Ryan - 1993 Black BP RS-RIP

[Ryan]

Heres some pictures.


Latest engine bay shot.




Where I moved my PS cooler to.


The effect, also, the grill has been cut out.

Guys, have any of you mounted your licence plate elsewhere? I really hate the stock location...

[Ryan]

So I've spent a few days working with my car... I started the repair on my 'new' hood. I had to cut out most of the bottom bracing type stuff on the hood and weld in new. I'm okay at shaping the metal, but because I'm so paranoid aobut melting through, my welds are super spotty and I leave holes like crazy. On one corner I had to weld on the top... lets just say that 8 hours later I had finally filled all the pinholes. I am about 80% done bondo-ing, and then I need to prime and paint. I might call up a shop and ask what they would charge to shoot the topside of my hood in just plain old black.

I also got the OEM wheels on, looks a million times better than the stupid wheelcovers. Its a LOT smoother on the road now too. I can actually see out of my rearview mirror, its not just a blur (except when the little subs get goin' )

I learned how to use our shops tire machine... its takes tires off of rims and puts them back on. That took a long time too. But I have my summers on my OEM rims and my winters on steelies and all are balanced by me

I'm debating if its worth it to buy a mini spray gun... for me and my shop to use. I just called a random autobody shop in town and they wanted $350 just to spray my hood

[tmac4t4]

buy a spray gun..money well spent for sure!! you can usually get a set with 2 guns (big&small) for 150$...cheeper if you live near a Costco

[Ryan]

But thats not all, you'd need the thing to take the water out of the air lines, and whatever contraption to hold the cans, or special cans?

[tmac4t4]

true..i forgot about that peice..but either way..buyin the equipment is definatley the way to go..even after you spray your hood..you will find the small gun is great for doing small touch ups and stuff..plus you could paint for cheep by using nail polish..i do alotta body work on the side but have to use spray bombs alot..needles to say im savin up for a gun ...oh and the air pressure regulator or w/e its called usually comes in a set as well so you can get an accurate air pressure readout

[Ryan]

So I stopped at the end of my road today to kick the big stones off that the stupid german kids pile on.... (it scares me, my tires aren't perfect and I love drifting that corner. Its gravel, btw) and I hopped back in and I glimpsed my check engine light before it turned off. Got to where I was going, pulled out my paper clip, and....

Code 17, Oxy sensor. Its intermittent, as the light does not stay on. Came on on the way home for a while too. Only seems to come on when the vehicle is running, but not moving. I think I'll sneak a few from the yard, as well as my BP which I am hoping and praying I can at least remove from the vehicle tomorrow... I already bought my gasket set, so I'm committed!

Also, I planned out my gf's sound system... Polk audio and Alpine amps, ~$1200 I wish I had the money to do that for my car

[Ryan]

My rings. I messed up on the glue job. I was mad and I didn't care. Super mistake.

My little sandblaster, its my buddy.

The little switch that will be my kill switch. That little baby can handle 5 amps at 125VDC. Its good to make friends with the electronics teacher...

Engine is coming this saturday, I REALLY HOPE!

[Daninski]

Never read your whole thread before, obviously you've been busy. I really admire your enthusiasim. Looking forward to installing the rings I got from you. I've always found a certain satisfaction in sourcing out parts on my own like you do. Anyone can go into a store but it takes a true adventurer to go out and hunt down those elusive automotive gems. Keep up the great work Ryan, not bad for a wet behind the ears teenager.

[Ryan]

Okay, I went to the scrap yard yesterday and picked up a set of ZX2 struts. I also got... oh right, the lifters for that other thread I made

Ryan's Guide to Healthy Lifters


Anyway, the ZX2 struts.

I only did the front ones today, because you need to change the caps for the rears, and I am lazy, so I will do it later.


Stock on the bottom, with the recall strut brace deal on.
The recall brace does not fit on the ZX2 struts. The tab is slightly too long, and the diameter on the ZX2's is slightly larger. It could be made to fit with some fab work, like cutting the tab to fit and bending the radii larger.

This mod cost me:
$40 CAD (+40 for rears)
2 hours

I used:
14mm deep socket for strut tower bolts
17mm for the bolts holding the strut to the hub
Breakerbar
Pliers to pull the clip out that holds the brake line to the strut
Hammer to loosen things up
Tire iron & jack
A screwdriver to assist lining up the strut holes to the hub holes
Another ratchet with an short 17mm to hold the bolt opposite of the strut nuts.
A buddy

Before

After drivers side is on

After both are on


As you can see... I'm sitting higher. Everyone says "ZX2 springs are about a 1" drop" I think thats for the v6 guys. 4 cyls, Its a bit of a raise.

I drove around, slammed some brakes, pushed around some corners, swerved around on a road, and they DO feel better to me.

So I'm keeping them. To address the raise, I think I'll just plop a bigger motor in and maybe some heavy cast 2.5" turbo pipes....

Also, I'm putting my BP swap off untill spring. Unless an amazing opporunity presents itself.

[Jovian2k]

If im not mistaken I think the struts themselves provide that 1" difference... not sure about ZX2 springs used with them (I used eibach pro's for mx3)... but if they feel good then why not

btw I envy your junkyard findings, where I am such things are scarce!

[Ryan]

Oh, so I should keep my MX3 springs but use the ZX2 struts? Thats possible

[nerd racing]

Looks like you have been super busy! I really like everything you have done with your car! I too am still in school, but I live on campus which is about 2 hours away from my tools and my BP! I ended up getting mine from a member over at Clubprotege.com for around $150 plus gas to go get it. It wasn't too complete, but it was a good start.

To answer your earlier question, you will need both the exhaust and intake manifolds for a BP specifically, if you pull the manifold from a junkyard you will want to grab all of the electrical sensors hooked to the intake, that will include the VICS solenoid. I am planning on using my stock transmission and getting a new clutch kit for the time being, when I am done with college I'll have a BS MET, and I want to use it so that to do some sick drivetrain mods for my MX3.

[Ryan]

I can pull it myself for $200 from my favourite yard. $50 for the ECU. I bought a full gasket set for ~$80, and If I can find an new enough motor I shouldn't have to do too much machine work (which is all I can't do by myself) The only one that was there this saturday was a Protege one, given to the yard, it had nice speakers in it and an racing exhaust, so my guess some teenager drove the piss out of it and now its dead. 280K too. So, I'm waiting for one that has ~160-200 km's on it.
I too plan on keeping my F untill it blows. My clutch is baisically new, like 8k old. So, thats my ideal plan

I also found a Capri at the yard, but it was carbed and RWD... so I figured that wasn't the 5th gear I wanted, right?

[OutlaW]

Ryan , jsus ... you bettter lower your MX3 soon, before the homeless spot that cool new shelter !

[Ryan]

I'd rather just be able to get off my driveway come October.

Once I have my BP, then I'll worry about LOOKING cool.