1979 Spark Yellow Barn Find!
08-05-14, 10:32 PM
#26
Ripped some more of the interior out and scrubbed every inch of it...
Reassembled it, now it smells like Meguiars natural shine interior spray, and Febreze Wild berries and honey lol
Then I started buffing the car, the color is coming back!
Got a sweet Ohiorotaries shirt to match the car!
And finally tagged the car so it looks like I actually own it lol
Reassembled it, now it smells like Meguiars natural shine interior spray, and Febreze Wild berries and honey lol
Then I started buffing the car, the color is coming back!
Got a sweet Ohiorotaries shirt to match the car!
And finally tagged the car so it looks like I actually own it lol
08-06-14, 11:09 PM
#27
Hadnt posted this yet, figure I should.
Date code
Window sticker...
Started buffing...
Detailed engine bay a bit,
Finished buffing...
Also I was pretty sure I needed oil control rings, and that I had no choice but to rebuild. The car would smoke terribly at start up, even after an hour of sitting. I had warmed the car up, and only driven it a mile or two. So I drove it further than that, and drove the crap out of it. Afterwards I parked it... Next day I started it and..... No smoke... Waited... Nope, dont see anything. Got out of the car, and no smoke! Drove the car for a good twenty minutes, parked it, let it cool off. Started it and BAM! NOTHING! No smoke!! Heres hoping it stays that way!
Date code
Window sticker...
Started buffing...
Detailed engine bay a bit,
Finished buffing...
Also I was pretty sure I needed oil control rings, and that I had no choice but to rebuild. The car would smoke terribly at start up, even after an hour of sitting. I had warmed the car up, and only driven it a mile or two. So I drove it further than that, and drove the crap out of it. Afterwards I parked it... Next day I started it and..... No smoke... Waited... Nope, dont see anything. Got out of the car, and no smoke! Drove the car for a good twenty minutes, parked it, let it cool off. Started it and BAM! NOTHING! No smoke!! Heres hoping it stays that way!
08-07-14, 06:39 AM
#29
From what I understand, that dealer paperwork is the ONLY place that the engine serial number appears, and is the only way to tell if the eninge in the car is the one that came from the factory. having that paperwork is a score in and of itself, but holy CRAP do you have a freakin' amazing $1000 car!
08-07-14, 06:58 AM
#30
Just ran across this thread, congrauts! Original owners are normally the best people to buy from. Cars can be emotional purchases and the passon that drives a person to own a particular car also motivates them to lovingly care and look after it, even wanting it to go into the right hands once they've decided to parts ways with it.
I like what I see, both in the car and what you're doing to it. I'd polish up the rough spots while keeping it stock and un-molested. Modified cars are faster and maybe funner in some ways, but a nice orginial car provides a satisfaction thats hard to duplicate. This is a rarer color combination, which to me, makes it more important to keep it way it was built.
Funny thing, about this. You almost exclusively only see Keyholes on early Spark Cars, but not on EVERY Spark car? There is probablly some plausable explaination for this, but I've never heard the reason. Kinda like you almost never see a Spark car that got a sunroof either. Interiors can be either Black or this 2-tone Brown and I've saw 2-tone brown seat varations as well. When built, I'd bet this car only had a drivers side mirror. Lots of early cars got the passenger door mirror added by the dealer or an owner who wanted to keep it current with the newer cars arriving at lots. Yes, the engine number on the window sticker is the only current way to prove it still has the original engine installed. Added providence. I'd keep the OEM spare mounted the way it is and source another waffle to mount a usable spare tire on.
I like what I see, both in the car and what you're doing to it. I'd polish up the rough spots while keeping it stock and un-molested. Modified cars are faster and maybe funner in some ways, but a nice orginial car provides a satisfaction thats hard to duplicate. This is a rarer color combination, which to me, makes it more important to keep it way it was built.
Funny thing, about this. You almost exclusively only see Keyholes on early Spark Cars, but not on EVERY Spark car? There is probablly some plausable explaination for this, but I've never heard the reason. Kinda like you almost never see a Spark car that got a sunroof either. Interiors can be either Black or this 2-tone Brown and I've saw 2-tone brown seat varations as well. When built, I'd bet this car only had a drivers side mirror. Lots of early cars got the passenger door mirror added by the dealer or an owner who wanted to keep it current with the newer cars arriving at lots. Yes, the engine number on the window sticker is the only current way to prove it still has the original engine installed. Added providence. I'd keep the OEM spare mounted the way it is and source another waffle to mount a usable spare tire on.
08-07-14, 09:59 AM
#31
Just ran across this thread, congrauts! Original owners are normally the best people to buy from. Cars can be emotional purchases and the passon that drives a person to own a particular car also motivates them to lovingly care and look after it, even wanting it to go into the right hands once they've decided to parts ways with it.
I like what I see, both in the car and what you're doing to it. I'd polish up the rough spots while keeping it stock and un-molested. Modified cars are faster and maybe funner in some ways, but a nice orginial car provides a satisfaction thats hard to duplicate. This is a rarer color combination, which to me, makes it more important to keep it way it was built.
Funny thing, about this. You almost exclusively only see Keyholes on early Spark Cars, but not on EVERY Spark car? There is probablly some plausable explaination for this, but I've never heard the reason. Kinda like you almost never see a Spark car that got a sunroof either. Interiors can be either Black or this 2-tone Brown and I've saw 2-tone brown seat varations as well. When built, I'd bet this car only had a drivers side mirror. Lots of early cars got the passenger door mirror added by the dealer or an owner who wanted to keep it current with the newer cars arriving at lots. Yes, the engine number on the window sticker is the only current way to prove it still has the original engine installed. Added providence. I'd keep the OEM spare mounted the way it is and source another waffle to mount a usable spare tire on.
I like what I see, both in the car and what you're doing to it. I'd polish up the rough spots while keeping it stock and un-molested. Modified cars are faster and maybe funner in some ways, but a nice orginial car provides a satisfaction thats hard to duplicate. This is a rarer color combination, which to me, makes it more important to keep it way it was built.
Funny thing, about this. You almost exclusively only see Keyholes on early Spark Cars, but not on EVERY Spark car? There is probablly some plausable explaination for this, but I've never heard the reason. Kinda like you almost never see a Spark car that got a sunroof either. Interiors can be either Black or this 2-tone Brown and I've saw 2-tone brown seat varations as well. When built, I'd bet this car only had a drivers side mirror. Lots of early cars got the passenger door mirror added by the dealer or an owner who wanted to keep it current with the newer cars arriving at lots. Yes, the engine number on the window sticker is the only current way to prove it still has the original engine installed. Added providence. I'd keep the OEM spare mounted the way it is and source another waffle to mount a usable spare tire on.
Does anyone have a car that came with keyholes, and a window sticker from the same year? Perhaps there was a price difference between waffles and keyholes as an option?
08-07-14, 10:25 AM
#33
That said I build the exhaust systems on all of my cars, gotten pretty good at it too. So I will do my best to make it sound/look stock
08-08-14, 07:38 AM
#35
I thought it sounded a little loud in your video. Interesting question about the price of the wheels. I looked at the stickers on my 79 GS and 79 Limited to see if there was a difference BTW a regular waffle and the Limited waffle. Unfortunately, the Limited sticker does not list anything seperately as options. Looks like it was a single special package with one price.
I did notice that on the GS, my alloy wheels were combined with the sun roof for $550. Your sticker lists the wheels as $275, which I assume means the sunroof option was also $275. (275 X 2=550) I would also assume that all 3 styles of alloy wheels were the same standard upcharge over the basic steelies but it would be interesting to see a sticker with Keyholes.
Unless he is way out of line, you might just want to bite the bullit. Prices may not be going up but I don't see them comming down either in the forseeable future.
08-13-14, 01:21 AM
#36
No pics, but today was kinda a sad day. The car had been backfiring pretty badly since I had gotten it running. It was usually only on decel. The exhaust was falling apart, so I yanked it off to inspect it. Despite not breaking a single bolt taking everything off, its unusable. It is a genuine factory original exhaust, its been with the car its entire life. Well, today I had to remove it, and it isnt going back on. The heat exchanger has holes in it, and it isnt really salvageable. In order to ensure the thermal reactor doesnt overheat and collapse, I removed it. The backfires were on occasion on par with lighting off a cannon. Further inspection revealed the muffler had exploded (Pics soon!)
The car now has a 1985 Exhaust manifold (Modified for SA housings), and a custom exhaust. Its quiet though, which is pretty nice. The new exhaust is loads lighter, and 2 inch versus the inch and 7/8's of the factory system. But the backfiring has been cured, and she is running great. Idling (ROCK SOLID) at 600 rpm!
As of this post I have 1,146 posts! 12a engine = 1146 cc's!! WINNING!
The car now has a 1985 Exhaust manifold (Modified for SA housings), and a custom exhaust. Its quiet though, which is pretty nice. The new exhaust is loads lighter, and 2 inch versus the inch and 7/8's of the factory system. But the backfiring has been cured, and she is running great. Idling (ROCK SOLID) at 600 rpm!
As of this post I have 1,146 posts! 12a engine = 1146 cc's!! WINNING!
08-13-14, 06:55 AM
#37
If its running better and not popping when you lift off the throttle, I'd say thats better than having the original, non functional exhaust.
One more suggestion, I keep binders on all my special vehicles as a place to organize and store everything done to and about the vehicle. A little **** I know, but well worth it I believe in the long run. I look at it as building and documenting a history of the vehicle that hopefully some subsequent owner down the road will continue. After all, we are only temporary care takers of these cars.
While you still have the chance, I'd include pictures of the original owner, maybe get some copies of old pictures he might have of the car, like the first day he brought it home. Maybe get him to write a short note on what the car means to him or some special event or memory related to the car. Kind of cheesey I know, but this kind of documentation that includes real people who've cared for the car, helps bring the cars history to life and to me, adds value to the car. Don't forget to add things related to yourself, like pictures of when you went over to see it for the first time or first brought it home. From there you can add reciepts and show work done to it as time goes by. Then when the day comes to pass the car on, the next guy has something to see, fall back on and continue with.
One more suggestion, I keep binders on all my special vehicles as a place to organize and store everything done to and about the vehicle. A little **** I know, but well worth it I believe in the long run. I look at it as building and documenting a history of the vehicle that hopefully some subsequent owner down the road will continue. After all, we are only temporary care takers of these cars.
While you still have the chance, I'd include pictures of the original owner, maybe get some copies of old pictures he might have of the car, like the first day he brought it home. Maybe get him to write a short note on what the car means to him or some special event or memory related to the car. Kind of cheesey I know, but this kind of documentation that includes real people who've cared for the car, helps bring the cars history to life and to me, adds value to the car. Don't forget to add things related to yourself, like pictures of when you went over to see it for the first time or first brought it home. From there you can add reciepts and show work done to it as time goes by. Then when the day comes to pass the car on, the next guy has something to see, fall back on and continue with.
08-15-14, 08:17 AM
#40
Had a photo-shoot with the car before I left to work all weekend. Drove the car all over locally, used it to run errands, and just to cruise.
There is a semi-truck scale behind my house, weighed the car for fun! This is sans thermal reactor exhaust, and a half tank of fuel.
Pretty pleased with the progress so far, going to pull the engine at some point and clean it. Otherwise not much else to do right now!
There is a semi-truck scale behind my house, weighed the car for fun! This is sans thermal reactor exhaust, and a half tank of fuel.
Pretty pleased with the progress so far, going to pull the engine at some point and clean it. Otherwise not much else to do right now!
08-15-14, 10:46 AM
#41
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that is a really clean car, amazing find. Too bad it would be near impossible to find a good original exhaust. I would be worth keeping you eyes open though.
08-15-14, 08:38 PM
#42
I just managed to source a points dizzy locally (Its been upgraded to electronic), really all I need is an OEM replacement muffler, and an OEM heat exchanger and I could reuse a lot of that exhaust. There again, Ill be looking for awhile for those pieces I am sure lol
08-27-14, 05:57 AM
#45
The other one is an S model (steelies & 4 speed) Guessing it had the Blk interior? Those side by sides illustrate just how susceptible the yellow is to fading. You can tell by the color of yours that it spent the majority of its life inside. If you don't have a garage to park it in, I'd suggest investing in a good all weather cover. Dark colors are better at blocking out the light.
Did you happen to get the VIN off that car? A 2/78 car is an EXTREMELY early car. The first month of construction, which makes them more desireable and valuable. It could be a pre-production car with all sorts of small details that got changed as the year went on. It would be interesting to see more pictures of the inside and under the hood. Definitely a car that might be worth the effort to rescue.
Did you happen to get the VIN off that car? A 2/78 car is an EXTREMELY early car. The first month of construction, which makes them more desireable and valuable. It could be a pre-production car with all sorts of small details that got changed as the year went on. It would be interesting to see more pictures of the inside and under the hood. Definitely a car that might be worth the effort to rescue.
08-27-14, 01:30 PM
#46
Shop owner had all the info on the car, including the vin. It was super early, but I dont remember the VIN now. Here are some more pics of the car.
[IMG]http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/lokirx7/P8260028_zpse115072c.jpg[/IMG
Looks like it has black interior, it has VERY dark tint. Has a two spoke steering wheel, aftermarket sunroof, back seats, and some sweet looking retro Mazda shift ****. Trying to get the owner to contact me asap. I may be interested, and it not know several others locally that want it. I may go back today and get the vin to re-confirm the build date.
[IMG]http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/lokirx7/P8260028_zpse115072c.jpg[/IMG
Looks like it has black interior, it has VERY dark tint. Has a two spoke steering wheel, aftermarket sunroof, back seats, and some sweet looking retro Mazda shift ****. Trying to get the owner to contact me asap. I may be interested, and it not know several others locally that want it. I may go back today and get the vin to re-confirm the build date.
)
08-28-14, 07:11 AM
#48
"S" models did come with a 2 spoke steering wheel and a kind of bulbous, round 4 speed shift ****. Should also have the early style dash/door trim, no map pockets on the door cards, speaker dash and RH hood prop that folds/stores in the bonnet. They also did not come standard with the exterior rubber body trim. That could have been added later by the dealer or owner, like the passanger door mirror. The original tires on S models were different too: Bridgestone RD-203's. Size 165 75R-13 (in case the OEM spare is still there)
Aftermarket sunroofs are for the most part, a turn off for the purists of these cars. From your additional pictures, it does look pretty rough and obviously re-painted at some point. (rear tow hook should not be body colored) It would take a bucket full of money to properly go through this car regardless of what you could get it for. Not a project for the faint of heart or one that currently makes much sense, investment wise. It might be something cheap to stash away just in case it someday might actually be worth it to redo.
The real early cars were pre-production cars. The design and style of some components would eventually change and evolve through 78 and into 79. Construction techniques and methods were still being refined too and differences show up in some of the underlying details. Some were also used as test mules and magazine test vehicles. This is what makes the early build cars slightly unique among 79's. Right now however it appears to me as mostly just another old japanese car, more of a money pit than anything else.
Aftermarket sunroofs are for the most part, a turn off for the purists of these cars. From your additional pictures, it does look pretty rough and obviously re-painted at some point. (rear tow hook should not be body colored) It would take a bucket full of money to properly go through this car regardless of what you could get it for. Not a project for the faint of heart or one that currently makes much sense, investment wise. It might be something cheap to stash away just in case it someday might actually be worth it to redo.
The real early cars were pre-production cars. The design and style of some components would eventually change and evolve through 78 and into 79. Construction techniques and methods were still being refined too and differences show up in some of the underlying details. Some were also used as test mules and magazine test vehicles. This is what makes the early build cars slightly unique among 79's. Right now however it appears to me as mostly just another old japanese car, more of a money pit than anything else.
09-22-14, 12:11 PM
#49
The other spark yellow has disappeared, the owner came and got the car. I am assuming he is holding on to it.
So on the first test drive the secondaries worked, since then, they have not. I am assuming the vacuum diaphragm for the secondaries has failed. On further inspection they were frozen shut, lubed them up and worked them back and forth until they operated smoothly. Then I went out for a drive, MAN does the car feel faster. Feels like what a stock first gen should feel like, and with the open diff it melts the tires off lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQEA...ature=youtu.be
There is a video of some shenanigans...
I also put new radiator hoses on, new heater hoses, and a new thermostat. Oh and a new alternator belt to replace the old dry-rotted belt.
Hoping the weather holds out, I want to keep driving the car as much as I can!
So on the first test drive the secondaries worked, since then, they have not. I am assuming the vacuum diaphragm for the secondaries has failed. On further inspection they were frozen shut, lubed them up and worked them back and forth until they operated smoothly. Then I went out for a drive, MAN does the car feel faster. Feels like what a stock first gen should feel like, and with the open diff it melts the tires off lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQEA...ature=youtu.be
There is a video of some shenanigans...
I also put new radiator hoses on, new heater hoses, and a new thermostat. Oh and a new alternator belt to replace the old dry-rotted belt.
Hoping the weather holds out, I want to keep driving the car as much as I can!