New (to Me) 16v motor

Surfing Craigslist, I found a 16v motor just like the one I swapped from my grey 1992 into the white 1994.  It even came with a wire harness and computer that could be used to make the 16v work in one of the 8v bodies I currently have.

Drove a few hours to get it, we also needed to lift it over a fence.



 it was stuffed into the rear of the white 1994 4 door.



At home I used a cherry picker to get it out and onto the wooden stand. (seen here propping up the motor.)



As of now, I do not know what body this motor is going into.

I am thinking the grey 1992... If I can do something about the missing 3rd gear in the 4 speed auto.

But it could also find it's way in front of a five speed in the little 1994 two door tin top.  Replacing a dead 8v motor.  That is over 15% increase in power!

 I have to think a bit on it.

1998 Tracker passes emissions... but there is a catch

After much cleaning of the EGR passages, The last day of my temp tag I was able to get the Tracker to complete all the tests.


  I used Torque software on the smart phone and a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter.

I had read the requirements for the ECU to run the EGR tests, so it wasn't hard to get it to run the tests.  Warmed it up. Drove a nice level piece of road without changing the throttle any.  Then decelerated for a bit.  Stopped turned off the motor.  after a few minutes, restart and do the same steps on the return trip.   


EGR passed.  (see the bottom item?)

Problem (the catch) is that the noise from the Transmission has gotten very bad.  It seems to "rattle" anytime the input shaft of the transmission is turning and never when it would be still.   I was afraid driving it would damage the transmission even more.  Maybe to the point of making it non-repairable.  I did not know the procedure to get the ECU to run the other tests but figured a long drive would do it.

But it was the last day I could drive it legally.... so I ignored the rattle took it for a long drive.  I also ordered a transmission from a JDM parts importer I had used in the past.


It worked.  First this:



Then these:



 I drove it home and ran it through emissions the next day.  It is good for six months.  So insurance is placed on hold until the transmission is changed.  At that time, it will be registered.  I do not really NEED a convertible in the winter anyway!

The Extraction of GMC #1

There was an offer on my first motorhome, a 1973 GMC.  But it had not been started for about 5 years.  It was also full of stuff that many would call junk.  It took over a month, but I got it cleaned out, started, dug out of the ground it had sank into.  I uncovered it and tried to drive it to firmer ground.

It slipped off the supporting planks I had under the tires and sank back into the soft ground.

More digging.

We hooked on with my white Sidekick, put it into 4 Low.  The Kick added just enough forward movement to get the GMC across the soft spot.

It is now in the new owner's storage yard.

Next project!

Two More Trackers!

Bouncing around the net I found a good deal on a package deal for two 2 door TinTop Trackers.  Both are 4x4 and 5 speed sticks.

I really liked the white 1994, but it doesn't run.

The black 1993 runs, but poorly.

Both have over 300,000 miles.

I should be able to fix both and sell one to cover most of the costs.

Now I currently have 8 TracKicks.  While I believe you can never have enough of them, my neighbors are beginning to wonder about me.

  

But, I can not work on any of these yet.  I have made a deal to sell one of my three motohomes.

So my next project is to empty that, and get it running.

I might take pictures of the last bit as the first isn't that interesting.

1998 Tracker - bumper and grille.

I went ahead and installed the original bumper and grille for now.  I might swap them out later, but I need to get on to other projects right now.

I think I'll get some insurance and a temp tag to drive it for now.  Once I am sure of it, I'll put it up for sale. 

I have several more new projects in the works.  Like the two 2 door TinTop Trackers (one white, one black) in this picture.

Bathroom

While it was done in my house, i didn't do that much (any) of the work.

I had hoped to move out of the house and THEN remodel and sell the house without ever living in the house.

But the hall way bathroom started falling apart and there still are not openings where I wish to transfer to.

My neighbor is a contractor who does lots of bathrooms.  He told me business was slow so I put him to work.

I forgot to take a before picture but it was bad.  There was lots of water damage but no mold/mildew.

  Most of the floor needed replaced.  Some structure under the floor needed added to ensure the new floor was strong enough.

The following pictures are two weeks (and lots of $$$$) later.

The ceiling vent fan also has a light and a heater.  After installing it, Jose ordered one for his bathroom.  I'll be getting another for the other bathroom and we just had a visitor use the bathroom and he is ordering one also!
 

Stuff I found.

We still have a cabinet and some towel racks to install.  But it is already much better than before.

I'd estimate the resell value of the house just went up over $10k.

Dating Site Project

As I have became single, I have found out I do not like being single.

But the correct woman for me is very special, to be able to put up with some of my odd ways.  I expect her to be currently living in another country, but could be wrong. 

As a "project" I have signed up for a bunch of dating sites to cast a very wide net..  As I can not pay for each and every site, and then weed through the replies for the few that were truly interested, read my profile and would put up with what I wrote about myself there, I just mentioned this blog.

This seems to get by the screeners for the dating sites and should screen out anyone not really reading the profile and still being interested.

So, if you happen to be one of the ladies that have read and understand, please make a comment with some contact information.  We'll then see how compatible we are.

Thank you,  Michael

New top!

I picked up a Rampage top on the net.

It didn't take much to swap them out.

I like the white on white look.  It'll even be better after a move to Arizona... someday.

 
I drove it to get gas.

Drives nice and peppy with the stick.  I haven't owned a stick in 30 years!

Stock white paint comes off in places with a pressure washer.

Not sure If I'll go with a 4 door Sidekick bumper or not.  If I use the Tracker bumper, I'll need to trim the Sidekick grille.  I am fairly sure I will NOT use the Tracker Grille.  One of my 2 door grilles has a broken "ear" anyway....

Hmmm... 

I still need to swap the windshield with the parts Kick.

The Tracker now runs like a top!

I have been working on the Tracker while it was still on the trailer.  I just did not have room to for both it and the trailer.  The flatbed is a little better than jacking on gravel.

The motor was now running but very rough.  It would not idle enough to start it and get out to check the motor.  I figured old gas and drained the tank and replaced the filter.  While I had it jacked up, I swapped out the wheels/tires with the set that came with the '94 parts Kick.  Both being two wheel drives, the different tire sizes are OK and gives a nice "rake" look you should not have with a 4x4.  Still on the bad gas theory, I also swapped out the fuel injectors with some I had on hand from a JDM motor.  While I was at it I replaced the valve cover gasket and adjusted the valves.

Still ran like crap even with new gas.

While it was on jack stands with the tires removed, I swapped out the fender with one I had laying around.  I also cleaned, treated and painted the damaged and rusted leading edge of the door.  

My clip on for the remote starter does not fit well on the lug on the starter, so I made an extension for it.  This keeps the normal system connected but provides a location to quickly attach the remote start button.  (Just make sure it is not is gear!)

After being able to start it while being at the engine bay, I was able to do the normal checks you do on a poorly running motor.  I found the "base" timing set to about 80 degrees advance! (Spec is 5.)

The distributor was all the way to one end of the slot. I had to turn it all the way the other way, remove the bolt and keep turning... this next picture shows the location when the timing was correct.

After I removed the distributor and repositioned the rotor to place the distributor bolt centered in the slot with the proper timing.

The Tracker now runs like a top!  Time to take it off the trailer and test drive it!

The motorhome handles this load much better than the Boo!

After the test drive around the block.  Being a smaller 2 door, with not much interior (or front bumper) and the stick shift, it seems very peppy compared to the 4 door autos I have been driving. 

What do you think of the "raked" look?

Next is to replace the top!

1998 Tracker front bumper

I had to remove the front bumper to replace the front fender.  Here are my note and thoughts about what I found.

The nose of Trackers got a "face lift" for 1996.  Different grille and bumper.  I personally find the change ugly and think the earlier Trackers have a MUCH cleaner look.  But there is some interesting things to note.

 The bumper is flush to the bottom edge of the fender,  there was even shims under the upper bumper attachment points to raise the bumper to the fenders. 

 The mounting points are not like my other two door TracKicks.  Even though this two door frame is different than the four doors, these bumper attachment points LOOK to be like all my standard four door TracKicks. 

The upper mounting points... just like the four door.  Also in this shot is where the center of the bumper dips a little to match the ugly grille.

This is the back side of the of the bumper impact bar.  Looks just like the four door one I have laying around.  I test fitted the one from a 1994 four door Sidekick.... seems to fit fine.  the lower grille screw fastening points also match the four door.

I should be able to clean up the looks of this Tracker.  :)

Front Fender replacement

The right front fender is damaged.  It interferes with the opening of the door.  The door was getting rusty along the leading edge.

I have had similar problems with other rigs.  Never really fixed it without replacing the fender.   I have some fenders on order for my TinTop project.  I think I'll "steal" the old fender from it.

To remove the fender:  Loosen or remove the inner fender.  Remove the front bumper for access to the screw on the lower front .  Remove the tailing edge lower bolts at the pinch weld.  Unbolt the upper fender extension.  Then all you need to remove are the four bolts on the upper edge in the engine bay.

 

 
I removed the rust, treaded sanded and primed the leading edge of the door.

Now that it is installed it can me sanded and primed (eventually painted) without deforming the fender.

The reason you do not use larger fuses in anything!

Radio wiring repair  and easy off switch

While cleaning the interior (with the battery disconnected) I noticed a wire that just didn't look right.

The wire looks like it WAS solid white... that would be +12 volt constant (not switched) and really needs to be checked out before putting the battery back in.

Following back to the other end of the harness, I see this.  The wire looks to be melted for it's full length.  Melting wires inside a bundle of wires can be a VERY bad thing.  With out a complete disassembly and inspection, you have no idea what wires are shorted to what other wires.

I pulled the harness from the car and removed the melted wire.  It did damage a few other wires, a little bit.  Mostly just deformed and discolored bit about three spots could have shorted to +12v constant hot.  (I had started this car!)

Besides repairing the damaged wires and replacing the melted one, I modified the harness, adding an additional switch to the switched power to the radio.  It has a position to turn off the radio without messing with the actual radio.  (Some newer after-market radios are very hard to turn off so this is the main reason for this mod,)  The added switch will also let the radio work without the ignition being on, or as normal.

While the harness was out, I put bullet connectors on the radio wires.  It will be fairly easy to install a radio.  (I now use these connectors anytime I install a radio.  Makes them easy to move from car to car.)  Notice the on/off/on switch.  Up is normal, down allows the radio to work with no key.  The center position removed switched power from the radio. 

Ripped Zipper from top

I am posting these pictures to be able to email for someone to repair the top.  I hope to update this post with the repair.

I just tried to un-zip the rear window and the threads holding the zipper failed. 

They look to be dry rotted.  I left them alone and threw a tarp over the whole thing.  

Cleaning the Tracker

The Tracker had been left in a field for quite some time.  I assume it was there a LOT longer than they claimed.  Morning Glory and Blackberry vines had grown up around and inside the Tracker.  Nature trying to reclaim the Tracker.

First how it was when I stopped looking and started "just cleaning.

It came with some little friends. 

I removed the seats and looked for the proper tool....

Found it!

After blowing out the floor pan, with some scrubbing with a scrub brush to loosen the built up in the corners.

It looks dirtier in the pictures than it really is.  The PO had pulled up the old carpet and spray painted everything black.... without cleaning it first.

I had to leave town for a few days, so I installed the seats before I left.  They come out fairly easy, so after I get it running and the top fixed, I'll pull them to put in carpet.    I have a used carpet from the '94 I might use.