Well ladies and gentlemen. I finally got my FD on Dec 22, 2004 and I scored really good. Its a mint VR 5-spd touring. It had some minor problems such as a high idle, almost dead battery, exaust leak, bad K&N Filters (need to be replaced asap), and I believe thats all. No synchro issues, no boost issues, compression is good. Paint and body is immaculate, interior is about an 9/10 (driver side seat is a little worn but no rips). All for a wopping $10,800.

Anyways my first small project was to fix the idling issue (car idled at 1500 RPM's, I did some research and I figured it was a 'vacuum hose leak' somewhere in there. Thanks to Chris French a.k.a 'JaNusSolSumnus' on the forums, and the best site ever made, 'robrobinette.com' I had a good idea what to do.

I started to take off everything that 'robrobinette.com' told me to untill I finally got as far as taking out the intake manifold, I found a few hoses that were either loose, or not even plugged in at all. While I was checking all of the **** out, I checked out my sparkplugs and they were in bad shape. I picked up 4 new ones and replaced them. I also picked up some Engine Cleaner, and some Intake Cleaner to give it a decent cleaning in the process.

I put everything back together and vwalla.... A nice 800-1000 RPM idle. It did shoot out some white smoke out the exaust for quite a while but It was because of all the cleaning **** I used. Other than that, it was a good 1 day mini-project because I learned alot more about the car.

Next mini-project, Find the exaust leak and fix it, maybe put in my S.S Downpipe (what do you think?) The car is bone stock.

***Pics of the vac-hose mini-project are here

 

S/S downpipe, aluminum ast, boost gauge, water temp gauge, catback, aluminum radiator. Also, don't forget to change the fuel filter, trans fluid and diff fluid.

 

yeah thats all on my list. but before that i have to get more smaller things like a new battery and **** like that.

i also have a s.s downpipe... it has some rust (will that be a problem?) but after i fix my exaust leak, ill be adding that dp.

 

Nice purchase, congrats!

I'm amazed that the VR paint is still good after 10 years in the Florida sun. They are usually Vintage Pink by now.

 

hey thanks man. yeah it was taken care of pretty good.

 

Nice.. What kind of spark plugs you use? I would heat coat ur DP too keep engine bay a lil cooler (maybe thermal wrap too? ) and to keep the rusting from continuing.. (rusting from the outside anyways)

Mikey M.

 

I am in Florida, I was just curious as to which one you bought, if you bought the ones from autotrader. There have been a crapload of Fd's in the 9k-10,900 dollar range.

 

Oops double post.

 

congrats on the car, and on the completion of your first project. how many miles are on the engine?

 

Engine bay looks kinda funny. Why is all the plastic ducting for the intercooler removed? Why is the AC thing (i forget what it is. Not too good with A/C systems) messed with?

Got a great deal though

 

Looks like you got a great deal. I notice some red over spray in the engine bay, Also some of the metal parts look overly rusty. What is the mileage on this motor, clean title?

 

anyone find the irony and pure truthfulness of this statement in the rotary community....

Its Mint.... BUT

 

WOW i forgot how PACKED the nearly stock engine bay is on our car....

 

it was re-painted like 2 years ago. yeah some parts are pretty rusted but those will be replaced bit by bit. I did buy one from auto trader. it was priced at 10,500. i called the same day he posted it and he told me that some lady gave him a 500 deposite. i asked him if i take a look at it before he sells it, he told me if i bring yeah because the lady wasnt going to have the rest of the money till friday, so i drove the 3 hour drive and offered him 10,500 right then and there cash. he said blah blah i dont want to take nothing lower than 11. then i said well 10.7 is all i got right now and then hes like 10.8 and its yours so i called my bank place to see if i had the 10.8 and i did so i grabbed it. and ejmack1 stop busting ***** im killapimp125 the one who was iming you about the AST and ****. yeaaaah thats me. and i use ngk sparkplugs, not the plats because i heard that they dont do much better than normal ones (just priced like 3-5 dollars higher). the milage is 89650 and title is clean.

from the pictures u see.... are there any major metal parts that look rusted that need to be replaced soon? right now im low on money with the money spent on xmas and the fd, i need to buy the most important **** first. any other suggestions?

~MANNY

 

aint bustin your *****... everyone needs to start somewhere... at least you aren't asking about a tranny conversion...

 

It has been hit in front, this ground cluster is supposed to be behind the front bumper support. See pic.

Nice job on the fix though.

 

What do you mean 'the ground cluster is supposed to be behind the front bumper support' I know the car had a minor bump. Could of been major but it wasnt in the carfax report. Can you take a picture of where it supposed to be at? Thanks in advanced.

~MANNY

 

This pic might help. This is the front of a FD without the bumper on it. Notice the ground cluster is in front of the car, not in the engine bay? There are two of them, one on the left and one on the right.

 

yup i see it, thanks. is it a bad to have it in the engine bay?

 

In reality it doesn't really matter. My point was that someone had to remove the front bumper, bumper support to get to that ground and move it a few inches.

 

Carfax won't list something that was never reported. And in some cases, not even if it was.

 

yeah true. hey but the body work that was done after it was hit was really good. you gotta see it