My 83 GS "pandafb" gets restored - Again! (lots of rust/metal work)
02-21-13, 08:57 AM
#27
Thanks! Glad you're still around here. Haven't seen you update in awhile.
Quick pictureless update - got the last few spots finished up on that driver side footwell/frame area so tonight/this weekend I'll get going on the passenger side.
On a side note I bought a set of intake manifolds from a member on here that had been powdercoated. They look much nicer than my dirty old JDM manifolds so that will add a bit of bling to my engine bay. I'm also working on modding the TB to use a NA (or FB) throttle cable rather than the absurdly long T2 one. More details on this to follow as I get to it
I'm still shooting to have this car done in the Spring but we'll see....
Quick pictureless update - got the last few spots finished up on that driver side footwell/frame area so tonight/this weekend I'll get going on the passenger side.
On a side note I bought a set of intake manifolds from a member on here that had been powdercoated. They look much nicer than my dirty old JDM manifolds so that will add a bit of bling to my engine bay. I'm also working on modding the TB to use a NA (or FB) throttle cable rather than the absurdly long T2 one. More details on this to follow as I get to it
I'm still shooting to have this car done in the Spring but we'll see....
02-21-13, 10:06 AM
#28
02-21-13, 10:33 AM
#29
Yeah I guess they did it that way because of the top mount intercooler. Still though you think they could have make the linkage different to accommodate a shorter cable...
I'm still fiddling around with a spare TB so I'm not done, but I'm 99.9% sure what I'm doing will work. Details to follow!
I'm still fiddling around with a spare TB so I'm not done, but I'm 99.9% sure what I'm doing will work. Details to follow!
03-11-13, 08:24 AM
#31
^Forgot to reply Thanks Damon
Update: Been making some good progress on the car, but I haven't been taking many pics. They would basically be the same pics as I've already posted, just of the other side lol. Another hour or two of work and all the metal work from the firewall back will be done. I still need to pull the engine and strip out the engine bay so I can fix some minor rust damage and repair some minor collision damage that was there when I got the car.
On the engine swap side of things I've also been making progress (it's a good way to break up the monotony of grinding/cutting/welding etc) I wanted to/should have taken pics yesterday, but it was one of those days where everything was pissing me off and 2 minute jobs turned into hour wresting matches. Needless to say, taking pics took a backseat lol. Anyway - yesterday I got all the needed work done on the transmission.
Basically what I've got now is a S5 T2 transmission, with a S4 tailshaft housing (the mounting surface is much closer to that of an FB, makes the trans mount easier to fab) and a FB shifter tower (and the shortened shift rod needed to make it work). The shift rod mod went smoothly, but everything after that turned into a royal pain in the *** lol. I'll spare everyone the boring details, it was just one of those days where things didn't want to come apart like they should and working on greasy transmissions isn't my idea of a great time haha.
I do have 1 picture to share, and that's of the modded TB - modded to use a NA FC or FB throttle cable. Basically what I did was take the throttle linkage (or cam, whatever you would call it) off the TB's throttle shaft and flip it around. It took some work to get the springs right, and the throttle stop etc, but overall not a very hard mod (Sorry, didn't really take a bunch of "during" shots...) The throttle cable bracket was fairly simple too, although it does require you to not run the Thermalwax or dashpot (both pretty useless anyway in my opinion)
Anyway, sorry for the longwinded post, short on pics. I'll try to get a few pics to show for my work lol
Update: Been making some good progress on the car, but I haven't been taking many pics. They would basically be the same pics as I've already posted, just of the other side lol. Another hour or two of work and all the metal work from the firewall back will be done. I still need to pull the engine and strip out the engine bay so I can fix some minor rust damage and repair some minor collision damage that was there when I got the car.
On the engine swap side of things I've also been making progress (it's a good way to break up the monotony of grinding/cutting/welding etc) I wanted to/should have taken pics yesterday, but it was one of those days where everything was pissing me off and 2 minute jobs turned into hour wresting matches. Needless to say, taking pics took a backseat lol. Anyway - yesterday I got all the needed work done on the transmission.
Basically what I've got now is a S5 T2 transmission, with a S4 tailshaft housing (the mounting surface is much closer to that of an FB, makes the trans mount easier to fab) and a FB shifter tower (and the shortened shift rod needed to make it work). The shift rod mod went smoothly, but everything after that turned into a royal pain in the *** lol. I'll spare everyone the boring details, it was just one of those days where things didn't want to come apart like they should and working on greasy transmissions isn't my idea of a great time haha.
I do have 1 picture to share, and that's of the modded TB - modded to use a NA FC or FB throttle cable. Basically what I did was take the throttle linkage (or cam, whatever you would call it) off the TB's throttle shaft and flip it around. It took some work to get the springs right, and the throttle stop etc, but overall not a very hard mod (Sorry, didn't really take a bunch of "during" shots...) The throttle cable bracket was fairly simple too, although it does require you to not run the Thermalwax or dashpot (both pretty useless anyway in my opinion)
Anyway, sorry for the longwinded post, short on pics. I'll try to get a few pics to show for my work lol
03-19-13, 10:07 AM
#32
I do have 1 picture to share, and that's of the modded TB - modded to use a NA FC or FB throttle cable. Basically what I did was take the throttle linkage (or cam, whatever you would call it) off the TB's throttle shaft and flip it around. It took some work to get the springs right, and the throttle stop etc, but overall not a very hard mod (Sorry, didn't really take a bunch of "during" shots...) The throttle cable bracket was fairly simple too, although it does require you to not run the Thermalwax or dashpot (both pretty useless anyway in my opinion)
No more long-*** TII cable that wraps practically around the front bumper and back around to the throttle body! I believe that's the stock bracket for holding the throttle cable that you just painted there, and did the flippy cam thingy. Nice looking work and I'll probably have to do a copycat of that because I don't want a 20' long cable running around in my engine bay.
Nice job so far on the car, looks awesome and will be totally worth the effort in the end I think
03-19-13, 10:57 AM
#34
Thanks Chris Its slowly getting there. The rust repair is almost done so theres a light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a fun project so far
Austin - the throttle cable bracket is actually something I made. The stock one won't really work correctly if you tried mounting it to the TB instead of the UIM. The throttle cam though is just the stock one flipped around. It took a bit of fiddling to get the stopper part to fit correctly and hold the small return spring. It was only like an hour of work though and like you said, saves having to use that horrendous T2 cable...
Its slowly getting there. The rust repair is almost done so theres a light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a fun project so far Austin - the throttle cable bracket is actually something I made. The stock one won't really work correctly if you tried mounting it to the TB instead of the UIM. The throttle cam though is just the stock one flipped around. It took a bit of fiddling to get the stopper part to fit correctly and hold the small return spring. It was only like an hour of work though and like you said, saves having to use that horrendous T2 cable...
04-09-13, 01:50 PM
#36
Quick update (no pics unfortunately) - at this point the car is basically completely stripped down. Just suspension and steering remain on it. The wiring is out so I could fix a fairly in depth rust spot next to where the harness passes through the firewall. I've got a few more patches that need to be done in the engine bay then I can start body working this thing (finally).
I've been busy with other things (damn wedding planning) lately as well as a bunch of small maintenance type projects my Impreza needed, so progress on this one is slow. I'm still confident I can have it done, or nearly done within Spring....
I've been busy with other things (damn wedding planning) lately as well as a bunch of small maintenance type projects my Impreza needed, so progress on this one is slow. I'm still confident I can have it done, or nearly done within Spring....
04-09-13, 01:55 PM
#37
You amaze me, sir. Keep it up.
You getting hitched? Not sure how the FB will feel about that... some lady demanding all your time, money, and attention. Not to mention how she'd feel about you taking some lady out for a ride....
Imagine how much space a woman takes up, with all her clothes and shoes and ****. Where you gonna store your parts? Are you sure you've thought this through bro?
Imprezza - 2.5rs? I love me dem subies.
You getting hitched? Not sure how the FB will feel about that... some lady demanding all your time, money, and attention. Not to mention how she'd feel about you taking some lady out for a ride....
Imagine how much space a woman takes up, with all her clothes and shoes and ****. Where you gonna store your parts? Are you sure you've thought this through bro?
Imprezza - 2.5rs? I love me dem subies.
04-09-13, 02:11 PM
#38
Lol thanks man. I'm just a persistent bastard with the rust... Not to mention I've got a unnatural drive to save this shell for some reason... lol
Yeah getting married in November. Been dating her over 8 years, hell she helped me paint this car the first time (back in 05). She's a keeper for sure.
Yeah my dd is a 99 2.5rs (a real one) You can see it in the background of a few pics I just posted in my other thread, here's a pic of it at my friends apartment. I got it a few years ago from some tool who botched a timing belt job and bent a bunch of valves (only on one head thankfully) some new parts and a bit of wrenching later and I had myself a nice clean GC8. I've slowly been undoing all the ricer mods he had on there like cleared (and really beat) lights, some nasty tint and crap like that. It's a a solid car for the most part. Someday I'll wrx swap it someday when this engine pops....
Yeah getting married in November. Been dating her over 8 years, hell she helped me paint this car the first time (back in 05). She's a keeper for sure.
Yeah my dd is a 99 2.5rs (a real one) You can see it in the background of a few pics I just posted in my other thread, here's a pic of it at my friends apartment. I got it a few years ago from some tool who botched a timing belt job and bent a bunch of valves (only on one head thankfully) some new parts and a bit of wrenching later and I had myself a nice clean GC8. I've slowly been undoing all the ricer mods he had on there like cleared (and really beat) lights, some nasty tint and crap like that. It's a a solid car for the most part. Someday I'll wrx swap it someday when this engine pops....
04-09-13, 03:27 PM
#39
Dooood sick. that is CLEAN. One of my alltime fav subies. 2 cars ago I had an 03 bugeye WRX wagon, helix DNA coils and 18" (stock looking) rims. Oh and an STi hood scoop. I sold it to float myself during a time of unemployment / start up company, but damn I wish i still had that beast. I'm still in touch with the guy who bought it, and he might even sell it back! *fingers crossed*
The guy i bought it off of was selling it because his folks wanted their driveway back, and the other half of it was taken up by a 98 wagon which he was doing a WRX swap on. He had the j-spec trunk with WRX decal on it and everything
...
lets see if this works, here...
if not, then this:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...31975614587410
The guy i bought it off of was selling it because his folks wanted their driveway back, and the other half of it was taken up by a 98 wagon which he was doing a WRX swap on. He had the j-spec trunk with WRX decal on it and everything
...
lets see if this works, here...
if not, then this:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...31975614587410
04-10-13, 10:04 AM
#41
Glad to hear you've got one big spot left to finish up on the FB and then it's reassembly time - thing's gonna be sick when it's done
Ah fine, I drove a 97 Outback Legacy wagon 5 speed two winters ago and that thing was a blast. Never had an issue all year, we still have it but I no longer drive it. I'd love to pick up another Subi, just not sure which model I'd get. Alright, all done with the Subaru talk
Ah fine, I drove a 97 Outback Legacy wagon 5 speed two winters ago and that thing was a blast. Never had an issue all year, we still have it but I no longer drive it. I'd love to pick up another Subi, just not sure which model I'd get. Alright, all done with the Subaru talk
04-10-13, 10:42 AM
#42
Lol they are popular DD's among car nerds like us it seems. When I first joined the Suby forums more of the guys were interested in hearing about the Rx7's than they were my Impreza since a bunch of them had or used to have rx7's as well lol.
Yeah, one last chunk of rust to fix then some sandblasting, repaint and reassemble. The interior, suspension, steering and brakes are all going back on as they were so not even that much stuff left to buy thankfully.
Yeah, one last chunk of rust to fix then some sandblasting, repaint and reassemble. The interior, suspension, steering and brakes are all going back on as they were so not even that much stuff left to buy thankfully.
04-22-13, 09:13 AM
#43
Still making some good progress aaaand still not taking many pictures lol, sorry guys! All of the floor pan, frame rail, firewall etc patches are done at this ponit so I'm working on some more unseen (but important in my opinion) patches. More specifically - there is a shield of sorts above the blower motor that keeps leaves and water etc from getting sucked into the HVAC system. It's hidden in the cowl area and near impossible to even see let alone clean. As a result it gets soaked regularly with water and sale and can get leaves etc all collected around it and you know the rest... RUST!
Anyway, mine was quite bad so I removed it and started making a new one. Came out pretty good. Still need to put some screen across the opening (stock has what's basically chicken wire type stuff, nothing fancy) and still need to actually install it and do some very minor surface rust repair around where it actually mounts. Once this is done I have a bunch of cleanup and seam sealer to lay down, then it's finally time to do some body work. Won't be long now!
I'll try to get a few pics of what I've been up to, sorry to the 2 guys who are actually reading this
Anyway, mine was quite bad so I removed it and started making a new one. Came out pretty good. Still need to put some screen across the opening (stock has what's basically chicken wire type stuff, nothing fancy) and still need to actually install it and do some very minor surface rust repair around where it actually mounts. Once this is done I have a bunch of cleanup and seam sealer to lay down, then it's finally time to do some body work. Won't be long now!
I'll try to get a few pics of what I've been up to, sorry to the 2 guys who are actually reading this
04-22-13, 04:24 PM
#45
guy #1:
guy #2:
again man- super impressed. I just cleaned out around my blower ducting - fortunately no rust. How did you even get back there?? can you take off the outer body panel covering those? Seems to me youd have to pull the window trim and fenders at least?
again man- super impressed. I just cleaned out around my blower ducting - fortunately no rust. How did you even get back there?? can you take off the outer body panel covering those? Seems to me youd have to pull the window trim and fenders at least?
04-23-13, 08:11 AM
#46
Thanks guys . That shield part that I had to make actually comes out through the interior of the car. Once the blower motor is out its just drilling out a few spot welds and it comes free. All the seam sealer that was around it has long since dried up and crumbled out. To actually clean the cowl area I'll have to access it through the cowl vent itself and even then there is very little access. I'll do what I can to seal it all up but we'll see.
Haven't made much progress on this the last few days unfortunately because (Warning! more Subaru content ahead) I spent most of Sunday at some dudes house yanking a EJ205 (2 liter turbo WRX engine) from a wrecked 02 WRX along with all the wiring and ECU etc to swap into my 99. Won't get to the actual swap until later this year, but I'm starting to collect parts. You could say I'm turbo swap obsessed and you'd probably be right.
With any luck I'll get a few hours tonight to work on the Panda again....
. That shield part that I had to make actually comes out through the interior of the car. Once the blower motor is out its just drilling out a few spot welds and it comes free. All the seam sealer that was around it has long since dried up and crumbled out. To actually clean the cowl area I'll have to access it through the cowl vent itself and even then there is very little access. I'll do what I can to seal it all up but we'll see.Haven't made much progress on this the last few days unfortunately because (Warning! more Subaru content ahead) I spent most of Sunday at some dudes house yanking a EJ205 (2 liter turbo WRX engine) from a wrecked 02 WRX along with all the wiring and ECU etc to swap into my 99. Won't get to the actual swap until later this year, but I'm starting to collect parts. You could say I'm turbo swap obsessed and you'd probably be right.
With any luck I'll get a few hours tonight to work on the Panda again....
04-23-13, 12:15 PM
#47
Thanks guys . That shield part that I had to make actually comes out through the interior of the car. Once the blower motor is out its just drilling out a few spot welds and it comes free. All the seam sealer that was around it has long since dried up and crumbled out. To actually clean the cowl area I'll have to access it through the cowl vent itself and even then there is very little access. I'll do what I can to seal it all up but we'll see.
Haven't made much progress on this the last few days unfortunately because (Warning! more Subaru content ahead) I spent most of Sunday at some dudes house yanking a EJ205 (2 liter turbo WRX engine) from a wrecked 02 WRX along with all the wiring and ECU etc to swap into my 99. Won't get to the actual swap until later this year, but I'm starting to collect parts. You could say I'm turbo swap obsessed and you'd probably be right.
With any luck I'll get a few hours tonight to work on the Panda again....
. That shield part that I had to make actually comes out through the interior of the car. Once the blower motor is out its just drilling out a few spot welds and it comes free. All the seam sealer that was around it has long since dried up and crumbled out. To actually clean the cowl area I'll have to access it through the cowl vent itself and even then there is very little access. I'll do what I can to seal it all up but we'll see.Haven't made much progress on this the last few days unfortunately because (Warning! more Subaru content ahead) I spent most of Sunday at some dudes house yanking a EJ205 (2 liter turbo WRX engine) from a wrecked 02 WRX along with all the wiring and ECU etc to swap into my 99. Won't get to the actual swap until later this year, but I'm starting to collect parts. You could say I'm turbo swap obsessed and you'd probably be right.
With any luck I'll get a few hours tonight to work on the Panda again....
04-23-13, 01:49 PM
#50
Hey so if you guys ever need something to boost you along - check out the resto these guys did on a Bluebird:
Japanese Nostalgic Car • View topic - Nissan Bluebird 910 SSS
I think they might have gone even deeper then you did 82transam!
Japanese Nostalgic Car • View topic - Nissan Bluebird 910 SSS
I think they might have gone even deeper then you did 82transam!