KingOfSpades' "Build Thread

[31N007]

I get what you're saying tweety about responsibility. It teaches worth and value of money and such. Something that kids whose parents gave them everything won't know till its too late. I'm proud of my accomplishment of buying and fixing up my own car, just that I've come to realize there's more to do and its just a hassle. Going into the first year of college, I need something reliable. Okay, I could go and get a cheap standard car thats nothing special, but id love the ms3 and since insurance is the same per month as my current car, there's no complaining in that part. I have a means to pay my dad back next summer but he won't have it. If it effects his vast amount of funds, its not going to happen, and thats just so disappointing. As far as my sister, mom, and i are concerned, we're just a nuisance to him and we're "taking" his money.

Its so annoying too. He treated my stepmom so well, and yet his indifference to family is so noticable. If he was a stiff to her, I'd be able to let slide his stinginess.

 

[tweety2300]

How is insurance the same? There was a $40 per month difference between the protege and the mz3, I would imagine the speed would be more

 

[31N007]

Its basic insurance. I think it's just personal?

Thats the only small issue, that if I get in an accident, I'm ****** for fixing the ms3. I can "afford" to write off the p5, as its not worth a whole lot, but the ms3 if I get it, I'll be pissed and screwed for a while...

 

[tweety2300]

If you get a loan from a bank you have to have full coverage, which I would advise or at the very least comprehensive

 

[31N007]

Well, thats the thing, i was planning on getting a "loan" from my dad, so i could pay him back next summer when i intern (reason I say when is because i have a spot lined up at the same place I've been at a few times now).

I get what you're saying about stepping it up a bit. Its harder to take a hit on a $13000 vehicle than a $4000 vehicle. What's sad is im pretty sure my dad has the lowest coverage on it to save money, but also because I bought the car so it wouldn't matter to him if I lose a $4000 investment...

 

[tweety2300]

At least he pays your insurance

 

[31N007]

True true. I have it pretty well, and I'm lucky there. I shouldn't complain and I'll stop.

Found out car was a total loss vehicle in 2005. Title is still green so I have no clue what the **** is up with that. Dealer offered me $500 for it so **** that.

Guy looked at private sale for me and said its mint. Everything checks out so I'll need money (then will pay dad back) and then go buy. Could probs get seller to 12500-1300 as he went down to 14000 w/o haggling. List is 14500. Idk, I hope I can get the money and then I haven't got an issue paying my dad back, even a bit extra if need be.

 

[tweety2300]

Get him drunk then ask, make him write out a contract

 

[31N007]

If only it worked that way. He gets tighter when drunk. Lol

 

[31N007]

So no new news. Dad said no. Fixing up the car and parking it for a while... (Guess on the bright side it keeps the miles from going too much higher.)

Changed the ignition wires out and haven't had a misfire so far. I'll try and keep an eye on it and see if that fixed the problem.

New rear brakes and front endlinks are going in this weekend. Was hoping to have a short throw here but that's coming in next week. Might throw that in on my own (read: will)

If all goes well over the next few months and I manage not to fail any class, (wasn't planning on doing so, even before deciding I wanted an MS3) I'll get and save up more money this summer. Look for a car towards the end or wait another year. I'm getting antsy as hell. I'll get a quote for bodywork- found the dog-leg panels for 160 IIRC on RockAuto (that's w/o shipping) but if I get the outside looking nice, I'll be able to put up with it for a few more years. I guess I am concerned about presentation, (partly why I'd love to get into an MS3) which I previously thought I could care less about...

Joining/ joined the SAE team at UMD so that should be fun. Looking forward to learning more about ECUs and how to wire one up. On paper, it seems easy. And since I'm not matching pinouts up with other ECUs, it makes it seem even easier...

 

[esnave09]

I found the fender panels on partsgeek for $36 each, but installing them is another issue. I was gonna do the same thing, but my roommate doesn't think that welding them in ourselves will look that good. So hopefully I can find a shop that will deal with my rust.
I'm totally with you on the presentation thing though. I wanna get all these things for my car, but it's pointless if it looks like a typical Minnesota car with rusting panels (especially with the rust breaking through the paint). You should let me know how the short throw install goes. I wanted to get one in too, but if I have to take a ton of stuff apart idk if I wanna start.

 

[31N007]

'twas easy. I got the knockoff TWM one. I think it'll do the job, but I'm not going to say you have to get it. Broke+mods= going the cheap route. I lubed the rear calipers up too. Got "those look like they've been sitting at the bottom of the ocean" among other things. I can't wait till I get enough money to buy a new car.

On my way to college I had a misfire. More than once. I keep throwing a P0300 and I've replaced the wires. Next up is going to be coils. I'm going to pull the plugs and check the gap. I'll try and take pics of what they look like. I can't see why the gap would be the issue since it's sporadic? Any ideas folks? Might buy a new intake tube. Maybe there is a micro crack in the bellows bit and that's messing with it. I had it try and s*** on me at idle IIRC three times.

 

[esnave09]

Hmm....that's weird that the misfire is sporadic. I know in my Sebring my plugs were completely shot, but when it rained even a little bit it would misfire, but I never had it enough to cause a code. Hopefully you can figure yours out, cuz I know you've tried a lot of different stuff.

 

[31N007]

Did an oil change today. I was 1000 over IIRC? And on conventional, that's probably no bueno. Ohwell. Got to drive the thing a bit to charge the battery as it seems to be dying more and more often now. I think/ hope it's my bluetooth OBDII adapter that's pulling enough juice over the week I left it to where it killed the battery and not a drain somewhere. Could be time to replace the battery- gotta get it looking good if I'm going to sell this summer I guess...

On that note, I have a mate who's working for a body shop. By next summer, I'll see about how much it might cost him to get the rear hatch fixed up and I'm going to try and hunt down a hood too. The side panels I'll get a quote on how much it would be to install, but if it's too much, I'll just say forget about it. I know I'll be selling at a loss, so why dump a s*** ton of money into it?

Some brighter news: fixed the misfire. Was the coil packs themselves. I got new wires, didn't fix. New coil packs made it drive a bit better too!

Now I get to wait again 'till November to legally drive it again. Oh joy.

 

[31N007]

New battery as the old one died

New rear brakes- the old ones were paperweights for a long while it seems.

Mmmmmm, other then that, nothing much else to report. General maintenance as expected. A while back I took the amp out the back of my car. Don't and won't need it. When I move on to the next car, I'll put money into power mods over audio.

I did my mom's brakes and that put the P5 to shame. SO EFFING EASY. I can't even begin to describe how happy I was when I went to turn the bolts expecting them to give me trouble.

Just tallied up expenses. I'm in it for about $1600 right now. on top of the $4000 purchase price, I can't complain TOO much. I spent too much on tints. All the exterior aesthetic mods I haven't included as I'll try and sell/ reuse them when the time comes.

 

[31N007]

refurbed calipers on, need to bleed brakes. I'm a caveman when it comes to doing that so I'm waiting for a knowledgeable friend to come round and offer a hand. I can bleed the clutch but can't bleed brakes. I don't know what gives.

<iframe src="https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=50C06A9C62DCD437&resid=50C06A9C62DCD437%212099&authkey=AGIzMXBjLRvqJ-0" width="240" height="320" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

almost did this... ^ but caught it when the ebrake bracket didn't fit right and I realized the bleeder nipple was on the bottom -_-

Other than that, not a whole helluva lot. Won't be driving it 'till Jan as dad's still out of state for work. Might be time for new tires once he gets back as the current ones have most certainly seen better days. If I can get the tires loose under light load on dry pavement, there's a big problem there. I'm not pushing massive power numbers either. Lol

 

[31N007]

Just picked up some Goodyear Eagle Ultra SW-3 winter tires for the girl. I feel a lot more confident, but I'm not going to be that dick that drives around like a knob because I have BIG MEATY TIRES ON Y0!111!!!!1!

The old tires have seen better days so depending on what's up this summer, I'll pick up a Speed and keep the winter tires on the P5. (They're 15" so won't fit the Speed) I'll just keep the stock rims and crap tires too in case I need it. Then the Speed will get some nice tires (probably summers).

That's if I can scrounge up enough money... If not, I'll keep the Scrotege5 for a little longer I'd prefer to be able to keep it for sentimental value as well as a backup in case s*** goes wrong in the future.

I'll take pics of the tires later.

http://sdrv.ms/1k555Ba

Other than that, nothing new...

 

[esnave09]

Have you had a chance to really use the snow tires yet? Cuz if you're anything like me you will start driving like a jerk. Haha I get so frustrated begins people going 20 mph in the snow.

 

[tweety2300]

Winter tires don't help but do much...

 

[esnave09]

They have been truly amazing in keeping my car on the road. It really helps in the deeper snow. Depends on what snow tires you get tho. I have Blizzak's, which are the best you can get.