Phoenix build

[311oneG]

311oneG submitted a new DSM Profile :

Phoenix build


Read more about this vehicle here...

 

[311oneG]

Well, I guess this is the start of my first DSM build. My background is Jeeps and classic muscle cars. Last front wheel drive car I owned was an 89 Prelude SI in high school.. this should be fun!

 

[311oneG]

Going to start off with a little bit about the backstory of the car and condition when I got it.

Back story

I noticed this particular car in my neighbors backyard. His 16 year old kid was asking me to identify an old jeep his dad had. (M38a1 for anyone curious ) So it took some time but I was finally in a spot to ask about the plans for the car while his wife was there ha ha. She complained it had been sitting for a long time and he offered to give it to me.

About a week later I was able to drag it to my garage and park it.


The story go like this. Their niece had the car but it had a tick, or cylinder 1 misfire, or ran rough. Story changed depending on the day. She gave it to them to look at and nothing ever happened to it. It sat in thier yard for years. Last emissions inspection and oil change was 2011. Over the years the kids at the house explored and messed with the car, taking off trim panels and dash pieces. Eventually they broke out the back hatch glass and all the tail lights and turn signals.

Then it came to me.

 

[311oneG]

Okay so here are the findings upon inspecting the car..

The Good
-Motor appears completely stock and unmolested. Still has plastic BOV cover
-wing and skirts are good
-seats are dirty but not torn up and look good
-body panels are pretty straight and moonroof glass is good.
-all trim and dash panels have been found in the car
-all 4 wheels are good and has all centers caps

The Bad?
-back window broke out letting in the elements
-had snow in the back when I got it
-all taillights and side markers are busted out
-dashboard is split really bad
-needs paint
-needs mirrors (all 3)
-rear sprayer nozzle missing
-needs driver fender
-needs passenger pop up headlight
-paint sucks
Ect...

 

[311oneG]

Photos when it was pushed into my driveway...

 

[311oneG]

The plans to start off.

-Upon further inspection I noticed the cam gears are off 1 tooth. So I will need to varify timing
-full service (oil, coolant, all fluids)
-spark plugs
-drain gas and refill
-compression test


Inside
-remove interior and dry out. Piece back together

 

[311oneG]

Tonight I started off getting the water out of the trunk. The spare tire was literally floating in water. I removed approx 15 gallons of water.

I cut out the rear carpet and collected all the trim pieces I could find. I believe I have them all. I'll save the board that's soggy so I can trace and cut a new one.

I'm going to let it dry out and then come vacuum and try to clean what I can before I pull the seats.

 

[RWood]

I love stories like that! I'm in Boise, last passed thru SLC in May going to Moab. Check out Boise craigslist, auto parts, search eclipse. The ad out of Lewiston is who I bought mine from. Ad is kind of old, not sure what he has left.

 

[311oneG]

Thanks! I'll have to check it out!

My dad found out about this project and surprised me with parts! He ordered me an entire set of tail lights! Excited for them to come.

I'm a grown dude with 3 kids, but it's still nice when someone buys you parts. Lol

 

[311oneG]

I love stories like that! I'm in Boise, last passed thru SLC in May going to Moab. Check out Boise craigslist, auto parts, search eclipse. The ad out of Lewiston is who I bought mine from. Ad is kind of old, not sure what he has left.

I live in Spanish fork so you drove through my city to go to moab. I'm down there regularly..

 

[311oneG]

Box of goodies showed up today!

 

[311oneG]

Got my new tail lights!

So I started stripping everything down so I can clean it all. Probably wont be the last time as I'll want to paint the car once I get it all running and in working order..

Some of the center section nuts were stubborn and I ended up unscrewing a couple of the studs out of the old lights. Then it was a pain to get the nut off the studs once I had removed panel. But we got it and nothing is broke that's going back on the car.

 

[311oneG]

So question for anyone reading this. How likely am I to get the rear spoiler off the hatch without breaking anything? The passenger has some play and I can see that its off the corner mounting tab. I don't want to remove it if I'm guaranteed to break something that can't be replaced or is super hard to find.

 

[RWood]

I saw one at a junkyard about 3 months ago like the one you have. I didn't pay particular attention, but it did have the glass and it opened, because I remember rummaging in the back. Jalopy jungle Nampa, ID.

 

[311oneG]

So I made it to the junk yard today. They had one 1gb eclipse GS. Mostly tore apart already. I managed to get a few things. It doesn't look like much, but I need so many things that everything helps.
-Passenger door trim
-rear view mirror (from a galant )
-side mirrors
-reverse lights
-batter hold down bracket
-drivers side handle trim with power mirror controls
-random trim pieces
-tail light wire harnesses
-gas door
-hvac dash knobs
-ect.. .

I may try to go back and take the rear glass out of the hatch but I need to figure out if it's worth the effort. Lol

 

[311oneG]

Removed the seats Saturday. Next is the back seat. carpet and headliner.

I'm having issues getting the rear seat to fold down. It wont unlatch. Dont want to break it. I'm going to try a heat gun and see if it's just frozen..

 

[Mike9490]

lots of work here looking good though! i do have in my possession a drivers fender and hood off my 90 talon, that i could let go for cheap as dirt as they are just taking up room . I'm located in Michigan so they would have to be shipped but we could work something out i'm sure. pm me if you are interested.

 

[311oneG]

Interested! My buddies live in Michigan and ge could freight me something.. what kinda prices we talking about? PM me!

 

[311oneG]

It's not pretty, but I got the seats out.

Next will be the front carpet and headliner. I'm debating taking the rest of the trim off the sides so I can really clean this thing good.

 

[311oneG]

Some new parts showed up yesterday! I won some breaks from a big jeep trip event I was invited to last November. I didn't need brakes in the jeep so I ordered new ones for the car.

Powerstop carbon ceramic pads and new rotors. Woot!
Also got my NGK plugs from supporting this site! They came fast!

 

[311oneG]

Well I got her all stripped out, got the broken glass cut out of the hatch and pieced together a much better dash!

 

[311oneG]

Time for some updates?

First let's see how clean this girl got!

 

[311oneG]

How about my junk yard finds over the last week or so?

 

[311oneG]

So I replaced the lense on my gauges. Old one was way scratched up.

Before and after...

 

[311oneG]

Lots of progress on Saturday. Replaced the foam sealant on both sides if the blend door diverter (whatever you guys call it..) then I got my dash back in, center console and put my tail lights on.. getting excited to get this girl on the road!