Great Thread!, awesome work with the tranny install fing02.gif .

 

Threads like these bring back memories smile.gif Love seeing others go down the path less traveled.

 

Time for a little "where are they now" segment of my story. It's been a few months and I figured I'd update everyone on what's happened.

The tib's still running strong and kickin' ass after almost 7000 miles and I'm still giddy like a little kid whenever I hop in it. A while back during the summer I found out that my secondary o2 sensor wiring was laid across the exhaust and it had melted, shorted, and kept blowing the ECU fuse. Got it fixed pretty easily. I've been having issues filling up the car since I got it, looks like it's the evap canister/Purge control valve givin me hell, I'll have it fixed soon.

I'm still having to fix little bits of previous owner syndrome, but it's usually quick fixes and small parts (thankfully).

Exterior: In major news, my first weekend in texas resulted in getting in a wreck in the tib! Back in june a guy in a truck decided he wanted in my lane whether I was there or not and laid himself across the right side of the car. He was held at fault, and his insurance shelled out $1800 to repair my ride! That bumper that was all F-ed up got replaced for free, I also got a new passenger side fender, turn signal, splash guards, and a new exterior skin on my door, pinstripe included. Yeah, wanna talk about a sweet deal? I got my tib back better than when I got her smile.gif Only thing I need now is a good paint job to clean up the entire car. (the hood's looking pretty rough)

Interior: I'm pretty much done putting the interior right. Silver_Bullet kindly sold me the lid to his center console, I've got a shifter surround and boot coming in from the dealership in two days (For $70!). The only thing I need now is some new seat skins, which I think RED is still interested in selling to me... and the installation of those Sparco CF pedal covers I picked up from Ericy back in the day. I should also have a ARK shifter coming in from tibbychick in the next two days as well...

Engine: I'm getting a CEL for the purge control valve failing, which I really think is just the evap canister taking a dump on me, I'll be fixing that tomorrow hopefully. Other than that it's run like a champ through thick and thin. The AC condenser fan failed recently, resulting in overheating if the car's left in stop-and-go traffic with the AC running, but that's a pretty easy $60 fix as well. I'll be ordering one tomorrow once I get to the bank. Looks like my JB-Weld job held since I haven't heard any audible leak coming from the exhaust manifold. The belt whine I got when I first had the car running has calmed down, I'm assuming all of the new belts have finally settled in. Everything else is simply awesome.

Suspension/Brakes: I'm so glad I spent the extra money on the SS brake lines, new rotors, new pads, etc... The stopping is exceptional! I've still got a bent left control arm which needs replacing before I can get my alignment straightened out since apparently the P.O. thought he was a drifter and smacked a curb. Now that I've got a little money I'll be fixing it right away. Also on the list is a new set of shocks and struts, feels like she's due for a new set. Anyone have a recommendation on a good set of S/S? Just a nice stock replacement is all I need. That aside, it's fantastic, still handles great.

Now for my belated "props" list. This is for everybody who helped me out with parts, info, advice, and encouragement. You know who you are, but I'm gonna mention you anyways.

1. Tibbychick, you're definitely the #1 contributor to my work! I couldn't have come CLOSE to doing my auto->manual swap without the shit-loads of parts you mailed to me. I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me.
2. Stocker, without your write-up on auto-manual swapping I would've been totally lost. And yeah, I really appreciate that short notice phone call to answer a stupid question. I owe you one.
3. Lilo Shark for sending me his old Beta 1 Manual transmission mounts, I never would've been able to finish the job without his fast and accurate parts-sending.
4. Loneshark, you indirectly helped me a ton with your auto-manual swap, so thanks.
5. Ericy321 for hooking me up with all sorts of parts and advice, your spark plug cover proudly adorns my engine.
6. Yellowlightning for selling me his clutch for cheap, it was a perfect low-cost alternative right when I needed to save money, thanks man!
7. Blueevil for selling me his lightweight flywheel, I'm totally loving it!
8. Bommello for the exhaust manifold and the great encouragement, you're the man!
9. Anyone else I may have forgotten; it's not cause you aren't important, it's cause I don't have the old PMs to look at.

 

if you are getting some new shocks and springs, go with KYB shocks w/ either Eibach, H&R, or B&G springs

i got kyb and eibach combo...got mine off ebay but www.shox.com has them all as well

edit...

glad to see enjoying the tib

 

yeah or just KYB GR-2 shocks with stock springs if you want to keep stock height. Springs don't need replacing, just the shocks

 

Hey dude, glad its coming along! You're very welcome. I haven't gotten a chance to mail the shifter yet, I'm very sorry. This past week has been hectic and I did have any time to breathe. I will get it out to you ASAP, most likely tomorrow morning via Priority mail (2-3 days).

 

Yup, got a full set of leather skins boxed up and pretty much ready to go out. I'll double check I've got all parts on request and get you a shipping quote via Fedex Ground, but should be cheap as it is light.

 

TC: Not a problem, I know you're good for it, shoot me a tracking # if you get one.

RED: Definitely shoot me a quote for those seats. I'm trying to get the entire interior done at once right now.

 

Dang I must have been sleeping through the updates . . . if you can remember:

What, exactly, for posterity and future swappers with cruise control, did you do to get the cruise control working?

 

Well time has sort of clouded my memory a bit, but what I did that I believe made the difference was:

1. Wired the clutch neutral safety switch properly, per my and stocker's swaps.
2. Made sure I wired pin 86 on the ECU to a constant power supply, ensuring that I wasn't getting a CEL out of it.

From my conversation with loneshark I learned that his cruise worked post-swap as well, as soon as he got his CEL's cleared.

I know the light on my cruise switch doesn't come on, although it lights up on the dash, which leads me to believe that my bulb may just be bad, but if other users experience the same problem, let me know.