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5 minute(s) of a 40 minute read
11-23-2015
A quick update: I'm still trying to get my garage cleared and organized so I can get the STX inside. Soon, very soon, I can really tear into the project. In the meantime, I happened to be up at the Cayley property a few days ago and although I wasn't able to stay very long I did grab a few loose parts for the STX - specifically a set of valve covers from a disassembled ZM112 (PRV V6 from a 604) to install as well as probably the last decent sunroof wind deflector I have around. So, you may ask, why the valve covers? Well, part of my mission is to reorganize the under-hood layout of the STX so that it's more attractive and you can actually see the engine. Take a good look at the pictures of the existing setup, and then look at the ZM112 valve covers - as you can see, the crankcase breather/oil cap is on the other side. This means I can run much shorter hoses to the section of intake upstream of the throttle body, reducing some of the clutter. My plan is to have them bead-blasted, remove all unnecessary mounting flanges to make them look better, prime them with zinc chromate, and paint them black. Since I was going to check and adjust the valve clearances anyway, this doesn't really mean much extra work and I think the results will be worth it.
2-16-2016
High time for a progress report, so here goes. I had to kick the STX out of the garage a while ago to make room for Jamie Kitman's 404 wagon, which is pretty close to being finished now. The winter has been so mild lately that I might just continue to work on the STX outside for the time being. Work that's been completed so far includes removal of the chrome wheel arch covers (very easy to take off as it turns out), fitting a black deck lid spoiler in place of the blue one that came on the car, and partial stripping of the interior. The one job I think might get a bit complicated will be the removal and replacement of the dashboard, which is not nearly as simple as in a Series I 505, but I'll just take my time and take lots of pictures so I don't wind up with leftover parts. I want the interior of this car to be as close to perfect as possible.
On the exterior, I've collapsed the bumper shock mounts and moved the bumpers in, 1-1/2 inches at the front and 2" at the rear. They could move in further but I was after a particular look and this achieves it. I still have to figure out how to fill the gap between the bottom of the bumper and the air dam, which is greatly reduced but actually more obvious now. I want the front end to have a "finished" look, so I'm leaning toward some kind of rubber weatherstripping or perhaps actually attaching the air dam to the bumper in some way. Perhaps I can even improve the aerodynamics of the front end a bit in the process.
Under the hood, the engine had to go back together just as it came apart, so basically no progress there unless you count the removal of the viscous-drive cooling fan. I found a dual electric fan setup on one of my Turbo cars (front mounted ahead of the A/C condenser) so that will wind up in the STX and be controlled by an adjustable thermostatic switch. We will find out this summer if that provides enough air flow, but I think it will be adequate. If not I'll install some aftermarket units that move more air.
The fully-functional electric stereo antenna will be removed and installed in the blue STI. The STX is going to get an aftermarket European-style antenna from a seller on eBay. I'm also planning to fit a wind deflector to the sunroof. I've decided on a steering wheel and a few other details as well. Even with the baked paint this car is going to look pretty cool. It will take me a while before I can afford to have it painted, unfortunately.
These pictures were taken a while ago when there was still snow on the ground. Colours are a bit off because of the frost on everything but they show the tucked bumpers to good effect.
