and gal's have got to be kidding me....
These car are sooo easy to work on that its almost a joke. Parts are cheap and easy to find.
If that were true then why do so many people have such a pain in the *ss time with them when things go wrong. I would just about bet that half or more of my Shelby Z's weight was wiring. I haven't seen that much wiring in any car before or since. It's like the Japanese cars are with vacuum lines, I about crapped myself after seeing all the vacuum lines on the Conquest Tsi's 2.6L turbo. The Daytonas and Lasers were very problematic cars that develope an enormous amount of problems, break downs and failures. I still loved mine and hated to get rid of it, but after having over $8,500+ in just necessary repairs and still having a butt load of things on it that still didn't work (like the power door locks, A/C, lighter, power mirrors, etc.) I had to simply cut my losses and sell it. If I had the money to do what I wanted to it, I would have stripped everything from it and converted it to a RWD V-8 set-up. 
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71 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Auto. Modified
04 Dodge SRT-4 2.4L DOHC Turbo Intercooled 5-spd. Modified
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/13/2004 10:34:04 PM
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87Indy500
Posts: 269
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[/quote]If that were true then why do so many people have such a pain in the *ss time with them when things go wrong.[/quote]
For the same reason my Dad bitches about working on them, and I quote.... "they are to small, the motor is in sideways and its not the 340's or 440's that I've been working on for the last 30 years".....un-quote.
[/quote] I would just about bet that half or more of my Shelby Z's weight was wiring. I haven't seen that much wiring in any car before or since. [/quote]
Apparently you haven't had to work on a car lately that is "Fully Loaded". I've worked on our 99 Jeep Cherokee that is fully optioned and I can say for a fact that it probably has just as much wiring, Probably more, than a fully loaded Daytona. Your probaby correct about the weight though.
[/quote] I about crapped myself after seeing all the vacuum lines on the Conquest Tsi's 2.6L turbo. The Daytonas and Lasers were very problematic cars that develope an enormous amount of problems, break downs and failures. [/quote]
Well that's 80's technology for ya. I think that all car manufacturers had some sort of problems. Lets not forget that the cars from the 80's where the first to be available with "Electronic Fuel Injection" as standard equipment. I'm sure by now (2004) they have all of the bugs worked out and have access to over 17 years worth of new technology to work with. I can't say much for the Conquest though, but a friend of mine had one back when we where 20 and that car would haul ass.......when it was working properly.
[/quote] I still loved mine and hated to get rid of it, but after having over $8,500+ in just necessary repairs and still having a butt load of things on it that still didn't work [/quote]
Jebus Kristy man!!! .......Did you replace every nut and bolt?? I just got done completely rebuilding my 2.5 turbo motor for my 87 Shadow. I had it Balanced, blue printed, rebuilt 5spd trans and did a wiring harness conversion for TII and I only have about $1400 in it so far. Granted, I did have some extra stuff laying around that helped out in the money Dept.
[/quote] I would have stripped everything from it and converted it to a RWD V-8 set-up. [/quote]
Defiantly a cool idea. I have always wanted to do that also. I even know a guy thats in my car club that has an original "Direct Connection" RWD kit that he is just asking me to take it off his hands......for $300. I really need to move on that one before its too late.
< Message edited by 87Indy500 -- 8/13/2004 10:43:24 PM >
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Troy
87 Dakota 4X4 Indy500 Pace Truck
87 Dakota 2X4 360/727
87 Shelby GLHS #844
87 Shadow ES Turbo
85 GLH Omni Turbo (blue)
86 GLH Omni Turbo (blue too)
74 Dart Sport 360/727/8 3/4
70 Challenger 440/727/8 3/4
68 Dart GTS 340/4-sp
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/14/2004 4:41:00 AM
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71RoadRunner
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Everyone that has driven a Conquest Tsi raves about how they were so unbelieveably fast and just bad as hell, but I have driven two of them and I was far from impressed. It could be that it was due to both having been autos and not manuals, but after having my Shelby Z a while, the Conquests just didn't hold up to the hype. One of the two I test drove had nice cold A/C, but the steering was messed up.
quote:
Jebus Kristy man!!! .......Did you replace every nut and bolt?? I just got done completely rebuilding my 2.5 turbo motor for my 87 Shadow. I had it Balanced, blue printed, rebuilt 5spd trans and did a wiring harness conversion for TII and I only have about $1400 in it so far. Granted, I did have some extra stuff laying around that helped out in the money Dept.
It sure as hell felt like it, but I was far from that even. I didn't have time enough to do it myself, nor did I have clean enough shop space to do it, so I had to take it somewhere and let them do it. They said it would only take about a week......over a month later I finally got it back. Had I known it was going to take that long, I could have done it myself quicker even without shop space. Here is a mild list of the $8,500+ I have in repairs, what I can remember of it:
engine rebuild
new clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing and resurfaced flywheel
transmission rebuild/shift fork replaced as well as the 3-4 gear
new head, 2 fuel injectors and rebuilt turbo
fuel pump
new rear calipers, all 4 rotors and pads all around
replaced all motor mounts
replaced both CV shafts and axel carrier bearing
replaced all wheel bearings
numerous alignments and tires
new alternator
I had to fix the shifters reverse lockout twice
Mopar Performance PCM
and many, many more that I cannot recall right at this moment.
_____________________________
71 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Auto. Modified
04 Dodge SRT-4 2.4L DOHC Turbo Intercooled 5-spd. Modified
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/16/2004 10:31:39 PM
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ProjektDaytona
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Okay..... Everybody really needs to calm down. And frankly, get some kind of clue. Parts cant be easy to find for anybody! It just doesn't work that way. Differant parts of the world have differant automotive parts more accesable. And as for being hard to work on or not. Thats completly up to the patiance of the people! Some people just cant cut it as a mechanic either because they arn't used to the "small" motors, or they dont have the patience. It takes alot of patience no matter what the person or car is, cause something is always going to go wrong. And as for this car you are thinking of buying.... Its up to you, not the opinion of others, because they arn't going to be working on it, or paying for the parts. If you feel that you can do what needs to be done, Shoot, go for it. But if you really dont think its a good idea... than thats your choice!
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/16/2004 11:02:56 PM
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87Indy500
Posts: 269
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I'm calm....Or at least I think I was???
I differ with your thoughts of finding parts. Thanks to the internet, almost anything found if the time is taken to simply look and if you have the green to spend for the harder to find stuff. With the thousands upon thousands of turbo cars that Chrysler bult for almost 10 years, I think that damn near every J/Y in the US has, or has had more than 1 in the yard at one time.
You hit the nail on the head with what you said about working on these cars.
< Message edited by 87Indy500 -- 8/16/2004 11:14:29 PM >
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Troy
87 Dakota 4X4 Indy500 Pace Truck
87 Dakota 2X4 360/727
87 Shelby GLHS #844
87 Shadow ES Turbo
85 GLH Omni Turbo (blue)
86 GLH Omni Turbo (blue too)
74 Dart Sport 360/727/8 3/4
70 Challenger 440/727/8 3/4
68 Dart GTS 340/4-sp
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/19/2004 10:09:46 AM
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GTCandGTSturbo
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I think Daytonas are very easy to work on - but in the interest of not continuing that, the rust is the real problem in that picture. Unless you are awesome with a welder, G body rust spreads like a wildfire. You car may run smooth, but you'll be doing a fred flintstone impression as well.
Oh, and I get 30-35 mpg hwy in the GTC and it is a tank. A first gen t-top should weigh slightly less and get only slightly worse gas milage.
< Message edited by GTCandGTSturbo -- 8/19/2004 10:19:30 AM >
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/27/2004 9:47:27 PM
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Racer Rob
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Well I know its been a while, but the guy sent me another e-mail. He still has the car, and saw I was selling a set of tires for $200 and wanted to know if I would trade straight up. He put a new clutch cable on it, but lost the clips that hold the ends on? Also he thinks it needs a clutch.
I can work on things, my dad is a auto mechanic, so I grew up around it and am a small engine mechanic. I build 4x4's for a hobby. My concern is I want something fun to drive, gets better then my ram mileage, but won't leave me stranded all the time. I know thats probably a lot to expect from a $200 '80s car. I just kinda am looking for an idea as to what I am getting myself into here.
Is there any aftermarket support for these cars?
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'98 Ram Sport 5.9 4x4 -Gas guzzling plow truck
'05 Cobalt 5 Speed - Lease, everyday beater when its not in the shop, shoulda got a Dodge...
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RE: Is this '86 Laser worth it? - 8/30/2004 3:59:14 AM
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71RoadRunner
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It is easily worth it for a trade for tires, but not for shelling out the $$$ for it. I wouldn't actually rely on it, but there are plenty of aftermarket hop-up parts for it. If you get it and are looking for parts, check these places out:
http://www.forwardmotioninc.com
http://www.fwdperformance.com/
http://www.relentlessracing.com/
_____________________________
71 Plymouth Roadrunner 440 Auto. Modified
04 Dodge SRT-4 2.4L DOHC Turbo Intercooled 5-spd. Modified
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