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+--- Thread: Project Lightning!!! (/showthread.php?tid=3621)
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Project Lightning!!! - JohnC - 02-01-2006
Since the Z is gone, and the bike is basically bulletproof (until I bin it), I need something to work on and drop $$$ into. After carefully looking over the WRX, my Gravely 5240 Tractor, and an assortment of weed whackers - I settled on the biggest, baddest vehicle in the stable. So begins the "Project Lightning" thread...
The best word to describe the current state of the L is "tired". I bought it in excellent condition almost 4 years ago, then drove the piss out of it for the 60k miles. Between life, love, and 2-3 other cars, the Lightning always came last.
It looks like hell. Paint is faded, from being parked outside (and also from being "decorated" at the wedding). Previous owner(s) installed all sorts of taped on accent trim, and most of that has fallen off, leaving behind ugliness. I dropped the tonneau cover and scratched up the outside of the bed. Had a trailer jump up and ding the tailgate as a car was being loaded. The list goes on and on... No rust though
Needless to say, theres probably some body work and paint in the not too distant future. And I hate the wheels - for some unknown reason a previous owner sold the original Lightning wheels and put some stupid M/T wheels on it. Those will have to go.The interior is reasonable. Carpet was stained up and got some oil spilled on it. Seats are in great shape. Most of the interior trim and plastics are holding up well. Stereo is fine.
Mechanically, things aren't horrible, but they're not getting any better. I *have* kept up with most of the maintenance, so the engine is in pretty good shape. The transmission is typical high-mileage E4OD - shifting intermittently, dying slowly. Don't know about the rearend. One of the rear axle seals was leaking, but has since stopped (maybe it sealed itself back up, or maybe it ran out of stuff to leak). A/C compressor froze up on the way back from VIR last February, and I removed the whole system. Front brakes are good, rears probably need new shoes. Suspension is really worn out. Steering box is on life support. I found most of a swaybar endlink bushing sitting in the driveway the other day.
So what am I going to do about it? This is my short list of things to be accomplished in the next month or so.
* Clean, polish the exterior. I've got a new Porter Cable random orbital buffer and some Megiuars products to try out this weekend. This should provide a good baseline for the actual condition of the paint.
* Re-aim foglights (currently they only illuminate fog about 12 ft. above the road :lol
* Repair 3 (!) big chips in the windshield.
* Install new carpet (ordered a couple days ago, should be here next week), sound deadening (haven't decided on what yet), and some misc interior pieces (new rear-window latch, door sills, etc).
* Install new shocks (ordered some Bilsteins today - they were stock on the Gen 2's and *dirt* cheap)
* Install new bushings all around (probably Energy Suspension and some misc pieces)
* Install new hitch receiver (already have this)
* Investigate the condition of the transmission and rearend. Probably will plan on at least changing the diff fluid, which gives me a good excuse to pull the cover off the pumpkin. Who knows what I might find...
* Change rear brake shoes
Pictures to follow as things get done. I'll try to get one of the current condition of the truck too, so we can all *gasp* in agony.
- ViPER1313 - 02-01-2006
Add this to your list :wink:
- JohnC - 02-01-2006
ViPER1313 Wrote:Add this to your list :wink:
When the transmission finally dies, I'm going to be seriously thinking about a TKO-600.
- ScottyB - 02-01-2006
cool, it's been a while since Jeremy's talked about his truck. bout time someone took over.
- Andy - 02-01-2006
Is this going to take away from your SE-R/MR2/race car of some sort budget?
- JohnC - 02-01-2006
Andy Wrote:Is this going to take away from your SE-R/MR2/race car of some sort budget?
Not really. The parts are (for the most part) dirt cheap, and a lot of it has to be done anyway just to keep the thing on the road and reliable. The racecar isn't coming until at least next year anyhow.
- Jeff - 02-02-2006
to many "project" threads getitng made now. I am down with sprucin up the L though...get a Supercharger....
- Evan - 02-02-2006
so John you arent tracking anything this year?
- JohnC - 02-02-2006
Evan Wrote:so John you arent tracking anything this year?
I'm gonna try to borrow Maeng's Miata for at least one weekend - if I can actually get behind the wheel. Barring that, I'll find something. Maybe buy Dave's cheap SE-R, run it for a couple of events, then sell it.
And, this will see at least one track weekend:
![[Image: img_3507.jpg]](http://www.boostrot.net/gallery/d/1445-2/img_3507.jpg)
Just need some leathers, boots, and better gloves. And a good medical plan 8)
- .RJ - 02-02-2006
Dammit john....... I'm caving in on a bike track day
- JohnC - 02-02-2006
Currently working out a trade to get some OEM Lightning wheels for my Mickey Thompsons...
- Andy - 02-02-2006
Is there a reason why you're not doing the racecar thing?
- JohnC - 02-02-2006
Andy Wrote:Is there a reason why you're not doing the racecar thing?
$$$, and I just don't want to mess with it at the moment. Would rather work on the truck a little, and get more into bikes.
- Dave - 02-02-2006
this is awesome John. I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines and watching the Lightning be restored to her original beauty.
- WRXtranceformed - 02-02-2006
John if you ever decide to start modding the WRX, LMK!!
You took the first baby step with the panel filter, time to jump off the cliff of no hope =p
- JohnC - 02-02-2006
Slight update - I've disassembled the interior, and found, much to my surprise, the rear speakers are Infinity Kappas. I guess thats good - although to be honest I never really noticed them. I think they might be wired into the stock amp (which is notorious for slowly dying), so I might see about running them directly from the headunit instead to find out if theres a difference.
Not sure whats in the doors yet, hopefully anything but the stock paper cones.
Also got a little present from eBay today - digital tranny temp gauge... That'll get installed this weekend too, hopefully.
- JohnC - 02-02-2006
WRXtranceformed Wrote:John if you ever decide to start modding the WRX, LMK!!
You took the first baby step with the panel filter, time to jump off the cliff of no hope =p
I'd love to mod the WRX, but I have to have one dead-reliable, never-broken or disassembled vehicle to go get parts for all the non-running heaps :lol:
- Dave - 02-02-2006
plus, one properly running car can get you both to work and enable more income to fix the problems with others :-)
- Andy - 02-03-2006
Dave Wrote:plus, one properly running car can get you both to work and enable more income to fix the problems with others :-)
Most importantly, not upset the wife. I'm finding out that that is the most important mod you can ever do.
- ScottyB - 02-03-2006
Andy Wrote:Most importantly, not upset the wife. I'm finding out that that is the most important mod you can ever do.
and how!
buy flowers/make dinner, you'd be amazed the effect it has.