December 31, 2019
#346
Gentle reader,
My final post of the year. I cannot thank you enough for your support of my humble blog. We are approaching one quarter million readers!
When I started this, it was just something to do. I had no idea anyone would read it. But you have and you do. Thank you so much!
Having locked my car keys at least once in my car, I always carry a spare for each vehicle on the key chain with my house keys on it. Plus, my wife has her set of keys.
As a result, when I sell a car, I have more than the traditional two sets. Since each of the cars listed in the title are ones that I bought after the kids grew up and moved out. And stopped moving back in, I decided to keep that third set for sentimental reasons.
The first new car we bought as a married couple was a 1997 Dodge Stratus ES with a five speed manual transmission. Yes, my wife can drive a stick shift just fine.
Since I'm a car nut and racing fan, the thought of having a small all-wheel-drive turbocharged car (with a stick shift) appealed to me. I like wagons and since Mitsubishi did not import their Lancer Evolution wagon to the USA, I chose a used 2002 Subaru WRX wagon in WRC blue.
I did not save a key from it, but since it was the first FUN car, I am showing it to you anyway.
I replaced the low-lying factory intercooler hood scoop with one from a later model. It grabs more air and looks awesome.
I also added some Hella driving lights as seen above, flanking the license plate.
Not really much of a wagon, but that's what they called it. Hatchbacks are far more practical.
As an experiment, I replaced the stock muffler (shown) with a Flowmaster model.
It sounded amazing but killed the performance. Turbos need a certain amount of back pressure which the loud muffler removed.
Side view of the scoop.
Being 6'3" with long legs, as in most cars I've owned, legroom was a bit lacking in this car. MOMO steering wheel is from the Subaru factory.
I replaced the stock intake with a cold air one. The filter is down inside the passenger side fender. I insulated the aluminum tubing to reduce heat soak.
I kept the factory air intake scoop (black thing at the bottom center/left in the photo) because it directs the air down to where the new filter is.
I have wanted a Porsche since I was a kid. I wanted a 1976 912E specifically. They were sold one year only as the entry level Porsche after the last year of the 914 (1975) and prior to the introduction of the new (1977) and controversial front engine Porsche 924.
These images of a 1976 Porsche 912E were found online and were of a model for sale at a dealer. It has since been sold. Looks like a 911 but cost much less.
They only were sold in the USA and just over 2000 were made. They had the VW four cylinder engine from the 914 model with fuel injection.
The most expensive thing to repair on a Porsche is the engine. So, a VW engine solved that problem.
The other problems were most are located in California 3000 miles from here, and they were out of my price range.
Looking on eBay revealed a model I had not heard about: 924S.
Made only in 1987 and 1988, they were the entry model Porsche and original price was $19,995. That equates to $46,668 in today's dollars.
It was in Pennsylvania (we are in Virginia). It started at $1,995, I bid $2,500 and won it for $2025. I was so happy!
PA does not use front license plates, so I attached the front plate to the passenger side sun visor and kept it down while driving and parked.
I added the same model of Hella driving lights to this car as well.
A popular add on to 924 and early 944 models was this reflective piece that fills the area between the taillights.
I made rear license plate brackets and moved it to the rear bumper.
I also bought 944 S emblems and a 924 emblem and combined them below the PORSCHE on the reflector.
The reflector panel is older than the car, but improves the looks.
I always wanted a wood-rim steering wheel. I found one of the last adapters in the world for this car and certain older Audi models and installed this Grant GT wheel with Porsche emblem sticker.
In case you did not know what I did not, the 924S has the 944 engine but is lighter and more aerodynamic than the more svelte 944.
The engine is a huge improvement over the Audi engine the 924 models had.
As a result the "little brother" 924S was quicker and faster than the same year 944.
Direct from Road & Track magazine's test of 1987 Porsche models (above), read 'em and weep.
The happy couple of play cars. The original 2002 hood scoop is seen on the WRX in these images.
Since I did not have the service history of the Porsche, I did not know when timing belts would need to be replaced.
Other issues cropped up, and I decided I wanted a Camaro Z28.
See the little black thing embedded in the ignition key? That is a security device. Actually, it is a resistor that the car reads when the key is inserted. Wrong reading, it won't start.
These are some of the images I shot when I was selling the 1996 Camaro Z28.
I found some headlight covers for it which made it a little slipperier.
I also replaced the factory fog lights with another type of Hella driving lights.
I replaced the stock dual exhaust with Magnaflow cat-back all stainless kit. Sounded fantastic and looked better than the flat tips it came with.
It had a "charcoal" leather interior which made it very dark inside. To preserve the leather and lighten the looks, I installed these sheepskin covers.
I bought them originally for the Porsche to protect those seats.
White would not have been my first choice of color, but the price was right. It had a six-speed manual transmission and previous owner had replaced the stock shifter with a Hurst shifter.
Cool thing about the manual transmission is it is double overdrive. So at 60 MPH, it was running at only 1,200 RPM!
Previous owner put all those blue accents all over the engine bay. Engine was the 5.7 liter (350 c.i.) LT1 Corvette engine.
Not seen here, is the cold air intake I put on it. Between that and the freer flowing exhaust, the horsepower and torque was up over stock.
Some time after I sold it, a coworker told me he had some exhaust headers for it! Man!
I traded the Porsche in on it and they gave me $2,500 trade for it. I had removed the steering wheel and put the stock one back on. I sold the wheel and adapter for more than I paid for them. So, I got more out of it in trade than I paid for it.
I simulation race and always wanted an Audi. I tried a virtual 1.8T Audi TT in the game and compared to my virtual Subaru WRX wagon, it was far superior.
On to cars.com, I went and came across this 2000 Denim Blue (inside and out) TT quattro coupe. I won't go into the chase I had to go through to actually buy it. But, the price went down with every dealer that had it. We paid $10,500 for it.
Those are the factory wheels on it equipped with Toyo SNOW tires (above).
I sold both the WRX and Z28 on eBay to afford to buy it.
Those are replica Audi RS4 wheels with summer performance tires on them, via tirerack.com.
What we did not know until we bought it is that a previous owner modified it. See the intercooler in the central opening? Not stock.
The original models came with a 180 horsepower engine with a single exhaust tip.
Later models had an optional 225 horsepower engine with two small intercoolers and dual exhaust tips.
On the 180 horsepower engine, the intake manifold points to the left (passenger side) and it uses ONE small intercooler in the passenger side vent below the bumper.
As you can see, the intake on this engine points to the driver's side.
This is a Forge Motorsports kit that includes the large central intercooler, the manifold and all the tubing.
I added the cold air intake seen above. In addition to the intake kit, he put on an APR blow-off valve and had APR re-flash the computer. He also replaced the stock K03 turbocharger with the bigger on from the 225 horsepower engine called: K04. He did some other things I found later.
An Audi tuner that worked at the Porsche/Audi dealer estimated the horsepower and torque were closer to 270 each, about 50% more than stock.
Expensive things started breaking on it and I got tired of fixing it. So, onto eBay it went.
By now, I was solidly a turbo engine fan. I had the old Ranger to drive, so I began looking.
I really wanted a Volvo V70 T5 wagon. They have a turbocharged FIVE cylinder engine and I love the style.
They were out of my price range although we did test drive a 2005 with a five speed manual transmission.
A dealer in Manassas had a V40 (much smaller model with 1.6 liter turbo four and sadly only automatic transmissions were imported. We looked at it and were disappointed.
I also looked at an Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce they had for $2,995. But my long legs would NOT fit.
So, I looked around their lot and spotted a small black convertible top.
To my surprise was seeing this 1990, Australian-built Ford, sold here as a Mercury. Equipped with a 1.6 liter turbo four made by Mazda and a five speed manual transmission. Called the Capri XR2.
It was twenty years old, but only had 84,000 miles on it. Shiny red paint. I was not thrilled by the all grey interior, but they all came with it.
Designed in Italy, built in Australia with a Japanese engine/drivetrain and chassis. It ran great, the shifter was sloppy, and it had a small hole in the driver's seat where the shoulder strap rubbed.
Unlike the Audi TT, this engine has the exhaust in the front and thus the turbo was there too.
When I saw it, I realized that I had completely forgotten about these unique cars. Their only competition was the Mazda Miata. These had the same engine but had much more power. Cornering? The Miata would take it, however.
I took the cam cover off to fix an oil seep and painted it red. I also insulated the tube that passes over the engine to try and keep the intake air temperature down a bit. I also put a cold air intake filter on it, seen above.
The chassis and engine were from the 1980's Mazda 323 GT which was the front-wheel-driver version of their 323 GTX all-wheel-drive rally car.
As I did with the Audi, I ordered these aftermarket wheels with the same type of summer tires on them.
I was able to adapt a Magnaflow muffler to it and it helped the performance and sound.
Since I did not like the grey (or is it gray?) interior, I spruced it up with these two-tone seat covers.
I added the Ford turbocharged emblems from the turbo Thunderbird and Ghia badges, from another Ford model. Ghia designed the body.
Now called: Design Giugiaro, but then called: Italdesign, they designed the interior. Thus the custom plates above and badge I added below.
It came equipped with the upgraded cassette stereo with separate power amplifier. I removed and sold those and installed this JVC HD Radio receiver/CD player.
I replaced the stock speakers with very nice Infinity models.
To conclude this long journey, one day my wife said to me, "I'd feel much better if you drove something from THIS century."
The search began again. Finally, I found a turbo five cylinder Volvo wagon. Not the V70, but the smaller, lighter V50. Same engine as the V70 and this one had a SIX speed manual transmission.
I have written about it and all of the other cars in these pages.
Subtle dual exhaust of the Sport model tease as to the power lurking inside.
Three pedals for this guy. Like the Camaro, 6th is overdrive. It gets great fuel mileage.
A proper transverse engine with the intake in the front. Why they choose to put the exhaust right behind the radiator in most cars boggles my mind.
To show how compact and low it is, here it is next to VW's smallest crossover, the Tiguan.
This car is my forever car. It fits me well, has intoxicating acceleration. Equipped with the Pirelli tires I put on it, it corners and brakes very well too. After all these years, I still smile when I drive it.
The Capri sat a lot since I bought this V50. One day I started, or tried to start it, it cranked and cranked and finally sputtered to life. To my horror, there was a knocking sound in the engine! I did what I could but finally sold it to a Capri collector in New England.
Thank you for enduring this long article. I tend to run off at the fingers sometimes.
Scott
December 31, 2019
#346
Happy New Year!
I kept the factory air intake scoop (black thing at the bottom center/left in the photo) because it directs the air down to where the new filter is.
The most expensive thing to repair on a Porsche is the engine. So, a VW engine solved that problem.
The other problems were most are located in California 3000 miles from here, and they were out of my price range.
Made only in 1987 and 1988, they were the entry model Porsche and original price was $19,995. That equates to $46,668 in today's dollars.
I added the same model of Hella driving lights to this car as well.
I made rear license plate brackets and moved it to the rear bumper.
I also bought 944 S emblems and a 924 emblem and combined them below the PORSCHE on the reflector.
The reflector panel is older than the car, but improves the looks.
The engine is a huge improvement over the Audi engine the 924 models had.
As a result the "little brother" 924S was quicker and faster than the same year 944.
Other issues cropped up, and I decided I wanted a Camaro Z28.
I found some headlight covers for it which made it a little slipperier.
I also replaced the factory fog lights with another type of Hella driving lights.
I bought them originally for the Porsche to protect those seats.
Cool thing about the manual transmission is it is double overdrive. So at 60 MPH, it was running at only 1,200 RPM!
Not seen here, is the cold air intake I put on it. Between that and the freer flowing exhaust, the horsepower and torque was up over stock.
Some time after I sold it, a coworker told me he had some exhaust headers for it! Man!
I traded the Porsche in on it and they gave me $2,500 trade for it. I had removed the steering wheel and put the stock one back on. I sold the wheel and adapter for more than I paid for them. So, I got more out of it in trade than I paid for it.
Those are the factory wheels on it equipped with Toyo SNOW tires (above).
I sold both the WRX and Z28 on eBay to afford to buy it.
This is a Forge Motorsports kit that includes the large central intercooler, the manifold and all the tubing.
An Audi tuner that worked at the Porsche/Audi dealer estimated the horsepower and torque were closer to 270 each, about 50% more than stock.
Expensive things started breaking on it and I got tired of fixing it. So, onto eBay it went.
I really wanted a Volvo V70 T5 wagon. They have a turbocharged FIVE cylinder engine and I love the style.
They were out of my price range although we did test drive a 2005 with a five speed manual transmission.
A dealer in Manassas had a V40 (much smaller model with 1.6 liter turbo four and sadly only automatic transmissions were imported. We looked at it and were disappointed.
I also looked at an Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce they had for $2,995. But my long legs would NOT fit.
So, I looked around their lot and spotted a small black convertible top.
The chassis and engine were from the 1980's Mazda 323 GT which was the front-wheel-driver version of their 323 GTX all-wheel-drive rally car.
I replaced the stock speakers with very nice Infinity models.
To conclude this long journey, one day my wife said to me, "I'd feel much better if you drove something from THIS century."
The search began again. Finally, I found a turbo five cylinder Volvo wagon. Not the V70, but the smaller, lighter V50. Same engine as the V70 and this one had a SIX speed manual transmission.
This car is my forever car. It fits me well, has intoxicating acceleration. Equipped with the Pirelli tires I put on it, it corners and brakes very well too. After all these years, I still smile when I drive it.
The Capri sat a lot since I bought this V50. One day I started, or tried to start it, it cranked and cranked and finally sputtered to life. To my horror, there was a knocking sound in the engine! I did what I could but finally sold it to a Capri collector in New England.
Thank you for enduring this long article. I tend to run off at the fingers sometimes.
Scott
December 31, 2019
#346
Happy New Year!
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