1988 XR4ti Family Project (Problem building boost 6/29)

Post by **86XR4Ti5SPD** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 8:23 pm

That's just awful to see, Andrew. I met you and spent some time admiring your car in the parking lot of the ice cream shop stop during the I70 Convoy to Carlisle. Such a sweet ride. With the obvious skills you and your 'crew' have, I'm pretty confident you can bring it back. Once you work thru the initial huge disappointment, focus on the project and make it happen!

aaul00 · Post by **aaul00** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:30 pm

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I have no doubt that the car is going to be returned to at least the state that it was before... state farm is coming on Monday to take a look at the car. Hopefully we won't be screwed over in all of it... we're certainly in a position to bring it back to life though, so we'll be doing whatever it takes.

This car means way too much to me to let it go... even if it can't be fixed, I'll be in the market for another Merkur.... no matter what, I'll be keeping you guys posted on here.

Post by **merkurdriver** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:40 pm

Best wishes bringing that one back to its glory...or starting all over again on the Merkur journey.

aaul00 · Post by **aaul00** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:19 pm

Believe it or not, State Farm decided to NOT mess me over.

Here's the long story:
State Farm came by to look at the car last Monday. We were informed that given the type of car, they would be totaling it at $1500 worth of damage. They started adding things up. $450 for a fender... $500 for a windshield... $900 (!) for a hood. You get the idea. When they were all said and done, they estimated well over 6k in repairs. THEN they tell us that it'll definitely be totaled, and we won't know how much we're getting for a few days.

Fast-forward to Wed/Thurs-ish and a call comes in saying we're getting $6200 for the car and can buy it back for $400. Keep in mind that we were hoping to get 2k for it so we could get it back on the road.

Also since last writing, we found a new windshield... got it shipped and is in the basement for $160. Also, we were able to go to the salvage yard where we took a parts XR for scrap a while ago and cut off the entire front end. We got a good fender, hood, and other needed bits for a total of $0.

Recap: With basically $5800 to fix the car and 95% of the parts to repair it, everyone can breathe easy because it's going back together and will hopefully be better than before. I know that I'm beyond relieved and everyone has been surprised by SF's generous compensation.

Post by **86XR4Ti5SPD** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:21 pm

Great news! Now you've got all winter to make it look pretty again!

Post by **turboxr** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:31 am

That's great! I've been more than happy with State Farm. [/i]

aaul00 · Post by **aaul00** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:10 pm

UPDATE!

So a LOT has happened since my last post on here. We have been able to make quite a bit of progress on the car recently.

A big thing is that I found a parts car on Craigslist that had a bunch of new parts that I wanted/needed including a new rad and intercooler. Although the car was redone and kept 100% stock the first time around, the funds from State Farm lets me get a little more ambitious.

Things that are changing/have changed:

-Aluminum Radiator/Intercooler
-Cosworth Grill (Currently on it's way from across the pond)
-Euro Headlights have been fitted.
-The hatch is being changed over to the pre-88 bi-wing. (It's not stock anymore... If I'm going to have a weird car, I want the accompanying weird wing I like

)
-A new windshield was installed
-I'll be needing a big VAM and I am having the computer taken care of and the car dyno tuned by the folks that did great work on dad's Mark VII.
-I'm also looking for a short shifter for the T9. I'm not shooting for crazy HP numbers... ultimately 250 would be spectacular but we'll see. And for what I'm doing, the T9 will be sufficient for a while.

Here are a few crappy cell phone pics for now. The glass headlights have been installed and the fender finished since these were taken last week.

Post by **merkurdriver** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:22 pm

Looking good so far, it will be back and better than it was last time around

:

aaul00 · Post by **aaul00** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:33 pm

Alrighty guys... TONS of progress has been made. Also, we're running into an issue that I'd like input on. I'll get to that in a moment.

So the body work has been completed but further exterior progress has been halted until the weather breaks and the car is painted. As soon as things start warming up, the car will be painted. The focus since my last update has been almost strictly mechanical.

What has been done/installed:

-Earlier style valve cover installed/powdercoated candy red
-Intake gutted, rotated 90*, and powdercoated black
-Throttle body powdercoated black
-AC removed and alternator (rebuilt/powdercoated) relocated
-Aluminum rad and intercooler installed
-Big VAM and cone filter
-Hallman Pro MBC
-Bypass valve
-Turbo clocked to allow for easier/cleaner pipe setup
-2.5" piping welded up and powdercoated candy red

Still left:

-The car needs to be tuned... chip and dyno tune to be done in the next couple weeks.

THE ISSUE:

-We tried to start the car today. We're under the assumption that the car would at least idle to allow us to confirm that everything is working as it should be at this stage. We turned the key and the car will run for about 2 seconds and then die... every time. The car can be kept running via the throttle, but it'll only rev to about 2000 RPM and as soon as you let off the gas, it dies. What we don't know is if this is due to the computer not being suited for the setup or if it's something besides that that needs taken care of before we can progress further. We've checked all over for vacuum leaks, properly set the TPS, IAC appears to be in order... all of this stuff functioned perfectly prior to the modifications, so we're fairly confident that it's not these. Any ideas? All input is welcome.

And of course, I can't show you guys this progress and not give credit where credit is due. It's just as much a family project now as it was before and I really have to thank Dad for all the powdercoating/fabrication/everything-he's-done-to-make-this-look-awesome so far. It's far from done, but I think this car really is going to be better than ever when it's done.

Post by **merkurdriver** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:30 pm

Your problem....

Your VAM air meter is on backwards. There is a door inside that only swings in one direction and you have it on backwards.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:35 pm

It's almost always an air leak when you have a problem such as you're describing-check all your hoses and pipes. What about that BOV? Try taking it out of the equation and capping it off.

Re-check your ignition leads. We've all done that one. Cam and ignition timing correct?

Do you know that the VAM is good, and the door operates smoothly?

xr super n00b · Post by **xr super n00b** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:02 am

god i love that first pic of your garage. the past 2 times ive driven out there, ive been more excited to see your cars, than i have been to pick up parts for my car. progress looks like its coming along quite well. hopefully mine will be "done" by carlisle this year. tell your dad awesome job with the powder coating. next winter when mine goes back in storage, im gonna be taking off some of the top end and having him do it for me. my buddy knows a powder coater around here that gives real good deals, but ive seen his work, and the only thing good about it is the price. lol.

as far as your problem goes. im sure youve done this already, but make sure youve plugged EVERYTHING back in and theres no loose connections. i had a similar problem with a previous car. after hours of tinkering, the harness that plugged into the alternator just needed a jiggle.

Ray · Post by **Ray** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:43 am

Yeah, the VAM is backwards. If the car still behaves like after you switch directions it sounds like a rather large vacuum leak.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:59 am

merkurdriver wrote:Your problem....

Your VAM air meter is on backwards.

OMG, you're right Mike! Never even noticed that. So yea, that's your problem Andrew.

xr4man · Post by **xr4man** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:25 pm

i'm not gonna name any names, but after i helped a fellow enthusiast install his euro lights, he went to back his car out and it wouldn't run for more than a few seconds. he couldn't figure out why it suddenly didn't run when he drove it in the shop just a couple hours before. then i noticed the vam on backwards. talk about a homer simspon "doh!" moment. hahaha