Tim writes:
>I thought I'd make one last go-round before I start dismantling the
Alpine.
>I have a 62 Series 2 which is 99.5% original - wire wheels, dual
Strombergs,
>no rust that I know of etc... I am about to do an engine swap to a V-6
and
>T5 and have all the parts. Before I start taking the Alpine apart I
thought
>I'd once again offer it for trade/purchase/sell to someone who might have
a
>poor old 'Pine (any series, but s3-4 preferred) without an engine and
>tranny, but is otherwise complete.
Kurt writes:
>Someone PLEASE help him out! We have to stop chopping up all the good
Alpines.
>We are supposed to love these cars and want to protect them. 99.5%
complete
>Alpines with no rust should be treasured. There just isn't enough of them
left.
>Please don't get me wrong here. I personally have no problem with
conversions
>but please, please, please let's try to do it with incomplete cars. Thank
you
>Tim for trying to save this one. I really hope you find one.
Here are my thougths, which by the way are a very recent 180 degree change
from my position for the last 35 years. Tim should go ahead and do it.
These cars are over 30 years old. The market for them has never been large
and it's going to keep getting smaller. Engines and transmissions wear
out. There is no denying it. At some point, no matter what we do about
it, a block, crank, head, etc simply cannot be fixed. New replacement
parts do not exist; no one is going to start making them again. And really
good used replacement parts for these are not widely available. So, if we
want to see these cars keep going for years to come, we need to accept and
welcome whatever it takes. I applaud Tim's offer to get a car without an
engine. And I agree with Kurt, except that I think this is "loving these
cars" and "saving them." But, why not use the nice car he has to restore,
and make the engine and transmission available for someone who wants to
keep their old engine going? Does it really matter that the engine number
and the body don't match? Maybe for cars worth much more than the Alpines.
Ok, so that's my soap box.
Jay
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 10:27:34 CDT