Here's a picture or three of my car, not perfect by any means, but when the top is down, you don't notice so much . . .

 

Looks good for a northern car!

I wanted a white one

 

Love that red interior and the crooked plate...lol looks like a nice truck next to it...chevy?

 

Thanks - The pic came up on my post, and then I noticed the front plate had a missing screw - comes from selecting images too late at night, I suppose. The pickup is a '96 Dakota - the price was right. Changed the engine, the brake lines, and the fuel pump, and I have an ext. cab 4x4 that's paid for with not much more than a grand invested.

 

are / were you vaccuming the engine .. LOL I've done that also when some animals nested in there and chit all over the place.

 

Yah, I was - I tend to clean a 'new addition' from top to bottom when I get it home - gives me an idea of what all is going to need to be done first. Used cars in this part of the world tend to come with a dusting of very fine sand all over the engine compartment, I used the shop-vac and a soft nylon bristle brush to remove a lot of it before scrubbing under the hood. Didn't find any critter droppings though, just an acorn or two under the air cleaner. I have painted the air cleaner since this pic was taken. Figure I'll leave everything stock in appearance 'til I decide what I'd like to do for engine mods. I'll tune it up in a few weeks - runs like a Rolex right now, and all I've done so far is air filter, p.c.v., and an oil change. I have to drydock and do brakes on all 4 corners, discs, drums, etc. It's gonna need shocks & struts, too. Just as it is, I can't get over how well it drives, even with worn components - I'm shopping for subframe connectors, and lower control arms, as well - anyone have any recommendations on what works well at a decent price?

 

This is all I could find on ebay that looks decent. Still unsure whether I really need them. The car has 110K and has survived this long without them. So I just don't know.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...AVRI&viewitem=

 

Thanks for the link - I've done some reading on here, and the consensus seems to be that sfc's are a worthwhile investment - these cars are unibody coupes that were modified in production, and a bit of strengthening underneath can't hurt. I'll consider putting a set on this Summer, got a lot of little stuff that needs doing that's more important just now - brakes, body work, etc. I'd like to replace at least my side marker lights with LED's for now, see how I get along with them - there's quite a bit to LED lighting, I'm finding out - it isn't always a case of replacing one sort of bulb with another . . .

 

I know all about the little things that need to be done first and I have done them. My car is now just sitting in the garage ready to be enjoyed or sold. Which ever comes first. lol

 

My car is garaged, too - got it in just ahead of the first really messy storm there a month or so ago. What stinks about this time of year is that it's not really junkyard season, and it can be tough to find some of those little bits and pieces. I did manage to snag a set of windshield washer nozzles not long ago - they just snap onto the wiper arms - I was at someone's shop for something truck - related, and spotted a pair of GM wipers in a large pile of odds and ends, complete with washer nozzles. I also recently had to buy a whole console top to get the lid for the ashtray, which was missing from my car when I bought it, but searching out and finding these parts is half the fun of restoring an old car. I had to laugh once I began reading on this site - everyone who posts for the first time is looking for the same few parts that every old 'vert must need 'cos they're either broken or missing - plastic trim in header of the top, plastic pieces for each seatbelt to pass through, etc. My top release mechanism was complete, but was in pieces in the trunk. Someone had posted a pic of how it goes together, and I printed it up, went out to the car, and got it working. ThirdGen is a great resource!

 

I'm sure in the next few years you'll start seeing direct replacements for the plugs we have now, the main problem is, most of the LED stuff now is actually made in China, and works about 40% of the time... Nice car though, I'd like to find one just like it for myself.. Bought a T-top car instead..

 

Thanks Kev, I've bookmarked a number of sites, and have been reading up on LED lighting as time allows. There is a guy on here, in electrical I think, who has made his own LED taillights, circuit boards and all. His design doesn't use just a few LED bulbs, but a whole array of them for each lens. I guess the hard part is getting them bright enough for the light to project any distance. Maybe the ones from overseas will continue to improve. ..

 

Mark,

I put the Alston SFC's on my vert. I bought them from Top Down Solutions. They made a very noticible differnece in my car. I have a friend who has a hardtop GTA. He swears my car is stiffer than his! I doubt that, but it did help quite a lot.

Speedy

 

Speedy;
Thank you for the info- I know about the Alston SFC's from reading about them here on TGO, but will do some more research - I understand that their reputation is good, and that is pretty much what I know of them right now. Were your SFC's a fairly straightforward install?

 

I had mine done at a local place that modifys corvettes for racing.

The only problem I remember them having was they had to remove the drivers side exhaust manifold to get clearance for placement and welding...

The Alston SFC's can be bolted on or welded on. Probably the least expensive solution would be to bolt on, drive to a welding shop. and have them welded. They are much more rigid when welded on.

With any SFC the main thing is being sure that the car is properly supported while the SFC's are being welded on. You want support at all four jacking points so that the car won't flex in an un-natural manner. The goal is to have the body in the same flex position as it would normally be when all four wheels are on the ground.

Hope this helps!
Speedy