My REALLY slow 88 RT4WD project
bigdzysays
Wagonist
Alright lets try this again, so i recently picked up a non-running 88 RT4WD wagon.
here it is in the previous owners garage.
here it is on the tow truck, and there is my 05 STI
and here it is in its new home with the front end removed
feed back and tips are greatly excepted!
here it is in the previous owners garage.
here it is on the tow truck, and there is my 05 STI
and here it is in its new home with the front end removed
feed back and tips are greatly excepted!
Comments
Here is what i started with
The first thing i started with was trying to remove the axle nuts, which was probably the most frustrating thing i have ever delt with. The passenger side came off with some PB blaster and a 1/2 breaker bar, the driver on the other side snapped 2 breaker bars. My impact gun didnt budge the nut. So out of shear frustration i took a chisel and a sledge hammer to it for 3 hours.
After that i got the axles out, i had to google how to remove the intermediate shaft, but was very easy once i understood it was bolted to the block.
i also had a bit of trouble breaking the bolts on the drive shaft, after looking some stuff up i realized i needed a universal joint socket to get the required torque to break them loose.
and finally after removing the alternator, ps, and a/c i was able to get the engine/tranny out!
All this work has been done over about the last month, like i said this is a very slow build
My car is a daily driver, but I've got a SOHC ZC sitting in the garage that I'm planning on rebuilding/going over and putting in once I'm done getting my motorcycle back on the road. I've never done an engine swap, so it should be interesting
Front seats are trashed, im thinking about getting the bolsters beefed up and the seats reupholstered in some sort up plaid pattern.
Still needs a good vacuum and armoral wipedown.
Engine is finally out along with front and rear cross members and all suspension.
i plan on looping the rack and removing the power steering and a/c
parts i want to order include
innovative mounts
innovative traction bar with the front mount built in
front and rear chamber kits
ground controls
tokico blues
for wheels id like some Diamond Racing steelies
I'm going to be wiring up an S2K cluster and i know that i will be needing an eg VSS among other items, has anyone used the eg VSS? the gear at the bottom appears much larger that our cable speed sensor.
Also i'm moving forward with a mild tuck, so i'm hoping some members can help me identify some items under the hood.
top right - map sensor
bottom right, valve lets the coolant into the cabin;
Next step will be to remove the dash so i can start removing things and remount the fuse box.
Here is the progress ive made on my VC. I'm going to finish stripping it and either wrinkle black, or shave it and paint it a gold or copper.
Ive also been starting to stockpile a few pieces for the build.
Bra is in decent shape. Does anyone have a WAGON template? I want to get it Stitched like a lot of the bra's say civic but instead to say WAGON.
II got a great deal on an AP1 cluster with pigtails. i have a VSS already, and WireWerks sells a complete sending unit to correct the speed,fuel, and what not instead of using a speedo healer and a modifry.
last but not least i found a nice Nardi wheel on craigslist. Now i need to get a shorty hub with a quick release.
Thanks for looking and all comments or questions are welcome!
and a teaser
Here is a picture of some front end damage.
Right now the plans are to continue stripping the wagon down to a shell, the reason for this is 2 part, 1 i'm doing a complete once over for rust and any other defects, and 2 i will be doing a RHD swap. I found a shop called ODBweldingworks in Jacksonville Fl. who will be doing the conversion and raising the shock towers because i will be stancing the wagon.
Has anyone on here delt with removing the oem sound deadening? i know alot of people use dry ice, anyone have any tips? Also i will be laying dynomat or a similar product down once the body has been painted.
And a closing shot of my wife pretending to help on the wagon.
Again any comments or questions are encouraged!
In the process i have discovered more rust than i was hoping to find.
With the condition I'm leaning towards just cutting out the spare tire area and just putting in some fresh sheet metal. I also picked up a NSX exhaust and its much larger than i had assumed, so with the spare tire area removed along with the gas tank, i should be able to get the exhaust tucked up pretty well. Then idea is for a 12-16 gallon fuel cell.
Also if anyone has a wagon shell they have stripped i will be needing some sheet metal cutouts possibly.
Thanks for looking
-Dustin
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To be completely honest this project has spiraled out of control, but the thought process was if it was something i wanted to do in the future, why pay for different parts later? such as my radiator or header or new wiring harness. So the plan is to do it right the first time, even if it turns this REALLY slow project into a multi year project. When i get home in a couple weeks i will have some d series parts up for sale in the parts section such as a MT RT4WD trans and a newly machined head. Thanks for looking guys.