Interior Update

I have the entire interior out now, broken glass and cigarette butts are all over the place (from the previous owner)... but for the rust report... It's not bad, not bad at all. On the driver's side, there is one spot that has rusted though as shown in the first two pictures. The passenger side also has a rust hole and some surface rust... the t-top area of the car also has some rust and holes as seen in pictures 5 and 6... I'll need to take it to a body shop for some welding. The last picture shows the t-top bar (black and silver) it's done for, I thought the rust and metal parts that were flaking off was from the body. It was not, it was only coming from the removable piece which I have already ordered a new one of. The body under it was perfect, not a hint of rust I have a feeling the previous owner had something to do with this as there were extra screws in the t-top bar... two of which refuse to budge... a Dremel will fix that... evil grin.

Inside Teardown

So I got all of the seats taken out, back ones were easy (the previous owner changed them out) not so much on the front, I also too out most of the plastic trim, center console, and half of the carpet. As the pictures below show, so far so good on the rust, only surface rust. If you're wondering what the blueish greenish plate is under the spray can, that's the previous owner's way of getting to the fuel pump.

Moments of Ah-ha!

Sooo... Finished Seafoaming the car today... what a difference! It no longer sounds like a go cart, throttle response is much better.



The hood struts were also replaced, now the hood can hold itself up. Hatch struts are next.

But on to my moments of Ah-ha!

Moment #1: I've just noticed that the car really doesn't smell too good coupled with the fact that the car is so loud, I have a feeling that the catalytic converters have been messed with.

Moment #2: Took a closer look at the engine bay and found out why my A/C doesn't work, the belt for the A/C was missing.

Moment #3: Also while looking under the hood, I found a noob hack job to the cap of the windshield wiper fluid cap and a hose feeding from it. Never used the windshield wipers so I don't know if the work or not. pics to follow.

1 more day until the tag expires... gonna miss cruising around.

To Do lists

Before 2/4/2010

1. Replace Struts
   
2. Oil change
3. Fix driver's rear rotor and brake pad
4. Change out fuel filter
5. Change out spark plugs, wires, and distributor
   
6. Seafoam in brake booster line
7. Deep Creep in intake

On 2/4/10 my temp tag will expire and I will focus on the interior of the car for a while.

After 2/4/2010

1. Strip inside of car (seats, carpet, plastic parts, consoles, etc.)
2. Remove weather stripping
   
3. Clean any and all rust
4. Put down Rust Bullet
5. Put down Dynamat
6. Put in new carpet
7. Paint plastic pieces
8. Get seats reupholstered/new seats

Today I put Seafoam in the gas tank and in with oil, car runs much smoother already, I can't wait to finish putting the rest of the Seafoam in, it is truly great stuff.


How To Seafoam Your Car

Wish List Item #2: Head Unit

So I've been looking around at some head units as the one in the car doesn't work too well... and it just looks old. And this one caught my eye...












http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_105KDAVX77/JVC-KD-AVX77.html?search=JVC+KD-AVX77&ssi=0


Price: $599.99

Also, this puppy, a head unit mount...















http://maptechenterprises.netfirms.com/store/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=41&osCsid=42fbe5c50d324f278bd3faceaa437dd1

Price$105.00

I need to fine out if I can get the correct font to match the 3rd generation's font as this one is for the 4th gen

Update with Pictures

Replaced headlights, driver's side still needs to be raised by hand, but I am able to drive at night now. I'll have to wait til night so I can aim them and make sure they are pointing where they need to be pointing.

Replaced the whole back hatch (glass and spoiler included)
My new map pocket, in very nice condition.
My new Camaro shifter knob... will keep my eyes open for leather shift knob.

Side maker lights in the back didn't work, the front driver's side also didn't work, I replaced all of these lights, however, the front driver's side marker light still doesn't work. It's very hard to get to the front side marker lights, I had to go under the car for the passenger's side (due to the PO welding a retainer piece to the light housing, there wasn't enough room for even my small arms to get in) and for the driver's side I had to reach under the flip up headlight to get to it, both were not fun.

Both fog light bulbs were bad, driver's side was shattered and the passenger's was a blue and yellow swirled mess. Both lights were replaced and now work.

So, here is the driver's side rear brake and rotor... not too good. But I already have the parts to fix it, I just have to replace them.

Update

Did a lot of work on her Wednesday, 1/20/10, found the perfect donor car so that I could replace the hatch, glass, and spoiler. It was also red, so the body color matches, the donor car was a 1984 Trans AM, from it I also took the map pocket (glove box), and hood latch. I also found a donor Camaro to take a shifter knob from. All parts were replaced and are doing wonderfully. The hatch struts held for a while after the lighter hatch was put on, but failed later that night, so new struts all around, about $85 from Autozone.

On Friday she died on me shortly after start up after a very rough idle and threw a code, I started her right back up and she fired up and there were no more issues, so with full intent to tune up the car and fix the brakes, I got nothing done due to incorrect sized and broken tools. I did however, bleed the break fluid in the front and found out that the front brakes are new and looking good while the back driver's side needs new brake pads and rotor. I will try again to change the oil, spark plugs, wires, and distributor cap. Will seafoam too.

It feels good to get some stuff done, especially something as big as a new hatch, but at the same time so crappy to work on the car all afternoon just to get nothing done except a finger caught under the closing hood (beer and car repair, not always a good idea.)

I will most likely be going back to the junkyard on Monday to find some more parts, I'm about to order headlights, struts, a headlight motor, locks with keys, and spark plug wires (about $400.00 altogether).

Only 12 days until the temp tag is out of date... then I rip apart the interior, my focus right now is removing some of the years of neglect and getting her running smoothly.

Pictures to follow.