Deathandmajestys Notch Project

I picked this car up a couple days before Christmas last year, I wanted the car about 6 months prior to that and the owner told me 400 bucks.. and after those 6 months I finally low balled the guy down to an easy "Get it out of my yard, I am sick of looking at it".

I hopped on my trusty lawnmower and grabbed an air compressor, pumped up the tires and started to push this shit box home, and since then I haven't done to much with it. I have been procrastinating, and bitching to my Dad about my lack of skill to do anything with it trying to get him to show me how to do shit. (I am 18) So after 8 months of going back and forth between wanting it out of the yard, wanting to set it on fire etc... I finally got to where I just wanted to drive something hard, and something that I built enough to do something with it.

So the ghetto wiring that was in the car had to come out, big whoop destruction is the easy part. So I got all that shredded wiring out of the engine bay, oddly enough it was isolated to the engine harness minus the body grounds under the battery box and a fuseible link.

I put the re-assembly on hold while I installed the fuel pump, and waited to source a new harness (My dumbass didnt know that they sell pieces to repair this crap lol). Pulled the tank and it looked like axle grease in the bottom of it, so 2 hours of scrubbing it with brake clean did it some good. We dropped the "Slightly used" fuel pump in it and bolted it back to the car.

The following weekend I discovered a safe haven for old shit boxes that had seen better days... (Junkyard) and I found an Auto Mk 1.5 CA20 car the had a mint body. I ripped out engine harness so I would have some newish connectors and took it home. The next day I laid the two harnesses together and studied their differences (Alternator and oil pressure sending unit plugs) then I took the best condition connectors from each and made one good harness. Hooked all that crap back up.

(And now the coffee kicks in)

Now for teh moment of truth!!!1

It cranks, and cranks, and cranks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/crying2.gif) Wheres the fuel? Its at the rail, but its not spitting! I checked all my relays, the ecu harness and my grounds, well hell yes I have power. Its a bad ECU!

One week of looking and 36 hours of shipping later, and I hooked that bastard up.

Cranks, and cranks, and BOOM, and it dies.... (Hmm?)

Cranks, vrooooom, cranks cranks... Well damnit.

Then I couldnt get it to start anymore... Then I think "Oh shit, my dumbass just fried my new ecu...."

Heh, battery wasnt charged enough to flip on the EFI relays it had 10 volts coming out of it.

So I charged the battery and still had the above problem. O.o

FINALLY my Dad just somthing out for me.... 10 seconds of playing with it by fidgeting with the key (screwdriver)

"Your switch is bad. I will pick you one up tomorrow"

This was last Wednesday. So on Friday I brought the new switch and the old one with me to work, along with my wiring tools and made a good switch.

I get home, and grab the radiator that I took out for the POS SE that I looked at in Raleigh that "Only needed a radiator..." Asshole.... o.o, anyway, I grab the radiator and my duct tape.... I pull the old radiator hoses that I had to cut off from antique antifreeze sticking it to the rad. and I tape up the old hoses and grab my hose clamps.

Hook the hoses back up bolt that bastard back down and fill it up.

Hook my oversized battery up and light that biatch up. It would start and "bog out", so on a really good guess I unplugged the air flow meter, and it spun 90 degrees and fired up (and stayed running)

WOW THIS THINGS BLOWING OUT ALOT OF SHIT!

Its idling like a tractor O.O, I let it warm up and I rev all the bullshit out of it, and let the old fluids and hand grease burn of the manifold. ( I thought that it caught on fire at first lol)

I finally move it the first time... (Wow this thing is weak, I am easing off the clutch at 3k trying to get it to move and NOTHING).. .heh damn ebrake.... so I back it out of its dead grass parking lot and go to move it to the front yard.... As I get closer to my supra and I am rolling towards it with my foot on the brake.. its only getting faster.... OH SHIT! I stop about a foot from it with the ebrake but that was to close for me... I back it up a bit so I can move the supra and the bastard dies.... "WHAT NOW!" It sits a bit while I check fuses pop the hood and look for something obviously disconnected. Nothing... O.o what the hell I jump back in it. Starts back up I pull it around to the front yard for so I can clean it a little bit easier. I pull some old shit out of it (Seat covers, random gardening tools, severed human head in a glad bag etc...)

I grab the AFM and I spray it down with some contact cleaner, and then blow it around with an air hose.

Wrap all the cracked intake hoses with duct tape where needed and clamp the shit out of them and hook it up. Heh starts right up, maybe I just needed the hoses plugged up for the AFM to work? Yes, I am a genius....

After a failed bleeding attempt (I need a new master cylinder, and I will replace the calipers up front and the wheel cylinders in the back... ) I tightened up my ebrake, that should be good enough...

So I gave in to temptation and with my nephew in the passenger seat (17) and my hazards on we go for a spin. I am out in the middle of no where so its not really a big deal, It drives good through the all the gears, I didnt romp on it because I didnt know how much abuse this engine has taken, but I drove it about a mile and a half. About 40 (fast as I went) the front start to shake (Warped rotors or wheel balancing)

This brings me to yesterday, here are some pictures. I wish I had pictures of the tank before and after... lol

(Sorry for the run on sentences IDGRA about grammar at the moment)

I am happy with my 80 horsepower shitbox.

(IMG:http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/DeathAndMajesty/DSC02323.jpg)

(IMG:http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/DeathAndMajesty/DSC02322.jpg)

(IMG:http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/DeathAndMajesty/DSC02321.jpg)

(IMG:http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/DeathAndMajesty/DSC02320.jpg)

No knocking my white trash engineering! It works! lol (No the car isnt stolen its a long story about the switch and the locks)

It works doesn't it? High five!

How are your injectors? I had to replace all 4 of mine to feel safe driving it down the road.

Injectors are good, I am going to flush the motor with some seafoam this weekend and promptly change the oil and all of my belts and hoses. I am going to try to source a KADE as quickly as possible and get everything prepped for WHEN the CA20 blows up.

If you want a KA you should be on carolinanssans.com

Someone is selling a SOHC for $50.00 right now.

The second clamp on the radiator looks haggard, but there is like 1/4" (6mm) of tape all around. Its not as thrown together as it looks. I very carefully lined up the tear that was through the hose and clamped it down with hemostats and then wrapped it. That clamp is on there with prolly 50 lbs of force lol

Did they just post it cuz I searched today. Is it a full swap?

This post has been edited by DeathAndMajesty: Feb 5 2008, 10:11 PM

Man.... If you think that's bad, you should see what we've typically got up here.

With a little bit of time, that will be a good looking car. Your engine compartment is pretty clean. No rust. I'm going to go cry in a corner now lol.

When I get some time, I will package up some pics for you to go thoroughly over your vacuum lines and make sure all are connected and in the right places (as far as my research has shown, anyhow lol).

should install a ghetto cold air intake to bump that engine up to 90hp lol

I've heard bad things about seafoam. On cars as old as ours I won't recommend it

Does it eat seals? That would be the only thing I would worry about anyways. I think people put to much in it. I am going to use have the recommended in the oil but the normal amount in the fuel tank run it hard for 2 minutes, let it cool and change the oil. Once the all that crap has been ran out of the tank I will change the oil again.

I am trying to figure out a cold air setup that doesnt get in the way of anything. I am thinking of mounting one on the cross brace and just "making it work" because there would be enough room to mount or make some brackets for the AFM and it wouldnt get int the way of a fan.

Good luck on the KA Swap, no one has a running MK1 KA IIRC

Nice Notch tho!

This post has been edited by eminem_rh25: Nov 20 2007, 01:44 PM

Thank you. I finally talked my Dad into letting me beat the shit out of it. Its a 24 year old car with 213,000 on it. It has no idea what kind of hell is coming to it... when I can stop...

For the CAI, throw the battery in the back.

Shit box drifters unite!

DeathAndMajesty @ Nov 20 2007, 08:30 AM
Does it eat seals? That would be the only thing I would worry about anyways. I think people put to much in it. I am going to use have the recommended in the oil but the normal amount in the fuel tank run it hard for 2 minutes, let it cool and change the oil. Once the all that crap has been ran out of the tank I will change the oil again.

I am trying to figure out a cold air setup that doesnt get in the way of anything. I am thinking of mounting one on the cross brace and just "making it work" because there would be enough room to mount or make some brackets for the AFM and it wouldnt get int the way of a fan.

Project update:

Believe it or not... I have driven it 10 miles now in my neighborhood with no brakes, and the radiator hose hasnt leaked a drop! (Has been below freezing and completely heated more than 10 times...)

Shes been on hold a bit (Xmas + GF = broke mofo)

Its now running on 4 Cylinders... ( Thought it sounded like shit... lol)

Interior is a little nicer...

It has been degreased and decobwebbed... (Trust me it was a chore.)

Stuff I am getting on my Xmas break:

Master Cylinder

Spark Plugs / Wires

Wheel Cylinders

Brake Calipers

Mass Airflow Sensor / Harness

Vaccum Hoses need some attention....

2 Sets of $15 tires.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Fresh rolls of duct tape....

This POS CA20 isnt really that much of a POS.... 213k and its still pretty decent.... No power... but IDC. I love this car.

S12s rock the house! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Once that thing is all cleaned up and finished, built to your liking, you'll be amazed at how far you've come. 'Rolls of duct tape' lol!

Wow. That's what my 2nd car looked like when I bought it, only better. I love the MKI notches. It was my first car after I got my license back. After that one got hurt pretty bad I got the second one, I find them very comforting. Mine didn't have the stripes in the interior. At that kinda milage it's just plain worn-out and needs rings, bearings and, Knureld. Keep oil in it it'll never die though. Pollute like hell, but run for ever most likely.

(IMG:http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/DeathAndMajesty/DSC02338.jpg)

She idles at 700 RPM now. (Was 2000 RPM)

Stops great after new master cylinder (30 bucks with a core charge at napa)

I rehosed the majority. I love criticism so feel free to comment. I still need:

New tires
Fresh Pads, and Shoes
Plugs & Wires
Oxygen Sensor
Shocks

Then I can tag it and insure it for daily use.

Soon after:

Electric Fan
CM Springs
Tokico Shocks
Roll Bar
Cheap Premium Sound System
MSD Ignition
New Fuel Tank
New Fuel Pump (Damn gauge isn't working)
New Calipers
New Wheel Cylinders
New wheel bearings
Gasket set
Oil Cooler
OEM Paint with black metallic flake.

Would an intake and custom exhaust manifold be worth a damn on the CA20?

Looks like its gettin there. That's an AC line across the top of the motor? There's no fan in it now? When your ready for a roll bar. You mean roll bar not sway bar? Get it custom made, Dont piss around with this. Get a good main hoop custom made. Real tight to the roof and body. No one sells one that fits nice, that I know of.

Yea, that is a load of work.  Add more effort if you are in the rustbelt states like I am.  I don't even fuck around, I torch damn near EVERYTHING before trying to remove it, if its underneath the car.

Congrats on your work thus far, that is one hella sharp looking car.  Its good to see someone take something abandoned, that they know not much about, and come along as you have.  Its only the beginning, too, right?

Ok, so this week begins the major visual upgrades.

Mounting the SE kit

Painting the car  

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I found the easiest paint for a newbie like me to shoot.

Mo' fuckin tractor paint  

Requires NO primer.

Its cow shit, acid, misc farm chemicals resistant.

Premixed UV protectants

Rust preventive

and dirtttttttttt cheap. (28 bucks a gallon at the local tractor supply!)

With the harvest international color (Close enough to blood red), I will be adding a flattener and just a bit of black flake.

The paint can be applied to bare metal, or old paint. The surface just needs to be extremely clean of course, and it needs to be scuffed for it to stick good.

Lol.  I worked at a farm/mass discount store for years, and shot more than once with that paint.  I'll tell ya tho, it fades quite quickly.  Mid red to pink ~1-1.5yr.  Clearcoating may help tho, never had tried that.  You can always scuff it and shoot it different later tho!

Did you check out Silvia Loves thread?  He regular rattle-canned it, and it looks beautiful.  Its all about the prep work b/n layers, and the finish prep.  Thats probably what I'm going to do.

Keep us updated, with pics too!

If you save up a bit of money (about $800.00) my buddy dave can probably give you a real paint job (the original color) He can do a decent single stage paint job cheaper.

Ok so I couldnt get everything knocked out that I wanted to this weekend because of some heavy rain.

I undercoated the wheel wells and started on my paint, and finally got the bumper mounted up but I need to finish the zip ties, and put my grill back in.

Dont talk shit about the stitches in my bumper. ITS CHEAPER THAN A BUMPER.

The paint is John Deere Blitz Black.  5 coats of it, It would be completely two tone, but your not supposed to paint in the rain lol

The reason it looks stripy is I just got done painting the middle.

Looks flat now

I will be fixing the gap between the the bumper and the center piece with some thin rubber riveted down.

After I pulled the bumper I could see how badly the bumper support was bent from whatever the previous owner hit.

Damn dude, looks nice, coming along well.  Waaaaay better than before.  Did you just get those rims or were they on there?

Sweet. Came out decently

Engine runs on its own now. I need to re vacuum every single line. All that is hooked up right now is idle air and the intake piping, everything else is just blocked off, so obviously it runs as good as a hooker in heels.

I have a totally awesome front oil seal leak (On the crank/oil pump), is this a bitch to do? I imagine it wont be to bad.

Tonight, everything should be vacuumed right, and tomorrow it should be timed. I cleaned the hell out of the engine, so this leak might have been there all along, and all of the surrounding grease was keeping it plugged

did you scrape the cracks on your front bumper or just paint over it? my new salvage/project car has similar problems and yours turned out looking nice...

I used  a grinder with a scratchy pad type deal. Just be really easy and it turns out good.

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NEW UPDATE!

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1QA springs are here... and with them.. comes the "low sauce" I needed so badly.

>.< Bad week.

Plus I killed my clutch today.. I have to find a way to anti sag my lip before I drive it, I am still thinking adjustable splitter. The lip scrapes on almost every little bump. I am thinking of raising it an inch. It just feels un stable (Then again I do have blown shocks).

Bleh, more delays.

i wonder how well that tractor paint will buff out? i wish u were closer to me cause i'd try buffing some out for ya.

It buffs to a semi gloss finish.

The black has held up freakin awesomely. Made it through alot of bird poop and elbow grease with no fade.

It stays smooth and doesnt rip or peal. Sticks very nicely for what it is. Its A+ for a beater paint job in my opinion.

Finished the paint. It looks like ass , mainly because I was ready to drive it and out of money for painting supplies. The important thing is that it looks better than it did and its weather proofed.

So I got the car bonded and insured, and friday I get the car theft inspected, and titled.

I drifted a bit this weekend in my neighborhood* on some extremely low traffic roads.

The 50/50 spring rates feel great, and even with completely blown front shocks the car handles decently.

I have no ebrake so I cant do anything but clutch dumping and weight transfers. Which I prefer over the ebrake anyway. There is NO SUCH THING as a CA20 power over lol

The CA20 is slower than a 1990 jetta with 4 mexicans in it. (That was with crappy gas in it though, so who knows.) lol

The Ca20 will chirp the tires through third. (I was surprised).

Stop signs are not cones, they do not "kill" easily.  

I love this car.

This car isn't too difficult to drift without power steering.

Car update.

New ball joints.

300zx Sensatracs (Handle 300lb springs very well)

Now I have a full blown ghetto front setup. Its nice and cheap as fuck.

Fixed bump steer issue by playing with different stabilizer bar heights.

Car update:

Dead raccoon > Front lip

Car absolutely kills on the twisties.

Have a set plan for the car now, it will be street legal but I want this piece of shit to be at its full potential.

I will be gutting absolutely everything. Just a driver seat, a cage, and instrument cluster.

Cammed and built N/A KA

Welded differential

Remove all non structural sheet metal.

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I will start all this when I have another daily.

I am deciding between these.





I am leaning towards the miata, for accessibility and cheapness of suspension goodies.

Subaru is second.

914 with a scooby swap is the more expensive, but way more awesome option.

Nice, so you're looking to build the exact same thing I am!

MIATA all the way man.  Don't look back!