Suzzie "F" -- Body Work Around Grille

I also didn't get pictures of pushing the structure behind the grille back into place.  I used a jack and 2x4 blocking to spread the forces across the firewall and other parts in the engine bay.
 

Once in place I treated the rust, primed and painted the parts.

Spray can gloss white matches fairly good with the body color.  I didn't really do all the body work, (see the right front fender) but I am mostly covering bare metal and getting to look "OK".

You might also notice the Air Conditioner parts installed.  I am also installing an AC system from collected junkyard parts.  More on it later.

Suzzie "F" -- Engine Pull

I didn't take pictures of the actual pulling of the motor.

I do have some that I would like to share.

This is after the pull, but before a pressure wash.

The old dirty oily motor on the home made stand.

  

The stands are made from two 14 inch lengths of 2x8 to 2x4's and eight Kreg  screws in pockets drilled with a Kreg jig.  Simple, quick to make and works well.  I mail order the screws in large boxes.  VERY cheap.

I have told others about an easy way to disconnect the engine wiring.  The engine harness is connected by two plugs at the firewall.  I pull back the rubber grommet, pull the plugs out into the engine bay and disconnect.  

The harness can be left on the motor with the above connections still connected. You still would need to disconnect what ever plugs go to the transmission as the harness should be called the "Power Train Harness."   I removed the harness to clean and modify it.  That will be covered in a later post.

Suzzie "F" -- Compression check

As it is new to me and it is blowing steam (Visible on start-up but much less so when hot) I needed to do a compression check.

The spark plugs where covered in oil from a leaking valve cover gasket.
These are in order  #1,2,3,4.  Tip on #1 is browner than the others.

I do not have pictures of the actual test, but the results surprised me at:  215, 220, 205, and 230 psi COLD.  I suspect these could be considered as WET from the oil leaks of the valve cover.  Still really good compression so I do not think the head gasket is bad.  (The seller said that was the problem.)  I disconnected and plugged the coolant lines going to/from the intake and still got the steam out the tail pipe.  There is a bigger problem inside the motor.  I'll pull it and install the JDM motor from Kick 3... it has a bad transmission anyway.

The exhaust manifold is cracked in the typical place.  (See small red arrow.) 

Getting ready for the motor pull.

Suzzie "F" (my 6th Sidekick)

I got it home a while back, but I am very behind on documenting my projects.

The Grille had been knocked out by a truck.  There was some damage other than just the grille.  Overall, it is certainly not perfect, but fixable without resorting to professional help.

 

Took me a bit to ID these wheels.  Low end two door Tracker from about 2000.  Cleaned up, they might be OK looking.  They ARE a five spoke design.  (Normally what I prefer.)

 Clunky looking 2 inch receiver hitch welded under the 1.25 inch.  The "stinger" seems rusted in place and can not be removed.  Leaving it in when not towing is asking for frame damage from a otherwise "minor" accident.

Dirty and oily.

The power steering doesn't work... missing the belt.  Look closely at the shroud.  Seems there was a problem.

Found what was left of the belt.

Missing the bolts that held the shroud to the radiator.  If it was also missing the lower ones, it would account for the shroud damage and the belt being missing.
-- I later replaced the belt, and the power steering worked fine.

 The half tire cover needs to go away.  If I had the other half... maybe I'd keep it.

Look closely, this tire was manufactured in the 48th week of 1993.  A bit over the life expectancy of a tire.  No checking, but not something that should be in service.

The interior isn't ripped up, just dirty and stained.  Plus quite a few stickers.

Moved the 2 door tin top project out of the garage, and got this one inside.  Charging the battery to ensure a good compression check tomorrow.

Another Kick In The Stable!

The other day I get a call from my son. Seems the '92 is having transmission problems.  I drove to the other side of Portland to find him without third gear.  It would go to about 25 to 30 mph then act like it was kicked into neutral.

While I had all I needed to tow it home (it is set up to tow four down) I really didn't want to pull it with the Malibu.  (There just isn't enough weight difference between the two for safe towing in traffic.)  I had the GPS pick out a route with 45mph max speeds and drove it home, on back roads, holding it in second gear.

35 mph most of the way.

The '92 has an OK body with ugly paint.  Being a North West (US) car it has very little rust.  Interior is a bit ratty.  The motor is great as it is a JDM motor installed less than two years ago.

Looking for a replacement transmission, I found this on Craigslist:

I looked at it and it didn't look to bad.  1994 Sidekick JLX with most of the options other than AC.  (I should be able to add that.)  It also has auto hubs that need to be tossed. 

On a test drive it ran pretty good but blew steam when warm.  No water/antifreeze in the oil.  Someone welded a 2 inch receiver under a 1.25 hitch.  Looks functional but clunky.  Needs a grille and some minor work on the bumper cover.  The body looks like it could clean up fairly good... the interior might take more work.  There are some monster stickers on some interior parts.  Stereo looks good... not that it makes that much difference for me.

As I understand it was the owners first car, it looks amazingly good.  Most teenagers trash their first car before learning how to take care of a car.  (His second car is a 2015 Jeep that he bought and paid for by himself.)

Anyway, paid less than the asking price and drove it home.  When I get the two door project out of the garage, I'll roll this one in to truly evaluate it.

My current plans are to take what I need from the '92 and fix this one.  The use the other "92" parts to upgrade a chassis for the two door project.  (Maybe 16v and 4 speed auto?)  Then I'll need to sell off most of my "Kick stable" for a move to the south west.

Interior Ideas

As I am working with a shop on the body and paint, I get to think about the interior.  I am posting my thoughts here to be able to give a link to local upholstery people for ideas and maybe even price quotes.

As this Sidekick in not intended to be an off road rig, I'd like it to be as nice as possible.  I loved the interior of the Audi we used to have.  (It is now my son's) I wonder if I could reproduce something like it in the smaller Sidekick.  I know it will not be cheap. 

To keep costs down I was looking at "upholstery kits" but haven't found anything being sold that I like.  The only replacement seat upholstery kits I can find now are cloth.  I like smooth finished leather.


The interior to _MY_ project has been removed and is in storage... for the most part.  Notice the color of the trim.  that is the current color of the dash, door panels and the few parts of the center console I have.

My Sidekick, is going to be painted white with gold or bronze colored rocker panels and an accent stripe, of the same color, around the hood, mirrors and around the rear side windows.  My plans would be to get a formed carpet kit to put down over some sound deading material.  I have not ordered a carpet (yet) as the selection of the seat material might effect what carpet to order.  I am into shades of brown... more on the lighter shades. 

The following interior is from the same make, model and year as mine.  It is a different color, my interior is brown.  I really like these rear bucket seats, but they are cloth, and mine are dirty/stained and a bit worn.  Some of the metal parts have rust on them.

This next shot shows the full door panels that do not show body color to the interior when closed.  This car had a "moisture problem" and mold growing inside.  (One of the reasons the owner and I could not agree on a selling price.)

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Now to interiors that I am getting ideas from:


This is our old Audi (2000 A6 2.7t) that we had and really liked.

 I like the colors used in this street rod interior.

The following interior is a Sidekick. (Soft top, with a newer style dash.)  While I'm not fond of the color selection, I like the style of the seats.  I thought these came from a kit, but maybe not.

Believe it or not the next couple of pictures are STOCK Suzuki seats.  They are a special edition model sold in the UK,  While I really like them, finding a good set, or just the upholstery, and having them shipped to the US would not be cheap or easy.  Even then I'd still end up with used, 20 year old, leather seats.  :(

These back seats look nice.

This next picture is the same car as the back seat picture above.  (A birthday present to a teen aged girl.)  Notice the location of the steering wheel... a UK car.

This next seat was being sold on an UK sales site.  Cracked and dry.

I think I'd rather have a solid, leather covered head rest.

IF I could find an acceptable "kit" I would consider doing the work myself, but if the project requires sewing....   I do not have the time to learn how and practice enough to get good enough to be "acceptable" for this project.  Maybe I'll take a class and learn in the future for a different project.... maybe.