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'02
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After the show the car was down for a bit as we worked out the kinks. Mostly we were just worn out. We got the new alternator off and had to paint and polish it. This one had better last. We got it back together and on the car in time for our GAFBA club meeting on April 6th. It ran and seemed to be trouble free.

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Then I heard about a Whitlee show and went to check it out. I signed up to show on Sunday.
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ENGINE
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I decided to set up the Ram Air Box for this show.

We went to the show the next day. I parked and attended the final touches. I noticed a trail on the ground of clear fluid. It lead to my car. I checked and the power steering line was leaking bad. Well I made it home after the show, but the steering sounded bad. We checked and the O-ring in a connector had disintegrated. We replaced it.

At the show the belt started to squeal, so I knew it was a bit to loose, so we got a shorter one. I have yet to find a belt that fits right. It�s always trial and error. None of the belts the part store computer lists fit.

Now on to the last disaster at the show...The rear hatch release froze in the down position.

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COOLFLEX
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Now Coolflex had finally gotten my hoses to me, so Joe decided it was time to swap them.

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Now its time for the GAFBA Spring shootout.
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Off to Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, GA. We had fixed everything externally on the motor, so this should answer some questions.

I raced and my times were about a second slower. So a stock 2.8 runs mid to high 17s. Mine has been modded so it should run somewhere in the low 17s, at least, I would hope. Well, it ran 19.81 (Bad EGR and computer) in the fall and 20.54 this time. We are suspecting its the cam. It has to be wearing.

Well, except for the doggy times, all seemed mechanically well with the car.

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MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
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FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR
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Then it started starting poorly. It was taking 12 secs or more to start in the mornings. Now it had to sit for 12 hours or more for this to be the case. We debated what it could be. The car coded and we checked the book. Could be the O2 sensor, injectors, or fuel pressure regulator. Well, the regulator is stock, so it could be it. We wanted to polish the plenum again anyway.

So we ordered a Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator. We broke the intake down. While it was apart, I decided to port the plenum and runners. Then we sanded and polished for hours and hours. I painted the X on the plenum Candy apple red to match the rest of the accessories and bordered it with black. It came out great.

We also got our hands on some new Ram Air emblems.

Joe noticed the injectors looked a bit crusty, so he cleaned them up as best he could. We got a new used injector harness to be sure the fire last year had not damaged the wires. It was loomed in red. The regulator was changed and everything was installed.

Test run... The car would not start. Then the fuel pressure test gauge crapped out. We ran and got another. Finally we set the regulator and the car stated.

Next day it was off to the F-body Gathering. The car was a bit rich and we turned down the pressure. Then I got the injectors flushed. Well the car was still starting poorly in the mornings. All that is left is that one or more of the injectors must be cracked.

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TOUCH UPS
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It was time for Super Chevy, so we did some preening on the car. The injector cleaner managed to spot my wheel well and I had to repaint it. The frame on the back window was chipping, so I shot it as well. Then I touched up some paint chips.

We put in Joe's 30th Anniversary Graphite Leather seats.


I finally got them rigged for power. They feel weird since I have never driven in a car with leather before. I'm getting used to them though. Amazingly the gray looks pretty good in there, though I'm not really happy with the fit. Honestly, I like the feel of my old seats better. So maybe I will go with a leather recovering instead of buying black 4th gen Firebird seats.

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MECHANICAL
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DISTRIBUTOR
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The car is still not running like I would like. We decided to follow the suggestions of some of the folks on TGO . (TomP) We rebuilt the distributor. It was all still original. Marked it and took it out. The thing was a mess. Rust & corrosion all over. We disassembled it and sanded and buffed. The gear still looked good. The shaft had to be sanded & buffed and then regreased. We replaced the pick up coil and the spark module. Then we reassembled it and installed it. We reset the timing just to be sure.

The timing was set to 10 degrees. The car felt better, but was still a bit doggy. Though the rebuilt dist. really gave me the power back. We then decided to up the timing a bit. We finally got it set at 14 degrees. The car is strong with no knock and can still run on 87 Octane. It will actually put you back in the seat now.

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OIL LEAK
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The next day I got an oil change at the dealer. $10 oil changes can't beat that doing it yourself. Well when they do it right that is. Well, they did not tighten the oil filter all the way, so I had a leak. We tightened it up and noticed the oil adapter seal was leaking as well. We got that fixed and took the car for a test drive.

Now the oil idiot light started to come on. The aftermarket oil gauge read fine. We got to the house and looked and the factory oil sensor had begun to leak. So now that had to be replaced. After it was all said and done. The leak was stopped and the mysterious smoke that had been wafting through the engine compartment for the last month on & off was stopped. And here we had thought it was the aftermarket power steering dip stick leaking on to the exhaust.

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REAREND
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So now it was coming close to the NOPI Mini Truckin' finals in TN. We decided it was time to tackle the rear brakes. We took apart the passenger side. We had to drill out the spacer bolts like on the fronts. We inspected the drums and shoes. I figured they would have been due by now, but they looked great w/ hardly any wear.

Now the last maintenance thing I wanted to do: check the rearend. I had no clue when the last fluid change was and though I had no whining or grinding, I thought it was time for a flush. We got a chrome cover for it and replaced it when the fluid was changed.

It looks so much better. Though, you have to lie on the ground to see it.

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EXTERIOR
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NEON
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So it was looking good for the trip to TN. Now time for the Neon. For my birthday, Joe got 2 red underbody neon kits.

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VINYL
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Now I had to change out the windshield vinyl, since mine was looking faded and torn. I got it all on, but did not add the dragon decals back. The sign shop is still getting them ready.

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SPOILER
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I needed to do something to the rear of the car. The front with the new headlight mod and the hood was so bold and the rear was just too stock. I decided to design a new spoiler. After a trip to Hawks 3rd gen parts, I had an idea for a spoiler...

I got it ready and off to the painter. Since March my painter had had my new spoilers and deck lid. Now it was June and he was going to have them done. Now my paint guy was able to finish the new/used deck lid & spoilers before the NOPI TN show. But we got it so late on Thurs. night that there was no way we were going to chance installing it

We waited till the week after and the Chaos arose.

The Journal of sorts ends here and everything has been added to all my websites under each individual modification instead.

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HOME PAGE

Follow this link to additional information on the car not found on this site!
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DIRECTORY FOR RAIF'S HISTORY SITE
01 Site Overview
02 (1987) Options and window sticker...
03 (1989) Stock pics...
04 (1990) Bottom Accent color changed to Black, Enkei rims, & Tint
05 (1992) Wreck & Added 2 amps
06 (1994) Changer, Alarm, Taillights painted red, Emblems Modified
07 (1998) Engine�s top end rebuilt
08 (1999) Major mods began...Misc. trim, exterior lights, & Alpine head unit
09 (2000) Journal of events
10 (pre July 2001) Journal of events
11 (post July 2001) Journal of events
12 (pre March 2002) Journal of events
13 (March 2002) Pensacola Fiasco
14 (post March 2002) Journal of events <<<
15 Grey and Black Interior
16 Old Sub box
17 Cop Stories
18 Old 2.25 Inch Exhaust
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