Jdrift

It's been a long time since I actaully posted anything up about my personal car. So I figured why the hell not.

A year and a half ago I became the owner of a 1987 four lug 5speed S4 and a 1988 GXL with 94k on the odometer. Both cars did not run and the 87 was in dire straights. So, much to my dismay ( and to my roomates desire to have his garage space back) I tore down the 87, stripped it of all the parts that I wanted/needed and shipped her to the salvage yard. With that said I had made some progress on the white GXL. I had found the starter was no good, the connection at the connector just before the fuelpump was high in resistance and the engine was severaly flooded.

After several months of sitting and waiting for some cash, some time, and much warmer weather. I got back into working on the car. I deflooded the engine, replaced the starter and cleaned up the fuel pump connector.

Finally the engine started. But, MY GOD the smoke that plumped from the exhaust. It was so bad, that someoen had actaully called the local Fire department.

With the FD pulling up they asked me if I was burning anything... I had to laugh and say it was just the car. So they left without question. At that point I had also noticed that my Tach wasn't working. A few checks later I found that I had lost spark from my Trailing coil. No big deal. I ran and gathered up one of my spare coils and swapped it out. Low and behold, the engine started again, more smoke and still an inop Tach. At this point I took a compression test with the Re tester I borrowed from work. The numbers read under 5.5 KPa.

At that point i figured it was time to change out the engine. Removing the 87's engine from storage I pumped it full of Zoom power engine cleaner and bench tested the compression, this engine had a decent number of 6.5 Kpa which is about the minimum mark for allowable readings.

I dropped this engine into the car. Changed the oil in it, topped off coolant and proceeded to fire her up. Once more, with no tach signal, she ran, But this time she didn't smoke nearly as bad. Retracing my steps it was caught ( and with a helping hand from a good friend of mine) We found that the main relay was failing intermittenly.

Once more I grabbed a spare part and swapped it out. The car, started, ran and idled in a decent manner. After some adjustments to the tps, the idle, and some time spent freeing up the fast idle cam the car would start at the turn of a key and idle normally.

I proceeded to drink a twelve pack in celibration.

The next week was a local Auto x event. I towed the car to the event and ran it. I was classed with a pair of stock 1993 Mazda Miata's No big deal I figured.

My day proved difficult as for every hard turn I made, I lost power for a few moments. I managed to take second place out of three for some odd reason. hahah.

Towing the car home I ran through my head what I needed to do next. I put a fuel pressure gauge on the car, and had a buddy of mine sit in the back seat checking it out. ( seeing as I tapped it @ the fuel pump) Low and Behold, the pressure dumped off to 5 psi in a hard corner. Replacing the pump I rechecked it and waaala. The car had no more issues. So now, my next step is inspection so I can make this car something I can drive normally when i'm not feeling the S13.

The point of this long winded story is, that the search bar, a workshop manuel, a few good tools, and some time are your best friends.