Finally!
 

Ahhhh.... relief.

Now I can beat my beater 89 TC with a hammer and pretend it's the dealer lol.

A 1985 Sig TC, 34,000 showing (certainly 134), one teenie teenie speck of rust. Very well cared for, very clean underside and clean interior.

I'm uncertain if I really like the color. I do prefer the dark blue, but pics don't exactly do this paint justice, it is very metallic. Dark blue leather interior.

I actually had the brains to see and drive this one before forking over the cash. I've got the 89 as a donor for parts, nothing major, just the stuff I figured I'd have to do on the 89. First up - suspension!

Pete

Just a guess here, Pete. You listen to tubes too? Most of your stereo equipment weighs more than a TV set, and you play vinyl. Not profiling here, just seeing an opportunity to identify some of our shared values.

P.S. Nice ride!

Regards,

D-Ray

Did you invest in oil pete ? If not you will be :)

No tubes, but not from lack of desire. I have a young granddaughter and didn't want exposed heat sources. But she's old enough now :)

Now with the great recession receeding my income, I'm making do with my Belles 200wpc mosfet sand amp. I need stimulated :D

Pete

Lolol. Believe it or not my SOs PC Cruiser gets only marginally better mileage!

Pete

PS I don't recall that guys' name, sorry.

The latter versions of those only had 5 liter-302s- and got pretty decent mileage, especially for Land Yachts. My Uncle had an '81, 1st year for the "electronic" dashboard, he got in the twenties w/his, drove it 115K, & spent like $200 in parts over that period. They were a bit underpowered, but maybe not for the "living room on wheels" purpose that they were intended for.

Looks great!

You need a chauffeur for that rig.

Chas

Too bad the 89 didn't work out for you. The Fuel injected motor would have been a lot better in the mileage dept. That thing got a regular carb or one of those wierd variable venturis?

The CFI, AKA throttle body AKA single port injection :)

It's the POWER loss that matters. It's a bit slow although adequate. Should get around 22 hwy, 17 or so city. It is possible, but a pretty difficult job, to swap over the multiport onto it.

Changed the shocks and rear springs, got a good look at her private parts :)

Maybe she is 35K, it looks good. Sandy, I'll get at least another 200K out of her :D

Pete

An update if anyone cares :)

Replaced the idler arm & pitman arm. Runs and drives nice and tight, like a good car should, with a little rattle that is (groan) lower control arm bushings, so soon when I get the money and inclination new lower and upper poly bushings, lower and upper ball joints, and new front springs.

That should sure feel good ride wise. I changed the control arm bushings on the PC Cruiser and man, those Energy bushings make a world of difference. Hopefully I don't kill myself changing the springs, it's a lot different than the rears. Years ago a buddy made a spring compressor out of a bumper jack - the spring went through the garage wall.

I didn't say a smart buddy.

I've also changed the sway bar links, cap/rotor/wires/plugs (gap .050, the old ones were worn to 060+ and it still ran good!), a rotor (repacked the bearings too), cleaned/lubed/bled both front brakes, fixed a door handle, and have managed to clean and condition the 2 front seats and a bit more of the interior. Very nice interior, when it gets a good complete cleaning I'll post some pics.

I've only got to change those &*$%# bushings/springs etc, belts, hoses, finish cleaning inside and out, replace 2 window motors, install the aftermarket stereo properly (only 1 speaker is playing and no radio), get the locks working (a central relay is fried), redye the dash, change the headliner, change the outside mirrors (one broke, and the thermometer on the drivers side is nonfunctional), change the electric trunk pulldown, fix the glovebox (nonopening), look at the A/C (134 converted and new compressor, here's hoping it holds a charge), change a couple of various outside trim pieces, and install a nice patch on the drivers' door arm pad...

I think that's it :) The somewhat laughable thing is, I'm trying to get this done by the beginning of June :eek:

The good news is, most of the parts come off the 89.

And again, I'm under there changing the front end bits looking around, I'm really beginning to believe it's 35k. We'll know in 5 years :D

Pete

I am impressed. Sounds like you have a plan and the ability to execute it. If I tried to work on a car, I would probably execute myself.:o My dad loved to tinker with cars, but I was more interested in sports, reading sports illustrated, looking at the swimsuit issue, riding my bike and hanging out with friends. I did listen when he talked politics, his being a good union man an all.

If you ever decide to drive that tricked out ride to the KC area, come by and show it to me. In the meantime, I'll look forward to the pics.

Regards,

D-Ray

Having done the same bushing swap I wonder why the factorys haven't gone to poly bushings. I would think the price would be in line with rubber ones.

As for the springs most Autozone/Checkers will rent you a spring compressor for much less than the hospital bill you might incurr without one. Makes the job a lot less scary.

There is capitalism doing what it does best - a need and a product to meet the need - as long as they don't charge you more for it if you go in with stitches in your forehead.

Regards,

D-Ray

Don't be too impressed, I'm really a backyard hack driven by financial concerns :)

Thanks for the invite. I hope to take you up on it someday, and if you ever come up to glamorous Cleveland Ohio drop me a line.

Yeah I can't believe they're still using rubber. I'd be surprised if the sports cars are though.

I'm planning on using a spring compressor but still...

Headline: 'Local idiot kills self with car spring. Details at 11.' lol

Pete

Shit, I have a pair of spring compressors in the garage somewhere that I will never use again.

How about, I only say nice things about Democrats for a week for those compressors? :D

Seriously, if you're interested just shoot me an email with details.

Pete

Usually you put a deposit on the tool. When you bring it back they give you your deposit back. If you do not bring it back you just own it. So its really not a rental per se.

Of course Robs deal sounds pretty good too.

Using a spring compressor is not a bad idea .. however I've never found the need for one unless the springs are mounted on struts. I still don't need one then, unless I'm replacing either the strut, or the strut cartridge. Non strut automobiles are a breeze to remove coil springs. :)


Automatic transmission tools are a pain in the ass to gather up though ( if you buy them ). Orta see the home-made tranny tools I made .. just to save a grand or so I couldn't caugh up. Wasn't a bad trade off making them myself, really, I think it cost me about 3.00 worth of wire used off the spool in the welder, and the junk out of the scrap pile I used to make 'em with probly wouldn't brough more than 10 cents if hauled to scrap. But my tools work .. and the two tools I made for about 3.10 saved me about a grand :D

a-HA. How do you remove them?

Pete

I was gonna say something about Yankee Ingenuity, but I figured that wouldn't go over well in Tennessee, so how about Tennessee Creativity.;) Although I didn't learn about auto mechanics from my dad, I did learn to appreciate making use of spare parts. My first bike was built out of spare parts (and it was pretty much indestructible), and I still have a funnel he welded out of an old oil can. Although I don't tinker on cars, I do tinker with old stereos. A little bit of the old depression values survive - "waste not, want not."

Regards,

D-Ray

So you don't have to write a book hillbilly, is this the way you do it, or do you disconnect the ball joint and lower the oitside of the control arm?

"when i swaped my stock springs out and replaced them with cut Pi springs, i seperated the spindle fromt the ball joint with a jack under it lowered the jack from in front of the car. once it was all the way down i was able to squeeze the spring rotate it and get it out. the PI springs sat in the upper bucket popped into the lower arm getting the spindle reattached was a pain since there was no motor in the car, i had to have three people sit on the car in order to compress the spring.

it was not that bad to do, just when you lower the jack during removal stand in front of the car. Also if you unbolt the top of the shock and leave the lower bolts in, the spring will not be able to fly out very easilly. just drop the arm until the spring is no longer compresses, remove the shock and then pull the spring out."

Pete

A lot to be said for a commercial floor jack.

Chas

Redneck engineerin', used t'be knowed as "Shade-Tree Mechanickin'"...

PM me an address if I can lay my hands on them I'll UPS them. Then you can cover the shipping.

This thread makes me want to buy the smallest body a Mopar slant-six was ever installed in and drive it for 400k miles.

With maintenance, I bet a refurbed engine would do it.

You beat me to writing the book Pete, but thats basicly the way I do them too ( sorta ). I jack the car up some and put a second floorjack under the control arm, break the lower joint lose, remove the shock completely, then lower the control arm very slowly and once the spring is lose I'll pull the jack out from under the lower arm. Then I'll pry downwards on the lower arm enough to pull the spring out. When it comes to makin' do, it seems you do alright. In my case, I have to rely on my backwoods creativity & what little common sense I have since I'm not made of money. Dad always told me I orta be glad for growing up dirt poor because if things had been better growing up .. I'd still not only lack book smarts, but I'd have turned out dumb as a rock to boot. :D

Lmao!! And thanks for the advice - maybe one of these days I'll get to drive it down there. If I have a face left after this job! :D

Now we're cookin' with gas! I'd take that bet too, with that strict maintenance. Wouldn't that be a Dart, or did they actually use it in something smaller?

I like Darts. And no accessories to break/fix/find/swear at. Hmmm...

Righteous Rob! Did I ever tell you how much I admired Rayburn and Truman? :)

Pete

I had a 64 Dart with the 225 slant six. The most interesting feature of the Dart (and Valiant) to me was their push-bottom transmission. That engine was definitely bullet-proof. I did all I could as a kid to kill it, but it kept on ticking.

Another useless update.

Haven't done nothin'. :D

Nothing serious anyway, dangit! I have most of the parts for the front end job in hand, upper and lower ball joints, springs, upper and lower poly bushings, but I haven't had the 2 day time window.

One thing of note - changed the radiator hoses. Simple, right?

WRONG! The water pump and radiator were changed recently, and the dipweed that installed the lower radiator hose must've put it on the water pump before the radiator went back in.

Sooooo, there was no way to get at the clamp screw. None. Fortunately I've become scary with a recip saw, I could just barely get the blade on the screw assembly with the blade hitting the pump on the extension and falling off the screw on the ... um back stroke. (the web says the opposite of extension is 'flexion'). Radiator hoses - 4 hour job!!

That idiot should be flayed and boiled in oil.

Kidding. Just flayed :D

Good news is I've gone almost 3k miles as a daily driver and it's started every time. For all it's niggling problems I really, really like this car.

It dang well better start, now that I'm down to 1 car!

Pete

Don't feel bad Pete. I remember calling the man I bought my dually from years ago and really blastin' him with words you've probly never heard from a hillbilly before.

This guy builds engines and ships them out on crates, has a website and sells his crate engines in the weekly wheels & deals books too. He told me it was his personal truck that he used to haul engines on up until he bought his new truck, and the engine in the truck was one of his own and had barely been ran. He said the truck needed NOTHING exept a driver and was very road worthy. OK, so I bought it, told him I'd get someone to follow me back to his place the next day after work to pick it up and drive my car back home. Well, the next day I came home from work and the truck was in my field down below with a note on it. It said, ''Dave, wasn't any need to drive all the way back to my place. I had to pull the trailer to Nashville to pick up a Bobcat I bought and had to pass by your place anyway. I just pulled the truck up on the trailer and dropped it off for you''.

The key was in it, so I fired it up, pulled it halfway up my driveway and a lower balljoint fell out. I had to go buy a set of balljoints, and jacked it up where it was blocking my driveway to go on and replace the one that fell apart 'first', to get it upto my shop on the hill. Well, it got even worse. I went to remove the caliper & rotor and the caliper had been WELDED to the spindle. Turns out, the dumbass had broken the bolt that holds the slider in place and rather than drilling & tapping, he just welded the caliper in place. Only the inboard pad was making contact with the rotor as the caliper was not able to slide and apply pressure on both pads. I had to grind all day to get it apart, then hunt down a caliper and spindle for the heavy duty som-beech. Man, .... you talk about pissed at a feller ... ole hillbilly was so mad that friends didn't hang around to shoot the shit that day. Some say I was really 'on the rag', that day. I was yelling shit like .. '' and that blankety black mother f*cker calls himself a blankety blank mechanic ... somebody orta shoot that blankety blank mother f*cker between the blankety blank eyes ''!!

Lmao!!! I've never heard of welding on a caliper, must be a new system :)

I finally got the front end done, you were right about the springs - easy.

Everything else was hard :(

Or at least time consuming. In my mind it goes: I know what I have to do but it's very difficult - a b*tch. I need to figure it out but think I can - a snag. I have no idea what I'm going to do, really a snag I can't figure out in a reasonable time - a stymie.

This was a 10 b*tch, 4 snag, and 2 stymie job :)

Fortunately swearing at it, banging it with a hammer, and drinking beer with it seems to work it out lol.

Seriously if it wasn't for my neighbors torches I never would've gotten the bushings out of the upper control arms, I would've had to bolt them back on as is. Lucky to have good neighbors. And many thanks to Rob too!

So, 16-18 hours all in, that's the front upper and lower control arm bushings & ball joints, and springs. Oof I'm not kid anymore. The verdict - drum roll please - whoa! it rocks!

I've got a Lincoln again :D

This is the second car I've put polyurethane bushings in, and if you have to change a bushing and Energy (or anyone) makes poly bushings for it, use them.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Now all I have to do is universals, power locks, the starter, a coupla windows, bearings and rotors, etc, etc, etc....

Should be getting a new top in a few weeks. I'll post pics.

Pete

Congratulations. I can only marvel at the ability of people to get such things done. Fortunately for him, my son takes after my wife's side of the family with respect to mechanical ability. His grandpa built a Maserati birdcage, and he's getting ready to replace the block on a Honda Prelude.

Here's the birdcage:

http://www.mirafiori.com/~kdickson/m...s/image016.jpg

Regards,

D-Ray

Oh, man!

For those who aren't familiar with the "Birdcage" Maseratis, they were so called because the frame was a tube steel "space frame", made with hundreds of small diameter steel tubes welded together to form the chassis. The result was a maze of tubes that were reminiscent if a bird's cage.

John

Too cool! It must be a BLAST to drive, a rocket powered roller skate?

Pete

Congratulate me boys, it's a banner day!

I FIXED THE LAST RATTLE!

(insert woohoo smilie here)

Pull up to the bar, the drinks are on me!

I never would've believed that every single part of the front end could rattle at once. 1st I found the idler arm rattling. Fixed it, it got better. Then the pitman arm. Ditto.

After marching through the entire front end - and it got a little better with each new part - I came to the last one. It turned out to be the front calipers. I got hardware kits for them that included new rubber boots and thin plastic sleeves. For the life of me I couldn't figure out where the sleeves went.

It was kinda obvious, that they went inside the boots, but it didn't look like the bolts would fit. Finally I just forced the bolts in. Wala'!

Oh yeah. This has got to be the high point of the biggest overall auto job I've ever done.

Cheers!

Pete

That does call for a celebration. You deserve it.:) You can make mine Gentleman Jack.:cool:

P.S. I'd try to talk the father-in-law to letting me take a spin in the bird cage this weekend, but I'm afraid my gut would not fit behind the wheel. That is not an enclosure for Big Bird.


Regards,

D-Ray

After tons and tons of mechanical work, I finally cleaned up the beastess....

Still needs a top but it's a fairly big ticket item. I've gotta say, it's more work than I expected and I won't do this again. But it's an AWESOME daily driver.

Pete

Did she enjoy the rubdown?:D

She is purty.:) Is that a diplomatic plate on the front?

Regards

D-Ray

Ohio does seem like a foreign country sometimes. ;)

When I lived in DC (and probably still) the diplomatic states all had "DPL" as part of the plate number. We used to joke that it stood for "double parking legal". Not so much of a joke, really.

John