Coming back together

Powar wrote: Bad bearings in the mounts? Sounds right.

That's what i was hoping. I know my steering rack has seen better days. (Previous owner removed power steering by cutting some random lines) But i'm not feeling any major catches or binds in the steering wheel. The bushings probably aren't in great shape, but they're all present and accounted for, and still rubber-y. The wheels don't seem to have any major play in them in any direction, so i would imagine my tie rods and ball joints are at least passable.

Time to modify some Escort strut mounts.

MX-6 Turbo action, awesome. My buddy had a black one that he beat the hell out of. Wish I bought it instead of that ricer he sold it to...

This is what ~$1300 worth of assembled MX6 looks like. (Yes, yes, i will fix the bumpers soon.)

Also: BOX FLARES!!!11!1111one!1!!!

Couldn't get the front bumper any straighter?

P71 wrote: Couldn't get the front bumper any straighter?

It's still missing parts from a previous fairly severe accident. I know what i need to fix the front bumper angle, and where to get one. It'll cost me about $2 from Pull A Part, or i could save maybe a dollar and just throw a bunch of washers between the cover and what's left of the support and my zip ties. Meh, i'll just do it the easy way.

Not positive what's going on with the rear, haven't had it off yet, it's been sagging since i got it.

When you said "in the air", I was thinking a 75 ft WRC logging road style jump. I was thinking, "wow, I have never tried to diagnose a suspension issue in the middle of a jump before". Then I thought, "that would be so berkeleying cool if I did". Then I thought about taking the family WRX out for a drive to see if we had any problems. Then I thought, I have had 6 beers, probably not a good idea.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: When you said "in the air", I was thinking a 75 ft WRC logging road style jump. I was thinking, "wow, I have never tried to diagnose a suspension issue in the middle of a jump before". Then I thought, "that would be so berkeleying cool if I did". Then I thought about taking the family WRX out for a drive to see if we had any problems. Then I thought, I *have* had 6 beers, probably not a good idea.

I am amuse.

Worth noting, though the pictures are really deceiving... doesn't look low, does it? Wrong. There's about 3" at best of clearance from the ground to the crossmembers, and i'm rubbing my mudflaps on the ground. Ugh.

Alright: Hopefully one last question.

I have NOT had the time to replace the front strut mounts yet, though i do have them in my hand. ($20 closeout from rockauto FTW!!!)

That said, i had the car up in the air again, and it looks like the noise may be a bit more serious than that. The tie rods are good, ball joints are good, the steering rack movement itself is good, but there's a very good chance that the steering rack mount bushing is completely trashed.

I can't find the replacement for this car. Like... anywhere. I can get the LX (non turbo) all day long, but it DOES have a different rack than the GT.

1) Does anyone have some super secret super awesome parts sources where i might be able to find this part?
2) Anyone have any input on how to make my own if it comes down to it? Would this operate on the same principle as filling motor mounts maybe?
3) Cut, jam, and weld a hockey puck in there?

Any ideas or thoughts at all would be great. I'm doing the strut mounts today, so i'm crossing my fingers that it'll be taken care of, but i've got a sinking feeling about this one. Seems to be way too much movement for it to just be the strut mounts.

Mount bearings, steering rack or ball joints.

John Brown wrote: Mount bearings, steering rack or ball joints.

Ball joints are good, mount bearings are being replaced in about 2 hours, the rack itself is still good.

Like i said, crossing my fingers that the mount bearings fix it, but it seems a little extreme for just that. I have been surprised before, though, and i'm no master mechanic by far. We'll see what happens.

when those mount bearings let go, you'll see the spring try and bind up, then spin on the lower mount. you'll find evidence of the springs moving in the perch when you pull it apart.

at one point in college, between my two roommates and i, we owned one of every cofiguration of the GD chassis: mx6, 626 touring, 626 sedan, and probe GT

Hrmmm...

Update.

It was just the strut bearings. Car feels mostly good now, though i suspect that i am going to have to break down and do more bushing work on it, it's starting to feel a little weird, not that that's surprising considering the mileage and the abuse it's taking from having the geometry so screwed up, combined with the power it makes.

Trashed the passenger side motor mount last week. Which sucks. Still driving it until my full set of replacement solid filled mounts cure.

Driving impressions: This thing is REALLY easy to drive. It's not the fastest thing in the turns, but it's impressively flat considering the "cheap bastard" and outright WRONG setup that it has. Initial turn in sucks compared to both the Celica and the Escort, and it doesn't feel nimble AT ALL, but it's extremely stable, and gives plenty of warning when it's about to E36 M3 itself, and outright grip is actually pretty surprising. The brakes are GREAT, which really surprised me.

Next steps:
1) try to get some camber. Right now it's sitting at almost 1 degree of POSITIVE camber on all 4 corners, which is a little annoying, and probably not helping my vague turn-in feeling. I'm either going to invest in some crash bolts, or try rotating my strut mounts 180 degrees.
2) Install the new mounts
3) catch can setup for concours bling (and to keep oil from spraying from the PCV system all over the bay)
4) New cam seal (leaking pretty badly, making a mess)
5) re-install AFPR
6) MOAR BOOSTS
7) Oh yeah, scored rear mudflaps for $5. I didn't realize this car was even supposed to have them. Pretty psyched about having them, as silly as that sounds.

I decided against Megasquirt/big turbo for the moment. If it wasn't my DD, i'd probably go ahead and do it, but i can't afford the down time. I will probably spend remaining budget focusing on concours, hopefully some tires, and POSSIBLY a cheap water injection kit to eke out some more power at the drag strip.

93celicaGT2 wrote: Also: BOX FLARES!!!11!1111one!1!!!

Please take a lot of photos and use small words. I may have to do that also.

Dan

914Driver wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: Also: BOX FLARES!!!11!1111one!1!!!

Please take a lot of photos and use small words. I may have to do that also. Dan

Oh, i meant the car has box flares from factory. Albeit small ones, but they're there.

I may make bigger ones down the road, but it's not likely for $2010. Possibly for $2011.

Right now i'm thinking something like this:

When I posted that, I didn't notice the cut of the fender. Got it now, they are boxes.

I think making box flares will be easier than narrowing a rear axle.

Dan

I just read through this thread, and I have to say that your car looks awesome.

gives me lots of hope for my alltrac.

on side note, I finally fixed my speedo/odo/cruise problem, finally bought an oem tune up kit, and picked up a gts fender liner from pick n' pull. now to figure out my mystery coolant leak!

smog7 wrote: I just read through this thread, and I have to say that your car looks awesome. gives me lots of hope for my alltrac. on side note, I finally fixed my speedo/odo/cruise problem, finally bought an oem tune up kit, and picked up a gts fender liner from pick n' pull. now to figure out my mystery coolant leak!

Thanks man.

The celica still looks far better, but i'm somewhat happy with the way this one turned out, and i'm still a little bit under budget, all i really need now are tires, and i think i've got that figured out. I should be able to show up at the Challenge with close to 350whp and 450wtq+. This thing is MONSTROUSLY fast these days. Here's a couple more pics.

BAH!

Wiring. I hates it.

Anything new these days? This thing is seriously sick! Wish I could find one around here...