Pictures from December 2008:





(Through the rain, windshield, one hand on the wheel, the other on the camera)

 

Update on my car:

I failed the smog check a couple times, even after adjusting my air to fuel ratio. Tony at Lucky7 checked my EGR to make sure it was functioning, and it turns out its not. I tried to get one from every major autoparts dealer's website, but only NAPAonline.com seemed to carry it. I placed the order, and after a week of the website's status of my order still at "picking parts," I sent them an email to make sure they carried it like their site said they did. I didn't receive an email back after 3 days, so I finally called, and no answer (during their business hours, and yes I know they're on east coast time). I called again the next day and same story. Finally they sent me an email back a couple days after that saying they didn't have it. At this point, I thought I was onto something.

I called the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) to apply for smog exemption. She said it was a process I had to go through, and that I had to check 5 other retailers that she provided first. I called all 5 and two of them rebuilt EGR valves, so I had to buy one from them :-\

I'll be installing it on Saturday, and hopefully that will make me pass smog, since I failed just BARELY. If I fail again, I'll buy a new O2 sensor (the original one is still on the car), swap on my brother's stock precat and cats, and pray. Unfortunately my registration is due on December 8th and I probably won't make it in time so I'll have to give the DMV a call, explain the circumstances, and hope they grant me some sort of extension.

 

Hope everything goes well for ya!

 

Let me know if you ever need help Jason. You don't live too far from me.

 

Hey thanks man, I sure appreciate it.

 

Sigh. Only an idiot government would require smog checks for cars on which the mfg. has EOL'ed smog parts.

Bet it costs those parts companies on the CARB list a pretty slice of the leafy green lubricant to stay on that list. Nothing like having a state-mandated market!

 

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

Wow Jason, I think it's awesome that your going for a smog, I never even thought about smog with my Fc's lol or never though it would pass at least.

I also have a update on my car. As most of you know I crash it drifting at a track. My Transmission was stuck in gear I finally dropped the trans and everything looks fine, but some gears I can't get into. I think I have 1st, 2ed, and maybe 4th everything else I can't move it around. I have a second turbo trans that does have all gears for sure but it has no oil and I think it was cracked by the shifter at one point.

I've been working on it all week during my vacation, and now all I need is some body work on the frame, (very minor in my opinion) fenders that I already found and a oil fitting for the oil cooler. I hope to be driving it in about two weeks.

Oh yeah If anybody knows of any good deals for clutch kits let me know.

 

Travis, thats great to hear man! I was really worried your car was going to have some serious issues with it that even you may not be able to fix. I'm happy that thats not the case.

Glen, I feel the exact same way. If the MANUFACTURER stops making a smog part, and no company MAKES them anymore, only hole in the wall places that rebuild them, then some sort of exemption should be issued. This is pretty ridiculous. I always never saw what the big deal was when people whined and moaned about having to smog their car and dealing with the BAR, but now that I have one little bad experience, I see what people have been talking about now.

Believe it or not guys, I've spent $100 so far on smog checks alone, obviously failing each one. The next one is going to cost $30, and thats the last re-test I get at a discounted rate before I have to pay another ~$65. At this point, the cost of smog checks alone is about the price of a smog hookup. That assumes I pass the next test (which I personally doubt), and does not include the $250 reconditioned EGR valve. A $10 block off plate would have been so much easier...

 

Update on my car:

I installed the EGR valve today with my dad. We removed the whole upper intake manifold, just disconnecting electrical lines, fuel, coolant, and vacuum hoses. It all went surprisingly well and everything was perfect until I turned the car on. The idle was at 2600 rpm and there was a weird beep I have never heard before with 3 second pauses in between each high pitched beep. No idiot lights went on or anything. I adjusted the throttle cable linkage and the rpm dropped to 2400. Then I saw an electrical cable that wasn't plugged in and I couldn't figure out where it went since my dad was the one who took it off. I looked at my brother's car and saw where it was supposed to go. Having a second car as a diagram sure works great! It didn't drop the idle nor take care of the beeping. My dad after a few minutes of thinking suggested adjusting the cruise control linkage, and that turned out to be it. Unfortunately in my dumbness I screwed with the TPS settings so I'll have to fix that next time I see Matt #2. Lets hope I pass smog on Monday!

 

For next weekend's meet, when are you guys meeting up? I have class that day, and it ends around 10:30, maybe earlier. After that it'll be a 8-10 minute drive from UCR to the meet spot!

 

good to here your getting your car all put back together travis. I hate doing body work and suck at it so congratulations I know how hard it is. On the bright side you won't have that nasty dent in you fender anymore haha.

 

Yeah I know, I have a S5 bumper to paint too.

 

We'll probably do the same run and end up at Denny's. You could probably catch us at the turn off.

 

I don't know if I'll make it, my alt blew last night in the rain plus I have some kind of shooting competition for 'Toys for Tots' that morning.

 

That sucks, because it looks like I'll be making it

 

Man... those tots don't need anymore toys. I'm gonna try to make it. Plus I wouldn't be firing my rifle, and that's just weird.

 

Thats the spirit.

 

Probably gonna rain, though.

Just sayin'.

 

Yeah it does sometimes but its still fun to just cruise.

Update on my car:

I passed smog today! Thats all I'm going to say about that for now

Tomorrow I'm going to work on my car and I hope to have it all together in time for Saturday. If not, I'll bring my brother's FC which also passed smog today.

 

I'll be driving provided I get my car running.

 

*cough*vacuum leak

 

Congrats!

I discovered on the way back from the Turkey Run that my wiper motor is running slooooooooow... takes like 3 seconds to sweep across the windshield one way. Not risking a rainy day until I get it sorted - - probably the linkage just needs cleaning & lubrication.

If it's clear I may join in - - coming up on the one-year anniversary of my car's latest resurrection.

 

Jason: that's sick dude I'm really good to hear your car passed.

Matt: I didn't know you had a gun? Sorry to hear your car went out. Seems like somebody always has bad news. I be so happy when everybody's car is clean and running.

 

This December is my 2 year anniversary of coming to the San Bernardino meets.

I found out my brother's windshield wiper switch didn't work when I was halfway to school one morning and it started raining for the first time I had his car.