Kicking off 2025 with a new Hooptie project
Repairing old cars is always a journey. Say that a cheap project LS430 is $3,000 or less. Even if it costs a few thousand more to fix, you can depend on the fixes being permanent for a long time. On an E65 BMW 7 Series, something else will just break. The key difference is that the LS430 is truly built to last using simple old technology. The 4.3-liter 3UZ-FE engine has its roots in the absurdly reliable 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE from the LS400, with a five-speed Aisin A650E gearbox. Where BMW uses lots of brittle plastics in crucial places like the cooling system, the Lexus uses good old-fashioned aluminum and rubber.
There’s nothing to the Lexus, mechanically. It’s as easy to work on as a Toyota but it’s one of the world’s greatest luxury sedans. All of that for a low initial cost for a facelift 2004 and newer model in great shape. Of course repairing old cars is probably more than often not economically feasable. Fixing Hoopties as a proposed idea, or plan, or project is simply not practical or profitable to carry out due to the potential high costs involved in completing a finished product. Some of these projects are unlikely to generate enough revenue to cover expenses. These projects are taken on because you like the car.
Stay tuned, more to follow…