Ideas and Projects

The blog project

I've had a new blog project on hold for a while now. The domain is one that I registered several years ago as a potential real estate/local information site for the Joplin area - Crossroadsofusa.com. It's currently «parked» with some advertising related to cars. My current project for the site is a travel and auto blog. I expect to get this off the ground in the next couple of months as the «summer driving season» kicks into high gear. Part of that requires success with one of three car projects so I am actually able to take a roadtrip or two to blog about.

The car projects

• The Saturn - Project Spring Hill:
  

  My main mode of transportation is a 1995 Saturn SL2. This is a 4-door model with an automatic transmission and 1.9 liter DOHC engine. The car has 193,000 miles on it. About a month ago I got a check engine light intermittently every couple of days. I was on the way to work when it began running really rough. I went to Autozone and had them check the OBDC code. It showed a bad EGR valve and the O2 sensor said the car was running rich, which could be a result of the bad EGR.

  I changed out the EGR valve and the service engine light went away, and hasn't been back since. But unfortunately the car kept running rougher and rougher and spitting out nice big clouds of smoke every time I accelerated from a stop.

  I changed the spark plugs, one of which was badly fouled and wet, and plug wires. Drove home from my parents house and back the next day. The new plug in that single cylinder was already fouled again.

  Next step, I ran SeaFoam through the PCV valve vacuum line to clean out the fuel injectors. Ran 1/3 of a pint of SeaFoam in the crankcase oil for a drive down the road and then changed the oil.

  The car ran a bit smoother, but continued to have a rough idle and to knock/buck when pressing the accelerator at 1500-2100 RPM on the road. It also burned, not leaked, a quart of oil in about 200 miles. It began getting worse, especially when stopped and would spit out big clouds of smoke at stoplights. Still runs fine at 60 mph, but tries to die when accelerating after idling at a stop light for more than a few seconds.

  Bottom line. Valve trouble. With this old an engine, it probably needs new valve stems, valve guides, etc. on the bad cylinder. Depending on cost, I may attempt this myself, but it requires at least pulling the cylinder head, so I'm going for an estimate first.

• The Toyota - Project Fremont:
  

  I have a 1992 Toyota Corolla parked in my yard that hasn't been started in a few years. It ran low on oil while my wife was on the way to work. The daughter described it as sounding «like a helicopter.» She didn't know what to do, so she drove on to work and parked it. One of the people there checked the oil and added oil before she drove home. It never overheated, but it had serious lifter noise. Since we both commuted 30-miles one-way, I got a new car (the Saturn) and gave her my old car, since I didn't trust the Toyota on the highway.

  Now, after sitting several years, the Toyota may or may not start when I get the battery recharged (or get a new battery). If it does, I'm going to try the SeaFoam or similar route to try to clean the valve lifters out and see if the noise reduces. It has plenty of power, so if I can get an improvement, I'll try other additives for an oil change or two and see how it goes. Otherwise, it may need valve work, too, but used Toyota engines with warranty are available for about half the cost of Saturn engines and the Toyota is a 5-speed, which I prefer

  Aside from the engine trouble, it needs the clutch hydraulics rebuilt - but I have the parts for that already sitting in the front seat waiting to go in. It also needs two tail light lenses replaced, a new windshield, a lot of cleaning and may need new tires due to dry rot.

• The MG B - Project Abingdon:
  

  I have a 1968 MG B. Nice little roadster.

  This is the one I really hope to get running. If I can get the Saturn and Toyota going without breaking the bank, the Saturn is getting sold so the money can go into the MG.

  I parked it almost 10 years ago because the splines on one axle hub and one wire wheel were stripped. Hit the accelerator and instead of taking off, the hub turns inside the wheel, the knockoff comes off the end and the wheel falls off. New hub and new wire wheel will be about $400. Minor parts, about $100. The car also needs clutch hydraulics which, like the Toyota, I already have. It may need some other minor mechanicals because of sitting so long.

  It needs a new convertible top, though I can probably make due with the current one by not driving in the rain. And, after sitting that long it needs lots of cleaning.

  It has some body rust, which I will probably sand and fill myself. Then, of course, it will need a paintjob.

  I see similar parked cars running for anywhere from $400-800 depending on condition and fully restored same year cars running over $10k. Unfortunately with the existing rust, without replacing body panels it won't ever be a $10k car, but for driving it myself it could eventually look and run as good as one for about half the cost.