The guy had told me the brake pedal went almost all the way to the floor, the front brakes would lock up, and the rears wouldn't do anything. SO, we pulled it into the garage and pulled the front wheels and whaddaya know, the driver side calliper leaks!!!
....8 seconds later the brake line had been tightened and it didn't leak anymore!!!
I had to go ahead and buy new callipers so I can bleed it out though, the bleed screws were snapped off. Picked them up this morning, Advance overnighted them, $26 a piece. I'll have working brakes soon.
I went ahead and took it down the road, the boost gauge the previous owner installed registers 13psi at full throttle from a stop. I don't know how accurate that is, but it'll get a grainger anyway after I install an A/F gauge.
The body's in pretty decent shape, the underbody is SPOTLESS, the suspension is TIGHT, it pulls straight, the tires have 50%+ tread on them, it's got snowflake wheels, power driver's seat / mirrors / windows / locks / rear windows, overhead console, and pretty comfortable seats (it's an ES).
Issues:
The turbo oil line leaks, doesn't look serious, I'll keep an eye on it. The lines will have to be replaced if I upgrade to a garret anyway.
Passenger side mirror is cracked and doesn't adjust. Should be able to pull one at a junkyard without much issue.
Driver's window doesn't go up and down like it should. I opened the door panel up and found out the long plastic strip that makes it go up and down is just snapped. Not a big deal, I'll get one when I get a mirror at the junkyard.
All in all, I'm a happy camper.....
I'll try to post some pics this afternoon after I swipe my sister's digital SLR camera....
Any suggestions for names for the van?
Posted by: MikeT
sounds like you got one hell of a deal.
Posted by: StoneFox
Name it Eugene
Posted by: skeezix
"boost-box"
Posted by: LS1 Mopar Turbo
FIX THE OIL FEED LINE! It only has to burst and go for a little bit to ruin it.
Posted by: Ground Rat
Welcome to the club. There are several people competing for the first turbo van in the 11's this year.
Posted by: DeckSetter
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1 Mopar Turbo
FIX THE OIL FEED LINE! It only has to burst and go for a little bit to ruin it.
Good to know. I'll price one today, thanks Mike.
Posted by: Carpet_Liquer
How about Cara VanTurbo.
Posted by: LS1 Mopar Turbo
You can fix that one with some hose, but don't let it go.
Posted by: Giz
cool
Giz
Posted by: DeckSetter
Quote:
Originally Posted by skeezix
"boost-box"
that's the leading candidate at the moment....
Anyway, brakes are all fixed, the thing drives NIIIIIIIIICE now. Looks like the struts aren't originals (I figured they couldn't be, they're in GREAT shape at 173k miles). Balljoints and everything are tight, it pulls straight down the road, no funny tire wear.
I fixed the turbo oil feed yesterday after I finished the brakes. The hard line that loops around the front of the engine looked like it had been cut into with a cutting wheel or something. It almost looked like it was splitting, but you could see where the wheel was put in 2 different places, right where it connects to the rubber hose. Put on a new piece of rubber hose long enough so it was clamped clear past the split, no more leaky. Also, the oil return from the turbo had been leaking. Turned out it was LOOSE, as in NOT EVEN FINGER TIGHT.
Now, I think the power steering pump's going out. It's currently at the stage of "not making a whining noise, but no fluid." You can hear some chirping bearings, so that's probably it.
Pics should be up in a few minutes. I took them last night, but didn't get home till almost 11 (and I get up early). I just spent 30 minutes trying to get them to load off the usb card reader and then I realized it wasn't plugged in. DOH!
Posted by: DeckSetter
PICS....
here's the worst of the rust, none of it's through the body...
interior...
engine....
Matt should put this emblem on his Dart...
Posted by: MikeT
red interior
Well for $650, you can't bitch about it too much.
Posted by: LS1 Mopar Turbo
For 650 bucks that is a deal!
Posted by: DeckSetter
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1 Mopar Turbo
For 650 bucks that is a deal!
That's what I'm sayin!! I think I may have to put a power steering pump on it, but it's still well worth it. Both front callipers combined were $40, and the pads look like they've got 50,000 miles left in them (I drive highway). It cost around $120 in gas to go get it and bring it back (my brother's '00 Ram 4x4 with a 5.2 only managed 8.9mpg combined with the trailer loaded and empty) but I think it's worth it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeT
red interior
just adds to the pimp factor
Posted by: Ground Rat
So...what are the first mods going to be.
Posted by: LS1 Mopar Turbo
Get a pump at a junkyard, for like 30 bucks it a new one is pricey...Do the exhaust and run a bleed. 14 PSI. Get used TII injectors from ebay, cheap cheap cheap. You should go high to mid 14's with that stuff done!
Posted by: 65fairlane
calipers for $52?
Mine were freaking $102.
Posted by: DeckSetter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ground Rat
So...what are the first mods going to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1 Mopar Turbo
Get a pump at a junkyard, for like 30 bucks it a new one is pricey...Do the exhaust and run a bleed. 14 PSI. Get used TII injectors from ebay, cheap cheap cheap. You should go high to mid 14's with that stuff done!
That's a pretty good start right there. I'm going to get some gauges first (A/F, EGT, Boost). The previous owner installed a boost gauge. It looks like it came there from the factory, I think it's the factory gauge out of a Daytona. They're not supposed to be very accurate.
In any case, I have to pipe in the intercooler (P.O. mounted a Probe cooler but never plumbed it in), then after the gauges I'll granger it to 12psi or so.
Hopefully by my 23rd birthday (mid September) it will have 3" exhaust, a 5spd, and around 18psi of intercooled boost
You ever driven a 568 car Mike? I haven't, but the 555 Daytona I test drove felt like it would take some getting used to. A little notchy, but it was a while ago and I'm used to a little notchy now with the ZX shifter. I think I was just too used to my Celica, that thing shifted SMOOTH.
What have you done to yours, Ground Rat?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 65fairlane
calipers for $52?
Mine were freaking $102.
Actually I lied, I got the wrong callipers the first time. The callipers for vans with 15" wheels were $26 each. The van has 15" wheels on it, but the sticker in the driver's door says it originally came with 14" wheels. The callipers for the 15's didn't work, had to take them back to get the correct ones, which ended up only being $20 a piece.
Yes, that's right, I got both front brake callipers for $40 total. Parts were in stock, and took maybe half an hour to change and bleed.
Posted by: LS1 Mopar Turbo
Put a 555 in it, Best one you can get, if you can find one.
Posted by: DeckSetter
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1 Mopar Turbo
Put a 555 in it, Best one you can get, if you can find one.
......I found a T2 555 '88 Shelby Z in a junkyard today, trans and turbo are both there, don't know quality yet........ I may call for info tomorrow, if not I know where it is and it looked like it had been there for a while. I can't afford the trans swap until after my taxes are paid...
I got some junkyard pieces today and fixed the driver's power window and replaced the passenger power mirror. I went to 3 junkyards and called a few more. Apparently no one in this area has a 5 speed Caravan for me to rob pedals and shifter bracket out of.
Posted by: LS1 Mopar Turbo
I think there is one out here. Next time I am at the yard I will see what they want for it.
