* (7.1.07) Been awhile... What a nightmare. It's finally really summer time - Time to unleash Deus for the season. Inaugural run around the neighborhood and BAM - engine halts. Good news - Deus and I were right in front my apartment when it stopped. Bad news - Deus will not start up. Turns over, but won't start. *#@$!! After looking it over I figure the problem could either be feul or spark. Fuel pump works, starter works. I put on a new feul filter 350 miles ago, can't be that. Hmm... I know there's a leak coming out of the timing cover. I hope it's not the opti...
* (7.12.07) Double $#!&!! I got a $50 parking ticket - IN FRONT OF MY OWN APARTMENT! WTF?! "Stored over 72 hours?!" What the hell kinda ticket is that?! I obviously haven't gotten around to fixing Deus and I couldn't exactly move it. So yeah it developed a small spider colony after a couple weeks and hasn't gotten washed. I don't know if I should blame the neighbor or blame myself. But hell... it's a damn rediculous ticket! There's nothing I could do now... On my next day off I'm going to have Deus towed it to the local "friend of the family" shop, Victory Auto in Santa Clara.
* (7.18.07) Woke up early and called my insurance roadside assistance and within about 30 mins a flatbed arrived and we loaded Deus on. First five miles are covered with my insurance, but the shop is probably only a quarter mile away. ;)
We get to Victory and JoJo is there to receive Deus. After unloading I tell him what's up. He did everything I did looking over the problem - Fuses, relays, etc. Then he breaks out some carb cleaner, has me crank Deus and sprays it through the intake at the same time. Deus starts. Cool. However... you can kinda hear just by the roller rockers that it's not strong and missing. Hmm... So he says he'll keep Deus for awhile and see if there's any progress. Damn it - I hope it's not the opti!
Funny story - My flatmate saw us hauling Deus away while he was doing his laundry at the local laundromat. He ran out trying to get the attention of the driver, but we didn't notice him. He imediately called me and asked where I was. I told him at a shop with Deus. He sounded frantic telling me he thought Deus was getting impounded because of the ticket. LOL
Later in the day I come back and JoJo said Deus died again. He and June (the boss, and my mothers childhood friend since the Phillippines) said it could be the PCM, which didn't make too much sense to me. Sure it does control the opti, but how would it short out? At this point of course we're all uncertain so they'll hold onto Deus for the night.
I looked on-line for PCMs and the cheapest I could find was about $80 used, but with the original specs flashed in accoring to my VIN number. Doubt it, but I also hope we don't need to go this route.
* (7.19.07) I came back late the next day to see JoJo disassembling the MSD ignition coil. A-ha... so he thinks it's probably ignition failure too. But that MSD HEI coil isn't very old either. I bought it used from the last owner who said he used it for 2000 miles before selling his Camaro. Tip doesn't look blasted or anything. Now he's just waiting for a new oe coil to come in and maybe we'll have some luck.
* (7.20.07) After work I headed straight to the shop to check up on Deus. New coil came in and no luck. They had other cars to attend to of course and June said he was going to order a copy of the wiring diagram. At least we know it's not the ignition coil... And he better give me back my MSD HEI.
* (7.21.07) Before heading to work mid-afternoon I stopped by Victory to see what's up. They just got the wiring diagram in and began running through the engine testing for continuity. I had to get going. They had priorities to other cars there, but at least they were on the case. Since the shop is closed on Sunday I'm going to have to wait until Monday to find anything out. I have a bad feeling it's going to be the opti... damn it!
* (7.23.07) It's the opti! I KNEW IT!! $@*(!&!!!
Dropped into Victory afterwork to find JoJo starting to close up a ittle early. He grabs the meter and plugs it into the opti cable and tries to ground it... nothing. Unfortunately they were closing so I told him I'll be back tomorrow again after work. At least we know what the problem is.
* (7.24.07) Today we went over a bit on the history of Deus. I told them about the half-assed work I found that the previous owner had done. Along with the fact that it had a bad opti when I bought it - The lot offered to have it fixed by their mechanic who only put on a "used" cap and rotor along with a bunch of other half-assed jobs just to get it going.
Knowing what was ahead of me I told them I'll buy the new opti as I know if they ordered the oem from the dealer it would probably be over $500 - And it is.
* (7.25.07) It's payday. After a bit of looking and researching on-line I found a place that sells the "Accel Opti-Spark II" for less than $250 and within CA. I could have went with a refurbished or used oem for a hundred less, but I wanted something stronger. And this set was complete with the opti and cap & rotor. So with sales tax and overnight shipping it came to about $287. Not bad.
That morning I dropped in on JoJo opening up the shop and we discussed why the opti died. I told him I noticed there was a minor leak coming from the timing chain cover when I did the final oil change before I put Deus to sleep for winter. So we check it and sure enough timing cover was covered in and slowly leaking oil as was the opti. And since the opti is hooked up to the plug wires, those were fouled and had to be changed too.
Soon after I'm at Kragen and order the timing chain seal/gasket set. By the end of the day it's delivered. On eBay I found a cheap set of Taylor 8mm heat resistant plug wires for $63 total and shipped from Fresno. Shouldn't take long for them to arrive. Hell, it's only an hour and half away. ;)
Everything seams to be falling nicely into place now.
* (7.26.07) The Accel Opti arrives mid-afternoon and a drop it off at Victory. June says it's getting late and other cars need to be done so they'll get to Deus tomorrow. I also tell him that the plug wires should probably be in tomorrow, if not saturday. And I apologize for Deus sitting so long in his shop. He say's it's no big deal - Rest easy.
In other news I e-mailed the guy on eBay who is selling me the plug wires and ask if they've been sent yet - If it's sent through USPS (like I'm hoping) it should be here by Saturday at the latest. He says they received the order late yesterday and that it should be going out today via FedEx and would more than likely arrive on Monday or Tuesday. And he couldn't even get me the FedEx shipping info. I am rather furious.
Later in the early evening I was heavily thinking about canceling the order and getting some cheap Bosch plug wires over at Kragen. So I called June and told him about Plug wires getting in next week and about getting the Kragen instead. He said, "No... that would be a very bad idea. The quality of those wires are bad and we don't want to have to do this again anytime soon. Don't worry, we'll wait for the good ones. No problem."
Phew... So now we wait.
* (7.28.07) Plug wires still haven't arrived. I'm getting kinda pissed - Or really anxious to get Deus on the road again. I did get over to Victory again before work to find that the timing cover work had been done and the Opti had also been installed. Looks good. They haven't re-installed the waterpump, fan and intake assembly yet because it'll be DAMN easier to put the plug wires on without all that in the way. LT1s are very cramped as they are very powerful engines. ;)
Hopefully Monday we'll get somewhere.
In other news I happened to drive by a lot that had a White 2000 Trans Am - LS1 A4 82k miles. Totally stock. Looked exactly like Deus only with a different front end, of course. I ended up stopping and test driving it. It fealt like Deus only without the rigors of manually shifting and no where near as loud. Like I said, stock. The salesman did his best to keep me on the lot, but it was getting late and I had to get to work so he gave me his card and I told him I'll think about it. And believe me I did.
* (7.29.07) I called my friend Alex up to go with me to take another look at the LS1 T/A. We got to the lot and was greeted by the same salesman. He pulls the T/A out of park and Alex and I take a closer look. He spots some things on the car I hadn't yesterday - Like a large crease along the driver side rear fender and a small crack around the passenger side front turn signal. That bothered both of us. Other than that, the car was visually really nice and mechanically sound. The price seamed reasonable as well - $13k, tho with that crease I might've talked them down to $11,5k.
I've good credit and would have gotten the loan fairly easily, but there was an obvious dilemna - I still have Deus. Deus is in the shop, I'm still upside down (negative equity) on payments for Deus. I'm not going to pay insurance for two Trans Ams. Would they pay for Deus - And if so they would obviously have to carry that sum and dump it on the new Trans Am. Now we're talking roughly $16-18k. I could manage it - The question is, "Should I?"
Other things to consider is that Deus is not the most exquisite example of a totally straight f-body. Deus was bought with two dents on either side of the front fender/bumper. It was symetrical so I didn't notice it and I was a total n00b. That would not bode well. Not to mention the crack/highway rock impact on the windshield that I never got around to getting fixed, and the cracked aftermarket fog light. All that aside, Deus is pretty good visually - Typical road wear. Alex thinks the only problem the lot would care about is the windshield. I agree.
Let's not forget the most important factor though. DEUS IS IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR A HEART TRANSPLANT!!
After having lunch across the street from the lot with Alex family we come to the conclusion that I should pass. Reason being that we know I won't have as much fun with an auto trans and that crease just shouldn't be there!
Long live Deus Irae.
* (7.30.07) GRRRRRaahhhhhhhhhh!!!! *SMASH* Plug wires *SMASH*
* (8.1.07) So I'm having lunch with my good friend Royston. Chinese buffet... and in the middle of slurping some eggflower soup my Grandfather calls me via cell and says the plug wires came in. So I had him bring them on down to Victory, while Roy and I would head down there later.
We get there and the wires are sittin on Deus t-tops. Awesome! June and JoJo said they'll have it all done by tomorrow!
* (8.2.07) Day off - After running some errands in the morning, I head on over to Victory to check out Deus. JoJo is there and says to start it up! With a push of the clutch and turn of the key I heard and fealt the glorious rumble of the open Borla which I haven't witnessed in almost a month.
SUCCESS!! Deus has a new heart! It's alive!! w00t!
But - the stock coil is still installed stead of my MSD HEI. JoJo asked if I wanted to keep (aka pay) that. Did he have to ask? So he'll replace it later and Deus will be good to go.
Today was also the due date for the $50 parking ticket. Since the car wasn't quite finished yet and I don't have a receipt to present as evidence for the car not being moved due to engine failure - I just payed the damn thing. eFF it! It's out of my life! I don't care. I just want to drive Deus again.
Early evening rolled by. Deus is done. June presented me with the bill. I ended up paying about 70% of it as I'm running low and also need to pay other bills. Luckily he's a friend and doesn't mind getting the rest later. No big deal.
I happily jumped into Deus and drove off to find that we were on vapor. Probably wasn't more than a gallon of gas in there before I brought Deus into Victory. And with nightfall I new I wouldn't have time to do a good field test. So I filled Deus up with about 3 gallons and we headed home and made sure to find some decent parking and shut down for the evening. From my second story window I looked down on Deus with a sigh of relief. All is well. Tomorrow we'll run again.
* (8.3.07) Anxious to test out Deus, I drove it work for the first time in months. My co-worker commented on not seeing Deus in so long. Too true. In anycase the inner city drive to work was pretty damn smooth. In fact Deus fealt better and more responsive than when first bought. Just over 130,000 miles and it feals new.
On the way home I took the highway. Totally smooth again. No more bogging on 6th gear from 65mph+!!
Upon parking I hovered over the engine bay. Everything looks and sounds nominal. No leaks anywhere. Just a tad bit dirty for my taste - But it's expected after being taken apart at a shop.
Deus Irae has truly been quickened. The nightmare is over.
* (8.4.07) I got up at 6:12am to the noise of my neighbor's rice rocket rolling down the street. I couldn't fall back to sleep so I got up checked my e-mail and browsed the news, then moved my beater Protege in front of Deus. I was intent on fixing the dimness of Deus Irae's right taillight by jumping the ground wire to the socket in effect doubling the ground. A neat little trick Victory showed me on my old fix-it ticket.
I figured it would take about 15 minutes. So I quickly gather my wire stripper/terminal tool, some tap-in connectors and my PSP to listen to some music as I work.
Before ya know it the whole first disc (mp3 folder) of The Doors-Abolutely the Best album has gone by. Aside from quite a bit testing, one of the sockets was carroded and had to be cleaned. It was so bad it took me a few minutes to carefully pry a LED light out of it. There goes five bux.
Fortunately the project was a success. Tho they are still dim compared to later 4th gens, the turn signals, break lights, etc. were far more visible and both sides are probably within a few lumens of each other in brightness. Good stuff!
Side note: It feels damn good to be doing something constructive with Deus again. I'm very happy.
* (9.11.7) My goal on my birthday (8.31) wasn't met - I wanted new wheels for Deus. But problems arose and nothing.
Fastforward today I found some 17x9 10 spoke SS wheels for a very reasonable price on eBay. I looked them over for a couple days as the listing looked like $200 per wheel. But after contacting the seller it's $200 for the set + $75 shipping. Awesome! And after a bit of a mess that involved me not paying attention to where the funds were routed and the seller refunding me, I can safely say, "They're on the way!"
Doing some research on ls1tech it seams that tho the offsets are the stock 54mm, these wheels have the smaller hub similar to the old Y2K C5 wheels I had. The rear end will clear as I still have the old spacers, but I'm a little concerned with the front. Hopefully it's the same result and fits - Otherwise more spacers... not to mention tires. ;)
