My first car. Purchased around 1983 for $750 or so. A reliable vehicle
that I learned quite a lot from. I put about 100k miles on it, and a few
scrapes. While the water pump had a minor leak, I loaned it to my brother
(after warning him). He drove it until there was no water in the radiator
for about 20 miles. I continued to drive the car about 6k more miles, but
the block was cracked. I sold it (still running) for parts to an enthusiast
for $250.
I switched manifolds, carbs, and rebuilt the engine. I changed the
springs, shocks, anti-roll bars, wheels, tires, and added many gauges and
aerodynamic accessories. A good friend convinced me to put on a large blue
sticker from pep-boys that said 'turbo'. This was in 1983, and is where my
nickname came from. After a few minor scrapes some very artistic folks that
were rock-climbing with me decided they needed to spray paint the car. 10
different colors. Quite unique. About 190 HP at the rear wheels thanks to a
351W and a FMX auto trans.
A killer fast vehicle. As purchased, it had a 4 speed M-20 trans, and a
455 Olds engine that put out 320 or 340 HP at the wheels. I decided I needed
more, and switched the cam and intake manifold. Now I have over 400 HP at
the rear wheel (limit of dyno) at 4800 RPM. Now I needed more traction. I
decided to get a Torsen diff. Problem is they didn't go in the GM 12 bolt
that I had. I had a Ford 9" fabricated for my car by Currie Brothers.
Quite an improvement. Needed better braking, so I got 16*9 Gotti 3 piece
modular wheels and 4 wheel disk brakes (4 piston all around eventually). Got
a Doug Nash 5 speed trans, and a McLeod street-twin clutch and could go 140
MPH with 2 cylinders misfiring. Got Herb Adams VSE anti-roll bars (1 5/16 or
so in the front, and 1 1/2 in the back). Got new springs and shocks. I could
drive Willow Springs International Raceway in 4th gear in 2 minutes, 4
seconds (a 9 turn track). Lotsa improvements courtesy of Jim Robinson
(several time Winston West NASCAR champion) before he had an argument with a
wall at Phoenix International Raceway (bumped from the rear while in 1st
place).
I got some nice seats and 6 point belts in the front. Added 6 gauges, a
new steering wheel, and a nice stereo. A power steering rack from LEE. Lotsa
other goodies. A free-lance socialist (thief) decided to liberate it from
its cruel oppressor (me). RIP.
Purchased for $1. Charged the battery, added some trans fluid and gas,
and drove it home over the freeway about 25 miles. Removed the front seat,
and a few other goodies (to install in my 1971 Ford), and sold to
Pick-A-Part for about $80 (I gave 1/2 back to the folks I bought it
from).
My first new car. Purchased after I realized my Ford's engine was
cracked. This car is a limited production vehicle made by Shelby
Automotive. A friend had a GLHS, and I decided I wanted a Shelby also. 175
HP, and front wheel drive. Handled ok. 4 wheel disk brakes. The throttle
steer is interesting as is the turbo lag.
I got the Shelby stage II computer (smog legal), which increased the
horsepower to around 213 or so, and I bought Eibach variable rate springs,
and new shocks. A few more gauges (like a pyrometer), and some new seats and
6 point belts. Quite a fun car.
At about 120k miles the head developed a some cracks between the intake
and exhaust valve. This is a high-stress area, since it gets really hot, and
cracks are common here. I decided to get a rebuilt engine, with lots of
Mopar (now called Direct Connection) fast parts, including the 'Super-60'
parts. The new engine put out around 250 HP! Unfortunately the Super-60
head, Mopar's best, had a casting porosity between the number one combustion
chamber and the coolant passage. It took the very wily folks at Tuttle-Click
Dodge awhile to figure it out. Less wily folks were sure it was the head
gasket...
After gluing the crack didn't work (gluing is done to SuperStock drag
big-block heads with good success), a new head was fabricated with similar
flow characteristics. Again, things were good....
Unfortunately, while the compression was going into the coolant system,
some water was also going into the combustion chamber. Too much
water. Toasted the crank bearings, and the piston came to know the head much
too intimately. Time for engine #3, along with custom forged pistons, as the
different piston sizes available is pretty poor. A fast car again....
It turns out that the 'Super-60' cam has a heat treatment problem. The
guys at Mopar Performance deny it, but it is a well known problem. But it
wasn't known to me at the time of engine #3. So my cam went flat. It started
out pretty subtle, but things got worse and worse. Fortunately, it was
caught before major damage. Time for engine #4. No Super-60 cam, no Super-60
heat. I had the well-respected folks at Dick Landy Enterprises do the
engine. They seemed friendly enough, and competent, however it took
them at least 5 months to rebuild the engine. Some of this isn't
their fault as they were waiting for parts, but still, an inexcusable
delay. Soon everything will be back together and I will be speed racer
again.
I have decided to sell my CSX.
I have not driven the car since around 2003, so I have decided it needs
a better home. It has 167k miles on it.
It has a bunch of performance modifications. It has the shelby stage II
computer installed. I also have the factory computer. It has a engine rebuilt
by dick landy enterprise in canoga park ca, which cost me $4k. Included are
custom forged pistons, a cross drilled head, IIRC a direct connection
camshaft, a forged crank and lots of other nice stuff.
The original transmission was replaced with a getrag 555, which features
better gears, a hardened case, and a 4 bolt differential. It has a mopar
performance clutch.
I have the super 60 turbo installed. I have the 2.5 inch downpipe, a 2.5
inch SS custom exhaust with a SS flowmaster muffler. I have the moper
performance intercooler installed, and the factory intercooler is included.
The intake and exhaust manifolds have been ported. I have the stock
throttle body and a bigger one. I think the stock one is currently on. I have
the stock injectors, 20% and 40% bigger injectors. I think the 20% bigger ones
are installed.
I have eibach springs, adjustable koni shocks, some aftermarket anti-roll
bars, and urethane bushings. I have a vdo (IIRC) turbo boost gauge and exhaust
gas temperature gauge.
I currently have aftermarket seats installed, but you will get the factory
seats which I have simpson 6 point racing belts for the front seats
installed. I have the factory belts. The clearcoat isn't in great shape. The
starter was replaced with a new Bosch starter. I will be getting it
d replaced. It has a brand new battery. All of the shelby stickers, badges,
and engine trim is intact. $6000.
One notable problem, is the drivers side door handle broke. I ordered
another one, and with a friend's help, we replaced the door handle. I think it
the handle has a poor design. It is made out of plastic, and is a long lever
which is used to open the door. Of course, where the lever attaches to the
door, is a high stress area. It should have been reinforced enough to take the
stress. Of course, it broke there. Of note, the original door handle was
secured with what look like oversized sheet metal screws. The replacement
handle has threaded metric holes, for metric bolts. No doubt a superior
design, but I had to go to a hardware store to buy some metric bolts to secure
the door handle.
The transmission has 4 speeds, unlike the 1998 Camry which has 3 speeds. It
also has a poor design where the planetary gear axles are poorly secured to
the carrier. Over time, the hole where the axles go become elongated. After
enough time, the axles wobble and will eventually break. You can get the
part replaced with a factory part with the same problem. Or you can get a
remanufacturered part where the flimsy axle securing area is significantly
beefed up to reinforce the area, which will likely eliminate the problem. If
Toyota can improve the design of the replacement door handles for the 1998
Camry, why can't they improve the design of the replacement transmission
parts?
Like my 1998 Camry, the 2002 Camry door handle broke. It is a slightly
better design than the 1998 Camry door handle, and seems to be used by many
Toyota models including my 2012 Prius. The handle pivots on the leading edge
and the trailing edge moves, which opens the door. Of course, like the 1998
Camry door handle, it is made out of plastic. For 2002, there is a hook in
the back of the rear side of the door handle, which engages a mechanism to
open the door. Of course, the hook is a high stress area and is made out of
plastic. In the above pictures, it is clear the hook does not have a lot of
material. The hook area could have thicker walls, or be solid, or have
reinforcing ribs. But none of those ideas were used to reinforce the hook
area. After it broke, I tried to replace it without success. It turned out
that the hook engages with two small pieces that engage with a nice gold
colored steel rod in the door. Those two pieces 'went missing'. The Toyota
manual doesn't show them clearly. The shop that fixed it had to tear the other
door apart to see how the mechanism worked and called Toyota to get a fax
showing how it all went together. The broken part of the door handle hook was
found in the bottom of the inside of the door. The two missing pieces were
nowhere to be found...
Well, the drivers side door handle broke again. This time it was the area
surrounding the lock. Again, there is really thin plastic, and the really thin
plastic area broke. I crazy glued it back together. No idea how long it will
stay together. Plastic is a great material, if id is designed to handle the
stress it will be subjected to. If it isn't, it will break. It seems Toyota
has not properly engineered their door handles. I hope no more plastic parts
break...
