My new $225 GXE project car
04-20-2010, 08:18 PM
#42
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
After washing off four years of grime, the paint looks great!
(Picture)
The body is practically flawless aside from that one door, which, despite its condition, didn't let in any water when I washed it. I vacuumed the interior and it looks almost new aside from the carpet.
I haven't been able to do much this weekend. It rained on and off today and is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. So far I have disconnected most of the electrical connections on the engine, drained the oil, and removed the air intake, filter box, engine cover, UIM / TB / EGR, and coil packs.
Right now, the forecast for next weekend is looking good. I hope to put in a good amount of time on it then, because I'm going on vacation May 1.
(Picture)
The body is practically flawless aside from that one door, which, despite its condition, didn't let in any water when I washed it. I vacuumed the interior and it looks almost new aside from the carpet.
I haven't been able to do much this weekend. It rained on and off today and is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. So far I have disconnected most of the electrical connections on the engine, drained the oil, and removed the air intake, filter box, engine cover, UIM / TB / EGR, and coil packs.
Right now, the forecast for next weekend is looking good. I hope to put in a good amount of time on it then, because I'm going on vacation May 1.
Last edited by Str0mz0r; 04-20-2010 at 08:19 PM. Reason: Picture made screen too big.
04-20-2010, 08:26 PM
#43
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
04-20-2010, 08:29 PM
#44
04-20-2010, 09:24 PM
#45
Bought my current engine at a salvage yard for $750. I still don't understand how it could only have had 7000 miles on it back in 2002. Hmmm..
Great deal on the car. I'd give that much to be able to pull parts!
Dom
Great deal on the car. I'd give that much to be able to pull parts!
Dom
04-25-2010, 12:46 PM
#47
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
I made an interesting discovery today when removing the LIM. Having sat for a very long time, the car has become home to a variety of creatures. When I turned the LIM over, I found a live creepy looking dark black spider. When I poked at it with a crowbar, it turned to reveal a red hourglass shape. For those of you not up on your arachnids, it was a black widow! 
...was...
So the fuel tube / injectors, LIM, and rocker covers are now off. Next step is to get under the car and start working towards the timing chain case. Unfortunately my old 2 ½ ton jack does not quite have the range to get the car where I need it. The ground slopes downhill and I will have to get the driver's side a little bit higher up to level the car.
One of the four tabs on the #6 injector is broken off. I am not sure what effect that has on its performance, but it's going on the list of parts to replace anyway.
Where possible I am leaving nuts & bolts in place after removing the parts they secure. For the rest of them, scrap cardboard and a sharpie do a fine job.
I am going out of town for a week on the 1st, so buying a new jack, as well a puller for the crankshaft pulley, are going to have to wait until I get back. The project may be slow going, but at least it gives me something to wrench on after watching Powerblock each weekend.
...was... So the fuel tube / injectors, LIM, and rocker covers are now off. Next step is to get under the car and start working towards the timing chain case. Unfortunately my old 2 ½ ton jack does not quite have the range to get the car where I need it. The ground slopes downhill and I will have to get the driver's side a little bit higher up to level the car.
One of the four tabs on the #6 injector is broken off. I am not sure what effect that has on its performance, but it's going on the list of parts to replace anyway.
Where possible I am leaving nuts & bolts in place after removing the parts they secure. For the rest of them, scrap cardboard and a sharpie do a fine job.
I am going out of town for a week on the 1st, so buying a new jack, as well a puller for the crankshaft pulley, are going to have to wait until I get back. The project may be slow going, but at least it gives me something to wrench on after watching Powerblock each weekend.
Last edited by komik; 07-16-2017 at 08:14 AM. Reason: Updated image links
04-25-2010, 06:04 PM
#49
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Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
04-27-2010, 09:14 PM
#52
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Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
It is pretty nasty. The oil I drained out was the blackest oil I have ever seen. There is a good layer of sludge coating the valves. It smells pretty bad too. A friend of mine works in the machine shop at ABC Auto Parts. Once I get the heads off, he is going to thoroughly clean and resurface them.
04-27-2010, 10:25 PM
#53
It is pretty nasty. The oil I drained out was the blackest oil I have ever seen. There is a good layer of sludge coating the valves. It smells pretty bad too. A friend of mine works in the machine shop at ABC Auto Parts. Once I get the heads off, he is going to thoroughly clean and resurface them.
So is the engine pretty much hydro locked ?
02-26-2011, 04:50 PM
#56
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Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 268
Shortly after my last update I started travelling a lot and have had little time to devote to this project and after running the numbers some more I have decided to abandon it. For what it would cost me to fix / replace the engine and get the body work done I could buy another running Max. The GXE is now a donor car for my SE and will be sold to a junkyard when I'm done.
Today I swapped the steering wheel, driver's door interior handle / key cylinder / latch / connecting rods, sun visors, center armrest, front marker lights, center A/C vents / clock / flasher / defrost, glove compartment, and rear view mirror. I may paint the valve covers and UMI to put in the SE whenever I get around to replacing its valve cover gaskets. I'm going to keep some other parts (coil packs, alternator, starter) for spares.
Today I swapped the steering wheel, driver's door interior handle / key cylinder / latch / connecting rods, sun visors, center armrest, front marker lights, center A/C vents / clock / flasher / defrost, glove compartment, and rear view mirror. I may paint the valve covers and UMI to put in the SE whenever I get around to replacing its valve cover gaskets. I'm going to keep some other parts (coil packs, alternator, starter) for spares.
02-26-2011, 07:29 PM
#57
Shortly after my last update I started travelling a lot and have had little time to devote to this project and after running the numbers some more I have decided to abandon it. For what it would cost me to fix / replace the engine and get the body work done I could buy another running Max. The GXE is now a donor car for my SE and will be sold to a junkyard when I'm done
Today I swapped the steering wheel, driver's door interior handle / key cylinder / latch / connecting rods, sun visors, center armrest, front marker lights, center A/C vents / clock / flasher / defrost, glove compartment, and rear view mirror. I may paint the valve covers and UMI to put in the SE whenever I get around to replacing its valve cover gaskets. I'm going to keep some other parts (coil packs, alternator, starter) for spares.
Today I swapped the steering wheel, driver's door interior handle / key cylinder / latch / connecting rods, sun visors, center armrest, front marker lights, center A/C vents / clock / flasher / defrost, glove compartment, and rear view mirror. I may paint the valve covers and UMI to put in the SE whenever I get around to replacing its valve cover gaskets. I'm going to keep some other parts (coil packs, alternator, starter) for spares.
02-27-2011, 05:16 AM
#60
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mansfield, Texas
Posts: 73
Oh well. I understand the logic of parting it out. However, my nature would have forced me to put a good salvage motor and door in it. Then put it back on the road and work out the bugs. I have a guy here local that would have sold you a complete running 125k motor with all accessories still attached for $300. Then snag the door from craigslist here in DFW for $100 or less. Add $200 in misc unknowns and for a grand total of $600+$250=$850, you would have had a good car.
02-27-2011, 11:11 AM
#61
Oh well. I understand the logic of parting it out. However, my nature would have forced me to put a good salvage motor and door in it. Then put it back on the road and work out the bugs. I have a guy here local that would have sold you a complete running 125k motor with all accessories still attached for $300. Then snag the door from craigslist here in DFW for $100 or less. Add $200 in misc unknowns and for a grand total of $600+$250=$850, you would have had a good car.
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