(no subject)
I've been doing a lot with my car lately. Had a misfire, so I replaced the spark plugs with Bosch Platinum 2s, which meant I had to remove the upper intake manifold since two of the plugs are under it (stupid design). While I was at it, I cleaned the throttle body and that manifold, along with the mass air flow sensor. Cleaned out the air intake boot, too. Just ordered a couple of hoses and a coolant flange, since there's a slight coolant leak. Also ordered a set of new rocker panel moldings since the car needed a new pair. My tailpipe was rusted and nearly broken off, too, so when I went to the mechanic today for an oil change, I got him to cut it off, then got an estimate on a new system. Found a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust online at Performance Peddler for $385 shipped to my door, so I ordered that. I'll take a look at it when I get it, but I think I'll get Arthur (the mechanic) to install it for me. The Magnaflow exhaust is a performance system that increases HP and MPG slightly and it's stainless steel with a limited lifetime warranty, which should far outlast most other metals in this climate. The estimate for Buckeye Muffler to order and install that exact system was $1100, which is beyond ridiculous, and for them to redo a stock system would have been $400+. The performance system and labor to install it, which might be $150, will only cost me a bit over that.
In a couple of weeks when the weather's being a bit more steady, I'm also going to take the car back to Arthur for an AC charge and fuel-filter replacement. I'll probably have him do the muffler as soon as it gets here, though, since running with the tailpipe off sends some fumes into the car and can damage the under body because of the acids in the smoke.
I ordered a used cruise system the owner swore was working, but the module seems to be bad on that, too. So, I'm going to ship one of the modules off to be refurbished (with a nice 5-year warranty) for about $65. That should hopefully fix my cruise control. Meanwhile, I'm still looking for a working OEM fog light.
I have a few plans for the car after this bit of work gets done. I'm thinking about a rear swaybar and strut bars to tighten the suspension, a real cold-air intake, and perhaps a few other things. If I can find a good used 2.0L ABA supercharger, I might buy that, too. It adds about 6 psi and around 30hp, and it just bolts on. Those are pricey, though - $1000-1500 used.
I've also been working on Erika's scooter. It's up and running, but it has a few issues still. I think the oil pump may be bad, and it needs a wobble in the rear tire fixed. The tire's also flat at the moment. Put in a new spark plug, a new battery, and cleaned it up a bit so far, though. Her paint job on it looks *amazing*.
In a couple of weeks when the weather's being a bit more steady, I'm also going to take the car back to Arthur for an AC charge and fuel-filter replacement. I'll probably have him do the muffler as soon as it gets here, though, since running with the tailpipe off sends some fumes into the car and can damage the under body because of the acids in the smoke.
I ordered a used cruise system the owner swore was working, but the module seems to be bad on that, too. So, I'm going to ship one of the modules off to be refurbished (with a nice 5-year warranty) for about $65. That should hopefully fix my cruise control. Meanwhile, I'm still looking for a working OEM fog light.
I have a few plans for the car after this bit of work gets done. I'm thinking about a rear swaybar and strut bars to tighten the suspension, a real cold-air intake, and perhaps a few other things. If I can find a good used 2.0L ABA supercharger, I might buy that, too. It adds about 6 psi and around 30hp, and it just bolts on. Those are pricey, though - $1000-1500 used.
I've also been working on Erika's scooter. It's up and running, but it has a few issues still. I think the oil pump may be bad, and it needs a wobble in the rear tire fixed. The tire's also flat at the moment. Put in a new spark plug, a new battery, and cleaned it up a bit so far, though. Her paint job on it looks *amazing*.