December 16, 2006
Well, I got the timing chain cover replaced with one that actually has thread for the valve cover bolt. And I discovered the oil leak most likely wasn't the rear seal, but the oil sensor by the distributor. I had a spare one on a spare distributor housing that stopped the oil coming from there and surprisingly stopped the oil on the ground.
Now for the things that still need to be done. I got the replacement heater valve today. I had been using a Honda CRX temp one that required me to change the setting from outside the car. Once it is installed I be able to do it from the comfort of inside the car. I discovered the clutch slave cylinder is bad and leaking. Also, don't believe anyone that says the water pump only needs the paper gasket, use sealant also or you'll be replacing it in a few years. I have to replace the gasket on mine and I've only put about 2500 miles on it since replacing it 7 years ago (engine sat with only oil in it for most of that time). Until I get the garage cleaned though I can't do anything. So for now the 02 sits in the driveway, off the road and out of the salty dirt all over the place.
October 7, 2006
I've been driving the 02 almost daily for the last 3 months. Only one time did it let me down and luckily I was at home and just took the Sunfire back to work. Turned out the timing was off again. I have since tweaked it and tweaked it. I have it now set so that it starts up much quicker, I still have the full range of the tac and fuel economy isn't bad, 19 mpg. It does pop in the exhaust after warming up, but that might just be the exhaust system. Which I need to get a recording of the sound. I believe it sounds great, but I'll let you be the judge. I should have the video up in a few days.
August 19, 2006
It's been a while since I was able to update this last, so let me catch you up. I went on a trip to California and saw 1 02 in downtown L.A. Since I've been back I managed to get the 02 back together with the better intake manifold. Still doesn't have the good jet setup but it still runs good. I need to tune it some more since it is only getting 19mpg and it is still a little rough at idle. I've been driving it everyday to work since I got back from the trip. Man is it a blast, everyday I feel a little better about my skills so I'm pushing it a little more each day. I'll be doing some body work today to try to make it look a little better.
July 8, 2006
Got two more of the nuts off. The #4 cylinder bottom nut can actually be gotten to with a socket wrench. It is #3 that is left, I may have to remove the starter to get to it. I'll try more tomorrow.
July 7, 2006
Who would have thought that the intake manifold would be so hard to remove. I spent about an hour taking off 5 nuts. The top 4 came off easy, it was the first bottom one that is a pain. Tomorrow I'm going to try to get the other 3. There isn't much room in there. The 12mm wrench I started with was too long, luckily I have 2 sets and the second one I got was just short enough to get that first bottom one. Hopefully it will be short enough to get the other ones. The muffler should be here Tuesday and the new jets hopefully Monday.
July 6, 2006
Not much has happened with the car. I got to drive it for about a month before it started getting really hot and almost too sweaty to drive it. Luckily it told me I should garage it for a while by popping the driver side engine mount out. That happened on the way home from work for lunch. The good thing is that it caused no damage and allowed me to replace the engine mount with a brand new one that I had found in a box of parts a couple of years ago. But while I was working on that I decided to make sure the carb was running properly so I ordered some jets for it, they should be here any day now. And I have decided to swap the intake manifold with the peanut style opening that I had on the engine originally. One of the studs had broken and at the time 4 years ago I didn't realize they came out. I worked a little on it tonight, mainly cleaning stuff up and taking things apart. I've also decided that it was a little loud without a muffler so I ordered a Magnaflow 14"x6" round muffler. Hopefully it sounds good.
As for the shocks.
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The red Boge are bad, that is what was on the car. The yellow ones are
Bilstein HDs. Handling was greatly improved.
