I'm really enjoying the West Kelowna Pick-n-Pull!

We ended up heading out to Kelowna again for a short visit, and while I was there I checked out Pick-n-Pull again, and walked out with a wallet $30 lighter. What did I buy, you ask? A brand new, partially installed convertible top. It looks like the owner of the car tried to install the top themselves without the correct tools, got frustrated, and junked the car. I had to pop about 40 staples to get the top off the car which as easy, since they used a standard staple gun rather than a more powerful upholstery stapler to attach the top. For comparison, a new top with a plastic rear window (I wanted glass, but I'm not going to argue) is $240 and up from online vendors. I think I did fine.

Out of hibernation for another year

I brought the car out of storage (in my back yard) this week. I forgot how fun it is to drive. Other than pumping up the front drivers side tire and charging the battery, everything was ready to go. I disabled the fuel injectors and ignition, cranked the engine until I saw oil pressure on the gauge, and it started right up. During the course of the winter a little more rust showed up, but I have plans to take care of that this year.

A successful junkyard run out in West Kelowna

While I was on vacation in Kelowna, BC for 2 weeks visiting my in-laws, I took a morning to go check out Pick-n-Pull and see if I would have any luck.

I had excellent luck. a 1994 LeBaron GTC donated the header bow and top latch assembly I so desperately needed. A 1988 Daytona Shelby Z donated a cruise control bracket which will clear the intercooler, and a 1987 LeBaron donated a rear trim piece and one of the rear ashtrays I was missing. The total? $39.75, plus $28.50 to ship the stuff back to myself on the bus.

Well, it's been a long time

Considering it's been over a year since I last posted, I thought I should provide an update. In 2009 I swapped the rear axle for one that wasn't broken, after trying twice to weld the hollow tube back in place in the old one. As you can see in the photo I put on a set of 15" Chevy Beretta GT wheels and some slightly larger than stock 215-60/15 tires. To use the Beretta wheels I needed to use 3mm spacers in the front, otherwise the back of the spoked section rubbed on the brake calipers. I resolved the overboost cut-out problem by removing most of the factory vacuum/boost lines and replacing them with a CNC machined aluminum vacuum block, and adding a manual boost controller. I also swapped in an intercooler/radiator from a Shelby Daytona and the stock intercooled (Turbo II) airbox setup from a different Shelby Daytona. I added a first-generation Talon blow-off valve since the Turbo II airbox does not contain one like the Turbo I airbox does.

The performance upgrades (intercooler, keeping boost under control) worked very well for a couple of weeks, then I noticed things weren't as fun as they once were. Now that I can hold high boost levels without hitting cut-out for extended periods of time, the stock clutch is giving up.

I also have some dash wiring issues to check out as the Traveler (trip computer) lost its memory a few times, and I've seen the airbag light flicker. Both indicate to me I might have a bad ground.

Finally, the drivers side top latch broke apart and won't re-latch securely, and the part that needs to be replaced requires removal of the top fabric so it looks like I need to replace the top sooner rather than later. I also need to hunt down the complete front header and both latches as an assembly which sounds easier than it is because hardly anyone sends convertibles to the junkyard around here.