KingOfSpades' "Build Thread

[esnave09]

I'm going to lose it...

Brakes need doing (justifiable)
Clutch may need replacing (justifiable
Tires need replacing (justifiable)

It sucks though, cause I didn't do it yet, and now I get to do this all at once.

I guess it'll be worth it. I don't wanna do my brakes, just don't want to.

I'll try and get new tires soon. The reviews said theyre good in the snow so that should be a bonus.

The clutch, I want to do, and then I can get and do my motor mounts as well, but I'm scared I might cock something up. Any suggestions guys? I just dislike having others work on my car. I've pretty much worked on it since I've owned it.

The clutch I think is going cause, it'll worm fine for a while, then after maybe 35 minutes it'll get really stiff and won't go into vear w/o forcing the shifter. I'm more hoping its the bushings, but that doesn't seem right. Maybe there's a leak in the system? How could i rule out any issues?

My mate says i should put it up for sale. Only reason i say no is 1) i bought the damned thing, i feel proud. I'm not about to let it go to s*** due to my negligence. 2) i don't have any interest in other cars. The P5 catches my fancy. Only thing id think of doing is buying a Miata for the summer. But that's going to be when i have more money and am able to afford upkeep on two cars. I'm lucky i have a 40 hr job this summer (internship) so i can pay for the parts. I'm going to pester my dad into paying for the bodywork, seeing as he said he'd help me buy the car. Instead, i get "3k as a graduation present toward my car," which is sort of bearing around the bush that he didn't do s*** really. I can count my blessings though, some people have it worse off.


Either way, enough rants. I'll post pics soon. Bought her a present, waiting on it to get delivered

Dude, sounds like you and I have basically the same situation, except instead of the clutch my problem is basically my suspension (struts, springs, and strut mounts). Everyone is telling me to sell mine cuz I have almost $1000 to put into it, but I'm okay with that! I bought mine with all my money though. The only way my parents help is giving me some gas money when I go home. If I remember to ask.....

Also, have you done your brakes yet? If so, did you upgrade or no?

And I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I bought into a trashed ride, paid too much for it, but can't back out now or I'll hate myself wondering what it could've been. I love my car too much, and it's good to see I'm not alone!

 

[tweety2300]

Brakes are easy on this car except the rear if the calipers are frozen

Clutch doesn't look bad in my opinion. From what you say do a gear oil change and change the bushings in the trans and bleed the system. Doesn't sound like a clutch issue, mine does the same thing when the hydraulic system leaks which is never ending


Ill trade you protgs if you'd like. My motor ticks like hell from a lifter, 2nd gear synchro is gone, rear struts are junk, front has 185k on them. But my tires and brakes are good

 

[31N007]

Esnave: I don't want to think about how much I have into mine. $1000 at least on the engine, then all the bits around it. Plus buying it, $4000.

I picked up a rear strut brace I may be letting go of shortly, as well as JDM tails. My headlights might go with the car as I can't find the relay that the previous owner was running to get the high beams to work. (Might be trading up to another car, dependent on what happens Friday)

I did the clutch and bled it and it hasn't given me issues since. There was a bit of air in the system, so I think that's what made the clutch iffy once in a while.

As I said, the rear brakes are toast. Not enough use and all. I got grease to lube the slides up. Some members on here said they do that every spring/winter and haven't had any issues.

My coil packs are going, but I'm hesitant to spend more money on the car(coils aren't too expensive though)

Tweety: I tore a motor down once, I could tear yours down too. But in all reality. I don't want to burden you with the rust that I have on the car... Its not good, I'll say that much.

If all goes well, I may bee in an ms3 shortly. Its only been 5 months and is like to trade up. I would love to keep Winry in the family,but I can't...

Oh, found out it was in an accident in 2005, that's why it was out of wack, so its not like the accident happened recently (which is a little better for me)

I'll try and post pics of my front motor mount too... It was helps torn. Replacing it helped a bit. The pass one and I would assume rear are shot too though...

 

[tweety2300]

Get the ms3, I love my regular 3. But trade me wheels and suspension

 

[31N007]

Lol, take the p5 off my hands and you've got a deal

Its just miles I'm worried about. Nobody on MSF has got their above 110k miles. Ones on MSF are mostly built though so that may have a hand... I found two, one has 75k, the other is a dealer car with 91k... I'll update with what happens later.

 

[esnave09]

If you plan on getting rid of the JDM tails lemme know! I might be interested! ha But it will be a sad day when you get rid of the P5. I wish mine had as few miles on it as yours does. Mine's up to 153k now, but still holdin on!

 

[31N007]

You're on the top of my list then man. I usually don't push to sell things, so it'll be a stealthy let-go.

I'll admit, I'll always think about it. Sat in it last night, damn is it comfy. If it wasn't so rusty, I wouldn't have a reason to get rid of it. If it was an auto, I might have convinced my dad to let me keep it to give it to my sister. She'll get a better car when she's able to drive though.

For me the miles are what kept me in it. The fact I've always wanted one helped too. I sort of wish I got my dad's buddies, as he was selling for 2000 and had more miles and electrical gremlin. (Coils, sensors...) Would be better than having to open the engine up. But it's live and learn.

Treat yours right and don't beat the piss out of it and you'll have her for a while. My coil pack may be on its way out. Keep throwing P030# codes, I'm pretty sure its coils... And the P0421 could be clogged cat or something to do with it. If I get rid of it, not my problem (I feel horrible saying that but yeah...)

If I had known my car was in an accident way back when, I'd have paid less for it and also maybe not bought item I didn't look at it in detail before buying and that was my fault too. I just really wanted a car and thought with my heart and not my brain.

 

[esnave09]

I know the feelin about not wanting to get rid of it. Having such low miles will defs be a selling point, but with the rust it might be a harder sell. I would rather have an electrical gremlin than the other problems mine's been having, although mine still runs mostly reliably. But, tearing apart the engine apart gives you great experience! Replacing the coils will go a long way in making it feel better. Have you changed the plugs or wires too? I'm not sure if it'll set off the misfire code, but it's possible. I have the P0421 code too, and it's been driving me nuts lately. My exhaust is being dumb too. It's rusted through, shattered on the end that goes to my midpipe, and rusted in tight to my pre-cat. My plan is to just replace my exhaust mani with headers, and that will get rid of the rusted pipe and my cat, which I think might just be shot. And I didn't look at mine closely either. I just wanted a car, since I had been using my friend's cars for deliveries for some 2 or 3 months. Illegally. So I needed a car. Badly. And I didn't bother inspecting it at all, and had my friend run the CarFax at work, but she didn't get back to me until the drive home. I got lucky, and the car had a clean title, but it's still rough. I'm excited to put the money into it though. Gives me some experience of my own!

 

[31N007]

Yeah, like I said though, now I have no inclination to do so! If I keep it, I will. Plugs are only 5000 miles old, but they could be gummed up... Idk. I'll check at some point.

My resonator is rattling near the back, another thing that bothers me on startup. It's fine when its warm though. There are some nuts or something in my main cat, something I wanted to get to but can't cause rust. My dads pal who was thinking of selling me the P5 joked that he had a"patch back"

I think its awesome working on cars, but if I ever need anything major done in the future, I'll take it to a shop. Just fix the little things and you should be set for another 100k!

 

[esnave09]

Okay that might be something to check. That's odd that the resonator is rattling. Then again, with all the rust problems it's not exactly surprising.

And I defs agree with you about fixing the little things. I've had my car in the shop 3 times now for wheel bearing replacements, and I'm glad that I did that so I'm covered by warranty. And my alternator. I love working on cars now that I have the know-how. I've never really had the chance to do that until now, and I'm so glad that I'm learning how and getting my own tools. And it saves me a lot of money too. At least 1500 for the stuff I'm doing over the next 3 months or so.

 

[tweety2300]

If mine wasn't rare I would have got rid of it awhile back, but its got sentimental value as well.

I thought about selling the 323 when the turbo kicked the bucket but I parked it and bought a new car

Why don't you keep the p5 to fix up an keep miles off the ms3? Then have a daily and a toy.

 

[31N007]

Yeah, its nice watching the tool collection grow! I have a 20 PC socket set and hex head bolts (to tighten the head bolts) that I really only need. I would like to get air tools later on in life but no need to right now.

Sentimentality is why I still have my P5. If I could convince my dad, who's all about his money, to let me keep and store it, uninsured except for storage insurance, till my sister drives, that would be the best... Alas, my dad wants it gone pretty much straight away (I'll owe him ~$8000 depending on the car I get) and I'll be in his pocket for a while... Having a backup/beater would be great IMO.

 

[mp5la]

The multiple car thing is great...in theory. I'm up to five, and while that sounds like a great thing, it gets to be a bit of a headache. Keeping up with maintainence on everything is a constant problem. Add in insurance (three of them fall under collectible, which helps immensely) and all the other things and it adds up quick. If I didn't have a place to keep everything, it wouldn't be possible. I'm always on the fence about thinning the herd a little. My advice to anybody these days is to keep it simple. If keeping one going is hard enough, two will be twice as difficult. You'll always end up halfway doing things on both to meet in the middle.

 

[31N007]

I have a place to store the extra car, and its not like it would be in the way either. I can use the fact that its not going to depreciate much more as a reason to keep it. I could do bodywork if I see fit, then sell it later on or give it to the sister.

I can make sure to do things the right way (when I have cash) but as far as upkeep, I think I've done okay with the current car as far as keeping on top of oil and fluids. The brakes, not so much, as the backs are gone. Front brakes are a-okay though. The sway bar (IIRC) is clunking, which bugs me, but if I get rid of it at the dealer, I won't worry. Before I sell, I would tidy it up as best as I can.

 

[tweety2300]

The multiple car thing is great...in theory. I'm up to five, and while that sounds like a great thing, it gets to be a bit of a headache. Keeping up with maintainence on everything is a constant problem. Add in insurance (three of them fall under collectible, which helps immensely) and all the other things and it adds up quick. If I didn't have a place to keep everything, it wouldn't be possible. I'm always on the fence about thinning the herd a little. My advice to anybody these days is to keep it simple. If keeping one going is hard enough, two will be twice as difficult. You'll always end up halfway doing things on both to meet in the middle.

I have 3 my fiances 3 as a daily, I daily the protege and the 323 as my toy. Not quite sure where you get maintnence issues. Daily will come first then the 323. Oil is changes regularly, 323 will end up being every 6 months. Brakes are done as needed. There's really no other important maintnence other than when stuff breaks. And the mz3 is covered under warranty till 2016 and by then ill have all my finances situated. Would be now but out of the question with paying for a wedding. If you're so strapped for cash that you cant keep general upkeep on your cars, then you probably shouldn't own more than one.

 

[mp5la]

It's more of keeping up with cleaning, oil changes, fluid maintenance, etc etc. It's amazing how dirty a car can get even under a cover out here in west texas. It eats up a lot of time. Part of it is my own fault for being so particular about how things are done. Part of it is just simply being busy with college/full time job/home upkeep. I just wanted to warn him that things multiply quickly with more than one car in the mix.

 

[31N007]

Oh, my mom and I are quite particular about how the cars look as far as if they're dirty as hell, we'll clean them. Oil changes, on the P5; I've only done two in the total time I've had it (not long...), which is pretty often IMO. Im running a synth blend I think (castrol gtx) and I went at the 500 mile mark, after the rebuild, then I'm waiting till 3000 miles (got 400 to go) unless someone suggests I wait longer (depending on if I sell or not)

IF YOU'RE RATHER SENSITIVE, DON'T READ BELOW. I'M KINDA PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW...

My dads being a twat about loaning me, his ******* son, a bit of cash to get the ms3. He didn't give two s**** about throwing his money away on his second wife (gold digger) yet when my sister or I or our mom needs money (child support) he's like scrooge the ******* duck. He knows I'm going to pay him back too... On >$100k a year, claims he's "pressed for money" yeah, cause he keeps shoving it up his ass.

(Sorry for that outburst, its just rather infuriating when I'm so close to getting into another car that I'd like to have )

 

[esnave09]

Oh trust me, I know the feeling about your blowout. I've had plenty of situations like that with my parents (dad and stepmom). I know they have enough money, because they were able to pay a decent down payment on their new car (well, new to them; an 06 Odyssey as well as pay outright for a 94 Buick) last year and hold off on selling my mom's old car, simply cuz they wanted more for it. But when I went to buy my first car they didn't do squat for me, even when mine started breaking down. All they have left (unless they took out loans for the 3 cars they bought in the last year) for debt is the house, which I know they'll have paid very soon. I don't understand what it is with parents and money. And not just my parents. I know that I'm not alone.

So long story short, I feel your pain dude.

BUT ANYWAYS.....You could probably wait with the oil change if you wanted to. I'm pretty sure with synthetic blends you can go 4-5k, sometimes even 6k if it's a newer car. I've been doing mine kinda short though. I waited a long time for the first one, but then did the next one maybe 1k later after Seafoaming my engine. Still have yet to do an oil change myself though... I need to work on that one.

 

[tweety2300]

I call it teaching responsibility, not to be a dick its a good lesson early in life to have kids buy their own car. I've bought all of mine on my own (7 paid for, paying for #8) never any help with anything. But I've also had a job since I was 15. Even if your parents are millionaires that doesn't mean they have to give you money

Again not trying to be a dick but just giving an explanation

 

[esnave09]

True true. It is a good lesson, and I've learned that too (mostly cuz they can't say s*** about my car). However, it is nice to know that for at least the first year or two of being out on your own that they will be there to back you up in case everything hits the fan while you're trying to figure it all out.