I have 4 D1s and really need to thin the herd.
I have a gold 98 LSE in very nice condition that I converted to 300tdi with 5 speed. That one is definitely a keeper.
I also have a red 96 SD automatic that has been the focus of my current efforts. It runs and drives quite well and only has a few minor remaining issues to address. it lived its life in northern CA until I brought it to New Mexico. There is some rust under the alpine window seals. I took out the glass and put rust converter on the rust spots. The body only has minor nicks and dings but the paint is showing it’s age and I would like to get it repainted at some point. It had next to no interior in it when I picked it up. I have pieced together a pretty nice interior for it. I still need a few odds and ends to wrap it up. I have considered selling it when I clear up the remaining issues. However, I really like it and it is an automatic, meaning my wife can drive it.
I have another gold 98 LSE with a good running 4.6. (4.0 built up to 4.6) with an automatic. When I bought it I didnt really have a plan for it. It came with a spare engine, 5 speed, and transfer case removed from a 97 model with only 27,000 miles, which was what I really wanted, but the deal was I had to take the D1 with it. It came with a lot of new parts as well. It was like I paid for the parts and got the D1 for free, almost. I need to look into why it shifts hard and late. I believe it is the kick down cable needing adjustment. So, assume the auto trans is ok. It is remarkably rust free. Only rust is surface rust under the driver side carpet. The dash and heater defrost duct is trashed. It needs to come out and be replaced. It also has death wobble pretty bad. As soon as I got it I went for a drive and it scared the hell out of me. It has only moved in and out of the shop since then. It will need to be painted but otherwise the body is pretty good.
The 4th one is a green 96 SD 5-speed with 55,000 miles. The interior is absolutely mint, way better than you would expect for even 55,000 miles. It came with a locked up engine that I replaced with an engine that only has 27,000 miles. It runs and shifts very well. However, unlike the previous 3, it has some major rust. I don’t think it has even a little ding or scratch on the body but the paint is weathered. The passenger side inner fender needs to be replaced as It has holes you can fit a softball through. All but one body mount is heavily rotted. The frame has heavy “surface” rust that the previous owner covered with rust converter. There is a lot of surface rust underneath that I suspect has some pretty thin areas. Brake lines are rusted terribly and all need to be replaced. If you bump up against anything underneath it rains rust on you. I thoroughly hate working on cars that are this rusty. Almost every bolt I have removed underneath has broken in the process or required me cutting it off. It was extremely difficult to get the rear bumper off.
My thinking today is to use the rusty green 96 SD as a parts donor for the gold 98 LSE. It has a great interior and the 98 LSE needs one. The drivetrain in the 98 is good but the 96 SD is better and it is 5 speed. I might even use the 96 roof to eliminate the sunroofs on the 98, which do not work and are sealed closed sloppily by a previous owner. I’m not a body guy and would have to have that work $$$$ done by a shop. Maybe I would just replace/repair the sunroofs. I feel kinda bad making the 96 SD a parts donor, The rust is bad but I have seen other ones on this forum in worse shape that were repaired. One surprising area it is not rusty is the cargo area floor.
I expect I will give the red 96 SD automatic to my son at some point. That would leave me 2 for myself if I make the 96 green SD a parts donor.
What do you guys think about merging the 98 LSE with the 96 SD, making the 96 SD the donor vehicle?
I have a gold 98 LSE in very nice condition that I converted to 300tdi with 5 speed. That one is definitely a keeper.
I also have a red 96 SD automatic that has been the focus of my current efforts. It runs and drives quite well and only has a few minor remaining issues to address. it lived its life in northern CA until I brought it to New Mexico. There is some rust under the alpine window seals. I took out the glass and put rust converter on the rust spots. The body only has minor nicks and dings but the paint is showing it’s age and I would like to get it repainted at some point. It had next to no interior in it when I picked it up. I have pieced together a pretty nice interior for it. I still need a few odds and ends to wrap it up. I have considered selling it when I clear up the remaining issues. However, I really like it and it is an automatic, meaning my wife can drive it.
I have another gold 98 LSE with a good running 4.6. (4.0 built up to 4.6) with an automatic. When I bought it I didnt really have a plan for it. It came with a spare engine, 5 speed, and transfer case removed from a 97 model with only 27,000 miles, which was what I really wanted, but the deal was I had to take the D1 with it. It came with a lot of new parts as well. It was like I paid for the parts and got the D1 for free, almost. I need to look into why it shifts hard and late. I believe it is the kick down cable needing adjustment. So, assume the auto trans is ok. It is remarkably rust free. Only rust is surface rust under the driver side carpet. The dash and heater defrost duct is trashed. It needs to come out and be replaced. It also has death wobble pretty bad. As soon as I got it I went for a drive and it scared the hell out of me. It has only moved in and out of the shop since then. It will need to be painted but otherwise the body is pretty good.
The 4th one is a green 96 SD 5-speed with 55,000 miles. The interior is absolutely mint, way better than you would expect for even 55,000 miles. It came with a locked up engine that I replaced with an engine that only has 27,000 miles. It runs and shifts very well. However, unlike the previous 3, it has some major rust. I don’t think it has even a little ding or scratch on the body but the paint is weathered. The passenger side inner fender needs to be replaced as It has holes you can fit a softball through. All but one body mount is heavily rotted. The frame has heavy “surface” rust that the previous owner covered with rust converter. There is a lot of surface rust underneath that I suspect has some pretty thin areas. Brake lines are rusted terribly and all need to be replaced. If you bump up against anything underneath it rains rust on you. I thoroughly hate working on cars that are this rusty. Almost every bolt I have removed underneath has broken in the process or required me cutting it off. It was extremely difficult to get the rear bumper off.
My thinking today is to use the rusty green 96 SD as a parts donor for the gold 98 LSE. It has a great interior and the 98 LSE needs one. The drivetrain in the 98 is good but the 96 SD is better and it is 5 speed. I might even use the 96 roof to eliminate the sunroofs on the 98, which do not work and are sealed closed sloppily by a previous owner. I’m not a body guy and would have to have that work $$$$ done by a shop. Maybe I would just replace/repair the sunroofs. I feel kinda bad making the 96 SD a parts donor, The rust is bad but I have seen other ones on this forum in worse shape that were repaired. One surprising area it is not rusty is the cargo area floor.
I expect I will give the red 96 SD automatic to my son at some point. That would leave me 2 for myself if I make the 96 green SD a parts donor.
What do you guys think about merging the 98 LSE with the 96 SD, making the 96 SD the donor vehicle?
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