Ehron

iTrader: (1)

I have had my SE for a month now, and I LOVE IT!

I want to start modifying it. My last car was a civic. The only thing that remained untouched on that thing was the body. Different engine, brakes, suspension, had to rewire engine and interior, etc. I am getting the itch with the 7, but seeing as how the car is almost as old as I am I figure I should take care of some maintenance issues first.

Things I have noticed:

1. Rough ride - I figure I will take care the suspension soon enough. Rear driver's side sits about an inch higher than the passenger side. Sagging springs, or old bushings? I am going to get the book from G-Force soon so I am not going to do anything to the suspension till then.

2. Rough idle - I want to move the battery. Will this take me out of the stock class (SCCA)? I imagine old plug wires, old injectors, old battery could contribute to this. Anything else I should replace?

3. I am afraid of 20 year old fuel lines. What rubber hoses should I replace? The rad hoses look fine. None of the hoses look or feel brittle, but...

4. My oil cooler has started leaking. It is a very small leak. Is this likely something new lines would fix, or is it common for these parts to go? I hope their is nothing wrong with the cooler as expensive as they are.

5. I am quite a novice when it comes to these cars. I have read a lot (for the last 2 years ), but you know how it goes. Anything else I am not thinking about?

6. Did our cars come with urethane paint?

BTW it is an 84 GSL-SE. Thanks guys.

Brent_F

General maintenance-Change all fluids this is a used car you have no idea where it has been how it has been taken care of. Looking at the fluids(coolant, oil, tranny, rear-end) will give you an idea. The hunting idle could be many many things, start with the cheap/easy plugs and wires, check out the contacts in the dizzy, make sure your air filter is clean or better yet buy a new one. As for the battery I don't know off hand. I can post a link to a great site that has most of the current scca rule book on it but I need to do that from home(now at school) I'll try that tonight.

Other things of note, depending on how long your particular car has sat it might just need to be run. I recently got my se and it had sat some before I bought it. Once I got it back to road worthy I took it out for a 4 hr. drive one afternoon and since then my idle and smoking has improved. Idle is rock steady and the little bit of coolant smoke I was getting is gone.

Make sure you have no rust.-storage bins, front floor board, and the foot wells. Inspect them NOW the problems will only get worse so take care of them.

Good Luck

riofrio

Replace fuel filter too.

Mr BiG G

ur better off getting an aftermarket oil cooler or one off the 2nd or 3rd gens because theyr'e better than wat we have

7aull

iTrader: (2)

If you decide NOT to move the battery, replace the battery cables! 20 yr old cables,even if they look fine, can be a source of all sorts of electrical gremlins. And since SEs have a ton of electric doo-dads, that can be a real hassle! OEM lines are pricy, but places like Victoria British sell aftermarket sets for under $50.

I agree with Brent that unless you have documented PROOF that certain fluids have been changed - CHANGE EVERYTHING (that includes brakes). Its the only way to start off fresh...
have fun- welcome!
Stu Aull
Alaska
80GS

Lotus00

1) change oil (if you havent already)
2) spark plugs
3) spark plug wires
4) distributor cap and rotor
5) air filter
6) fuel filter
7) fluids (brake, clutch, and coolant {power steering if you have it})
8) brakes
9) belts
10) check fluid levels in tranny and diff
11) check steering and suspension for worn/missing bushings
12) wash it (a clean car is a happy car)
13) I dont know if this is really necessary, but I am going to take off the intake and clean out the 6 ports. I hear they can see a ton of carbon build up.

You said its ilding rough, heres a link to help

Brent_F

Yes I forgot the all important fuel filter, shame on me. Brakes too those are kinda important. Anyway here is that link for auto x rules. http://moutons.org/sccasolo/

SERIES 1 XLR8

just give it a really good clean, u'd be surprised at some of the dirt buildup once you take up parts. Plus then you normally can find small rust spots that u can treat b4 they get bigger.

Have fun!