OneOfMany
Well-Known Member
Well, I searched everywhere, but I can't find a FGBO site, so I am gonna post on this site instead.
I made a deal with my wife a couple of weeks ago. I quit smoking, and as an incentive/reward, I get to get my little driver back on the road after 10 years of storage.
The car is a 1986 Laser XT that I bought in 1990 in Vancouver, BC. I was in need of a driver at the time, and I looked at countless models in search of the model that I wanted, and after five months, the one I was searching for showed up for sale. It's a 2.2l turbo I, 5-spd with T-tops and Mark Cross leather interior, and painted Flash Red. My plans are to NOT upgrade or modify it, instead to return it to as new condition, and enjoy driving it.
As purchased, the car was rust-free, however the DS fender had been replaced after a small accident from the previous owner. The body shop elected to repaint the entire side of the car, and although presentable, the job was certainly not up to my standards. I put about 80,000km on her, including the drive back to Winnipeg when I moved back in 1993. During that time, the replaced fender rear lip bolt snapped off, which I found out when I opened the door and crunched the fender
. I found a mint fender (not easy here in the rust belt) at a local pick-a-part, otherwise all the sheet metal is perfect.
I had it on the road for a couple of months the summer I returned home, then sheared the inner CV joint under full boost when I lost traction momentarily.
After looking her over, I knew that I really wanted to get the paint redone, replace the fender, and get her back to original condition. I began stripping off the body panels, and like all good projects, my original intent of a quick spray and cleanup was not going to cut it. The more I looked, the more I realized that I had to do it right.
Well, life can be busy, and with a new bride, a new daughter, and a home restoration project, my projects had to be put aside for a while. Ten years to be exact.
Well, with the go-ahead, I am getting her in for paint. At the same time, I'm getting the motor freshened up, so hopefully she'll be good for another 150k.
Now of course, in my anal demand for perfection, I'm treating her to a full blown engine compartment detailing, k-member and suspension rebuild and detailing.
Spent the last couple of weekends pulling the engine/transmission, axles, and probably 16 hours in cleaning and refurbishing the wiring and vacuum harnesses. This thing makes my A-bodies look primitive by comparison.
My goal is to have this thing on the road sometime this summer, so I can at least make a couple of Sunday cruises.
Grant
I made a deal with my wife a couple of weeks ago. I quit smoking, and as an incentive/reward, I get to get my little driver back on the road after 10 years of storage.
The car is a 1986 Laser XT that I bought in 1990 in Vancouver, BC. I was in need of a driver at the time, and I looked at countless models in search of the model that I wanted, and after five months, the one I was searching for showed up for sale. It's a 2.2l turbo I, 5-spd with T-tops and Mark Cross leather interior, and painted Flash Red. My plans are to NOT upgrade or modify it, instead to return it to as new condition, and enjoy driving it.
As purchased, the car was rust-free, however the DS fender had been replaced after a small accident from the previous owner. The body shop elected to repaint the entire side of the car, and although presentable, the job was certainly not up to my standards. I put about 80,000km on her, including the drive back to Winnipeg when I moved back in 1993. During that time, the replaced fender rear lip bolt snapped off, which I found out when I opened the door and crunched the fender
. I found a mint fender (not easy here in the rust belt) at a local pick-a-part, otherwise all the sheet metal is perfect.I had it on the road for a couple of months the summer I returned home, then sheared the inner CV joint under full boost when I lost traction momentarily.
After looking her over, I knew that I really wanted to get the paint redone, replace the fender, and get her back to original condition. I began stripping off the body panels, and like all good projects, my original intent of a quick spray and cleanup was not going to cut it. The more I looked, the more I realized that I had to do it right.
Well, life can be busy, and with a new bride, a new daughter, and a home restoration project, my projects had to be put aside for a while. Ten years to be exact.
Well, with the go-ahead, I am getting her in for paint. At the same time, I'm getting the motor freshened up, so hopefully she'll be good for another 150k.
Now of course, in my anal demand for perfection, I'm treating her to a full blown engine compartment detailing, k-member and suspension rebuild and detailing.
Spent the last couple of weekends pulling the engine/transmission, axles, and probably 16 hours in cleaning and refurbishing the wiring and vacuum harnesses. This thing makes my A-bodies look primitive by comparison.
My goal is to have this thing on the road sometime this summer, so I can at least make a couple of Sunday cruises.
Grant
