Jordan's Geo Project Thread (56k warning)

[undgsx-R]

I realize this is the motorcycle repair thread, but I think that it will be ok here. If it is not mods please move.

Alright here she is a '95 Geo Metro LSi. I picked it up from a guy that I work with because it was not running well, and it had a few other issues (I will get to those later), and he wanted to know if I wanted to buy it. So for $300 I was like what the hell. So I bought it.

This baby is loaded a/c, drivers side airbag, manual transmission, manual windows, manual locks, manual seats, and an am/fm cassette. But the guy lived in the country and he had not washed it in forever, so it was just a total mess. Here are the pics of it when I first got it. Notice how messy it is, and the missing muffler.



























Then I took the time to clean it, here are the pics. Notice how it did not even come clean, it will need to be washed again. The inside came really clean though. So the inside looks pretty good.








Then the problems that I found out that it had was, the radio did not work, the rear defrost does not work, the headlights did not work (the daytime running lights did).
So I started reading up on the car and found out that the headlights were a common problem, one of the wires at the fuse panel would melt the connector and not work. I looked at the fuse panel and here is what I saw.



In order to fix them I had to remove the fuse panel and hard wire that burnt wire to the on the other side. The headlights now are fixed.

Next the radio, after checking to make sure that the radio was getting power I came to the decision that the radio was shot, so I went to Wal-Mart and bought a cheap cd player with mp3 input, and usb charger for $50. Installed and it worked so the radio was bad.

Here is the new radio. Still need to install the trim piece.




I also installed a new shifter and the original shift boot.


Alright back too it. So the car was not running well when I bought it. It would not idle on its own and would only start if the pedal was held to the floor. So we did a compression test and found 30 psi on #1, and #2 and 85 psi on #3. I was amazed that this car was still able to run. So I decided it was time to pull the head and see what I had going on. Well of came the head and all of the exhaust valves were burnt and the one on #1 and #2 were really bad. I don't have much for pictures from the tear down, I will try and take more as I rebuild. But anyway my plans are to hone the cylinders, new piston rings. connecting rod bearings, new valves, new headgasket and a few other misc parts. The total cost of parts and shipping came to $179. So as a total I will have less than $600 in the car total when all is said and done.

My goal is to stay under $750 for a project total and right now I don't know why I wouldn't. If I am under budget I will be able to put some other money into the project, for other things. Maybe some cheap wheels or some other cool thing.

[edger]

Sounds like you come out ok if all goes well. Where do you do all this work? Looks like the garage is in an apartment complex, usually they do not allow any working on your vehichles in those places, let alone, a complete rebuild. How did you get the motor out? You have an engine hoist too? Did I see correctly, it has 170,000 miles on it? Looks it should clean up pretty good. You plan on selling it or you gonna keep it??

I must say, I still like the suzuki sitting next to it better.

[undgsx-R]

Hey the engine inside is a Suzuki, yeah 170k is correct. I am in an apartment, and they have not said anything to me and I have been doing things like this for 2 years here. The motor only weighs 100lbs, but actually I just have the head off, the block is still in the car. I am planning on keeping it.

[edger]

Well, the suzuki motor kinda explains how he got 170k outa a car he treated that badly. I bet you could turn a nice little profit should you decide to sell. A little tender care and a refurbed motor she will be good as new. I think you got a pretty sweet deal all things considered. Keep us up to date.

[Uesque]

Those cars were going for big bucks when gas was at $3.50 a gallon.

The stereo was the best thing yet. I have the same one from wally world. Works good cranks ok. Good luck.

[undgsx-R]

It only has to work, it can't put out much power or it will blow the speakers. LOL