Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Topic: Say hello to project "Dirty Bird" (Read 1705 times) previous topic - next topic

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

September 21, 2013, 07:05:59 PM

While browsing Craigslist earlier this week I stumbled upon this gem in central jersey...

An 84 Élan, silver with charcoal interior, V8 car. She's been off the road since 1991 and only amassed 43,000 miles. Sitting didn't do her any good but she runs and drives. Longterm plans are to include a HO carb engine swap and a 5 speed conversion. Here's pics from the first day home. Sadly, impending rain and a trip to the Oley fair thwarted any cleaning plans. She'll get her first real bath in 22 years tomorrow.

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #1 – September 21, 2013, 07:17:45 PM

Interior looks really nice, more pics when you can.

I bet it will clean up and look nice, except for those brown areas......

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #2 – September 21, 2013, 08:07:06 PM

Thanks Mike. Ill be sure to post a ton more pics tomorrow. The seats have some typical fading and a few small cracks in the dash. Amazingly enough the premium sound actually works in her. I think with a good buff the body will come out pretty nice.

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #3 – September 21, 2013, 09:25:09 PM

Cool find that dirty bird will clean up nice

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #4 – September 22, 2013, 10:35:42 AM

Nice find!

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #5 – September 22, 2013, 03:31:41 PM

She's all scrubbed. Some of the dirt staining is bad and a hardcore buffing is in order. I already have a line on a good pair of doors and fenders. The big search will be for a silver turbo coupe hood. Here are today's pics

My little guy is really hyped about the Dirty Bird

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #6 – September 22, 2013, 04:54:58 PM

She cleaned up nice

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #7 – September 22, 2013, 05:55:21 PM

Thanks man. The big step is getting her running better. I think she has a broken ring or two. The compression test will happen tomorrow. I have the HO sitting already. Worst case is the engine swap will happen sooner than planned.

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #8 – September 22, 2013, 07:08:59 PM

Thats really clean inside!

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #9 – September 22, 2013, 10:15:16 PM

interior is real clean, you cant go wrong with the HO swap are you going with a carb or some other efi or sticking with the cfi?

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #10 – September 23, 2013, 10:06:12 AM

That is one clean interior!

But how is it with the rust? I mean, the paint can definetly be saved. But is it rusty?

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #11 – September 23, 2013, 12:01:32 PM

Bottoms of the doors and the fenders are shot. The rails, trunk, shock towers, floors and rad support are all 100%

For the time being I'm probably going to throw the cfi back on the car. Too many projects have depleted my funds lol

Say hello to project "Dirty Bird"

Reply #12 – September 24, 2013, 11:20:27 AM

Worst case scenario, get a rust free shell and swap the perfect interior over to that one