I hear ya, welding in awkward places is a real pain. However, even just the slightest bit of contaminant getting into your weld will cause more metal to oxidize, so you need to have everything absolutely clean before you start.

For my senior project, my group designed and built a log splitter. For a stronger blade on the wedge, I built up weld beads and then ground it down. Before I started, I didn't get the two pieces of steel making up the V clean enough and it made the biggest headache of all time. The first bead I ran got contaminated, then I was chasing it around layer after layer. Often times it got so bad I had to grind it all off and hopefully find a clean layer to start on again.

Welding is like painting in that, in order to get a good finished product you need to prep well.

Regardless, I have a lot of respect for you for doing it yourself. I'm sure having good solid metal there is a huge improvement over what it was.

Swaybars showed up 2 months waiting. Should be able to get alot of stuff done this weekend.

What was your trick for getting the rear sub frame back into place?

Painted all the areas with Rust Bullet and finished installing the new brake lines.

Looks good! I still think you should upgrade that interfooler while you have the front bumper off.

Quoting G:

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Looks good! I still think you should upgrade that interfooler while you have the front bumper off.

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Exactly what I was thinking. Maybe sneak a 3g maf in the stock pretty airbox somehow too.

^I guess I'm confused as to the suspension and brakes mods then. I understand the beauty of keeping a car 100% stock but having very capable suspension and brakes and then blasting out of a corner with 170 awhp and a heatsoaked stock ic isn't that fun.

Bob,

I hear what you are saying regards having a comfortable cruiser over a performance car, but I don't see why a 3G/EVO8 MAF wouldn't fit into that equation. It flows more air admittedly but apart from having the potential to add performance everyone reports that the 3G/EVO8 MAF also provides a much smoother and far more linear power delivery and is essentially more refined after years of development. I still think it would fit right in with what you are trying to do.

Now that I have my big build going on I am also trying to keep my other car fairly stock, but if I stay with a MAF it will definitely be a 3G/EVO8 one.

Paul.

That's cool and I do understand where you are coming from. If however you did decide to go that route, Keydiver did a write up in the How To section about installing a 3G MAF in the stock airbox. That sounds to be exactly what you would want if you did this!

Funny. I just looked at the sticker on the windsheild to see the last time the oil was changed. Which was 8/5/2008 but the car has only gone 200 miles since then. Going to change the oil before I drive it again.

Got the car on the lift. Working on bleeding the brakes and steering.






Can't wait to start on the front. Lots of work there also.

Exhaust showed up. Nice quality exhaust. Welds look really good. Nothing much else going on with the car. Just haven't had anytime to touch it.