I just bought "Paula", looks like there is a wealth of knowledge here. I've been around a lot of cars (and forums), from a lot of makes, done plenty of maintenance stuff, done lots of head gaskets with DOHC set ups, and rebuilt lots of bottom ends on military engines. I'm a mechanical engineer and love to tinker. We're installing a nice Bridgeport II CNC mill at my place now, and will soon have pretty good welding and some fabrication capabilities. The shop will be slow coming as everyone involved has full time "day jobs". I've got lots of other hobbies - MX, SuperMoto, sport bikes, WRC, politics, hobby farming (goats, chickens, gardening) and have 2 kids and a wonderful wife.
My goals with "Paula" are as follows:
reliability... she has quite a bit of maintenance stuff that needs to be taken care of. Shifter bushings, adjusting cables etc. Sounds like she has had all the fluids replaced remotely recently. The front rotors are warped, so that will be a quick project as well. Has new pads already, hopefully those aren't beat to death from the warpage... Tires are OK, but I would like to have a matching set of the gnarliest snow focused all season tires I can find. I ride the sport bike from March till thanksgiving. Paula will be more of a "rally inspired commuter". Some small HP improvements maybe coming her way. I'm thinking the 14B is probably on it's last legs (puffs a little after sitting at idle). May go Evo III 16g and go for a nice, clean easy tune. injectors, fuel pump, and dual stage boost controller. I'll leave it at the 16g oem wastegate psi, and maybe shoot for 15 psi on the high pressure setting. She's already got a 3" turbo back... I don't need more than 300 hp for a a winter daily driver.
I need to get the hood and fenders fixed, and locate a grill insert and a passenger side OEM fog light.
Interior is pretty good, I'll pry just treat the leather several times a month (seems like the leather is starting to dry out) until all the seams loosen up some.
My goals with "Paula" are as follows:
reliability... she has quite a bit of maintenance stuff that needs to be taken care of. Shifter bushings, adjusting cables etc. Sounds like she has had all the fluids replaced remotely recently. The front rotors are warped, so that will be a quick project as well. Has new pads already, hopefully those aren't beat to death from the warpage... Tires are OK, but I would like to have a matching set of the gnarliest snow focused all season tires I can find. I ride the sport bike from March till thanksgiving. Paula will be more of a "rally inspired commuter". Some small HP improvements maybe coming her way. I'm thinking the 14B is probably on it's last legs (puffs a little after sitting at idle). May go Evo III 16g and go for a nice, clean easy tune. injectors, fuel pump, and dual stage boost controller. I'll leave it at the 16g oem wastegate psi, and maybe shoot for 15 psi on the high pressure setting. She's already got a 3" turbo back... I don't need more than 300 hp for a a winter daily driver.
I need to get the hood and fenders fixed, and locate a grill insert and a passenger side OEM fog light.
Interior is pretty good, I'll pry just treat the leather several times a month (seems like the leather is starting to dry out) until all the seams loosen up some.