Project: Laser Rs

[braceyoself777]

Whats up guys,

I'm new to this fourm but I'm not new to a fourm. Just wanted to introduce myself and what I got going on here. I recently picked up a Plymouth Laser AWD Turbo rs for $900 off a guy who was moving to Seattle. The only major mods were in suspension goodies, he had coil-overs installed on all 4 corners and also had the 2g calipers put up front. The engine remains stock except for a K&N cone filter and exhaust. Why so cheap? The timing belt threw and ripped a bunch of teeth off the belt. His mechanic did a compression check w/ a new TB and there was zero compression in all 4 cylinders (words from seller). I went ahead and bought a brand new head w/valves & cams so I don't have to do a full head rebuild. So I rigged the TITAN and went up to Norcal and picked up this rare car and its awaiting to be towed to the local community college Automotive Technology center. Here the car will get full compression test, leak down test, and all the other goodies to make sure its running right. I'll post pics later as the project progresses. Anyways, Thanks for letting me be a part of this fourm. -Mike G

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[marshall13]

The timing belt going is why it was so cheap. This is an interference type head, so when the timing goes, it usually destroys valves and valvetrain parts. Sometimes the head is no longer useable because of this. Have them check the head over really good and make sure you can use it, because heads are expensive. Good luck with it.

Marshall

 

[always_broken]

Is it going to a community college to be a group project or you just using their tools to and teachings to help you with this? Either way good luck. I wish I could find one like you, people around here want 6k for a 95 gs/rs but for a 95 awd they can barely get 4k because of the lowballers.

 

[marshall13]

My fault. I misread and apparently didn't type what I was trying to say. I wish I could afford a new and loaded head!

 

[fastandlow94]

yeah really i bet you payed almost as much for the head as you did the car....

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Woot, nice find man, should be a great project.

 

[braceyoself777]

Is it going to a community college to be a group project or you just using their tools to and teachings to help you with this? Either way good luck. I wish I could find one like you, people around here want 6k for a 95 gs/rs but for a 95 awd they can barely get 4k because of the lowballers.

Technically YES and NO. The car was more of a personal project because the objective of the class is about "Engine preformance and driveability." I was currently working on my truck that has less than 45K on the odo....so nothing really is wrong with it, you can only change the oil and rotate your tires soo many times. But since this car was such a good real world example, my teacher didn't even hesitate when I asked if I could bring it in to work on. Yes, we have tools at the shop (Snap-On...and only Snap-Ons)
When I did find this car for its price, I couldn't skip out on it. Even other cars in similar conditons were running 2K....w/ a broken head. Oh yeah...it has a clean title too.

 

[braceyoself777]

yeah really i bet you payed almost as much for the head as you did the car....

$350 for a new stock turbo head isn't bad. Rebuild kits were costing $250....I was like WTH?!

 

[braceyoself777]

Whats up guys, heres an update,

Just got the car towed to the College Auto Facility and started some work on it. Just trying to get all the crap off the intake manifold so that it will be clear to take off w/ the head. I forgot to list, the car also came with a Fluidlyne all-aluminum radiator. And I also checked the turbo for shaft-play....none whatsoever- so that lifted alot of questions on this project.

Getting Rigged:

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Pulleys all off:

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Big Radiator:

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Clean Interior for a 92:

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[TSITuner4Lyfe69]

sick man good luck i have a laser also i love it but i got a wing for myne

 

[Shaggy_357]

I might be missing something in that last set of photos, but that doesn't look like the car was flat-bedded or had dollies put under the rear wheels...it wasn't towed like that was it?

BTW, that was a steal..I paid 2k for mine with a blown ECU. Looks nice. Good luck!

Eric

 

[braceyoself777]

I might be missing something in that last set of photos, but that doesn't look like the car was flat-bedded or had dollies put under the rear wheels...it wasn't towed like that was it?

BTW, that was a steal..I paid 2k for mine with a blown ECU. Looks nice. Good luck!

Eric

Yeah, I thought it would of been a problem if we towed it the way it is. I asked the guy if that was going to be a problem, he had dollies with him and everything ( told him it was AWD), but he said no, it wouldn't be a problem. I thought I was going to hear a snap, crackle, and pop but everything worked out well. The back wheels moved freely with no hesitation. Also, the shop was less than 2 miles away, we drove under 40mph.

 

[burbage2001]

Good find. The car looks to be in good shape. Keep us updated on your progress. Will you be able to work on at any time or are you alloted times? Good luck.

 

[finnie3d]

Congratulations! Nice Find and good luck on your build.

 

[c4uldr0n]

I would slap that tow driver across the face. You may not hear a "snap crackle pop" but it doesn't mean that your viscous coupler didn't take some unneeded abuse.

Nice car otherwise,

c4

 

[braceyoself777]

I would slap that tow driver across the face. You may not hear a "snap crackle pop" but it doesn't mean that your viscous coupler didn't take some unneeded abuse.

Nice car otherwise,

c4

$h!#! I was reading up on that on some of the "general" threads and so happend to click on the one that talks about how to tow and AWD car. I read stories on how some people's cars were fine and others that needed a new transfer case and differentials. The car currently isn't working but the sooner I work on it, the sooner I'll find out. Damn! I couldn't sleep last night after reading that thread!

 

[braceyoself777]

Good find. The car looks to be in good shape. Keep us updated on your progress. Will you be able to work on at any time or are you alloted times? Good luck.

I work on it Monday/ Wednesday from 8am-4:30, and Tuesday/Thursday 8-11:40am.

 

[braceyoself777]

Update:

Got work on the car this morning and did some more stuff to it. The drain plug for the radiator was stripped and had to use vice grips to take it off. I finally got to take off the vavle cover for the first time and found something really shocking. When the timing belt teeth ripped, it looked like it kept the exhaust valves open and the pistons (out of timing) came back up and bent the valves to death. Not just that, but all the roller arms on the exhaust side were off the valve springs and were laying at bottom of the head. Since I bought a brand new rebuilt head, I don't need to reuse any of these parts, but this goes to explain why there was no compression in any of the cylinders. I'll have more pictures later. Lets just say the Honda guys in the class were having a feild day with their comments.

 

[marshall13]

Let those Honda guys talk. When it's done and you blow by them, they won't be talking much more. HONDA BLOWS!!!!!

 

[fubar_mdw]

I dated a girl way back when with one of these,
wish i knew then what i know now about these cars.
great project though good luck

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

Yank that head asap and find out how bad the pistons are. If they aren't busted to hell, you might be able to get away with just a head swap instead of an entire engine rebuild.

 

[marcelo_caz]

I had mine timing belt coming off once.. it sucks
result was 8 valves bent.
terrible
after I fixed that I took to a community college so they could do a tune up. It came back worst.
becareful studentes in community college dont really know what they are doing speacially on dsm's.

Good luck on the car, it kind reminds me when I bought mine Laser RS AWD T for $1200.

 

[braceyoself777]

I had mine timing belt coming off once.. it sucks
result was 8 valves bent.
terrible
after I fixed that I took to a community college so they could do a tune up. It came back worst.
becareful studentes in community college dont really know what they are doing speacially on dsm's.

Good luck on the car, it kind reminds me when I bought mine Laser RS AWD T for $1200.

Yeah you are right, but I'm the guy that is acctually working on the car. Whats funny is the Honda guy wants to see my car running more than I do. Go figure. But yeah, the pistons should be fine because the engine shut off right away when the drama began. I'm pretty much at the same spot where you are at. Just the exhaust valves are shot to hell, looks like the intake valves are intact.

 

[FLASH1970]

good find. good luck with the project.

 

[marcelo_caz]

Yeah you are right, but I'm the guy that is acctually working on the car. Whats funny is the Honda guy wants to see my car running more than I do. Go figure. But yeah, the pistons should be fine because the engine shut off right away when the drama began. I'm pretty much at the same spot where you are at. Just the exhaust valves are shot to hell, looks like the intake valves are intact.

If you are going to do the work for your self, that is another story.
Good luck with car.