What have you done to your car today?
- Thread starter Perfect Balance
- 6,673 comments
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- 21,193
- United States
- nk4e
Yeah, I was thinking that but I want use my card for emergencies. So most of my spending money would go to those parts.Reventón;3302257How do you think I'm doing it? I don't necessarily have $1,000 laying around just for giggles. That's why I've got 2 months to fully pay off the exhaust.👍
- 8,480
- P_Balance
I usually end up doing months of research and change my mind hundreds of times before I finally settle on something.
My main goal though is to buy parts that I KNOW are good, but still don't hurt too much when it comes to money.
Not the absolute best "bang for the buck" deals, but still not too expensive.
It's a complicated process that never ends. That is the money sucking black hole that is tuning cars.
My main goal though is to buy parts that I KNOW are good, but still don't hurt too much when it comes to money.
Not the absolute best "bang for the buck" deals, but still not too expensive.
It's a complicated process that never ends. That is the money sucking black hole that is tuning cars.
McLaren
Premium
- 45,586
- Texas
Have you thought about opening a debit card account, and putting money in there for your own personal spending?
You've just explained me & my search for the perfect set of rims & tires.
- 8,480
- P_Balance
- 8,480
- P_Balance
He didn't rev it nearly hard enough.👎
Also, it would sound different under load.
Also, it would sound different under load.
McLaren
Premium
- 45,586
- Texas
I don't know how it'd go, but I don't think I would have revved it any harder nor try to actually drive it on the road, either. Probably not a safe or smart move driving it without the exhaust system.
Rotary Junkie
Premium
- 9,810
- Canton, MI
- RJs_RX-7
- 3,603
Mach V Motorsports?
I've ordered from them before.
I've done almost all of my parts shopping (well, upgrades at least) online. Some common replacement parts are available around here, but local prices skyrocket for any upgrades.
- 8,480
- P_Balance
- 3,770
- Boss-Barracuda
A good friend of mine works as a maintenance/everything guy for a very rich person, and the other day his boss threw away a nice car cover so he snatched it for me. It's a very good cover compared to the super crap one I had before, the only problems being that it's ripped quite badly in the back, and it's meant for a late 30's Cadillac. It fits surprisingly well, and I used zip ties to try and reconstruct the ripped part, so for now at least It's a keeper.
I accidentally put it on upside down so I have to turn it right side up then cut new antenna and mirror holes, but it was free so I'm not worried about screwing it up.
I accidentally put it on upside down so I have to turn it right side up then cut new antenna and mirror holes, but it was free so I'm not worried about screwing it up.
Keef
Premium
- 25,126
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
I finally bought a new battery today. I've killed the old one probably 10 times in the year and change that I've had it, just from leaving my sub on. It finally had enough a couple days ago and from then on went beyond cranking really slowly to simply not holding a charge at all. I had our beast charger on it for about 10 minutes earlier and started the car while it was plugged in, and even that sucked the battery down to a slow crank in a second. Horrible.
So now it's pretty funny how quick it cranks. At least now I know the limits of batteries before they fail on me.
So now it's pretty funny how quick it cranks. At least now I know the limits of batteries before they fail on me.
- 3,433
leaving your sub on? dont you have a cable that powers it up with the ignition?
progress on the firebird, made a clamp kinda thing for the battery, got rear fog light wired in and put back on, concerned about small hole in the radiator but doesnt look too bad, will get it sorted later though.
also today it now doesnt start or idle at all well, sounds like a bag o nails, backfiring, misfiring ugh cant understand why! was running fine sunday! the only thing that has happened since then it has been nose up on ramps for all of yesterday through the rain that we think could have possibly run into places it shouldnt have...just dont know though. checked the plugs, oh what fun that was, shows a bit of carbon but not drastic amounts and that was probably built up from where it has only run up the drive briefly and ran on tickover a few times recently. but now it sounds like its running on only a few of the cylinders, only keeps going with high revs coughing and backfiring, without any throttle it just dies. any ideas?
progress on the firebird, made a clamp kinda thing for the battery, got rear fog light wired in and put back on, concerned about small hole in the radiator but doesnt look too bad, will get it sorted later though.
also today it now doesnt start or idle at all well, sounds like a bag o nails, backfiring, misfiring ugh cant understand why! was running fine sunday! the only thing that has happened since then it has been nose up on ramps for all of yesterday through the rain that we think could have possibly run into places it shouldnt have...just dont know though. checked the plugs, oh what fun that was, shows a bit of carbon but not drastic amounts and that was probably built up from where it has only run up the drive briefly and ran on tickover a few times recently. but now it sounds like its running on only a few of the cylinders, only keeps going with high revs coughing and backfiring, without any throttle it just dies. any ideas?
ROAD_DOGG33J
Premium
- 14,288
- IL, USA
- holyc0w1
- holyc0w
I picked my car up, washed it a bit and vacuumed the interior for the first time in about 2 years.
Keef
Premium
- 25,126
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
What this thing is supposed to do is power on and off automatically. But it seems to only power up at a certain volume--which is different for every song. Iono. There was already a switch hooked up in the car, so we wired it. The switch has two positions: automatic on (read: off) and on. I'm just careless and leave it on. It even has a light on the little control I have mounted on the center console. I'm thinking about wiring a light stealthily onto the dash so I don't miss it on my way out.
- 3,603
You have caught my attention.
Do tell.
Does it match in epicness if I worked on my DSM?
-Thorough wash job, scrubbed the wheel wells & everything.
-Vacuumed the interior
-Reinstalled the panelling and carpeting into the back of the car
-Removed, cleaned, and reinstalled my K&N. Curse the DSM airbox design... Took me 20 minutes to get the damn thing out.
I also contemplated polishing and waxing it, but had a lil' snooze instead.
Went down to a parts store where I know a guy to get a price on a new battery - I have a choice here:
-Interstate battery, $95
-Optima Redtop, $150.
I'm very tempted to go for the Optima, but am hesitant because it's another $55 that I don't need to spend right now at a time when I should be putting it towards other things.
Do tell.
Does it match in epicness if I worked on my DSM?
-Thorough wash job, scrubbed the wheel wells & everything.
-Vacuumed the interior
-Reinstalled the panelling and carpeting into the back of the car
-Removed, cleaned, and reinstalled my K&N. Curse the DSM airbox design... Took me 20 minutes to get the damn thing out.
I also contemplated polishing and waxing it, but had a lil' snooze instead.
Went down to a parts store where I know a guy to get a price on a new battery - I have a choice here:
-Interstate battery, $95
-Optima Redtop, $150.
I'm very tempted to go for the Optima, but am hesitant because it's another $55 that I don't need to spend right now at a time when I should be putting it towards other things.
Keef
Premium
- 25,126
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
No. I actually fixed a mechanical problem. Psshh, like they have those...
So, it was a 1998 Eclipse GS-T. Nice. The guy just bought it and decided to have my friend Donovan work on it for him. Somehow it ended up in my garage this morning at 10:30. Donovan told him he could save a ton of money versus the dealership's inspection, so that's what we did. We gave the car a decent lookover and for $5000 the car was an absolute steal in my opinion. It had 85,000 miles, which was not much more than half of my Civic's.
The owner, Nathan, had a few fixes, including a tire rotation because of bent and unbalanced front wheels, a valve cover gasket replacement (we'll get to that), and an oil change. Pretty basic.
Except the valve cover. Yes, the gasket had a leak. Yes, that pile of RTV in the corner had something to do with it. I looked at Donovan and said "The only reason I'd use RTV on anything would be to seal a leak." Yup. There were some major cracks around two bolt holes in the center portion of the cover, under the black plastic piece.
not his engine
When we took the valve cover off the cracks broke, and a 1 square inch hole formed. Great. We called a few acquaintances to try and get it welded to no avial. We pondered about finding a new one which we decided would take a week or so. Also, the dealer only provides the valve cover gasket, and not the spark plug o-rings (which I should have known--Honda does the same thing), so we went off to Autozone to get the whole set and some JB Weld. Ugh.
The JB Weld was taking forever. Eventually, at about 3 PM, I was talking to one of my Honda buddies and he happened to mention that another of our car friends--and ex-DSM freak--had a cover from a 4G63. Or something. So I called up Tyler, "Dude, we'll buy it from you right now, we need it." We got it. Amazingly it turned out to be the one that I had sandblasted for him a year ago--he painted it a nice orange/bronze after that. Looked good. So, everything came to a happy ending and we replaced the cover and seals with shiny new ones and we had one very satisfied customer. I'm sure Donovan will be seeing him again very soon...
Comments on the car itself: Awesome. Good paint, double wishbone front and rear suspension, decent low mileage, ~220 hp, and only $5000? It makes me feel like I screwed up on the Civic. Also, this GS-T is quick. Horrendous wheel hop in first gear, but besides that it hauls some balls. It's the first time I've ever personally felt turbo lag, and it was very noticeable. I'd put this car on par with my cousin's old Cobalt SS/SC, though the Cobalt felt "faster" and the DSM felt more "powerful". In my circle of friends comparing cars to that particular Cobalt is an honorable standard because that sucker had to have been a ringer--14.2 quarter mile, stock? Seriously, that car beat "stage 2" tuned Cobalts on highway runs. But anyway, I loved the DSM's driving position. Low and sporty, the way I like it, the way the Del Sol was, and the way the Si is not. Surely because of the low miles the DSM's chassis felt much more solid and sturdy than my Si, even though the suspension was relatively supple. There were few vibrations from the chassis, and overall the car felt well-built and in one piece. Sometimes my Si's chassis rigidity becomes questionable in comparison. So the bottom line is I want one. With a freshly rebuilt engine.
EDIT: I just bought a new battery too. The $55 ain't worth it--get something basic. Even with a "normal person" battery I laughed hysterically at how quickly my engine turned over!
So, it was a 1998 Eclipse GS-T. Nice. The guy just bought it and decided to have my friend Donovan work on it for him. Somehow it ended up in my garage this morning at 10:30. Donovan told him he could save a ton of money versus the dealership's inspection, so that's what we did. We gave the car a decent lookover and for $5000 the car was an absolute steal in my opinion. It had 85,000 miles, which was not much more than half of my Civic's.
The owner, Nathan, had a few fixes, including a tire rotation because of bent and unbalanced front wheels, a valve cover gasket replacement (we'll get to that), and an oil change. Pretty basic.
Except the valve cover. Yes, the gasket had a leak. Yes, that pile of RTV in the corner had something to do with it. I looked at Donovan and said "The only reason I'd use RTV on anything would be to seal a leak." Yup. There were some major cracks around two bolt holes in the center portion of the cover, under the black plastic piece.
not his engine
When we took the valve cover off the cracks broke, and a 1 square inch hole formed. Great. We called a few acquaintances to try and get it welded to no avial. We pondered about finding a new one which we decided would take a week or so. Also, the dealer only provides the valve cover gasket, and not the spark plug o-rings (which I should have known--Honda does the same thing), so we went off to Autozone to get the whole set and some JB Weld. Ugh.
The JB Weld was taking forever. Eventually, at about 3 PM, I was talking to one of my Honda buddies and he happened to mention that another of our car friends--and ex-DSM freak--had a cover from a 4G63. Or something. So I called up Tyler, "Dude, we'll buy it from you right now, we need it." We got it. Amazingly it turned out to be the one that I had sandblasted for him a year ago--he painted it a nice orange/bronze after that. Looked good. So, everything came to a happy ending and we replaced the cover and seals with shiny new ones and we had one very satisfied customer. I'm sure Donovan will be seeing him again very soon...
Comments on the car itself: Awesome. Good paint, double wishbone front and rear suspension, decent low mileage, ~220 hp, and only $5000? It makes me feel like I screwed up on the Civic. Also, this GS-T is quick. Horrendous wheel hop in first gear, but besides that it hauls some balls. It's the first time I've ever personally felt turbo lag, and it was very noticeable. I'd put this car on par with my cousin's old Cobalt SS/SC, though the Cobalt felt "faster" and the DSM felt more "powerful". In my circle of friends comparing cars to that particular Cobalt is an honorable standard because that sucker had to have been a ringer--14.2 quarter mile, stock? Seriously, that car beat "stage 2" tuned Cobalts on highway runs. But anyway, I loved the DSM's driving position. Low and sporty, the way I like it, the way the Del Sol was, and the way the Si is not. Surely because of the low miles the DSM's chassis felt much more solid and sturdy than my Si, even though the suspension was relatively supple. There were few vibrations from the chassis, and overall the car felt well-built and in one piece. Sometimes my Si's chassis rigidity becomes questionable in comparison. So the bottom line is I want one. With a freshly rebuilt engine.
EDIT: I just bought a new battery too. The $55 ain't worth it--get something basic. Even with a "normal person" battery I laughed hysterically at how quickly my engine turned over!
- 3,603
Hehehe....
Have we got a convert on our hands?
Yeah, the valve covers are very notorious on these cars. I never use anything more than light pressure on a 1/4" drive socket for tightening the bolts, for fear of breaking or stripping something.
As for my car, I didn't do anything good to it today.
To quote a competitor, I "Drove the wheels off" of my car today at autocross, leading to a best-in-class finish, and what must be close to my best raw time finish (by position) yet. Official results will be posted sometime this week... Updates to come then.
Have we got a convert on our hands?
Yeah, the valve covers are very notorious on these cars. I never use anything more than light pressure on a 1/4" drive socket for tightening the bolts, for fear of breaking or stripping something.
As for my car, I didn't do anything good to it today.
To quote a competitor, I "Drove the wheels off" of my car today at autocross, leading to a best-in-class finish, and what must be close to my best raw time finish (by position) yet. Official results will be posted sometime this week... Updates to come then.
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