other Derelict 2002 to Autocrosser

[BigIrish]

Hi all.  I figured I'd share my project.  I've always like the 2002s, so figured it was time for a new project.  The general plan is to turn this forgotten 2002 into something fun and capable of running an occasional autox.

 

I picked up this sad 2002 off Craigslist locally (Houston, TX).  It had been purchased as a father-son project that was parked when the water pump started leaking.  That was 12 years ago and it's been sitting outside ever since.

 

The owner had the gas tank cleaned and got it running well enough to drive onto a trailer.  As you can see, I've got plenty of work to do.  

 

 

 

[BigIrish]

The car is solid and free of any rot, but has plenty of surface rust.  Let's also list the mechanic issues I've working on:

- All calipers and wheel cylinders were frozen.  

-Master cylinder shot (gummed up and sticky)

-Only the brake lights worked, no signals or gauges

-Water pump leaks like crazy

-Radiator leak

-Carb needs rebuild

 

The car was modified with the usual performance enhancers probably 20+ years ago: Lowered springs, Bilsteins, headers, Weber 32/36, thicker sway bars.

[BigIrish]

Here's the bodywork - ending up sanding alot of the car down to metal and treating with Picklex.  Since I am going with a race theme, I welded up all the lower trim holes, side marker holes and big nasty rear bumper holes.  Upper trim will eventually go back on, but for now those holes are filled with bondo (easily punched out later).

 

Current state is primed with PPG 2k primer.  It will probably stay this way for awhile and I will adorn it with a racing livery of some kind as well as some period sponsor decals.

 

[zinz]

Nice!!!  My current project is also a long-neglected, originaly-Sahara Squaretail out of Houston!!  The PO's son had it cheaply resprayed dark blue, but it's polished up pretty nicely... It sat for many, many years. I just got it roadworthy last week!

 

I've also replaced almost every piece of the hydraulic system..it now stops on a dime. Good thing, too; I've been running mine in the Austin Rat Races (kind of an endurance-style event). They're held every single day around here.  No entry fee!!!  ...this also means anyone can enter...

 

Can't wait to see the livery colors you choose!

 

Here's my Houston resurrection  

 

Ed

 

 

 

[jrkoupe]

nice find

 

great work

 

 

those look like wheels worth keeping...Rial?

 

btw..I have some awesome period decals to buy......I dont think Im gonna use them.....Cibie, Levi's,  Bilstein, marchal,  etc etc etc..good stuff!...

[BigIrish]

Zinz - awesome looking car.  I have some similar foglights which I'll be mounting soon.  I wish we had ratraces around here...maybe we will soon? Everything cool starts in Austin and makes it's way to Houston 2 years later!

 

jrkoupe - the wheels are EXIM (never heard of it) brand and are stamped "Made in West Germany".  They are in Ok shape but have been "restored" via spray paint probably several times over the years.  They really need to be blasted and painted/powdercoated properly.

 

Decals - yeah I'm definitely interested!  Got any pics?  I'm new to this forum, so not sure if you can send pics in a PM or not.

[zinz]

The Rat Races are run on any stretch of open road... Hwy 183, Loop 1, Loop 360, RR620 is my current favorite... IH35?? fugghetaboutit...

 

KOUPE !!!!! what are you doing??? Those sticker will go on the PIG!!!   we need to talk... 

 

Ed

[BigIrish]

Tonight's project:  Rally-ish fog light bar.  Started with an old sway bar I had laying around.  A couple of hours later with the welder & grinder and it turned into a pretty slick light bar.  Added a couple of inexpensive Hellas and done.  Just need to paint it. 

 

You can see how it mounts inside the bumper channel using an existing slot

[M3M3]

Love it. The repurposing of an old sway bar was brilliant.

[zinz]

That's fantastic... Plenty stout, that's for sure!!!

Nice job, and it looks great!

Ed

[remout]

Looking good!

 

There's a group of us around the New Orleans area that are in different stages of building 02s. One is a pure race car and the rest are street / track day cars. We'll be running them at Nola Motorsports Park during NASA weekends. We'd love to have you come over and hang out.

 

Did you spray the car yourself?

[BigIrish]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. 

 

Yes, sprayed it myself.  I would say the bodywork and paint are "race car" quality, which is to say not perfect.  I'd love to get over to NOLA some day.  I've got quite a bit of work to do yet though.  I think I've driven it a total of 4 miles so far.

 

Pretty boring project tonight - steaming off 20 year old tint.  Have you ever seen tint so purple?

 

Also, an electrical quiz for you fellas - anyone know what this plug is supposed to be attached to?  I can't find what this is supposed to be plugged into.  The flashers & signals don't work, if that's a clue (??)

Edited August 31, 2015 by BigIrish

[remout]

I don't want to hyjack your thread however I've got questions about how you painted your car. PM sent. Thanks!

[Conway]

That plug looks like the one for the flasher relay which would be one reason they're not working. Search "electronic relay upgrade" and get it. Or try to find a good used one. New ones are like $270 right now.

[bimmercraze]

Yea that's the flasher relay. I've seen some people use cheap autozone ones so they don't have to spend the $270