So I was going to turbocharge my Subaru Justy, but then I came across a craigslist ad where someone wanted to trade their '73 2002 for a subaru like mine. I wasn't going to get rid of my justy since it was my daily driver and had proved to be very reliable, but I had too do it for a 2002!
I got the 2002 car and $200 cash for my car. The PO has been on this site before and started his own project blog for the car:
http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,280597/
Here's one more picture I took when I bought it:
Right away Things started to go wrong this this thing. I was really starting to regret my decision to trade. I tried to adjust my window regulator with the article from the faq, and when I tested to see if it shut well the window shattered in my lap. I had to run with a clear tape window for about 2 weeks.
Then I decide it needs brakes. the thing pulled to the left like no other when I hit the brakes. It was kind of scary to drive.
So I pull them apart only to find out one of my pistons was seized and I couldn't brake it loose with a C-clamp. I had to have my dad priority mail me one from one of our parts cars.
Then I noticed something was wrong with the tranny and I had broken my guibo. It was still drivable, but it shook heavily at low speeds. Also scary.
Oh, I forgot to mention: the first night I brought it home, it leaked fuel all over my apartment parking spot. The gas tank was rusted out and I just filled up. My neighbors and landlord were all pissed at me since there was a HUGE gas puddle left over and it smelled really bad.
Also, I could never seem to get it to idle very well at all. It would stall out at intersections, I think it was having choke issues.
One thing after another it seemed like. But then I took it home for Spring break and worked on it with my dad. We worked for 4 or 5 days straight and got SO much stuff done on it. I feel so much better driving it now and I'm a lot more excited about the car.
Here's what we did:
-Swap the carb for a rebuilt one. It's a weber 32/36 with a manual choke. The old one was a 32/36 also, but with a water choke. It idles very nicely now and actually has a lot more power!
-I bought rear brake shoes as well. In the process of changing shoes, we found out that my passenger rear wheel cylinder was seized. So we broke it loose with a C-clamp, popped the pistons out and cleaned it up and it works really well now! It brakes very nicely now and doesn't pull in any direction. My ebrake is also firmer.
-Put a good used gas tank in it and treated the rusty areas with rustoleum. It should keep it safe until we need to weld a new trunk floor in. Now I can fill up without spilling!
-I put a new guibo on (which was quite a pain) only to find out that it hit my shift linkage (the reason the first one was destroyed). I think the rear bearing in the trans must have been bad or something.
-So we dropped the tranny out of our '71 parts car and swapped it out for mine (it wasn't that easy though!). I'm a little bummed because this one whines a little in 3rd and 4th gear just like the old one, but it doesn't hit anywhere which was our ultimate goal.
-I also pulled the front bumper off the '71 since it was in better shape than mine, and I liked the bumper brackets better since they pulled the bumper closer to the body. Now my 73 looks like a 72 or older!
-I also installed some sweet yellow driving lights. I like the look:
I'm really excited about this car now. I have plans to run megasquirt injection and turbocharge it (I already have the MS and turbo/intercooler and other components).
I'll keep this blog updated as I do more to it! Thanks for all your help so far and thanks in advance for future help!
Dylan