sam
New Member
Posts: 4 
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Post by sam on Sept 15, 2013 1:28:20 GMT -5
My name is Sam and I just joined up. I never heard of the Bradley GT II and just stumbled upon one for sale near me : link
I really like the styling and have been reading about the car for the past few hours. Would really like to pick one up and throw in another motor. |
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Post by horen2tas on Sept 15, 2013 7:44:42 GMT -5
Hey Sam
Looks like it's been neglected for a bit. The missing rear glass is a concern if the car has not been covered.
The price is a little high for a not running engine, more in the area of $1000.00 might be realistic.
One member on the board has replacement rear glass, if you feel like a road trip to New Mexico contact Bob Evans.
How does the under dash wiring look? Neat or a rat's nest? That would be a factor in getting a better price.
I see there is the build manual, that's a big help. Also the floor pans don't look too bad from the pix, that's good too.
A not running car is a big question mark, there's a ton of info to read in past & present postings here that will help you make a decision.
The more informed you are the better price you can make with that dealer.
Good luck
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Post by Wyn on Sept 15, 2013 7:48:59 GMT -5
Sam Welcome to the bradley Club.
The most important thing on the GT-II to look out for is the windshield. They were custom made only for the GT-II and there are none available. So do an inspection of the windshield to make sure it is in good shape. If it does not have one or is cracked DO NOT BUY IT. The Yellow one in your link looks pretty good but check the windshield closely for any cracks. Check around for the rear window, you might check with Bob Evens, he may have some.
Wyn
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Post by jspbtown on Sept 15, 2013 13:17:37 GMT -5
That thing is at least $1000 (or more) overpriced.
Figure a total body off the pan resto...in the $4000-$5000 range (less if you do everything, more if you can't and you want a fancy motor).
And no...throwing a different (non-VW) motor in it takes alot of custom work. Can you weld & fabricate extensively? If not...don't go with that plan.
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Post by pushnfords on Sept 15, 2013 13:41:20 GMT -5
Sometimes I think it would still be cheaper to buy a running & driving bug for cheap and then use it as a donor for a cheap ($500 range) Bradley. Sell off the VW parts to recoup some money. I'm nearing completion of a Bradley GT2 semi restoration (not doing body work) and they are expensive. Parts can be expensive and pretty much everything has had to be redone to work correctly that came with the car...and it is very rare to buy a part and have it fit without modification. I've never ran into a car make where reproduction and aftermarket parts are so consistently ill fitting then the VW stuff.
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Post by skarekr0w on Sept 25, 2013 0:36:32 GMT -5
I paid $1,000 for mine, the guy I bought it from paid $600. Running or not, it's not worth $2,000 in that condition. You're looking at carpet, glass, parts, seals, hoses, gas lines, brakes, floor pans... trust me, you are going to want that car for as cheap as you can get it. It does have the cool factor, and that's all it has going for it, but without serious work, it's not worth that much. That's the fact. Who knows what you'll discover once you start digging into it, into the wiring, the engine. I know. It could cost you hundreds just to get that glass and you're not going to get one at speedy auto glass. That back windshield isn't a small problem. My thought, that's why someone got rid of it. But I would still buy it if the price was low enough.
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Sept 26, 2013 19:52:31 GMT -5
All glass is made only for the gt2. Every piece other than the windshield can be replaced with flat safety glass. The rear glass can be flat but the holes in in must be made before it is tempered. Plexi will work but scratches easily. Glass can be secured with Silicone as ti wont fit quite righy into the rubbers. plexi must be bolted.
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sam
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by sam on Sept 30, 2013 0:42:11 GMT -5
Thank you all for the replies. How much work would it take to throw in another motor? What about the balance of the car? What's the most common swap that's done on these cars?
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Post by skarekr0w on Sept 30, 2013 1:52:04 GMT -5
Most bugs you can drop a motor in under 10 minutes, I've found 1600's for $100. complete Polished vw's for $500. Really, it depends on what you want to do and where you get parts or if you do your own work. But I'm telling you once again, you should be at $1,000 or less on this. I have one, and there are all kinds of things that can cost you. I had to do 3 oil changes in one month, 1 of many examples.. You're going to need as much cash as you can get. I sold my car, my quad. my outboard, my scooter and my crossbow to get it where it is today, and it's still not ready to drive. Maybe you won't have so many issues with yours. I don't have any regrets but I would at $2,000. $1000 would get you a nice motor.
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Post by jspbtown on Sept 30, 2013 8:34:01 GMT -5
I assume you are talking a different type of motor. You can throw in a corvair that would be the most economical or a Subaru but you will have to deal with cooling.
And again,.......and this is VERY important.....if you are not amazingly skilled in welding, wiring & fabrication a Subaru swap will cost you thousands and thousands of dollars. A corvair swap is more straight forward but it will stll be expensive (motor and adapters).
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Post by Big-birds-ride on Sept 30, 2013 11:45:26 GMT -5
I have a corvair engine in my Bradley. The engine has to be altered to run in reverse direction to match it up to a VW transaxle. This involves primarily a new cam and cam gears; which involves tearing the engine apart. There are kits available to bolt up the Corvair to the VW transaxle, which also needs an adapter for the starter.
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Post by skarekr0w on Sept 30, 2013 12:25:19 GMT -5
What about dropping a older Porsche 911 motor in it. How compatible is that? I wouldn't do it with my current, but there's always next time.
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Post by jspbtown on Sept 30, 2013 13:00:53 GMT -5
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