88' T2 rebuild....
03-29-18, 10:59 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
88' T2 rebuild....
I'm sure no one reads the introduction, I know I would not lol. Got a non running (was told it ran but couldn't get it started) T2, why? Cause I always wanted one of these and I'm pockets aren't deep enough for an FD so here I am. This car in about in a nut shell is a toy, something to have fun driving around in the mountains or non disclosed parking lot... Sssshhh don't tell anyone. I live in socal, so if anyone sees this and you live down here too maybe you can help me learn about these Bermuda triangle. That's what I have called them from all the stories I have heard. I really wanted to race other cars on a track, however again, my pockets.... But first things first, the tear down. Going to strip it like the girls on the pole, break down the motor and rebuild it (I have someone but I'm a bit skeptical about him) and maybe a 6 point cause the little kid in me says "That's my car right there"
03-30-18, 09:56 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
No I don't it was in someones back yard and I couldn't get it started so I said fudge it! Rebuild everything with good second hand parts lol. (minus the engine rebuild kind and suspension)
04-04-18, 02:28 AM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Not sure if anyone is reading this, but I will be updating soon. Right now I'm just taking everything apart to be cleaned, but my first question is. Are my floor bent where the frame rails are or is that how the car come? Granted the frame rails underneath are all bent to hell.
07-31-18, 02:37 AM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I'm back!
Finally back into rebuild the car, I had to relocate and didn't have the time or the space to get back into it. But I'm back on the ball and ready to shoot. So was doing a lot of research and examination of the car and the concluded that the floor had been dentes do to incorrect jack location and the frame rails are beat to hell. Something I'll have to address later, but today the rear subframe was removed and will be disassembled to be cleaned and painted. Feel free to check out the build on Instagram @_d_c_d_
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08-01-18, 02:14 PM
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Rear subframe off
Took the rear subframe off and broke it down. The bushing are beyond shot, I was even able to push one of the centers out by thumb. The diff mouth looks like it was booger welded and forgot to drain the diff fluid and I spilled it. Now my garage smells like transmission fluid 
09-01-18, 01:12 AM
#18
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Update!!!
Hello build followers, time for an update. I have been taking my time with this build, but that doesn't mean I haven't been making progress. First off I did purchase a running motor/engine from a member here, didn't get too much information on it but it was too good to pass up. (sidenote; if anyone has any info on a gold and red stripe turbo2 built about 2 years ago and was put into a red vert please contact me.) I got an engine trans and radiator, engine management was sold to an other party which was a microtech system. Fortunately I got a hold of a power fc. So here is the part I will need help with.
1. The motor I had first is a S4 and the one I just purchased is a s5, my question is can I use the same harness on the s5?
2. The power fc I got has an adapter to it that says fc3c, however my harness doesn't fit it. What I'm thinking is the harness and pfc is for an s5 harness, cause it fits into itself and the ecu. Is that correct?
3. I live in the IE socal and are looking for a tuner who is familiar with the pfc system. If anyone has any recommendations send them my way. I would like to work with a shop that help me do work myself, but you know, that's a different world.
Other than that, the front subframe has been removed as well as a few remaining part and now some friends and I will be moving the car into driveway to power wash it and the suspension parts. Next, the plan is to fix my floors, paint suspension components find some coilovers and get it rolling so I can get a macco paint job. That's all I have for now, hope you enjoy.
1. The motor I had first is a S4 and the one I just purchased is a s5, my question is can I use the same harness on the s5?
2. The power fc I got has an adapter to it that says fc3c, however my harness doesn't fit it. What I'm thinking is the harness and pfc is for an s5 harness, cause it fits into itself and the ecu. Is that correct?
3. I live in the IE socal and are looking for a tuner who is familiar with the pfc system. If anyone has any recommendations send them my way. I would like to work with a shop that help me do work myself, but you know, that's a different world.
Other than that, the front subframe has been removed as well as a few remaining part and now some friends and I will be moving the car into driveway to power wash it and the suspension parts. Next, the plan is to fix my floors, paint suspension components find some coilovers and get it rolling so I can get a macco paint job. That's all I have for now, hope you enjoy.
07-21-19, 11:21 PM
#22
Junior Member
Thread Starter
summer 2019 update
Not sure if anyone is following this build, but I’m going to finish what I started. I stopped posting and trying to update often cause I was doing this myself with no mechanical experience other than trial and error and the good old interweb. Plus it put more pressure on me to get stuff done and I when I rush things they don’t come out the way I want, so I took my time.
Last time I left off, I had just gotten the car stripped to doors and windshield, (should be pic above) the reason was because mice lived in this car at some point and it was to dirty for me. I then put the car on dollies, had a friend help me push it into the driveway and power washed the car inside and out. (I pre-typed this for grammar purposes and will post all corresponding pictures below) After I cleaned out the chassis I decided to paint the engine black with a rattle can and it came out pretty good. This was the first car I have ever build from the ground up and I thought back to when I build models what would I do… Give it a theme and run with it. I decided on a galaxy theme and painted all the suspension components the colors you would see in space haha. I started by cleaning everything I was going to reuse and taking a wire wheel to it. The paint I decided to go with was Dupli-color metal cast line. It gives what you’re painting an anodized look and you can change how it comes out with different bases.
While everything was out and being cleaned, I decided to replace everything I could within my budget. Mainly all the gaskets, bushings and bearings cause its already out and I don’t want to go back to do it. I ordered all the pbm bushings and arms for the rear and replaced the wheel bearings, got some longer lug studs from sick speed (cause I liked the spikes and they didn’t fit by the way, they are thinner than what is required) they didn’t fit so we measured and welded them to the hubs. Picked up a set of god speed mono ss coil overs and the only reason I got them was cause they were pink! I couldn’t find any reviews on them so I’m going to be the guinea pig and see how they feel and hold up. Replaced the brake lines with stop tech steel braided guys and picked up EBC slotted rotors and green stuff pads. Got the front lower ball joint cleaned repacked and put on new bushings so that I could start putting everything back together! So exciting.
Putting stuff back together was not as fun as I thought it would be, especially the rear end. (Which I should have down off the car) The FSM was my bible for a while and multiple trips to the hardware store (90% of my nuts and bolts are new) and one stop at Mazda cause no one had new sub frame bolts. Picked up new axles, fuel lines and some wheels. I realized that I share the same lug pattern as every other Japanese cars and I wanted to go 18 and I got a set of g35 wheels for almost nothing. The worst part was that they were plasti dipped and it was not a good job and was super difficult and I gave up on them for a while, then the universe stepped in. A friend of mine just so happened to have some LM rep wheels to sell and I thought they would look great so I picked them up for a fair price. Picked a set of wheels from Wal-Mart for less than $400 in 224/40r18 not bad considering my other options, Ill tell you how they perform later.
After getting the car on the ground it was time to start thinking about the engine going. When I bought the car I was told it ran but we couldn’t get it started and why I got the car so cheap. The original plan was to get it rebuilt or try rebuilding it myself. I was combing through the net trying to educate myself as much as possible when I came across running engine and trans from someone on this forum. I ended picking it up as a bday present to myself, when I went to check it out it was running fine with no smoke, I couldn’t do a compression test cause I don’t have a tool so I took a chance. The plan was to now swap in the engine I bought and practice on the other motor. Time went by as I gather more parts and installed what I could while figuring out the motor situation. I contacted a few shops in the inland empire area and everyone said I had to bring the car to the shop. I didn’t want to put the motor in and have to take it out again. Yes, I was hoping I could pay someone to make a house call but to avail. A month or so goes by and I happen to be watching an episode of hoonigan and it’s a FD. I couldn’t believe what I heard, “ My engine was built by renown racing in Fontana.” Wait, what?! Months of searching and there is a place right under my nose. I contact Eddy of renown racing and great! He makes house calls. I tell him the story and to both our surprise this is one of the motors he built. Unfortunately, he told me the previous owner over heated the motor, but this is not the person I bought it from. This is a buyer beware story as well, because the owner I purchased it from knew there was problem and took the appropriate measure to make it seem ok. I figured buying from the forum I could trust a fellow enthusiast, sadly I was mistaking. (Venting) We agreed on a deal that would include both my engines to make one engine that will rule them all! (Had to) I ended up getting a new engine with a street port n/a rotors and FD housings. I got the engine back mated the trans and dropped it in the car and this is where I am, stuck on wiring to get the car started. I have an AP Engineering and I cut out what was needed to for the engine, all connectors are intact but my mechanical knowledge stops at wiring. I’m sure the day will come when I get things right, but that’s it for now and I hope someone enjoys this thread.
Last time I left off, I had just gotten the car stripped to doors and windshield, (should be pic above) the reason was because mice lived in this car at some point and it was to dirty for me. I then put the car on dollies, had a friend help me push it into the driveway and power washed the car inside and out. (I pre-typed this for grammar purposes and will post all corresponding pictures below) After I cleaned out the chassis I decided to paint the engine black with a rattle can and it came out pretty good. This was the first car I have ever build from the ground up and I thought back to when I build models what would I do… Give it a theme and run with it. I decided on a galaxy theme and painted all the suspension components the colors you would see in space haha. I started by cleaning everything I was going to reuse and taking a wire wheel to it. The paint I decided to go with was Dupli-color metal cast line. It gives what you’re painting an anodized look and you can change how it comes out with different bases.
While everything was out and being cleaned, I decided to replace everything I could within my budget. Mainly all the gaskets, bushings and bearings cause its already out and I don’t want to go back to do it. I ordered all the pbm bushings and arms for the rear and replaced the wheel bearings, got some longer lug studs from sick speed (cause I liked the spikes and they didn’t fit by the way, they are thinner than what is required) they didn’t fit so we measured and welded them to the hubs. Picked up a set of god speed mono ss coil overs and the only reason I got them was cause they were pink! I couldn’t find any reviews on them so I’m going to be the guinea pig and see how they feel and hold up. Replaced the brake lines with stop tech steel braided guys and picked up EBC slotted rotors and green stuff pads. Got the front lower ball joint cleaned repacked and put on new bushings so that I could start putting everything back together! So exciting.
Putting stuff back together was not as fun as I thought it would be, especially the rear end. (Which I should have down off the car) The FSM was my bible for a while and multiple trips to the hardware store (90% of my nuts and bolts are new) and one stop at Mazda cause no one had new sub frame bolts. Picked up new axles, fuel lines and some wheels. I realized that I share the same lug pattern as every other Japanese cars and I wanted to go 18 and I got a set of g35 wheels for almost nothing. The worst part was that they were plasti dipped and it was not a good job and was super difficult and I gave up on them for a while, then the universe stepped in. A friend of mine just so happened to have some LM rep wheels to sell and I thought they would look great so I picked them up for a fair price. Picked a set of wheels from Wal-Mart for less than $400 in 224/40r18 not bad considering my other options, Ill tell you how they perform later.
After getting the car on the ground it was time to start thinking about the engine going. When I bought the car I was told it ran but we couldn’t get it started and why I got the car so cheap. The original plan was to get it rebuilt or try rebuilding it myself. I was combing through the net trying to educate myself as much as possible when I came across running engine and trans from someone on this forum. I ended picking it up as a bday present to myself, when I went to check it out it was running fine with no smoke, I couldn’t do a compression test cause I don’t have a tool so I took a chance. The plan was to now swap in the engine I bought and practice on the other motor. Time went by as I gather more parts and installed what I could while figuring out the motor situation. I contacted a few shops in the inland empire area and everyone said I had to bring the car to the shop. I didn’t want to put the motor in and have to take it out again. Yes, I was hoping I could pay someone to make a house call but to avail. A month or so goes by and I happen to be watching an episode of hoonigan and it’s a FD. I couldn’t believe what I heard, “ My engine was built by renown racing in Fontana.” Wait, what?! Months of searching and there is a place right under my nose. I contact Eddy of renown racing and great! He makes house calls. I tell him the story and to both our surprise this is one of the motors he built. Unfortunately, he told me the previous owner over heated the motor, but this is not the person I bought it from. This is a buyer beware story as well, because the owner I purchased it from knew there was problem and took the appropriate measure to make it seem ok. I figured buying from the forum I could trust a fellow enthusiast, sadly I was mistaking. (Venting) We agreed on a deal that would include both my engines to make one engine that will rule them all! (Had to) I ended up getting a new engine with a street port n/a rotors and FD housings. I got the engine back mated the trans and dropped it in the car and this is where I am, stuck on wiring to get the car started. I have an AP Engineering and I cut out what was needed to for the engine, all connectors are intact but my mechanical knowledge stops at wiring. I’m sure the day will come when I get things right, but that’s it for now and I hope someone enjoys this thread.
