Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Mrs. Mullet's Extreme Metro Makeover - R.I.P.; Restoring a piece of shit
Topic Started: Aug 22 2009, 07:58 PM (18,218 Views)
Johnny Mullet
Member Avatar
Fear the Mullet

I was hoping to get the wife a really nice ride, but we found an ad on craigslist for a local Metro for sale and the price was cheap. We visited the guy who was about 4 miles from our house and checked it out. Right away, I noticed the rocker panel rust and rear fender rust. First thing I did was inspect the front control arm mounts and they were actually in better shape then the ones on Christine. Here it is when we first got it home.........

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

The car only has 69,000 miles on it, but surprisingly, the #3 cylinder was dead. I was aware of this when I test drove it. We got the car for the same price we paid for Christine. This car has a decent frame, a good transmission, a decent interior, nice dash and un-molested stereo, and no dents on the body.

What the car needs are the following..............

Head rebuild (bottom end inspection)
Oil pan (repaired at one time with fiberglass)
Front pads and rotors (The front brakes are toast)
Exhaust repairs (cat, resonator)
Tires (2 are bald)
Body work (see pics below)

Posted Image

Posted Image

So the plan is this. I am going to start on the car next weekend. I am going to tear down the engine and rebuild the head. The oil pan will get replaced, but I will also inspect the pistons. With 69K, I might get away with just the top end. I am going to fix the exhaust, brakes, tires, and all the other minor mechanical issues. After it's roadworthy, the car will be getting some body work done by a guy I work with who is pretty good at it. We will use factory matching paint. The window tint on the car looks horrible, and all the tint will be removed and professionally installed.

I will keep you all up to date! This thread will be placed in the "Project Forum" when we get started.



Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Potter
Member Avatar
Col. Potter

So thats what you meant by "its not their anymore" lol!!! Hell yea... :rocker Well Congratulations... Christine has someone to play with now! whats Its name???

Gonna use the pic of christene and the new metro in my Project :deal
Edited by Potter, Aug 22 2009, 08:38 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnny Mullet
Member Avatar
Fear the Mullet

She has not cam up with a name, but earlier she did say to me................

"I expect you to fix up Blue Jay for me."

I really love the color of this car! I wish the body was in better shape, but that can all be fixed. The frame only has one hole on the front side of the driver's control arm mount and the floors are in really good shape also. I was surprised to see the dash was in nice shape.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
jmarksbery
Member Avatar


:rocker Good luck with Blue Jay JM, she'll be like new shortly. :nfs

Posted Image
Edited by jmarksbery, Aug 23 2009, 04:43 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Will
Member Avatar
Victory is mine!!!!

Good find... Always glad to see another Guppy Mouth!!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bad Bent
Member Avatar
Facetious Educated Donkey

I'm happy that you found the right car for the Wife! :D
As long as she's happy with Blue Jay that's what matters. :thumb
The window tint on the left rear looks like mine. Maybe there is the factory applied "tint" around the edges, on the inside, that messed up the film when it was applied?
Nice touch on the Moon Disks, Col.

Typo: Mood=Moon
Edited by Bad Bent, Aug 23 2009, 12:14 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
jmarksbery
Member Avatar


They were called Moon Disc in my day! You can get yours right here:

Steel Hub Caps
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Murf 59
Member Avatar


That is a nice find. Man I wish I could find one that clean out here. Make sure to keep'em apart or they might start breeding. Lol
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
jmarksbery
Member Avatar


Saw a convertable down the road for sale today, look nice on the outside. Red/w black top. Didn't stop, don't know year or shape. Anyone interested I can make it a point to stop.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
geminiheartz
Member Avatar
Ladybug's Mom

Mr Murf 59
Aug 23 2009, 11:35 AM
That is a nice find. Man I wish I could find one that clean out here. Make sure to keep'em apart or they might start breeding. Lol
lmao... :news *christine and blue jay announce the birth of.....*
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnny Mullet
Member Avatar
Fear the Mullet

Already got started on the teardown..............

Posted Image

Posted Image

I should have the head off tomorrow morning :rocker
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mwebb
Member Avatar
FOG

as long as you are going to have the cylinder head off ...
http://www.herningg.com/singh/Engine%20Running%20Tests%20Analysis.pdf

have you given any thought to this procedure ?
this is as complete a set of test results as i could find - and they were done on a 10g engine

these test results show the procedure is beneficial.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
amorano
Member Avatar
New Member
[ *  * ]
Congrats on the find JM! That was an even lower price than I paid for mine, and I often say it was the best money I ever spent. I'm sure in your more than capable hands it will be in great shape in no time!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnny Mullet
Member Avatar
Fear the Mullet

I was going to do the Singh grooves on the "Detailed Head Rebuild", but never did. I think I will do this on Blue Jay ^o)

So this morning, the head got removed and placed on the bench. I always remove the head with the intake attached since it's so much easier that way..............

Posted Image

Here is why there was no compression on #3 cylinder...........

Posted Image

So I removed the intake and set it aside.............

Posted Image

I then removed the cam, lifters, and valves keeping it all in order.............

Posted Image

Now on to the block. Notice the head gasket holes on the upper left and right sides........

Posted Image

Someone has been in here before. Anyway, it's time to perform the block prep and testing. I cleaned the block surface with a mild roloc disc and blew out the head bolt holes........

Posted Image

Posted Image

Then to check the bottom end, I used cleaning solvent used in shop parts wash tanks and poured it into the cylinders to see if the solvent runs through the cylinders............

Posted Image

No leakdown there, so I can trust the bottom end since there was no smoke or noises. Using a brush, I cleaned the top of the pistons with a brush using the solvent already in there........

Posted Image

Next steps will be doing the valve job and cleaning the lifters.



Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
StevieC
Member Avatar


This is an exciting thread!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Project Forum · Next Topic »
Add Reply