OK, I bought my car from some guys in Cherry Hill, NJ for $1100 because the father got mad at the car when he dropped the new battery on the radiator and broke it. Oh well. We trailed it home with the help of a family friend and started fixing it up. Its been one of those learning experiences about picking up on someone elses restoration project. You dont know what was left out. Its been a trip, because when it rains, it pours. And boy does she have a personality. She likes to drive hard, and dont you ever let her idle below 2k for too long. Here's a list of her history as I know it.
Before Me
rebuild eng, trans
new battery
quicky repaint, but boy did they lay on the gloss
Before I kept strict tract:
new radiator
wheels, tires [multiple :^) ]
taillight lenses
new 3rd brake light bulbs
new shocks and struts
new exhaust pipe
better visors
dash inserts
replace seatbelt buckle
new trunk latch thingy
distributor rebuilt
new windshield washer motor, pump and hoses
new alternator
THE LIST...
3/16/00 36k miles oil change & lube
7/17/00 headliner out
7/19/00 start taking off cat.conv.; switch dome light to map lights; fix cover on pass. seat belt
7/26/00 drain coolant
7/27/00 take off water pump, get really mad. stuff breaks
7/29/00 finally find a replacement bolt, start fabrication for horn
7/30/00 think that i fix it
7/31/00 find out i didnt
8/3/00 put on third gasket; 2 bolt threads strip
8/4/00 chase threads, one gets fixed, other gets worse. mother picks up headliner material while IM at work, and I get new wiper blades while im getting even more parts to fix the water pump.
8/8/00 OK, Ive been doing the same thing for the past few days, but Im tired of writing about it. I also start working on the headliner and windshield wiper arms.
8/16/00 finish putting in new headliner and electronic horn
8/19/00 get car running
8/21/00 leave for college, leave car at home.
pics of my car getting worked on. I know, they suck , but what can I do?
this is what happens when you tear the headliner out, then realize that you can't get a replacement
watch carefully, because before your very eyes, they will change...
^$#@ water pump!!!
OK, so heres the deal with the headliner. What you do is take the whole thing out, then carefully take the cloth off of the backing. I advise leaving it sit in the sun for a few hours so that the adhesive becomes a little tacky and its easier to pull off. With a soft bristle brush, brush off the soft foam. Let the backing cool inside for a while and brush it again. Spray some adhesive...
and you get this
yes, this is my electronic song horn...beware
The Future?
So what's in store for Beth? Once I get the water pump/timing chain issue resolved, and I
get back form college, I want to build a ram air box that will bolt on behind the grille w/o
cutting and may incorporate fog lights that wont be visible until they're on. Now you know
why I want to be an engineer, and I didnt even need a BS to design it! It should help with
fuel economy a little, and add to the top end (where the 2.8L struggles). The only foreseeable
problem is that it may heat up faster when sitting. Oh well. The duct leading to the intake is a
lso corregated, and I would like to make one that is smooth to even out the airflow into the
engine for the prior reasons.
