Great Success!

Car started up today with the 2.4 ECU and EZK run off the distributer. After swapping the 3-wire for 2-wire AIC I finally manage to remove one of the pins from the ECU. Btw, I don't think they are supposed to be removed, since one of the release pins is blocked, but somehow I managed to get it out without mangling it too much. The two wires on the TPS need to be swapped in the harness in order to use the correct type, but that seems to be it.

I haven't hooked up the APC yet or swapped the axles so no comments on drivability yet, but progress is progress!

Snakes saves the day.


There are a few small holes in it around the head pipe, but nothing that can't be patched. It might last a few seasons.

Once I pulled the the carpeting the heat shield tunnel was a bit thin so I cut a small section of that car and one of the parts cars to replace it. Need to rebuild the axles and I should be good to go.

Is that your Mss exhaust? How does it sound?

That must have looked pretty funny going down the highway! How about the wind noise??

Geoff wrote:That must have looked pretty funny going down the highway! How about the wind noise??

I'd guess it would sound muffled.

SwedeSport wrote:Is that your Mss exhaust? How does it sound?

Not sure yet, haven't installed it as I need to finish the tunnel welding and clean up the exhaust a bit. I should be able to tag the car this weekend.

Jordan wrote:Snakes saves the day.

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There are a few small holes in it around the head pipe, but nothing that can't be patched. It might last a few seasons.

Once I pulled the the carpeting the heat shield tunnel was a bit thin so I cut a small section of that car and one of the parts cars to replace it. Need to rebuild the axles and I should be good to go.

holes in the head pipe on the exhaust or on the body shell? I didn't see any on the down pipe...at least the down pipes are cheap to replace.

It was on the exhaust... not easy to replace since usually the cat is fairly rusted to pipe and usually can't be reused either. No way in hell that thing is coming apart.

Jordan wrote:No way in hell that thing is coming apart.

You don't share the optimism of someone who has worked on northern New England C900s for a living. Cut the bolts and it will come right apart.

You're right Geoff, It will come apart. Its gonna be the putting it back together that'll be tough. It looks like the last time around for that cat. The flanges on both ends are beyond toasted. If it will stay together "as is" for a while, I would leave it.

I just wire brushed it up, carefully welded up the hole and spray bombed the whole thing with header paint. It probably won't stay on very long but it may delay the rusting for a little while.

I finished welding up the tunnel today and used what I had left of some POR-15 to seal the top and bottom panels. Still waiting for that to dry so I can mount the new shield and exhaust tomorrow. May swap the rear axle as well.

I think it can get it driving early this week, then on the list of upgrade with parts I've got hanging around....

Front "Road Holding" springs
Rear OMP springs
Bilsteins
....and more!

Mounted the heat shield and exhaust today. Removed the rear axle, which is was a pain, I hate removing those boge shocks. Also pulled the OMP springs and Bilsteins from other car. Brake lines are pretty crunchy looking, it will be interesting trying to swap them over to an early axle, which still needs to be removed.

The exhaust mounted a little wonky, I'll have to play with it a bit or something, it doesn't seem to exit in the right place, but I did start the car up. Didn't sound too different than a stock exhaust,it seems like its basically just a long glass pack instead of a regular muffler.

I haven't seen your "new" car yet, but I gotta say... you're a fucking glutton for punishment aren't you...

Jordan wrote:
The exhaust mounted a little wonky, I'll have to play with it a bit or something, it doesn't seem to exit in the right place, but I did start the car up. Didn't sound too different than a stock exhaust,it seems like its basically just a long glass pack instead of a regular muffler.

Might be slight differences between the 2 door/4 door and the hatchbacks. The exaust is pretty mugh just a center glass pack. Its pretty quiet on a turbo car and is only noticeable when you get on the throttle. I like the MSS turbo exhaust for this reason...not excessively loud.

You should see the rear axle swap I'm in the middle of...

Where are the pictures?!