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The new $600. Swift
Topic Started: Aug 28 2010, 08:47 PM (3,006 Views)
J-rad
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I've been looking for a 4-cylinder 5-speed 95+ Hatchback with AC for last couple of months and I ended up picking this beauty up last week for $600. As you can see it was in a little front end accident, it's a 2000 with 130k on it. I had to buy a set of airbags, bumper cover, bumper support, radiator, headlights and hood. Got everything for about $400. so the tally so far is sitting at right about $1000. Not a smoking deal but not bad for exactly what I wanted.

I already have the new hood on, fixed the mounting brackets for the bumper support, mounted the new air bags and also threw in a gauge cluster with a tach while I was at it. The car runs a drives great! I drove it home, no pulling or jerking.

I plan on ordering a scan gauge once it is all done to help get a little bit better gas mileage, probably do a few of the aero "tricks" as well. I'd really like to hit 50mpg with the car. Not sure if that's realistic or not but I'll try.

This forum has already been a great learning tool so far.

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Edited by J-rad, Aug 28 2010, 08:52 PM.
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Car Nut
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Nice. Same color as my 99 Metro I picked up last month. Same price, same reasons as you wanting yours. Mine has more miles & will need a clutch & ac compressor.[Locked up] Runs great.
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Coche Blanco
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50 is possible, you'll have to drive slow though.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

Nice looking car, J-rad :thumb

That dent in the bumper may come out with a heat gun?

Bottom like - you are happy and that is what matters. :D
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J-rad
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Thanks guys, I got the front end squared away. I actually got all the lines pretty straight too! I plan on leaving the hood primer, aesthetics aren't that much of a concern on this car.

Little bad news though, the headgasket may be toast. It's smoking a little bit at idle and when I start it up. The smoke doesn't smell of oil at all and the radiator did have a small hole in it from the accident so I'm pretty sure it's been overheated :( bummer

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Facetious Educated Donkey

Nice job. :thumb Very nice. How did you fix the bumper?

Compression test.
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J-rad
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I just bought a new bumper, it was only $40. through a friend.

Also checked the compression today. It seems fine, got about 150-145psi on all cylinders. The gauge I checked it with read notoriously low as well, it's a Harbor Freight special. But I was just looking for consistency across the cylinders and it's there for sure.
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KY Metro
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I've been where you're at now.....mine came with a front end worse than that.

I ended up with a new head, radiator, and hood (plus a lot of straightened-out parts).

Glad to see youre gettin' it fixed.
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Johnny Mullet
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Nice car man! Thanks for sharing.
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J-rad
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Yeah, I just got a new radiator from Rock Auto for $85 shipped. But now the radiator cap has gone bad and it's pushing coolant so I still don't really have any idea how much coolant it is using.

Also noticed the radiator fan doesn't seem to be kicking on, traced it back to what I believe is a coolant sensor issue. Do any of you guys with AC car know if both fans turn on at the same time once the AC is activated?

When I pulled the plugs for the compression check I couldn't believe how smoked the spark plugs were! The electrodes were so roasted the gap had been opened up to .075"!!! So needless to say plugs and wires are on order. I think I'm going to use that sweet es123 code from Advance Auto they are advertising on here to pick up all these parts.

Peoples neglect on these little cars pains me. They really are a one of a kind car here in the US, not much can compare if you're looking for a efficient little car. Also I already had some random lady come in my yard and offer to buy it! It's only been there a little over a week hahah
Edited by J-rad, Sep 2 2010, 01:52 PM.
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Woodie
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Pretty sure the radiator fan should turn on 24/7 with the A/C

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bogs
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Duct tape heals all wounds

Mine doesn't :dunno the temp gauge on my car has never gone above half.
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J-rad
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So it turns out the Radiator fan does not turn on when the AC is activated. Also my coolant sensor turned out to be fine, the Radiator fan does not turn on until around 225 degrees in these cars.

The headgasket seems to fine as well! All I can think is that the white smoke I saw was from the car sitting for so long? Old fuel, old oil? Who knows, all I know is I've driven the car 200miles now with no sign of coolant loss or smoking issues.

I gave the car a little tune up over the weekend and went on a 100 mile road trip, not sure what my mpg but I'd wager to say pretty damn good since the needle didn't really even move. I was drafting 18wheelers and never went above 65mph.

I replaced the plugs, wires, pcv valve, 5w-30 Mobil 1, 40psi in the tires. Still need a air filter, just ordered a drivers side control arm and ball joint. It was absolutely wasted, looks like my passenger side inner tie rod is smoked too. Got a gauge cluster with a tach, been shifting at around 2500.

Pretty stoked on the swift so far.
Edited by J-rad, Sep 6 2010, 09:00 PM.
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Bad Bent
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J-rad
Sep 6 2010, 08:59 PM
The headgasket seems to fine as well! All I can think is that the white smoke I saw was from the car sitting for so long? Old fuel, old oil?
I gave the car a little tune up over the weekend and went on a 100 mile road trip, not sure what my mpg but I'd wager to say pretty damn good since the needle didn't really even move.
My van starts with a puff of smoke after sitting a long time.. dry valve seals :dunno

There was a lot of discussion about how the gas gauge is generally incorrect. Mine starts off low, goes slow, speeds up toward the middle and again before the red line. At the end of the white line I fill up with 7.5 gallons. It's a learning process. :news :lol

Sounds good, enjoy! :D
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J-rad
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Worked on the car again today. It's earned itself a new nick name Project "Rat Swift" Because of the black wheels and hood. One of my co-workers called it the Rat Swift and it's stuck.

Today I replaced the front control arm since I thought the ball joint was bad. I jacked the car up and took the wheel off and could see the ball joint shifting as I rocked the wheel. Well it turns out it wasn't the ball joint. The CV joint has been replaced recently and the hack mechanic stripped the bolt that threads thru the ball joint and had the nerve to just leave it stripped. It was s simple fix, all we did was put a longer m10 bolt in with a nut on the back. I ended up putting the new control and ball joint on for the hell of it. At any rate no more loud knocking from the front end!!

Next up is probably a front air dam, passenger side mirror removal with custom cover plate, maybe some weight reduction, still need a radio of some kind also timing belt soon but since this is a non-interference motor I'm not too worried.

I took a few better pictures with a actual camera this time.

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