New guy with an MX73

Hi all, my name is Aaron, I'm from Tacoma, Wa. I've been a car guy my entire life, bought my first car when I was twelve (a Dodge Dart) and on December 11th I got a wild hare and bought this pile for $800:



1987, one-owner car, slick-top, stripper model, 136K miles, stock a a rock grandma spec. Still had the disabled placard in the window.

My buddy gave the fender a quick roll in a parking lot so we could get it on the trailer...


...and off we went:


Over the next few nights and weekends I pulled it apart and sourced all the needed parts. It's been exceptionally cold here this year so I borrowed a bunch of heaters, cooked out the garage, and we got everything painted in an afternoon.

Nine days later this is what it looked like:

Of course I am an idiot and washed it immediately after taking this photo.

On the morning of new year's eve I picked up a set of old-school Takechi Project Racing Hart wheels from our local JDM importer. 15x6.5 +9 with 185/60's:


Threw those on, replaced the weeping radiator, and went cruising to a few photoshoot spots in between holiday snow flurries:





It's been a fun little project. I did a quick detail on the interior (grandma and/or grandpa liked to spill coffee everywhere) and I've just been cruising.

I'll throw a set of stock shocks and struts at it, and probably just fix minor maintenance and reliability issues. The 5m runs like a top and I'm under no illusion that I'm building a racecar or a lowrider. I just want a solid daily so I'm not driving my work truck everywhere.

Speaking of the work truck, this is my weekday driver: '94 base-model, 22RE, W55 (have a W58 to put in), mildly modded, lowered 2" all around, sitting on 15x6 BBS meshies pilfered from a Lincoln Town Car.


A few long-gone past projects just so I can brag:

'85 Ford F250 diesel, turbo, exhaust, 4" lift, 33's on Alcoa's tow pig:


'91 318iS pocket rocket, lowered, Bilstiens, mild mods:


'63 Mercury, swapped in a 410ci Ford FE motor, C6 trans:


'87 IROC: 350, T-56 6-speed, lowered, bolt-ons and exhaust:


There's been more, but I'm too lazy to hunt down all the pics. Let me know what you think!

nice digs, shaped up well. Welcome.

Impressive work my friend. Looking good.

good save! More pics!