Gambler 500 car build

[jonb8]

I've wanted to run the Gambler 500 for a couple years now, so I pulled the trigger and bought a 95 crown vic and started working on it. The race is in MI on the last weekend in April so I had to get busy. 350 miles of the race is in the backwoods of MI so It needed some ground clearance and bumpers.. I'm starting on the 3 inch lift today, hoping it won't be to stupid...LOL

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[XJ Wheeler]

:D Now that looks like fun!

[4.3LXJ]

Heaven help me if I did that to the wife's crown vicky. Good luck in the race

[abebehrmann]

Love it! I've been wanting to do the Gambler 500 in the Northwest for a couple years now too. Since the finances aren't going to work for me for at least a few more years, I'll have to settle on living vicariously through you. Hope you take lots of pics and have a blast!

[jonb8]

I finished up the drivers rear quarter last night and started on the lift... Not any fun putting "Donk" universal pucks in a car, universal means install, remove, cut/trim, reinstall, remove, cut/trim....repeat...

[4.3LXJ]

That is pretty good size pucks too, and the front would be especially rough

[jonb8]

I got one side done but now I can't get the spring compressor out....LOL I ended up using 2 1/2 inches of the puck, looks like it gave me about 3 in of lift.

[4.3LXJ]

So what is wrong with having a spring compressor rattling around inside the spring anyway?

[jonb8]

I still need it to do the other side...LOL

[4.3LXJ]

So this means another spring compressor?

[jonb8]

Yes...LOL

[jonb8]

Got the lift done, DANGER is all I have to say about lifting a car...LOL

https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-JDtjtW4/0/6e1d0961/XL/29983032_1978511568858185_703354755341902356_o-XL.jpg

[4.3LXJ]

Not bad Jon, do suppose my wife would approve lifting hers? What she really wants though is the Trunk Monkey in the trunk with a pop up 30 cal for the people who honk at her all the time :D

[jonb8]

We could just build her a arm that raises up when she pushes the button... Maybe a "your number one" hand...LOL

[4.3LXJ]

We are half way there already. I have a switch for the electric lock installed that says Trunk Monkey :D

[cantab27]

That's cool as sir

[denverd1]

when's the race? anything left to do to the rig?

looks like entirely too much fun. I did see an XJ in the vids I found, waaaay too practical!

[jonb8]

The race and is the 28th/29th of April, I have a couple more weeks to get ready. The car is done except for a front bumper and a idler pulley that's churping...

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[4.3LXJ]

Love that front fender

[bluedragon436]

Love that front fender

Me too... Is that actual plates or a wrap of some sorts?? Either way I think this whole thing is pretty awesome... One day, I'd love to get into doing something like that... Is that a racing lawnmower in the foreground??

[jonb8]

Yea me and my son built it a few years back, he won a lot of races with it.. Wasn't super fast but it always stayed together and was there in the end... Clay was always patient and a great driver...

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[bluedragon436]

Yea me and my son built it a few years back, he won a lot of races with it.. Wasn't super fast but it always stayed together and was there in the end... Clay was always patient and a great driver...

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That's awesome... I would have loved to have done something like that over the years... used to play with riding mowers, and tweak them... I had an old one back in the day that we ditched the mow deck and turned it into a go-kart... and had lots of fun with that beast... not sure whatever happened to it.. But would have loved to have done something like that with it...

[jonb8]

We've had a lot of fun with the mower, he doesn't race it anymore he's moved on.. Hardest part is getting started, all projects roll on after that....

[denverd1]

me and friend painted a flaming skull on the last riding mower I had. put LEDs up front to mow at night. neighbors LOVED it.

[jonb8]

I love messing with mowers, part of being a car guy I quess..

[4.3LXJ]

Mine is a little bigger and says Kubota on it :D

[TaterTot]

I am building my 1993 XJ for the Gambler 500 (OG500) in Portland, OR.

I am still trying to come up with a theme/shtick to go with. So far...I think it is going to be the "B Team", as in a knock-off of the A-Team....

I bought the hoopty for $500 in running/driving condition, but barely. Reconstructed title, 226K miles, Auto, 4x4.

It is deck liner (similar to Rustoleum bedliner, but lower quality) black, mostly, where it hasn't worn off yet...

[4.3LXJ]

Seems to me there was an old pod cast on the XJTalk show, now Jeep Talk Show that had an interview with a guy that had done it with an XJ. He said he had a problem with long sharp corners, the oil pickup would go dry and loose oil pressure. That is if my memory serves me correctly

[TaterTot]

Sounds like a broken Jeep to me....but hey! I am here to learn.

[4.3LXJ]

He had run it in several races before retiring it

[denverd1]

Seems to me there was an old pod cast on the XJTalk show, now Jeep Talk Show that had an interview with a guy that had done it with an XJ. He said he had a problem with long sharp corners, the oil pickup would go dry and loose oil pressure. That is if my memory serves me correctly

that oil problem rings a bell, but its been a while. needed a sump pan, extended pickup. some baffles wouldn't hurt either

[MattybPDX]

I'll see you there! I'm bringing my xj.

[jonb8]

Got the front bumper done and the highlift jack mounted to the hood, I'm done messing with it and I'm calling it done...LOL

https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-Dj5v9cw/0/8d0521e2/XL/30052071_1996576433718365_8194145991821902365_o-XL.jpg

[4.3LXJ]

Looks nice Jon. Maybe you should start another forum :D

[MattybPDX]

That thing is a beast.

[TaterTot]

I LOVE it!

[jonb8]

I put on a Gambler 500 sticker so the cops know I'm in a event and not just a weirdo.... Put 100 miles on it and filled it up with gas, time to load it I'm not sure there's anything else I can do..... Still have room on top for camping gear, I'm going to load that this evening then put it on the trailer... Starting to get jazzed up....LOL

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[TaterTot]

This is awesome!

[abebehrmann]

I put on a Gambler 500 sticker so the cops know I'm in a event and not just a weirdo....

lol!

Looks great, love the hood ornament and the license plate fender.

[4.3LXJ]

Wife just saw your front bumper. She says she wants one like it '''''''''' I told her if she hit something with it the car would go up and over it. She likes the idea of crushing cars with road rage drivers :smiley-taunt013:

[jonb8]

Well the Gamblers over for me and we made it home. The car layed down on us half way through the first day, we gambled and lost but it was still alot of fun.... The Gambler is one thing every car lover should do in his life, it's cheap and alot of fun..

[4.3LXJ]

Oh, too bad it didn't finish. Going to do it next year?

[jonb8]

No probably not, I'm going to start on are bus soon and when I do I'm going to dedicate all time, energy and funds to it till it's done......I think the bus will take me at least a year, maybe more but it will be are tiny house when we retire to the road....

[4.3LXJ]

The wife still loves your front bumper.

[bluedragon436]

Sorry to hear that she gave up on you on the first day... Can you run the same car again next year, or do you have to start all the way over each year??

[denverd1]

what failed on it? any footage of the event?

[jonb8]

Fuel leak under the car ended are day, braided line up by tank... You can run the same car if you want but I sold the crown Vic right off the trailer before the trailer bearings were cool. Had several people in line on it...I made enough to pay for the car and the trip so...WIN WIN.