The Beast I Drive

73 Coupe is a Gen 1 stage 1, and one of my favorite body styles Im gonna start lookin for one to replace my RX. I really want a GSR :slobber: but any coupe would suffice for what I have planned -Bill

Damn dude, looks like you could use a little more tread Good tires make a HUGE difference, it was like night and day when I put the Maxxis BigHorns on the Beast after running bald Toyo A/T's. Looks like some fun stuff there! -Bill

Im gonna pull those bumper struts off my hatch after I eat, so I ll have pics this evening. Glad that you got the votage drain figured out (apparently) -Bill

Hpefully your noise isnt the same noise that ended like this -Bill

Did you try replacing the ignition switch? Just the part that screws on to the back of the lock cylinder, I have a few spares i could send you if you want. Also, what did you jump the fuel pump to, a switched power circuit or a constant power circuit? Prolly shouldnt power wash you engine bay anymore -Bill

the rear diff is called the rear diff. Apparently you have an open diff, as in its not an LSD. So just call it a rear diff. Does sound like torque bind, so insert the fwd fuse and see if it goes away. If it goes away with the fuse in, then you will know the problem is with the center diff in the trans. If it doesnt, then you have other problems -Bill

Ah yes, I remember reading the thread about that one. That was the first thing I thought about when mine lit up. Mine wasnt an electrical fire though, it was massive mechanical failure of some kind, Ill have to investigate, but it looks like the Turbo might have blown on the compressor side. I think you had it worse, you lost a Brat, Id be devastated if any of my Brats burned like that -Bill

I would replace all the hoses and flush the cooling system thoroughly, flush it with some kind of detergent that will break down the deposits. The hoses split is more than likely because of age, it happens. Also maybe look into some kind of programmable temp switch for your fans if you think they arent coming on at the right temp, I think that what Connie did with her little coupe. Good luck! -Bill

I guess if i look at the upside of this, I came up with some body modifications i would like to try out on my next coupe project, seeing as how I can clearly see all the joints and structure since the paint is gone... The car is still an inspiration even after its soul has passed from this world. -Bill

Probably a head gasket leak, has the car been overheated? Any leaks on the ground, or in the passenger compartment? Is the radiator cap working properly? -Bill

The rims are all ok, passenger front is a little discolored, and the rear tires are ok. Looks like the fuel pump fried in the fire, and I decided it was just easier to punch a hole in the tank and drain it than try to remove it with 14 gallons of liquid still in it. The firemen got the blaze extinguished just in time, had they been 5 minutes later the tank would have exploded, the gas cap was beginning to melt as they put out the flames. It prolly would have been a spectacular explosion though... I hope this never happens to anyone else on here, its really really hard to sit there and watch as your pride and joy dies while you wait for help to arrive, unable to do anything. The helpless feeling is the worst. Im definitely going to be investing in some extinguishers for my other rides. -Bill

83 would have the torsion bar rear suspension, no springs at all. There are a pair of torsion bars inside the rear crossmember that act as the suspension. -Bill

Liability and bodily injury insurance. The car itself is not covered. Honestly who would have thought I would need full coverage on a 21 year old car? so basically, Ive lost a little over a thousand dollars in this ride, I paid 400 for it in Port Orchard, put in the stereo, replaced the motor with one I already had, and spent countless hours fabricating the exhaust, the rear lift, maintainence, just bought brand new tires for it (about 300 bucks, but 2 of them are still good and I had to good spares) the wheels with hubcaps are still good, but its just so, demoralizing. It sucks. I really did like that car, and I had big plans for it with the wheels already set in motion. Now I have nothing to put my shiny new aluminum centerlines on Anybody have a cheap EA82 coupe or RX they want to part with? -Bill

Well here are the pics of the aftermath (total destruction) The rear section under the floor looks to be OK, so the fuel pump, gas tank, and the entire rear assembly will be used in another project at one point. The drivers side rear shock is gone though. -Bill

I would check the the spark system in this order if it were me Check power to the coil. If its good, then check the coil to see it if sparkes. If it does, then check the disty for spark. If everything works, then the problem would have to be fuel related. If the coil insnt getting any power to it, then check fuses/fusible links, wiring, etc. till you find why its getting no power. If its geting power but no spark, the bad coil. And obviously if the disty isnt sparking but the coil is, then something in the disty is arry. Hope you get it fixed, tracking down electrical mysteries is a pain in the but sometimes, Im still trying to figure out my '69 Lincoln, the 4 ways stay on all the time, unless I turn on the headlights Ive got it narrowed down to the 4 way switch in the column though, just cant figure out how to replace it yet -Bill

Thanks for the support guys, Im really, really bummed out about this. Obviously I cant stress enough how important it is to have a fire extinguisher in your car, If I had been keeping a small 2lb ABC extinguisher in the spare tire space I couldve saved the car, sans a little melted wiring. Chux, I was running 92 cuz it wouldnt run worth a crap if I didnt. Expensive, but I didnt really drive it all that much, just for longer trips where my loud obnoxious Brat just wouldnt be as comfortable Connie, I really hope this does NOT happen to your coupe, that would just be icing on top of a big crap flavored cake. (speaking of which, after all this me and my dad stopped at Burger king, where those morons proceeded to screw up my order ) Im heading out right now to go pick up the burnt carcass, ill take some pics and get the final damage assesment shortly. -Bill P.S. Ill probably be looking for a new coupe/RX project very soon

The clutch pack LSDs do that, its actually pretty normal. -Bill

Are you still running a Points disty or an electronic unit? I would check the module if its electronic or the points and make sure everything is as it should be there, then check out the coil. Do a spark test from the disty and the coil. -Bill

Hey, at least your car didnt blow up in flames, i would say your luck is still considerably better than mine lately. -Bill

So far what I know I can salvage: The full tank of 92 Octane gasoline and tank itself The rear assembly (LSD diff, rear disk brakes, pristine rear axles, swing arms, subframe, *maybe* coilovers) the mustache bar 3.5" lift blocks from the rear Driveshaft glasspacks rear wheels and tires front drivers side wheel The maybes: Trans front passenger side wheel Flywheel Ill update tomorrow when i get the car home and tear it down. I dont knwo yet if i will keep the parts or sell them, I may convert the LSD to 4.11 and rip off a Datsun guy on EvilBay. but IDK. Nothing from the body is salvagable. it all melted and/or burned. the interior? Fo-Geddaboudit. Glass? Not a chance. -Bill

If its an EA82 with a Turbo, ************ that noise. I wont ever drive a primitive self destructing beast like that ever again. I mean it was completely stock, no upped boost, no mods, stock. New headgaskets and cooling system even. I have no love for gas turbos anymore. Deisel is one thing, but this really ruined my outlook on these motors. -Bill

Well, coming up the hill it started knocking, like real bad rod knock, then boom, it exploded, and I saw white smoke, so i opened the hood thinking it was just a blown turbo, but the motor was on fire. I think it threw a rod and somehow something on that motor ignited. All my guages read normal immediately prior to this, temp normal, oil PSI normal, volts normal, yeah. I just changed the oil last weekend. Whatever first caught on fire quickly proceded to burn into the fuel lines, and thats when all hell broke loose. Toll so far: $180 Optima Red Top *$230 stereo 20 bucks worth of free oil change all my pride and all my dreams for the car. -Bill

well I used to have an RX, but today it is no more. Im sure you'll find the thread i made for it. Yeah I noticed the new seats where all fabric, but color and shape wise they looked to be pretty darned close match to me -Bill

Oh, and ************ the EA82T. -Bill

Well, my RX is officially dead for good. The motor exploded today on my way to Ellensburg in a fantastic ball of fire. It took 15 minutes for the fire truck to get there because I was in the middle of bum************ nowhere on I-82. Luckily I was able to save almost everything that was loose in the cabin and I myself was not injusred, but the car is finished. I will have pics of the aftermath in the morning, but for now, the firery death of an RX. I got further and further away as the flames grew nearer to the gas tank as I had JUST FILLED THE TANK with 92 octane gas. It never blew up, so the gas is still salvageable, along with the whole rear sub assembly, and the rear tires even. The rest of the car is a loss, the trans might be ok, but the FT4wd solenoids are toast. I will know more when i go to tow it home in the morning. God this sucks. I really loved that car, and I had big plans for it. But this is why I have so many cars, if one goes down, I still have a spare. -Bill