I finally put on all the parts I've been gathering for my car. Here's what I did:
1. Took out air silencer (no problems)
2. Replaced fuel filter (no problems)
3. Replaced front air strut (no problems)
4. Painted brake calipers (no problems)
5. Replaced PCV valve (no problems)
6. Replaced air filter (no problems)
7. Did Seafoam treatment (no problems and no smoke)
8. Glued regular custom-cut mirror ($6) over cloudy factory drivers side mirror
9. Replaced spark plugs with 2 step colder plugs (broke 2 boots and replaced those as well)
10. Installed underdrive crank pulley and water pump pulley (thermactor was a nightmare, but I unhooked the drivers-side line, cut the passenger side line, and worked the valve off the line with some big wrenches and liquid wrench. I wire brushed the screwed up threads with a drill brush to remove them. Not enough room for the thermactor bracket so it was omitted. After removing the bad threads, there was thankfully enough threads left to reattach the valve back to the line. Then I reattached the cut line with compression fittings.)
11. Replaced thermostat with a new 180 t-stat (T-stat location sucks, but it can be done. Couldn't get the coolant fill plug off so I improvised the coolant filling procedure. )
12. Installed transmission cooler (needed 5 1/2 ft. of transmission fluid line and a different fitting to attach the cooler to the radiator)
13. Upgraded 1-2 accumulator piston in transmission (it already had the new style piston installed but the white plug for the dipstick was in the pan? I guess they were lazy. Cleaned the pan, replaced the filter, and refilled with 12 qts Mercon V)
14. Replaced broken drivers-side door handle (I'm most proud of this. It was definitely a learning experience.)
15. Repaired drivers side door panel (leather was seperating at the top; fixed with industrial craft glue and clothes pins. Broke 1 guide/fastener during reinstallation.)
16. Changed oil and filter and replaced with synthetic (15 minutes to figure out how the filter comes out even with instructions)
17. Sensor lowered 1 1/2 to 2 inches (one readjustment in the rear)
18. Replaced bad tire (broke stud, replaced)
19. Installed performance chip (I thought I cleaned the contacts good enough, but I was wrong. So I ignored the instructions and scraped the contacts with a sharp pocket knife, being careful not to scratch anything.)
I decided to wait and install the new 255 lph fuel pump when/if I put in 2 1/2" exhaust and an x-pipe.
My car runs great and I'm very pleased with the results. I plan on having it dynoed just for kicks and I'll take it to the track this spring.
1. Took out air silencer (no problems)
2. Replaced fuel filter (no problems)
3. Replaced front air strut (no problems)
4. Painted brake calipers (no problems)
5. Replaced PCV valve (no problems)
6. Replaced air filter (no problems)
7. Did Seafoam treatment (no problems and no smoke)
8. Glued regular custom-cut mirror ($6) over cloudy factory drivers side mirror
9. Replaced spark plugs with 2 step colder plugs (broke 2 boots and replaced those as well)
10. Installed underdrive crank pulley and water pump pulley (thermactor was a nightmare, but I unhooked the drivers-side line, cut the passenger side line, and worked the valve off the line with some big wrenches and liquid wrench. I wire brushed the screwed up threads with a drill brush to remove them. Not enough room for the thermactor bracket so it was omitted. After removing the bad threads, there was thankfully enough threads left to reattach the valve back to the line. Then I reattached the cut line with compression fittings.)
11. Replaced thermostat with a new 180 t-stat (T-stat location sucks, but it can be done. Couldn't get the coolant fill plug off so I improvised the coolant filling procedure. )
12. Installed transmission cooler (needed 5 1/2 ft. of transmission fluid line and a different fitting to attach the cooler to the radiator)
13. Upgraded 1-2 accumulator piston in transmission (it already had the new style piston installed but the white plug for the dipstick was in the pan? I guess they were lazy. Cleaned the pan, replaced the filter, and refilled with 12 qts Mercon V)
14. Replaced broken drivers-side door handle (I'm most proud of this. It was definitely a learning experience.)
15. Repaired drivers side door panel (leather was seperating at the top; fixed with industrial craft glue and clothes pins. Broke 1 guide/fastener during reinstallation.)
16. Changed oil and filter and replaced with synthetic (15 minutes to figure out how the filter comes out even with instructions)
17. Sensor lowered 1 1/2 to 2 inches (one readjustment in the rear)
18. Replaced bad tire (broke stud, replaced)
19. Installed performance chip (I thought I cleaned the contacts good enough, but I was wrong. So I ignored the instructions and scraped the contacts with a sharp pocket knife, being careful not to scratch anything.)
I decided to wait and install the new 255 lph fuel pump when/if I put in 2 1/2" exhaust and an x-pipe.
My car runs great and I'm very pleased with the results. I plan on having it dynoed just for kicks and I'll take it to the track this spring.
