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HESaves
05-12-2010, 01:46 PM
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t117/FastFat/Side_Shot.jpg









What fun.:nod:
I really wish I would have known about these cars a LONG time ago.
I always thought bigger was better. Big block=Big horse power... WRONG!!
:nod:
So my brother-in-law pointed these cars out to me a few years ago. I started reading up on TM, and couldn't wait to get my hands on one.
So last year I dove in and bought a 89 Spirit for 650.00 great deal I thought.

I had to replace the fuel tank and some other things and she drove great for a little while. Then came the fight with over heating. Replaced the rad and it got better but then the water pump started leaking and now I found the heater core leaking. So starts my story:

Well I'm starting the full blown part of my project. I've got the car up on stands and here is my plan, and please add pointers I need all the help I can get.

1. Bigger turbo with bigger swing valve- got it.
2. PT Cruser MP lifters
3. 3 step Valve job
4. Replace the stock oil and coolant turbo lines with stainless steel lines
5. remove A/C Cond. and install front mount intercooler
6. adjustable fuel pressure regulator
7. bigger fuel pump
8. bigger injectors

So far I have removed the A/C, the water pump and the alt. bracket.
cleaned up the wiring harness, got the lines on the back of the block removed all I need to remove the turbo support brackets lower bolt, and I can start removing the head.
Last night I had to use my universal exhaust removal tool to get the studs off. That took most of the night but with the Lords help I was able to get it finished.

So I'll be posting pics tomorrow of what I've done so far and when I get the head off the car.

To be continued....

<><
Sean

PBODY
05-12-2010, 02:12 PM
I'm the brother in law. :)

Captain Chaos
05-12-2010, 02:20 PM
I'm the brother in law. :)

WOW! Some BIL you are. Why would you lead someone to this kind of madness? :D

PBODY
05-12-2010, 02:26 PM
Misery loves company :)

Captain Chaos
05-12-2010, 02:40 PM
So true. Probably why a lot of us have more than one TM.

PBODY
05-12-2010, 02:49 PM
So true. Probably why a lot of us have more than one TM.

I thought it took at least 2 cars to keep one TM running?

HESaves
05-12-2010, 02:52 PM
I'm the brother in law. :)

I wasn't going to speak for you!

Joe has been a huge help, he's pulled me away, thankfully, from a more maddening hobby, R/C Cars.

HESaves
05-12-2010, 02:54 PM
Here is one pic I wanted to show.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t117/FastFat/IMAG0094.jpg

PBODY
05-12-2010, 03:44 PM
The computer was hungry.

HESaves
05-12-2010, 04:11 PM
I'm sorry man but I cannot get over that pic...
Should be my Avatar.

turbokid
05-12-2010, 07:52 PM
LMAO thats AWESOME. Squirrles like your car. Good place to hide nuts =P

Vigo
05-12-2010, 09:15 PM
LOL.

Ive got an 89 Spirit as well. Overall probably one of the 'nicer' cars out of all the turbo dodges.

Have fun with it and keep up with the updates! Welcome to the forum!

HESaves
05-13-2010, 11:39 AM
So I got my boost block yesturday, once I get the head off and get the intake off the head that's going on.
Going to get my Non A/C Alt bracket soon sending the money for it tomorrow.
This is getting fun!

Pics tomorrow.

<><
Sean

HESaves
05-15-2010, 10:39 PM
So I was able to get the head off the car today.
And I found something that was a big suprise.
The head gasket on the right side of number two is blown.

Here's the pic.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t117/FastFat/CIMG1936.jpg

So the gasket came right off and there is little to no gasket left on the head and the block.

Here's the pistons:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t117/FastFat/CIMG1938.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t117/FastFat/CIMG1937.jpg

Here are the valves:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t117/FastFat/CIMG1939.jpg

Can somebody tell me what the heck the white burnishing is on the valves?


So I talked to PBODY, my Bro-in-Law, and we came up with a plan for the head, and exhaust mani.

So I'm going to get the intake, and exhaust mani, off this head and inspect to make sure it's in good condition and going to send it off for a valve job.
I'm going to look for MP PT Cruser lifters, and we also talked about conical valve springs.

So with the head off the car, it's time for me to get the condensor off the car, and clean the block up. While under the car I noticed that the rotors look very bad, and the passenger side drive shaft is leaking bad at the seal. Looks like this is going to need replacing.

I also want to start looking at bigger fuel delivery here soon, but I think my fuel lines are going to need replacing before I worry about the fuel pump and FPR and injectors.

Well that does it for tonight. More to follow.

God Bless

<><
Sean

jamesmonty
05-16-2010, 08:17 AM
I don't know what the white is but it is normal. The two other valves are brown from the blown head gasket.

HESaves
05-16-2010, 10:48 AM
I don't know what the white is but it is normal. The two other valves are brown from the blown head gasket.

Thanks a lot for the info!
Well going to look at some crab wheels today, and going to finish getting the intake and exhaust mani off the head. Going to check between the valves to make sure there aren't any really bad cracks.

God Bless!

<><
Sean

HESaves
05-16-2010, 07:49 PM
Well the Crab Wheels were a no go for today, so moving off to plan B.
Buy the whole car...We'll see how that goes, if not then I'll look for some pumpers.
So I've got a rusted exhaust nut/stud. This is going to take some finesse.
Then off comes the intake, clean that up and head to B2B to get some black Hi Temp Paint. Going to do the same for the valve cover, but I'm going to block off the lettering and painting those in Hi Temp Red.
Got to thinking...How cool would a A555 would be in this car?

God Bless!

<><
Sean

HESaves
05-19-2010, 10:40 AM
So this exhaust bolt is not coming off so I'm taking my time with it. I DON'T want to break this off, so I mixed some trans fluid with some liquid wrench and I'm soaking the nut in that right now.

I was scraping the block down, I have to clean up the cooling ports in the block.

Next replacing the freeze plugs.

Talk to you guys later.

God Bless!

<><
Sean

HESaves
05-25-2010, 11:19 AM
Got my Alt Bracket.

Well going to work with PBODY cleaning up the head tonight.

Boogered up my ankle bad playing football...what was I thinking?!?!
So things are going to go slowly for the next few weeks.

Anybody know where I can get some Alt bushings for this car?

Thanks

<><
Sean

135sohc
05-25-2010, 11:20 AM
polybushings.com