Inspiration: Paid Forward

[Swift]

So a quick introduction for those that don't know me.

My real name is Ben and I am at old age of 36. I got into cars when I was 14 probably and couldn't wait to get my license. I did not have an uncle or father that was into muscle cars etc...just liked them. My first love was the Toyota Hilux which I still remember on the lots brand new and even slightly modified. That was the hook.

I laid eyes on a Legend sedan in my small hometown and for whatever reason to this day it still is the fastest one and most leveled/stanced with nothing done to it. No joke...the crankshaft now sits in my living room. Got my first Legend back in 2003 named Nadia.

I met up with Alperovich in Chicago and together we contributed probably the most to the community on solving problems, putting myths to rest, and so on. Most threads you now see under my name are about 5% of all we had. I had a moderator delete literally everything I posted. That I regret.

Since the Legend never really had parts made for it I turned to custom designing and fabrication which put me on career path of CNC machining and programming. I bounced between that and being a ASE mechanic through the years. I built the first fully built 3.5 short block back in 2007 with a variety of custom parts. It went a hard 55,000miles before I sold it.

The car being posted here I literally saved from the junkyard probably. Tipped off by another member that the very car we missed on buying was later put into a guard rail and the guy was sitting in jail. That car I have dragged around and slowly been working on since around 2009 I believe.

I grew up in the Fast&Furious era. I saw the cool cars in Chicagoland and remember the numerous magazine covers and Hot Import Nights. I have drawn inspiration from these great builds and still to this day have pictures saved and reminders of what I wanted to achieve. The car is not there yet, but should be in the next two years.

Sadly this is the 15th anniversary meet for the Legend Community and since I attended the first one( and epic journey and story too) I tried my hardest to get it done. Because of Covid and manufacturing problems and a host of other things the car is running and driving, but sadly not good enough to make the trip.

To follow is what has been done so far and some of the custom parts I have built and will be selling under my company name of Winterhart Manufacturing.

Regards,
Swift

[Swift]

How it started:





Front end smashed in. Rear tire smashed in as well. Radiator core messed up.

[Swift]

noticed some rust....


Then patched in a panel myself (not how autobody does it either) from a car I brought up from Chicago.


Had a professional welder finish it. Later it gets worked on more...

[Swift]

This is how she looked back in 2009ish timeline with a prototype turbo kit that I took off within a month. Then car went into storage because of the alarm security system on the fritz.

[Swift]

In the middle years I stripped the interior out for my intended build. I lack pictures but the purpose of intent was a Type R variant "concept" . So I based it off the the Ferarri FXX program as well where you delete the radio , different seats and carpet, and rear seat delete and other things. Well times have changed and this is a rare car now...far more hard to get any parts for etc. I also have a wife that would like to go to the occasionally car show...so plans have changed slightly.

At any rate...fast forward to Summer of 2018 and car goes in for the bodywork. I acquired some of the last parts probably Acura still had left.
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[Swift]

Now no bodyshop in my area wanted to work on this car. I was even blacklisted from one from some a-holes I worked with at one time. This has lead me to think about some things for the future. Anyways I finally found one and made an arrangement. Once they did some work it went off to frame straightner..



Then some remaining work..

[Swift]

Now since the car is not the way it is intended I will only show one up close of the paint and another pic. The paint is an OEM special order color from a Euro Manufacturer that kinda matched up with the color of the car already but the green I like. More flake too.



Going back home finally...Jan 2019
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[Swift]

Got this bad boy all ready to go:



Plus my custom aluminum short shifter:

[Swift]

Now at this point I have one 3.5 block I got for free from The Crowing way back when. Bent rod. However I never pulled the crank out. I also get another 3.5 from a local junkyard and do a partial teardown to get ready.

Now I have planned some things, done some research on parts etc. But I hold out to fully start everything till January 2021. Shit hits the fan.


I start ordering some OEM parts...waterpump etc. No real problems yet.
I then tear down the one block with the bad rod to see the crank would need to be grinded. Well I have this other block..
Tear down that and shit...somebody ran it low on oil and it is also just bad enough.

To send out a crank would set me back $500+ to get ground and nitrided. Also need 6 weeks. It is now around May.
I can't find bearings undersized anywhere anyways.
Parts start being on back order.

Shit.

[Swift]