ok, im currently poor, have tools and access to random stuff laying around... any ideas on simple DIY mods i can do to occupie myself ? anything at all that can improve reliability performance, or just to clean things up ?

thanks

-rob

 

Remove the rats nest is one thing. Check pratchs website for an awsome write up to pretty much walk you through it.

 

already started that, but i cant get on pratchs website, wont work for me, so its like half done hah

 

A cold air intake... do a search...

 

i should aslo mention its a 12a carb 85 gs

 

So we want cheap right? Mech secondaries, see if you like it. Relocate that battery to the pas side storage bin. Smnc's suggestion, a cold air intake Gut the cats or preferably run a straight pipe. Slot the strut tower holes to gain a little neg camber. Remove the rear swaybar if you have one. Poly bushings for the front control arms/front swaybar/tension rod are inexpensive and add to the handling, and enjoyment of driving it. Find a waterpump housing from an FC (they're aluminum). Electric cooling fan (Junkyard $15 Ford Tarus or Merc Sable with a V6 I'm told is a great fit). Can you weld? Even if you cant Ive seen homemeade strut tower bars that didnt require welding (do a search). Huge difference in the handling and steering precision. Speaking of which, adjust your steering box if theres a lot of play ( http://www.mazspeed.com/faq3.htm http://www.mazspeed.com/steeringgear.htm ) . Also tkae a close look at your idler arm bushing (they are a common failure point) A new pair of bushings is cheap. Oh, you can also remove your intake manifold and port it to the gasket (no bigger). Is that enough? Will that keep you busy for a while?

 

Carl- Why would you want to remove the rear anti-swaybar?

 

Some poeple don't like cars that handle.

 

Frees up the rear for more bite, reduces oversteer.

 

What year is it Zal? 85's will still need to pass emissions next year.
84's need to pass emissions this year, but I guess you've already done that...
83 and older are exempt...

 

85, and it passed
never has to pass again
cats will be hollowed out, and what do you mean slot the strut holes ? im knew to alot of the terms, but by no means uncapable of doing anything, and i got a friend thats a prefessional welder, ill get him to help me make a strut tower bar... thanks for the advice...

oh mech secondaries ? i hear alot of people talking about it, never any solid instructions about it or how to do it tho, i guess ill do a search

 

When is your birthday? If your birthday is past, you're right, it won't have to pass again, if your b-day is between now and New Years, you will still have to pass again...

 

DLIDFIS is another cheap do-it-yourself mod.

 

may 6th

 

start polishing & cleaning stuff....

cheap & simple... might not make you go faster, but you'll definately be more proud of it...

 

Lucky you
My new SE will only have to pass emissions just this once as well...

 

what would be the most effective way to gut a cat? Ive heard I cant just use some bent piping from a muffler shop for an exhaust on rotarys, too hot or something?

 

hollow out the cats
take a pole and cram it through till all the crap comes out . thats what im doing

 

Replacing mine with straight pipe stuffed with stainless steel wool... a poor man's pre-silencer

 

Yes please search, the info is out there.

 

Wouldn't the steel wool just burn up at the EGT's the 7 has? Steel wool is rather flamable

 

STAINLESS steel wool.

 

Regular steel wool is fun, you can rev the engine good and blow the flaming **** all over the place, lol!

But STAINLESS STEEL wool is a whole different subject. It's much thicker and is REALLY hard to burn. I haven't tried it in my car yet, but it's one of my first planned upgrades...

 

couldnt find anything on slotting the strut holes

 

Look at how camber plates work. The top of the strut can be moved inward to provide negative camber. Ghetto way is to slot the mount holes for the strut topper. Also look for the little arrow on the rubber on the strut topper. Pop the 4 nust, pull it down and rotate it to be back and inboard. This gives you max neg camber and max caster for better handling.

ALso one more cheap mod. The cheapest and most important. TUNING. WHy get %80 of what you got when you can have %100?