Pictures of my year long overhaul by LarsV8

3 minute(s) of a 30 minute read

God, I don't even want to think about it. Its a sad depressing story I am sure we are ALL familiar with.

Basically last summer I pulled her out and gave her a bath. Man she looked clean, I forgoten how sweet these cars are!

I started browsing forums and reading what had changed in the aftermarket over the past decade. I had a little money left over from working during the summer so I decided it was time to do a tune up, replace the opti and get back into the scene.

I found a good deal on new pacesetters/oryp in a for sale section for 250 so I made the plunge and jumped on it. Shortly thereafter I grabbed some MSD wires (80), spark plugs (20) and an opti (300) to toss in there. I had a little money left over and I always wanted those goddamn fuel rail covers so I picked up a set of them as well. (80) I never really got around to putting everything on because school started up again.

About this time the market hit an epic low and I had about 3 grand in student loan money so I dropped what I could afford into some stocks to sit on. Ironically Ford stock made me pretty well off so all of a sudden I had an influx of cash. I figured I had enough to invest in an LE2 package (1800), not realizing all the extra parts needed to make it work right.

What do you mean I have to get a new valvetrain? (400) A computer tune, are you serious? (110) Whats wrong with my current injectors? (300) A ported intake wont work to max effeciency w/o a new throttle body? (150) I cant reuse my gaskets and bolts? (400)

And then comes all these damn snide forum posters. I guess you dont HAVE to change the lifters, but its a good idea (120). Dude you really SHOULD do the motor mounts while your in there (75). So what happens when your 100k mile waterpump ***** all over your new opti (200). Powdercoating and polishing would really set that apart (300) Come on bro, you gotta do the timing chain (100)...

At this point, it was basically out of control. I spent nearly all of my "living" money from student loans on parts, and lived like any normal college kid does, penny-less I lucked out on the tools, they were a birthday gift!

The one week I had between graduation and my new job, we finally got around to doing the work! Surprise surprise, a chipped cam bearing. Oh well, we are this far anyway, might as well do a rebuild (1600)

While I don't dare add all that up, I can tell you the trials and tribulations of collection are what makes life living. In the back of your mind you can always say: "gotta pass this test so I can get a job, get some cash, and finally get the Z back on the road, better than ever!". Once thats gone, there really isnt much reason to get out of bed anymore.