DPDISXR4Ti Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 Well, Paul "insisted" that I post some pics of my project, so I'll start with the Photoshop Mock-up of what the end result should look like: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/DPDISXR4Ti/XR-br4ti2.jpg If only it was that easy in "real life". Here's where the project stands at this early stage: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/DPDISXR4Ti/XRBRATi-3.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 I think its kindof neat looking! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subeman90 Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 I'm honestly not sure which makes me more angry...the butchering of the XR or the butchering of the brat. Gotta admit though...the "finished" pic does remind me of one of those aussie "utes" that they sell down there (ford falcon) Matt <---former XR4Ti owner (god I miss that car....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPDISXR4Ti Posted November 4, 2004 Author Share Posted November 4, 2004 I'm honestly not sure which makes me more angry...the butchering of the XR or the butchering of the brat. Gotta admit though...the "finished" pic does remind me of one of those aussie "utes" that they sell down there (ford falcon) Matt <---former XR4Ti owner (god I miss that car....) Well, both cars were on the way to the junkyard until I stepped in. The Merkur was literally hours away from being sent to it's final resting place. The Aussie Ford utes were very much the inspiration for this project - here's their most recent version - yet another cool car from down-under that we'll never see here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/DPDISXR4Ti/FordF6Tornado.jpg The Baja was somewhat of an inspiration too, and it did make me consider using a Merkur Scorpio as the platform and go the 4-door route. But the dimensions just didn't work out right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 That is totally bitchin. I'm amazed at how factory it looks. Good work! Im a moron, I just reread the photoshop bit. Nice photoshop work anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 It looks alot like the Dodge Rampage from the mid 80's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperRallyRoo Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 Call it an XR4Bratty? lol That is kind of cool. Better looking then that legacy truck that was shown a little while ago hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajavwnsoobnut Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 I'm honestly not sure which makes me more angry...the butchering of the XR or the butchering of the brat. Gotta admit though...the "finished" pic does remind me of one of those aussie "utes" that they sell down there (ford falcon) Matt <---former XR4Ti owner (god I miss that car....) yeah they are cool cars and I wouldn't mind having a Cosworth Sierra 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subeman90 Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 Ok let me take it back what I said.....I just really hate to see XR's scrapped. It should make a cool ute though. Are the measurements close enough to make it work??? Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajavwnsoobnut Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 sorry about that quote shoulda narrowed it down but the Sierra is what the XR4Ti is based on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 looks like the brat bed is gonna get chopped and sectioned to make it fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcaminokurt Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 Very cool! I am a big fan of the "sedan pickup" idea, no matter who makes it. Although, I never quite got into the vw version! Is the Merkur awd? I sure would like to see your project in person sometime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradosubarules Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 Everyone has strongbad avatars but me. I want a cheat avatar. It's a real labor dabor...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPDISXR4Ti Posted November 4, 2004 Author Share Posted November 4, 2004 Ok let me take it back what I said.....I just really hate to see XR's scrapped. It should make a cool ute though. Are the measurements close enough to make it work??? Matt No problem - I'm with you. But short of buying up every Merkur about to get junked, and then finding an appropriately-zoned place to store them, well, you get the idea - the supply far exceeds the demand. It's the same story with most cars this age. The measurements work out really well, which is what caused me to give myself the "green light" on this project. The XR has a nice horizontal ledge from the B pillar back, and the "reverse ledge" on the Brat in the same area will sit right on top of that (I'll cut the Brat body right under the reverse ledge). I suspect that the B pillar will be the toughest part, as the angle to the roof line is steeper on the XR. The consistent theme will be to retain as much of the XR body as possible, to maintain the structural integrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPDISXR4Ti Posted November 4, 2004 Author Share Posted November 4, 2004 Very cool! I am a big fan of the "sedan pickup" idea, no matter who makes it. Although, I never quite got into the vw version! Is the Merkur awd? I sure would like to see your project in person sometime! No, only the Europeans got the 4x4 version of the Sierra. It would have been nice if I could have adapted the 4WD from the Brat, but that would have taken the project to a whole different level of complication and the parts just aren't strong enough. As it is, I'm going to be dropping in a custom-made Ford 8.8 rear-end assembly into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subeman90 Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 In the end though....will it still be the 2.3 turbo in it or are you going to go up to a 5.0? You also said you are putting in an 8.8 so i assume you are scrapping the IRS setup of the Merkur? What tranny are you using....my Merkur was an automatic (not very well known for longevity) but was a blast to drive....it was kind of like a gun... point and shoot and off you go!!!!!! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPDISXR4Ti Posted November 4, 2004 Author Share Posted November 4, 2004 In the end though....will it still be the 2.3 turbo in it or are you going to go up to a 5.0? You also said you are putting in an 8.8 so i assume you are scrapping the IRS setup of the Merkur? What tranny are you using....my Merkur was an automatic (not very well known for longevity) but was a blast to drive....it was kind of like a gun... point and shoot and off you go!!!!!! Matt It'll still be the Turbo Lima motor, but stroked to 2.5L. Nope, still gonna have IRS; not all 8.8's were solid axle, so an IRS 8.8 Pumpkin is available. Of course, that doesn't mean it's at all "plug & play"! Tranny will be a T5. The stock 5-speed T9 was probably more prone to failure than the C3 Automatic. It's too bad the bean counters had their way with the Merkur program. The car was castrated by the time it got over here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajavwnsoobnut Posted November 5, 2004 Share Posted November 5, 2004 yeah but those turbo pinto motors are strong lil mofo's I have been thinking of gettin a pinto and puting one of those turbo 2.3's in it and make a sleeper out of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPDISXR4Ti Posted November 5, 2004 Author Share Posted November 5, 2004 yeah but those turbo pinto motors are strong lil mofo's I have been thinking of gettin a pinto and puting one of those turbo 2.3's in it and make a sleeper out of it Oh, no question. That motor was just totally over-engineered from a durability standpoint, but in doing so, it lacks refinement. My preference to the Pinto would be dropping one into a Capri II. Both projects have been done by others. I might be inclined to go a different route on the motor for the XRBrati. I figure since it's a "truck", a Turbo Diesel might be a worthy choice. But that'll be for another day. For starters, I'll go with something that mostly resembles the stock 2.3T motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff4130 Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 Well, both cars were on the way to the junkyard until I stepped in. The Merkur was literally hours away from being sent to it's final resting place. The Aussie Ford utes were very much the inspiration for this project - here's their most recent version - yet another cool car from down-under that we'll never see here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/DPDISXR4Ti/FordF6Tornado.jpg The Baja was somewhat of an inspiration too, and it did make me consider using a Merkur Scorpio as the platform and go the 4-door route. But the dimensions just didn't work out right. I don't have the url, but Holden also makes a cruck like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcaminokurt Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I LOVE crucks! 1 El Camino, 1 Brat, still looking for that right rampage and ranchero! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajavwnsoobnut Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 Don't forget the Falcon too cause that's what the Ranchero started out life as being called Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daeron Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 bump to an old thread, this is a REALLY neat fab project that this guy is doing.. I just read all about it and figured i would bump his original thread to show to any users who werent aware of the project already. its impressive, to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keltik Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Its cool...but i see these driving around all day: Now that Impreza/Brat conversion that Phizinza photochopped would be cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPDISXR4Ti Posted September 17, 2006 Author Share Posted September 17, 2006 I don't know why it is that "ute's" are so popular down-under, yet we get none of them in the States. Are we really that testosterone over-laden that we can only have a full-size truck, capable of pulling a locomotive out from under a bridge, to simply drive to work every day, and maybe bring home four 2x4's if we're feeling real frisky? I realize we've had them here in the past (Brat, Ranchero, Rampage, El Camino), and they never met sales expectations. But it's time someone take a risk in Detroit and try again. In fact, there have been rumblings of Ford bringing the Falcon Ute over, but it remains to be seen if they actually step up. In the mean time, I'm not waiting - I'm making my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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