ClanFever's ME VS U Project

[ClanFever]

Picked this up from Gary today, he got it for me 2 weeks ago for $600. Auto, NA. No WoF or Rego, Alternator is faulty. It was red... spray cans changed that. The idea with this one is to (hopefully) be able to get it road worthy on the cheap, so I can spend far more time on APEXED and actually bring a 2 to a 2 meet... maybe

Will hopefully be running the ME VS U plate on it at some stage. Will give it a clean and get some more photos tomorrow, and see what we're up against.

[Benckj]

Hopefully it doesn’t take too much to bring up to road worthy standards. Critical bit will be the engine and if it’s a smoker or not. Not many good 3sges around anymore.

[Swampy]

a straight body... no rust... 90s sports car... that in itself is worth 600. Good score.

[ClanFever]

Yes, the tyres on the wheels are new even (well old... but no tread used). Doesn't seem to smoke at all, even after going downhill with no throttle, nothing.

Today gave the car a once over, interior clean, engine clean and did the targa leak fix (precautionary, doesn't seem like it was actually leaking, however rear drivers side had a big gap). Will give it a good exterior clean and look into the Alternator next sunny weekend day. Looks mostly standard, missing spare wheel and tools, however comes with some aftermarket sounds including speakers run by their own amp. Looks like the aerial cable is plugged into the amp too.

[ClanFever]

Helped out Phil (GDII) on Saturday with his oil problem. Mostly helped with shit talking, I think I undid about 3 bolts. I did supply a car to help jump start another car he is driving while that one is off the road

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Saturday is normally the car working day, although got a little bit in on ME VS U on Sunday, before the rain got in

Basically got the bottom covers off and started to get the top of the car ready for pulling the Alternator out. Managed to round the 14mm pivot bolt. It wouldn't budge with a spanner so I got out the torque bar, and it slipped off... - Attempted to smash a 1/2 inch socket onto it however there is no room to swing anything to hit the 1/2 inch. Not sure what to do from here. May undo the rest of the alternator and see if I can swing it on the pivot bolt. May need to heat it up or something. Also found the plug has been converted from a circle to an oval plug (but not with a plug end...) - Didn't know till I had pulled it out. May need to revert back to the circle plug, depending what I replace the alternator with, once I manage to get it out.

[Benckj]

Looks like your making some progress. Having just gone through this myself, couple of ideas with alternator.

Consider not removing alternator and simply replacing the rectifier, regulator and brushes in place. Can easily access these components from back side and most likely they are the problem. If you decided to pull and replace (or rebuild) possibly get a long extension & your 1/2" socket onto from wheel arch side. I think you can get a straight shot to bolt and then need a decent breaker bar to crack loose. Might need Phils help to hold straight so not to slip & strip again.

[ClanFever]

I feel like a whole new unit may be beneficial, it looks like you can get them from Repco for under $200 anyway, which beats the rebuild price.

I managed to get a longer bar onto the pivot bolt by removing the wheel and going from behind the rear right hand shock and in front of the subframe, the nut is definitely a circle now, and I cannot with any might hammer a 1/2 inch onto it.

Goal for this weekend or next for this car is getting the alternator out and a second hand one I picked up courtesy of Justin (courtesy of Shaun, courtesy of Mo...) that even has the circle plug. At least if that doesn't work, it shouldn't be hard to remove it again, considering I would have unbolted everything already.

[ClanFever]

Will post up some pictures either tomorrow or next week, just a bit tired at the moment.

Today I hosted a spanner day (Many thanks to Pierre, Phil, James and Shaun), we got the alternator out - it only took 5 hours. In the end, the subframe was dropped, a hammer and chisel was used to cut up the bolt, and a 13mm 12 sided socket was hammered on and the bolt was un done. The new alternator was technically the wrong size, however using a 14mm drill bit, we were able to make it work. The car now charges happily.

In the coming days and weeks I will be giving it an oil change, a good solid clean and taking it for a WoF, to see what is left to have it at a road ready standard.

[ClanFever]

A few pictures, including the cars of the day, the dodgy wiring to fit an oval plug, the pivot bolt after it came out, drilling a hole in the replacement alternator (there was definitely a technique issue here), a sunk MR2 that my front yard swallowed, Phil and Shaun being very useful, Pierre and James supervising (they did get very hands on too) and me being myself

[mickeyduck]

A few pictures, including... a sunk MR2 that my front yard swallowed...

And I had always imagined that having the engine in the back, they would go down by the stern. But you can't argue with photographic evidence. Only the boot lid and wing are left un-sunk...

Nice to see too that one of the crew knew exactly what to do when all else fails. Go for the hammer! A sure-fire way to bring any difficult job to a speedy conclusion.

BLAM BLAM! "Right. That's that then."

And oddly enough the offending part never gave trouble again.

[ClanFever]

Got an oil change done, a good clean and sticker bombing... also some red-a-fying. Even found a spare battery clamp. The paint on this car is trash. Ready to go see the WoF guy.

[ClanFever]

And I had always imagined that having the engine in the back, they would go down by the stern. But you can't argue with photographic evidence. Only the boot lid and wing are left un-sunk...

*My Heart Will Go On Intensifies*

[ClanFever]

Took it for it's first long drive since the new Alternator today. It rides pretty well, except the tyres and wheel alignment feel like crap. It also rained a bit and the wipers did not do so well. The tyres all have tread, the fronts are cracked to sh*t and the rears do have tread but are ooooooooold

It failed the wof on tyres and wipers... funny that! Also failed on head light adjustment but the guy adjusted it in moments so all good there. Not so bad at all considering! He did ask if it was a barn find, I said I found it in a bush - He has also advised the drive belts looks worn and that doesn't give me confidence the cambelt is any better... oh well... non interference, right?

Wipers easy... might need to respray them though...

Tyres, I need to decide what I am doing with my shoes. I think I might bust the tri's out...

[Benckj]

Happy days making it through maiden journey. On the tyres I’d spring for some inexpensive performance ones like the Nuetons if they come in your size. Only around $110 s corner and will transform cars handling. New wipers & belts easy enough but might as well leave cam. It’s a better type of belt and can check condition sometime by popping upper cover free.

[ClanFever]

Fun story. Pictures to follow

Spent the last weekend getting it prepped for the Wof. New wipers, easy. New wheels and tyres... not so easy. The Tris had brand new (2 year old though) tyres on the front and rear. Rears are 235 45 17, not ideal, but they fit and will be okay for me as the car won't be pushed hard. The fronts are 215 45 17, so they will not fit. Tyre shop ordered me some 215 40 17s to replace them, and an alignment.

On the way there today, I had pre-fit the rear Tris, and got a puncture in one. Had to call the AA as had yet to place tools in the car, got the tyre changed, and took it to the tyre shop as planned. The tyre is not fixable - need to replace it as well. Ouch, was planning to have the tyres all sorted and Woffed/Rego before the weekend... will see if can still do that!