It really spruces up an otherwise ugly engine bay quite nicely. I coated mine in hi temp red and hi temp clear without even removing it from the car. I wanted to do a full powder coat, but wanted to see how long this would last. I've done about 6 of them now for my 16v cars and sold a few and they have held up surprisingly well!

I am all for "tasteful" upgrades on 99 turbos, however I have to say, on an original 99 turbo, a 16V motor may be a bridge too far for my liking. Have you driven a good running 99 turbo? The power is... sufficient. Yes, if a Honda Odyssey van REALLY wants to get in front of you from a dead stop at a stop light, it will still happen. And likely will still happen with a 16V motor too But the highway power, even the 30-100 MPH times on a good running 8 valve 99 turbo are impressive. Especially with an intercooler, water injection and a bit more boost.

Yes, you can make a 16V 900 engine fit a 99, but they always seem to be like a size 10 foot jammed into a size 8 shoe. Just my opinion. If this was any 99 BUT a 1978 99 turbo, I'd say anything goes! but there are so few of these left in good shape, 10 years from now ANY original ones left are going to be worth big money, you might regret doing all these mods to make the car worth significantly LESS if you still have it by then. You even have the window sticker! None of mine have that...

I have gone through all these arguments in my head and seriously considered if this is the right car for my project. Non turbo 99 hatch backs are hard to find! I looked at 3 turbos and 1 non turbo in a year of searching for any 99 hatch. The other turbo cars were the same or more expensive then this car and in worse shape structurally. That early red euro hatch came up after I already had the turbo, and that car did not have a sunroof.

Look I will happily trade for another non turbo 99 hatchback with a sunroof. I am not going to start with the firewall mods until I have the new motor built. So if something comes up great. If not, I wont lose any sleep. There is a garage full of 99 turbos in the Netherlands that just sat there for decades, and most will continue to sit. This car will be used!

I've been kind of quiet lately. The recent SOC 2014 thread seemed like a good trigger for an update.

My last post had me thickheaded about making this 78T into an outlaw car. After seeing the cars at Carlisle last year I had a change of hart your arguments one me over. I think the car is better preserved. I also had a chance meeting and located a 3 door sunroof body shell. I now have an appropriate base for my outlaw aspirations.

The reason for my lack of progress updates was an insane political situation at work. This finally came to an end two months ago when I quit. I moved from NY to my garage space in RI (thanks Mom & Dad) so now I will be able to work on the 78T full throttle

Back to the SOC in Portland thread... The plan is to get the 78T into shape and drive from RI out to OR for the show.


***Name of thread changed to better reflect the new goal***

I'm glad you got your work situation under control. There's nothing worse than letting your job get you all stressed out, it rubs off badly on everything else in your life.

Wishing you the best going forwards, and can't wait to see more progress updates.

Consider a 5 speed install...otherwise you are in for a long trip

Can't wait to see more pics!

Crazyswede wrote:Consider a 5 speed install...otherwise you are in for a long trip

+1.
The hardest part is finding the 78-80 99 front transmission cover

John

99Super wrote:

Crazyswede wrote:Consider a 5 speed install...otherwise you are in for a long trip

+1.
The hardest part is finding the 78-80 99 front transmission cover

John

Does 78 and 79 work? I had read it was 1980 only.
If not I could have a 5-speed waiting for me ...

SalemSaab wrote:

99Super wrote:

Crazyswede wrote:Consider a 5 speed install...otherwise you are in for a long trip

+1.
The hardest part is finding the 78-80 99 front transmission cover

John

Does 78 and 79 work? I had read it was 1980 only.
If not I could have a 5-speed waiting for me ...

1980 4 speed front cover...or 1981 and newer Euro model.

78-79 covers work fine w/ a small modification to the outside of the case.

5-speed case:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C ... directlink

4-speed case w/ J-B Weld modification:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/N ... directlink

John

I am wary of the JB weld mod...have seen the JB weld pop out and then you lose the transmission

Attach the filler how ever you like, weld it maybe?

The one in the picture lasted for more than a dozen years, always leaked just a little, but it never failed.

If you can't find an 80, don't let that stop you.

Yeah, I ran the JB Weld "bump" on my rally car for a year or so. It worked but seeped a little. It made me a little nervous but I did a good job cleaning the substrate and filing a deep cross hatch pattern in it so the epoxy held on well.

I'm sure someone would be happy to put an actual weld on it for you too.