Savin Big Money Project Thread
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My name is John Menard. Not related to the "real" John Menard though. They won't give me any family discount even though I have spent thousands there...
No updates for the car yet but I did get the wiring in my garage completed, 60A feed to sub panel, lots of lights and receptacles, even a nightlight. Now its ready to get something done.
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Got some work done last night. After taking the belt off, the alternator sounds kinda scratchy when turning, anybody rebuilt one?
Found why I have to add coolant every month or so, upper rad hose connection was leaking a tiny bit.
Just buy OEM style hose clamps people.
One of these things is not like the other.
Here is where I am at now.
Piles of parts are growing.
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Got the piles cleaned up and started taking some more parts off.\
Powered by Leinenkugels
And the persuaders.
Dropped the exhaust.
I haven't split the cat section from the catback ever but it sucks to take the full exhaust on and off so I just cut/snapped the bolts.
Test fit my 330 front brakes. 325mm
Just clears the 16" contours, as far as I know there are very few 16's that will clear 330 brakes.
From the back.
325 vs 330.
Removed front fenders, knuckles, struts, and control arms.
Here is how she sits now.
How does all this nast get into here??
Rust in here wasn't too bad, I expected worse.
These are still great after 45k on them. Someday I may get something adjustable but not until these are worn out.
And my helper, she found the HG in the porch and was carrying it around. She is also very helpful at sorting my sockets into the trash.
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A pickle fork, bfh, AND Leiene's
a man after my own heart
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The rust seems surprisingly controllable. How do you intend to keep it from coming back?

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My old wheels! Lookin good man!
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Haha exactly, I plan to cut out any bad parts and weld in new metal. Parts with just surface rust I will use some rust killer stuff, and the whole bottom of the car will get POR15 or possibly rhino liner. I don't winter drive it so hopefully after doing all of this it will be good for another 20 years.
Your car looks like mine at the moment but your motor is in. There will be dirt in the frame behind where you had dirt before. No clue how I am getting it out.
Inside of the rockers? I think both sides will have some that needs to be cut and patched so I will be able to get a shop vac hose in there to clean it out. I might cover over the holes where the plastic jacking pads went because I don't use them anyway and they are where the rust started from.
Air then vacuum, repeat.
Yep, I know there is dirt in there because I had the front end lifted up and if I tapped on the rockers sand/debris would fall out of the little drain holes.
My old wheels! Lookin good man!
Yep, I like them a lot. Probably will get some new tires next year, got these pretty well worn out.
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Finally an update:
This guy is crazy! Also what do you guys think about the opposite of his original colors? So I would paint black up to the plastic strips on the doors?
Ok, there hasn't been any progress for a while because I have been redoing the plumbing and basement bathroom in our house.
Out with the old, some of the pipes were so full of rust that there was only about 3/8ths inch diameter left.
Bathroom
On to the good stuff. I got the engine and trans out.
ABS, brake lines, fuel lines out.
Gas tank, this was much more difficult than I thought it would be, once you undo the straps there are all of the evap hoses hooked onto the right front corner that are hard to reach.
Dropped the whole rear subframe together, it balances perfectly with the jack under the differential pushed up against the hoop in the subframe.
Kinda ran out of space, so I will have to disassemble it back here.
I am ordering reinforcements and hopefully welding them in next week, the rust underneath isn't bad except the rockers. Here's a couple of the tunnel and above the gas tank.
Next things on the list:
Disassemble rear suspension
Remove brake booster and firewall insulation
Cut unused brackets from engine bay
Weld in new brackets for e30 coolant expansion tank
Build some stands to support body while i repair the rockers, I will fab some stands to support it from the front sub frame attachment points and rear spring perches
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Do work!!
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Wow just read through this thread and I LOVE IT! Totally would've been this extensive with my car this summer if i had the time.
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Looking good man! Keep it up. Also, great job on the bathroom too.
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