*** Update To Project #4 ***
On this page, I list information and pictures on projects that I plan on doing in the future, or just ideas that might seem cool for future projects. I have a bunch of ideas, but most of them aren't sorted out yet, so I will be slowly adding things to this page over time as I organize ideas.
--- Project Idea #1 ---
*** More Park Avenue Parts?? ***
As I mentioned on my newer interior mods (page 5), I took some parts from other door panels I had. Well, those door panels are actually from a 1994 Park Avenue, that I actually got with a set of front seats and a rear bench (both leather). I got the seats and doors panels all from a junkyard for $50, and they are in near mint condition.
The question is, do I go with the parts? I had already tried out one of the rear door panels:
I don't know, it does add a different look to the car, but I really like the LeSabre door panels. The other reason I am hesitating is because of those black handles on the PA door panels. They are mounted to metal plates that are screwed into the actual door. Well of course, LeSabre's (this one anyway) don't seem to have the holes necessary to mount these metal plates. So, I tried something – didn't turn out so good. I kinda broke the plastic holding the handle in (not completely though). So, unless I find a way to re-enforce those handles, I'd have to drill, and to be honest, I have no drilling skills. So, this is kind iffy.
The other part of the question deals with the seats:
Mmm, nice leather seats – still in great condition. Again, not sure if I want to or not. All my cloth seats (except for the driver's) are still in great shape. And I don't like the sound leather makes when you move around on it. Plus, my cloth seats are ULTRA comfortable, and I haven't test the leather ones yet. So, I guess time will tell on these. I will update on any future changes.
--- Project Idea #2 ---
*** Complete Exterior Repaint ***
Yep, I've been contemplating it for a long while now, and it's finally getting around time to do it. Here are a few shots showing some of the bad spots (currently, the hood and the roof are the worst spots):
The spots on that last picture are worse now, and my pinstripping on my rear doors are almost completely gone. The paint is very faded, filled with nicks and swirl marks, and the hood is developing rust underneath. The fenders and roof are loosing clear coat really fast (getting those splotchy white spots). That is the main reason I have not replaced the fender yet, is I'm waiting until I'm ready to repaint this car, which is probably going to happen in spring of '09. I am going with the factory color (which is a metallic paint), and redoing the pinstripping in the original color as well. I can't wait.
--- Project Idea #3 ---
*** High-speed Fan Override ***
I've had this idea lingering around in my head for a couple of years now, just never got to it. Basically, it's hooking up a few relays from the computer to the fans to allow turning them on at the flick of a switch. It doesn't seem all that difficult, but I need to go look up the instructions again. I am going to try and get to this modification done very soon, as these extremely hot days are really killing the performance of this old engine. Being able to cool the engine on demand, instead of waiting for the computer to kick them on could help when I get stuck in those nasty traffic jams on the south end of town.
--- Project Idea #4 ---
*** Engine Rebuild ***
Well, this is less like a “project idea”, and more like “I need to do this as soon as possible”, it's getting that bad. Recently I had the car out to wash it off, and I started noticing some problems – the engine started to feel like it didn't have the power it once did, I had trouble starting it multiple times, and smoke was coming from the exhaust. A quick look at my engine bay revealed many, many leaks – some I've known about for awhile, and some appear new to me.
Keep in mind, this engine has over 294,000 miles on it, and has never had a rebuild, and I know these engines are tanks, and can last forever. Other times, they can go quick, or give you many, many miles of reliability. Well, it seems like this engine's time has come. I don't think I'm going to make it to 300K. Too many issues have come up.
First off, many of the parts are still original, and are way past worn out. I know the timing chain is still original, I've replaced the EGR once, and the MAF twice; the camshaft and lifters have to be pretty worn by now; the idler pulley and ignition switches were replaced this past winter, because they finally wore out; the master cylinder and starter last year. These are recent things. Those things I know because of the age and miles of the engine. Some of the things I know now, which are starting to become problems are: the engine is starting to leak oil, and pretty quickly at that (as you can in the photos); the power steering pump is spewing fluid (as seen above – now, this has been doing this since I've owned the car, but it's getting bad now); the smoke coming from the exhaust appears to be from coolant that was burned up by the engine, and as seen in the fourth picture, coolant is leaking out of the side of the engine (something new). The battery is brand new, yet the car has trouble starting, my guess is maybe the ground is starting to become bad or corrode, because the alternator and voltage regulator still work. A magnet used for the camshaft position sensor is coming loose, throwing an engine code constantly (as soon as that thing falls out into the oil pan, the car ain't gonna start). Also, to not help things, 2 of the 6 engine cradle mounts are rotted.
Yes, quite a list. This I've decided – I know I can't keep the car running forever, but I can keep it going for a long time. So, I've started putting money away for a master rebuild kit, and over this winter, my brother and I are going to work on this engine. We're going to pull it, have it machined, replace all the worn out parts and gaskets, and maybe throw in a few surprises. Note though, I am not putting a supercharged engine in this car, I don't have the money or time to invest into a project like that right now – there is way too much to do to make that swap, so it's a rebuild of the current engine (which has served me so well, I hate the idea of replacing it).
So, the goal is to have this finished sometime this winter, and along with the paint in the spring, the revival of this 1995 LeSabre should be almost complete!! I will update on the progress, so for the meantime, I'm keeping the car parked in the garage, and probably won't do much with it until engine rebuild time.
-- Update To The Above Paragraphs (12.5.08) --
Funny how life can completely rearrange your plans. Turns out, with the continual collapse of this economy, I am know no longer working, again!! That means I have almost completely run out of money. I'm constantly having to make repairs on both cars, which I have to trade back and forth driving because the tires on the Bonneville are shot, and are not good for driving on slick roads; whereas, the tires are still mint on the LeSabre, and work great in the snow. So, the money that I was saving for the engine rebuild kit has gone to pay bills – no surprise, right?
Well, anyway, I've been driving the LeSabre a lot recently, but I noticed the other day that the coolant reservoir was empty. Well, I filled it, ran some errands, and when I got back home, the tank was empty again. I checked under the car – no liquid spots on the ground. My guess is I lost it while driving. Well, while looking around the engine, I noticed something:
A clamp for the hose running from the engine into the water pump has broken, and as I have been driving, it's been leaking coolant out into the road. So the car is parked again for the time being. Interesting fact: in the fall of 2004, when I was living in Savannah, Georgia, this car was crippled by almost the same thing. I was driving back to the dorm, and in that heat, I noticed my temp light came on. Well, I was a block from the dorm, so I hoped the car would make it. Pulled into a parking spot, popped the hood, and it was like a sauna – steam rising like crazy. Well, I went to fill the coolant tank, and noticed it was all leaking out. Looked around, saw the hose was completely gone. So I had to get that fixed. Looks like it's happening again.
Also, another interesting fact: I thought this was something new that just happened. Well, if you take a look up at the fourth picture above (in the group of six), and look carefully, you can see that clamp broken. That would explain why I have coolant all down the side of the engine. Makes me feel a little better as now I think that yhis is the source of my coolant leaks, instead of the water pump being bad. Updates will be posted when I get this fixed.
-- Update To The Above Paragraphs (12.18.08) --
Okay, I thought what I had talked above was my problem, but it wasn't. The clamp wasn't broken; it was just covered with so much crude that it looked like it was broken. Well, I tightened it, and a few other hose clamps, and been driving for over a week. Coolant level stayed the same -- until today. I checked again, and I was almost out of coolant again. So, I went out and did a few things, then came back, and started looking for the leak again.
This time, I finally found it. I was looking back towards the firewall, near the engine cradle, and I saw a dripping. Well, I traced that back, and found where it was coming from:
There is a valve back there attached to the coolant hose. I believe it is cracked, because it is dripping pretty good. Here's something interesting -- my brother looked at it, and was completely confused (he works on cars for a living), and has never seen something like that before. He's guessing it was installed, aftermarket, at a dealership, for an easier way to flush the coolant. I've always known that was back there, but never gave it much thought.
Well, I'll be taking care of it this weekend, plus I think I'm going to take care of the rotted bolts for the engine cradle, and my leaking power steering pump (I have a spare, from the L67 I got a couple years back).
-- Update To The Above Paragraphs (01.18.09) --
Well, at the beginning of this month, I managed to fix the leak. Had to replace the entire lower heater coolant hose. Fill the radiator back up, and have been driving the car for 2 weeks, and no drop in coolant level, so this issue is FINALLY FIXED!!
Of course, first day I had it back on the road, I got a flat, so I am temporarily running on a different tire (Douglas X-Trac) unti I can get my BF Goodrich tire fixed.
More ideas to come soon!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Page 1 – Introduction
Page 2 – Stock
Page 3 – Performance Mods
Page 4 – Exterior Mods
Page 5 – Interior Mods
Page 6 – Sound Setup
Page 7 – Exterior Lighting
Page 8 – Videos
Page 9 – Location Shoots
Page 10 – Future Modifications
Page 11 – Damage Information
Page 12 – Installation Information
Page 13 – Old Mods - Coming Soon!
