Progress Thread My '89 Lx "barn Find" Restoration Project

stykthyn · Feb 22, 2017

Learn to love it... Or at the very least tolerate it.

mrobins26 · Feb 22, 2017

stykthyn said:
Looks clean. Been a long time since I've heard a car that didn't have loud exhaust.

I hear you (since the car isn't loud) It is 100% all stock.

stykthyn · Feb 22, 2017

mrobins26 said:
I hear you (since the car isn't loud) It is 100% all stock.

I dig it. I just changed the obnoxiously loud mufflers on mine.

02 281 GT · Feb 22, 2017

mrobins26 said:
I hear you (since the car isn't loud) It is 100% all stock.

Original parts are starting to get extremely scarce with these cars. If you decide to upgrade things like the exhaust or delete the smog system, I would recommend hanging onto all the parts you remove.

mrobins26 · Feb 22, 2017

02 281 GT said:
Original parts are starting to get extremely scarce with these cars. If you decide to upgrade things like the exhaust or delete the smog system, I would recommend hanging onto all the parts you remove.

Originally I was going to use it as a donor car for a factory five cobra, but then a guy from the local club saw it and gave me an earful about destroying an original when I can get donor parts anywhere... So it will stay as original as I can keep it.

stykthyn · Feb 22, 2017

If the rest of that car is clean I could see 8k there maybe 10 for someone that wanted exactly what your car had to offer. Keep it stock for sure.... Never thought I would say that.

mrobins26 · Feb 22, 2017

stykthyn said:
If the rest of that car is clean I could see 8k there maybe 10 for someone that wanted exactly what your car had to offer. Keep it stock for sure.... Never thought I would say that.

Interesting.. That is what the other guy said also... it was out of the garage for the test for a total of 15 minutes before somebody stopped and tried to buy it... Not sure I can part with it that easily after working on it for a couple of weeks... I still have the window sticker from when I drove it off the lot and was curious about one thing... When I bought it, I tried to get a notch back because... well they were lighter... and it was towards the end of the production season so all I could get was a hatchback... Anyway, my friend said at least get the 3.08 gears with the traction lok... Anyway, that is what I got and I was wondering if that is a rare option? While I know there is nothing rare about these cars, I hear a lot of people changing out to 3.08 or even 3.45?

stykthyn · Feb 22, 2017

Leave it. I regularly get offers on mine when I take it out. Just a sign we are doing something right

General karthief · Feb 22, 2017

It will only be a one owner car once and your the lucky dog thats got it!

mrobins26 · Feb 23, 2017

I know the Pics are now flowing at a rate that is acceptable but eventually the work will catch up and slow down a bit... After I got it running, having cleaned up the throttle body, intake, fuel rail, fuel injector rebuild, fuel regulator, spark plugs etc... While waiting on the gas tank parts I started on suspension, ball joints, and brakes....

mrobins26 · Feb 23, 2017

Cleaned up the wheels and repainted center caps while I was at it...

mrobins26 · Feb 23, 2017

And then moved on to the back of the car... I almost couldn't stand cleaning up the drum brakes to keep them... But I am committed to keeping it stock... thoughts? should I have upgraded to rear disc brakes? When I took the gas tank out I thought it was going to be empty according to gas gauge... 10 gallons siphoned out later I realized I needed a new sending unit. :-(

mrobins26 · Feb 23, 2017

And then moved on to the back of the car... I almost couldn't stand cleaning up the drum brakes to keep them... But I am committed to keeping it stock... thoughts? should I have upgraded to rear disc brakes? When I took the gas tank out I thought it was going to be empty according to gas gauge... 10 gallons siphoned out later I realized I needed a new sending unit. :-(

mrobins26 · Feb 23, 2017

hmmm. some sort of error on the last post that created a duplicate... oh well on to the Diff... This is a first for me and I know I might catch some grief for this but it has never been cracked open on this car... After seeing some you tube videos on Diffs, I am a little frightened at what I was going to see... but after doing it... Wow, looks like the day it was sealed up at the factory!!! Gears are square with little wear, everything is tight, no metal!!! I guess those 159K easy highway miles paid off.

mrobins26 · Feb 24, 2017

I had no idea transloc diffs needed special additive.. Ran across this that maybe people can use:

Dan02gt · Feb 24, 2017

Cool thread. I'll definitely be following it.

I wouldn't say the 3.08s are rare but they definitely made more 2.73 geared cars.

As for the rear drums. Maximum Motorsports makes a upgraded shoe that will help them perform better.

1200gt · Feb 25, 2017

mrobins26 said:
I always wanted to find a barn find and restore a car; but life, kids and lack of time (and money) prevented it from happening...I guess a bone stock '89 LX 5.0, never wrecked, one owner car that hasn't driven in 10 years classifies as a barn find... and the good news is that I'm the original owner and the barn find was already in my garage. So with some encouragement from the wife to get it the heck out of the garage I started tackling it... I have always been a DIYer but I have never tackled a project like this... please be patient with me and I will try not to ask too many 'stupid' questions.

Dude, I'm so happy for you! You will have fun doing this project AND you may as well tell the wife that you plan to spend the savings....lol No, just joking about that, but you will spend a lot if you're not careful. Think long and hard about what you really intend to use the car for in the end, and then only buy what is necessary to accomplish that goal; that is unless you're pleasingly wealthy, and in that case: Can I get a lone??? Many folk just get carried away with buying stuff that really doesn't do any good for their intended driving; I know, I did a bit of it myself. Now, I just want to drive my car and have fun listening to it purr.

I'm back on my 86 Vert from 25 year ago and it is just that: a project! If I could pass on one Key piece of advice, that would be: TAKE PLENTY PHOTOS! and bag and label every screw! I had to stop midstream on my project several times and when you get a bit closer to 55, the memory is not exactly like it used to be, especially after sniffing all of that lacquer thinner and brake cleaner. I'm advising you of this because I am experiencing just that sort of problem putting my car back together.

I'd go further to say just do it in stages. It will be easier on the wallet and you will bite off small chunks rather than having a room full of parts everywhere. My advice. I'll keep posted on your progress though. Have fun.

Dwayne

This is what I mean

CarMichael Angelo · Feb 25, 2017

1200gt said:
Dude, I'm so happy for you! You will have fun doing this project AND you may as well tell the wife that you plan to spend the savings....lol No, just joking about that, but you will spend a lot if you're not careful. Think long and hard about what you really intend to use the car for in the end, and then only buy what is necessary to accomplish that goal; that is unless you're pleasingly wealthy, and in that case: Can I get a lone??? Many folk just get carried away with buying stuff that really doesn't do any good for their intended driving; I know, I did a bit of it myself. Now, I just want to drive my car and have fun listening to it purr.

I'm back on my 86 Vert from 25 year ago and it is just that: a project! If I could pass on one Key piece of advice, that would be: TAKE PLENTY PHOTOS! and bag and label every screw! I had to stop midstream on my project several times and when you get a bit closer to 55, the memory is not exactly like it used to be, especially after sniffing all of that lacquer thinner and brake cleaner. I'm advising you of this because I am experiencing just that sort of problem putting my car back together.

I'd go further to say just do it in stages. It will be easier on the wallet and you will bite off small chunks rather than having a room full of parts everywhere. My advice. I'll keep posted on your progress though. Have fun.

Dwayne

This is what I mean

I think you need more WD 40.

1200gt · Feb 25, 2017

mrobins26 said:
Immediately after this test... I let off the clutch pedal (In Neutral) and the engine died... this could be repeated multiple times... I have seen this issue reported but never a fix... Turns out the ignition switch assembly had separated (a common problem I understand) and the computer thought it was still in Start Mode. A new ignition switch fixed this, only to be followed the next day with the smell of gas due to a leak somewhere around the gas tank... I guess I should not have expected less

That is a very common problem. I was able glue mine together in the interim. Let us know where you locate the new part. I'll eventually buy one later down my project. I have the entire dash pulled away doing the heater core and evap.Thanks.

1200gt · Feb 25, 2017

madmike1157 said:
I think you need more WD 40.

Nah, I just topped my coffee cup off with it a moment ago...

Progress Thread My '89 Lx "barn Find" Restoration Project

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Active Member

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Active Member

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Active Member

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole

Active Member

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Active Member

Active Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency