85 L6 GS/SE project restoration
01-06-11, 10:38 PM
#154
as of now its still on the road and not in storage...which is unfortunate.. but i dont drive it on snowy or salty roads. its still running perfectly and i couldnt be happier with the car!! here is the most recent pic i have:
02-13-11, 07:07 PM
#156
got the GS dug out of the snow and put back in the garage and it sits eagerly awaiting the new tokico blue shocks and struts! will keep this updated with new hi res pics of the install! the GS loves being back in the garage!!
02-14-11, 11:01 AM
#157
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i still really like this car, its kind of perfect
02-23-11, 02:34 AM
#158
in the process of installing tokico blues now! broke one bolt off so far on one of the lower mounting bolts in the front. i'm just going to take the control arms and spindle assemblies off so i have more working room and so i can work on getting the broken bolt out. hopefully there's enough left to weld another bolt to so that i can extract it..
03-05-11, 04:15 AM
#160
i removed the front strut assemblies as well as the control arms last night. i'm going to seperate everything today and shot blast my control arms and install the new ball joints into the control arms. once thats finished i'll por 15 or chassis paint the control arms. once the control arm bushings come in, those will be pressed in as well. this leaves me with shot blasting and painting my springs and installing the new tokick blue cartidges up front. i'll post some pics of the rear install..
03-14-11, 01:47 PM
#164
the car originally came from michigan and its not the cleanest underbody i've seen. i had to have the car because of the color..so i chose to use this car as my SE swap platform/restoration car. the long term goal is to install an 85 GSL disc brake rear and shelf this rear end. this rear end has all new bearings and brake components though and works well. i hope i'll like the blues. i hope to have everything together this week and have it down for an alignment so it'll be back on the road. was waiting on new contro arm bushings and now i'm waiting on the dealer to get mt new control arm bolts and lower strut housing bolts.
03-20-11, 08:11 PM
#165
i've got some pics of my current progress. my major hangup is aquiring the retaining nuts that hold the tokico blues in the stock housing. they should be on the way and when they arrive i'll be able to make more progress as well. i also just picked up my new control arm bushings and new control arm bolts which i will post pics of later tonight!
03-21-11, 12:39 PM
#168
ok here are the pics of where i'm at. i got new energy suspension control arm bushings and picked up all six new control arm bolts from the dealer. having my car down for so long is killing me.. but waiting on the nuts to arrive is no big deal because i still have to shot blast my control arms, press in the new ball joints, paint or por 15 the control arms and install them.
04-01-11, 01:50 AM
#170
ok, here's where i'm at. i went to my buddy's race/machine shop and i pressed out the old ball joints, shot and sand blasted both control arms, sand blasted both tie rod/ball joint arms, powder coated the arms, pressed in and welded in the new ball joints and when i came home tonight, i por 15's the control arms. here are the pics of my progress:
new tokico hardware kit for the tokico blues. tokico overnighted me the kits:
new tokico blues installed and both lower holes tapped to original thread size:
the blasted control arms and powder coated arms:
control arms por 15'd:
new tokico hardware kit for the tokico blues. tokico overnighted me the kits:
new tokico blues installed and both lower holes tapped to original thread size:
the blasted control arms and powder coated arms:
control arms por 15'd:
04-02-11, 02:23 AM
#172
got the car back together this evening. glad to have it fully operational again. i haven't taken it for a test drive yet, due to the rain and it being past 3am..and me being tired. went together smoothly and i look forward to driving it tomorrow. lets pray for dry skies. took a few pics. i didn't take very many because i was working intently to get this done tonight and forgot to take them as i was putting it back together.
starting the passenger side(driver's side was already done at this juncture):
finishing up by putting the tires on:
all parts installed:
a couple angles of the car before the initial drive:
starting the passenger side(driver's side was already done at this juncture):
finishing up by putting the tires on:
all parts installed:
a couple angles of the car before the initial drive:
Last edited by mazdaverx713b; 04-02-11 at 02:26 AM.
Wish you were closer, I've got the GSL rear end you're looking for left over from my -SE swap. :/
04-03-11, 02:32 AM
#174
wish i were closer too! not only for the GSL rear, but i'd be working with mostly rust free 7's, i wouldn't have to deal with six months of nasty cold weather and heaps of snow.. though i do hope to aquire a GSL rear this summer. if it were economical i'd have you ship it to me..
on the initial drive, the car handled exceptionally well! pulls to the right slightly but after i install new inner and outer tie rod ends and get an alignment, it should drive like new. it already feels like a new car after the shocks, struts, ball joints, and bushings!
on the initial drive, the car handled exceptionally well! pulls to the right slightly but after i install new inner and outer tie rod ends and get an alignment, it should drive like new. it already feels like a new car after the shocks, struts, ball joints, and bushings!
04-03-11, 12:36 PM
#175
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wish i were closer too! not only for the GSL rear, but i'd be working with mostly rust free 7's, i wouldn't have to deal with six months of nasty cold weather and heaps of snow.. though i do hope to aquire a GSL rear this summer. if it were economical i'd have you ship it to me..
on the initial drive, the car handled exceptionally well! pulls to the right slightly but after i install new inner and outer tie rod ends and get an alignment, it should drive like new. it already feels like a new car after the shocks, struts, ball joints, and bushings!
on the initial drive, the car handled exceptionally well! pulls to the right slightly but after i install new inner and outer tie rod ends and get an alignment, it should drive like new. it already feels like a new car after the shocks, struts, ball joints, and bushings!