Friends, been fixing and building cars since I was 14 in 1974. Around the first of this month I was searching CL local for a fix and flip, something I've done 136 time in the last 13 years. I found one here in Denver, 1988 Shadow CSX-T. Brief description, no pictures. Called but still no pictures. Scheduled to see it 2 days later. So I Googled it which brought me to this site, which led me to pictures in a post. Reading the post with the pictures things told me it was the same car - the guy said it had a Missouri title and it was located in Denver. It was what sold me on the car. I brought a best friend with a tow truck and $950 cash. It is the same car. It now sits in my shop, front end 3.5' off the ground, engine and trans out. http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/ga...vehicle&id=502 This is what I found and what I'm doing now.
Prior wannabe mechanics had a hay day with this. The engine was not seized as predicted - I hold no blame for Mike from whom I bought it, he had no knowledge of this. Whoever changed the engine installed an older engine - 84 to 86 year model. They didn't tighten the bell housing bolts. They separated pulling the starter into the flywheel destroying the starter and locking the flywheel to the starter housing. Idiots. Then the wastegate plunger mount was missing bolts making turbo useless.
Just by pure luck I found another 1988 Turbo from a LaBaron - direct fit turbo, same casting numbers and specs, with under 50k complete with turbo. Spotless, everything including turbo. I found the engine difference because of the flywheel. The bad engine in the CSX had a 6 bolt flywheel, last produced in 86. Also when I removed the starter, there was a soft plug missing, so it had froze. Waterpump froze.
Waiting on a new flywheel now. Replacing all seals, pan gasket, starter, clutch kit, timing belt, cap wires, plugs, CV axles, radiator, mounts and all hose. Also steering column. It has a different column, one that came with a column shifter which they cut off with a hack saw. Have faith! I can rebuild her! The black Shelby intake is there and the fuel rail I will use because the one thing broken on the new engine is where the main fuel line connects.Already bought some fair used tires. Found a Shadow steering column in Pueblo, CO., ordering Monday, shipped. Will being doing some detail cleaning and painting to make look good. Wish me luck, friends. I intend to be driving by Christmas. Will be sharing pictures of the build as I go, but I work on others too. The body and paint are in awesome condition, all badges and replacement trim parts came with it.
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instead of being flip #137
Originally Posted by glhs0075
