Yeah, I know, you might look at my combo and say "so what?" But this is kind of a big deal for me, I just picked up at least 100 hp (my non-HO was probably making like 150), it's waayyy deeper than I've ever gotten into a motor before, and it didn't some how explode when I fired her up (the cats caught on fire I think though, they were smoking bad enough for a while to make me run and grab the fire extinguisher!).
Also, though I've owned several sportbikes before, this is the fastest car that I've ever driven (not saying much, but it's at least a 13-second car I think) much less owned, and I managed to do it for about 2 grand (including purchase of the car) while setting the stage for future upgrades. She's not the cleanest, prettiest, or fastest, but she's mine (and all I can afford at that).
All that enthusiasm aside, I almost want to kick my otherwise POS car, as previously minor flaws (brakes, suspension) stand way out now, and other stuff keeps popping up; for instance my brake lights don't work now, and in a little while I'll have to go check the switch because the new bulbs I put in earlier had no effect and the fuses look OK, and the interior lights never lit up all the way and only worked with the dimmer switch in a certain position, which nearly cost me my motor earlier, as it was overheating and I didn't notice it until the gauge was a hair away from the red!
Which brings me to another gripe about the car; shortly before I fired it for the first time the other day, I noticed coolant leaking from the water pump as I was filling the cooling system, but I fired it anyways (I just had to) and fixed it that night. The next day, I noticed water trickling from the thermostat housing, so I fixed that last night, thinking it wasn't a big deal because I just put the gasket on with no silicone or anything the first time. Today, of course, there was no improvement, and I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't a crack in the housing or something; I sure as hell don't want to have to pull the lower manifold off at this point, so if it's cracked I'm sensing the use of some JB weld in my near future . . .
If it isn't one thing, it's something else; at least she runs though, I've been waiting long enough.
Also, though I've owned several sportbikes before, this is the fastest car that I've ever driven (not saying much, but it's at least a 13-second car I think) much less owned, and I managed to do it for about 2 grand (including purchase of the car) while setting the stage for future upgrades. She's not the cleanest, prettiest, or fastest, but she's mine (and all I can afford at that).
All that enthusiasm aside, I almost want to kick my otherwise POS car, as previously minor flaws (brakes, suspension) stand way out now, and other stuff keeps popping up; for instance my brake lights don't work now, and in a little while I'll have to go check the switch because the new bulbs I put in earlier had no effect and the fuses look OK, and the interior lights never lit up all the way and only worked with the dimmer switch in a certain position, which nearly cost me my motor earlier, as it was overheating and I didn't notice it until the gauge was a hair away from the red!
Which brings me to another gripe about the car; shortly before I fired it for the first time the other day, I noticed coolant leaking from the water pump as I was filling the cooling system, but I fired it anyways (I just had to) and fixed it that night. The next day, I noticed water trickling from the thermostat housing, so I fixed that last night, thinking it wasn't a big deal because I just put the gasket on with no silicone or anything the first time. Today, of course, there was no improvement, and I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't a crack in the housing or something; I sure as hell don't want to have to pull the lower manifold off at this point, so if it's cracked I'm sensing the use of some JB weld in my near future . . .
If it isn't one thing, it's something else; at least she runs though, I've been waiting long enough.