What have you done to your car today?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Perfect Balance
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A few days ago I found out my radiator had a crack in it or some kind of hole because it was leaking coolant and it seemed to be coming from the sides of the radiator so I took it to wheel works and they pretty much confirmed my thoughts. They estimated $603 for the job... over $300 just for the radiator. Instead of doing that I found a direct OEM replacement for $174 and replaced it today.

New and Old
newradiator.jpg


In the truck
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After all that I decided to take a look at my airfilter since I realized I hadn't really checked it since I bought it and it was quite dirty so I cleaned that. But than the gasket on the throttle body broke and I saw how brittle it was. So now i'm going to purchase a new gasket for that.
 
Clutch slave failed on Saturday, in my mom's driveway of all places.

Got a ride home, brought back a jack and a used spare I somehow managed to have kicking around.

Spent almost as much time in transit as I did doing repairs... About 4 hours total.

Ordered a new clutch slave today and will hopefully get it in this weekend along with a new thermostat - Temperatures have been fluctuating a bit recently. Rad + hoses + coolant are all less than a year old. Should hopefully do the trick.

I might have to think about upgrading to a better radiator, though... I was helping out with a BMW Club trackday in June and was able to go play at lunch. Car started to pull temperature on me after a few hard laps.
 
Yeah instead of replacing you could have used that radiator stop leak stuff! :lol:
 
The crack was pretty large and on top of that at least I know the thing will work now. Not hope some quick repair will work for a long time.
 
I got a new TRD shift knob in the mail so I put that on. Now just waiting for the short shift kit I ordered to go along with it.
 
-Replaced half my old cracked dashboard with a brand new aluminum set
-Changed my gauges to a white gauge set
-bought an aluminum gauge cluster bezel to be installed once I install the new LED instrument lighting kit
 
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Finally got to race, I've been wanting to so bad since I got it back. Oh yeah and I have my Barracuda back, forgot to update my thread.

I raced my friend's 98 Inline six Jeep Cherokee. It was a decent race, we started at 55, didn't take long at all to reach 90+. I didn't think I was going to win but it was a decently close race, he was very slightly pulling on me but not by much, but I'm sure I could beat him if I actually had my timing and carb adjusted right. Scared the hell out of me though because it drops into second at 55mph and it didn't go into third until around 85mph, but it sure keeps you in the power band, torqueflites are pretty damn good.
 
 
Fixed the starter, it turns out the ground wire had popped off under the rubber boot. I went to check the socket sizes so I could run to a junkyard real quick and grab a temporary replacement, when I noticed it. I'm still going to replace it soon just for peace of mind, that rattling was really irking me. But as it should hold up fine for a while, and I've just taken care of some loan/insurance payments, I'll wait so I can order some taillights I've been wanting - hopefully recieving them in time for another Colorado Accord meet/drive coming up in August.

Also changed the oil and put in a new dizzy cap today.
 
Just finished installing my engine lid prop rod and short shift kit from Twos R us. Pretty happy with both so far. I was so tired of propping the engine lid up with rod from the floor jack and having it slip on my head. :lol:
 
Slick Rick
Sprayed my interior gloss black :D

before
*pic*

after
*pic*
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Nice work. Speaking from experience (my Prelude had gloss black interior), you'll come to hate hot sunny days. I swear that you could cook eggs on the dash some days.
 
Eric.
I would assume that trim panel pops off relatively easy.
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I noticed the center piece was black, but the pictures and the wording in the post lead me to believe the entire interior was sort of a dark grey, and was repainted in black. Dashboard and everything.
 
Perfect Balance
I noticed the center piece was black, but the pictures and the wording in the post lead me to believe the entire interior was sort of a dark grey, and was repainted in black. Dashboard and everything.
Click to expand...

Ah. Well I'd be hoping its just that center piece, I can't see a painted dashboard lasting too long.
 
Perfect Balance
I noticed the center piece was black, but the pictures and the wording in the post lead me to believe the entire interior was sort of a dark grey, and was repainted in black. Dashboard and everything.
Click to expand...

I thought that at first too, but I think he just painted the center piece and the "after" picture was taken at a darker time of day.
 
Well, after a lot of mucking around, (Toyota supplied the wrong seal for the thermostat) I have fitted the new thermostat, new alternator belt and 2 new high performance engine mounts. I also ripped out the starter motor to test it while the car is awaiting more parts, so if it needs reconditioned it can be done now so I don't have to wait even longer.

I bought though, and am waiting for them to be delivered, an Apexi turbo timer (with auto function, uses the 02 sensor to determine idle time and displays AF ratio, with rich / lean indication, although not very accurate, can at least give an indication of if the car is rich or lean), it also displays battery voltage an Autometer Ultra Lite Vacuum / Boost guage (mechanical), Autometer mounting cup and a manual boost controller.

I had found a boost tap on the line going to the wastegate actuator, and upon futher investigation and research, the other side of the actuator is for the T-VSV valve, which was still connected, which is a big no no if using some kind of boost control device. So...I disconnected that, bought some new silicone vacuum hose to re do some of the hoses, including 2 longer ones so I can mount my new boost controller in an easier to get at position.

The boost controller is a ball and spring type, much better than a bleed type, so I should now get faster spool up and with the guage I'll be able to safely adjust the boost, hopefully to around 10 - 11 psi in all gears, instead of just 3 and above. The AF ratio on the timer will be able to display if I'm leaning out, but at 11 psi I will be below fuel cut.

So, now I am just waiting on a new thermo switch for the coolant manifold and a new fuse box, hopefully I hear back from the guy who will be selling to me soon, so I can get it back on the road.

Oh, and then I need to get the other 2 engine mounts, and a new diff mount, before I start buying new suspension etc. Fun Fun!
 
Reminds me of the fact that someone painted my interior blue....then crappily painted back over that with black. Pah.
 
Small update, the reverse switch on the gearbox was broken - the plastic has broken and the plug would no longer stay on, consequently I had no reverse lights. Was going to replace the switch, but I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, so:
revsw1.jpg

revsw2.jpg

revsw3.jpg

I'll just use some crimp bullets to connect those tails onto the original ones so they can be unplugged. While I was playing with that I noticed the vent for the gearbox had no cover, so crap can fall down there, I'll get a short piece of 25mm hose to put on it, then angle in downwards. I updated the blog in my sig with all the stuff I've done so far

EDIT - I forgot to mention, before you ask, yes it was extremely difficult reaching down there to solder whilst holding the soldering torch, the wire to be soldered and the loom out of the way at the same time ;)
 
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Installed some new taillights. still not sure if I like them... I'm gonna need to give it time

ELRKC.jpg

zfhwO.jpg

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I think they're okay. The silver parts (turn signal and backup lights?) look weird in that first picture, like they're actually exposed or something.
 
My CB radio was blowing the cig lighter fuse every time I plugged it in, so I hard-wired it into the car. Now I just need a bigger mag-mount antenna.
 

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