NorthCoast

It's on all 4 now with only the smack to the face as the only mishap. Rear fenders were cut long ago when I had my old tires. They aren't trimmed much but I still wish I hadn't cut them.

I didn't take took many pics on day 2 because the Mrs giving me grief about helping with the rear strut towers and I was too busy fighting with the struts. I was trying to get them in without unbolting themfrom the A arm. I tried to use a crowbar to wiggle them in until my hand slipped off the crowbar and I punched myself in the face. I must have knocked some sense into myself because I gave up on that idea and unbolted the struts. So much easier that way. This was another spot where have stock hardware would have made it a breeze. If I had the original top hat studs I would not have to had unbolted them and they would have slid right into place. I finished the passenger side and then moved over to the driver side. When on the driver side I finally found a use for my stock jack! That made it so much easier to squeeze in the rear cross member block. Trailing arm bracket in... and the rear assembled. Then it was on to the anti-lift and trans blocks. Those were a breeze compared to everything else. Now onto the engine. Stock 2.2 to come out... I decided to just flip up the intake and leave it in while I swapped long blocks. I should have made that chain shorter because I didn't have enough height to get it all the way out. It's a good thing these engines aren't that heavy because I had to pick it up out of the engine bay and lift it over my brush guard. Swapped over the flywheel and clutch. When tightening the pressure plate bolts I misread the torque specs in the Hayne's manual and ended up snapping the head off a bolt. After that I had had enough and called it a day.

I got a PM from Scott saying my lift kit was ready so Thursday after work the family and I went for a little road trip up to B-ham to pick it up. It was pouring down rain but we still had fun. When we got home I put a coat of primer on the parts, waited for it to dry, then the first coat and went to sleep. The next morning the second coat. While waiting for the paint to dry I got started jacking up the car and pulling it apart. I must be a glutton for punishment because it seems like I did everything backwards on this project. Besides putting in the lift I am also putting in a Frankenmotor I just finished putting together. I should have started with the motor swap but couldn't get a hold of my brother to pick up the hoist because I was waiting for my new phone to arrive. Why the motor swap first? Because the hoist didn't go high enough to get it out of the bay! Of course this is all in hind sight. Another thing I should have done first is start with the rear. But I like to make things difficult for myself so I started with the front. My reasoning was that I needed to know the extension lengths for parts so that I could source them on the one free weekday I had. Getting everything disconnected was easy as was getting the cross member lift blocks and strut spacers in. Getting it back together was a little more difficult. Since I had the whole front end disconnected, the cross member twisted and the driver side slide back. This is where I definitely could have used some help but with no phone there was no one to call so I dealt with it as best I could. After wrestling with it for a couple hours and having the car fall off the jack stands three times I finally got the front mostly back together and on the ground. I say mostly because I still need to go to the junkyard and pick up some miscellaneous hardware. My car may be a 91 Legacy body but under that she was a 98 OB with strut spacers. Had my car been stock or the top hats still had their original hardware this project would have been a breeze. With the car back on the ground I took some measurement for the new radiator hoses and steering link extension and called it a night.

What about an ECU and coil setup for aircraft? They're setup to fire simultaneously for redundancy. Something to think about.

LOL. I don't think that will fit in the onboard jack storage space:lol:.

Yes...Let's see the pix. I have one I picked from the junkyard a couple of years ago but haven't got around to modding it yet. Unfortunately for me I don't think it will work since I already have a jerry can holder on that side. Another one that maybe a possible fit is from a Kia Sportage. Very small and the mounts look like they will work for either a wagon or a hatch. I saw one at PnP the other day and would have taken it if the car hadn't been rear ended and the tire carrier bent.

Update?

If you can wait a couple of weeks I'm upgrading to a 6" lift so my 1" factory body lift and strut spacers will be up for sale.

... and be safe. Get some help too. Even just having someone there as a spotter is good. The rear struts are definitely a spot where two people are required unless you have a LOT of patience. Also, a hi-lift aka farm jack is a must in my opinion, especially with the 6" lift. You're going to need one after the lift anyway so get one before hand. My stock jack got tossed years ago since it was just dead weight after I switched to OB struts/springs and bigger tires. It really sucks having to dig a hole big enough for your tire to fit into just to change it. You will definitely want to get some blocks like monstaru said. I'm planning on several 6x12 blocks just for my jack stands. Hopefully that is enough height because after I put in my strut spacers in they became useless on their own.

+1

How are you liking the Delta cams? Are they affecting the idle at all?

You and me both. I picked up an EJ25 short block from a 98 OB for $90 and I have a set of 2.2 heads from a 91 Legacy. I'm hoping I can just slap it together and drop it in without doing a complete rebuild.

I'm getting ready to do the same. I plan on using new longer flex hoses for the radiator. For brake lines I plan on upgrading to longer braided lines. Anyone have a good source in the Seattle area?

My birthday weekend! I might be able to make it up at least one of those days.

It's all good. I put it together at break. Torqued to 130 lbs. Test drove it to the printers and all is well. Thanks everyone!

LOL...it's not dead. I'll just put a charger on it just to make sure I've got plenty of juice.

I got it all put back together. I'll take it out and test it when I go pick up some drawings later at the printer. Should be fine enough to get me back home where it can sit until the weekend.

Good thing I've got my tools with me! I will need to clean up the pulley where it got dinged up. Hopefully the key way isn't too bad although from the look of the back of the pulley I'm not too hopeful.

I drove my car to work this morning. 50 mile commute. During the last 20 miles I noticed I was losing power steering. Then when I pulled into a drive through the car was running a little rough. The car has been having issues with the TPS lately so I figured that was the problem. I revved the engine a couple of times and it started to smooth out. Then while I was talking with the guy at the window I heard a loud ping and a clunk. My car was running fine so I didn't think it was mine. I asked the kid what the sound was and he had no idea but he had heard it too. I left the the drive through and drove to work. Now I had no power steering at all and the battery light was on. When I pulled into my office I popped the hood and saw the belt was off. Figuring I had a broken belt I grabbed it only to find it was intact. Uh oh...now I knew what the clunk was. My main pulley fell off! I drove back to the drive through and there was my pulley and bolt laying on the ground. I have a spare pulley at home but do you guys think its safe to drive without it or should I try and find one locally before I drive home?

Check is in the mail. Any idea when it will be ready?

That's my plan. I'll probably use rectangle tubing for the slider portion instead of round tubing though.

LOL...a little more involved than I was looking for, although I really like it. Looking for something bolt on since most everything on this car transfer to the new one.

I like the sliders you have. Do you have some pics of the mounting?

Anyone out there using rock sliders? I've been thinking about installing some on my car after the lift. Not so much for protection but more for jacking points on the car since the only jack that works anymore is a hi lift.