I have some bad news ... (car related, important things are fine)

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
11/14/2018 at 11:21 • Filed to: RallyMetro

So, I’ve been waiting to tell you all this, because I wanted to do a proper write-up. Work had been crazy, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing up anytime soon, so I’m just going to come out with it already.

She’s dead Jim.

About halfway through the day of the last rallycross of the year this Sunday, the motor starting giving up the ghost. It’s running on 2-cylinders, knocking, and pushing oil back out the filler cap. It’s so down on power, the guy running the start line had to push me once to get it rolling. The suspension mounts are too rusty for it to be worth fixing.

Not that I’m complaining. My total outlay, parts and all, for two years of rallycross and a Gambler 500, was less than $500. You cannot beat the amount of fun I had for the money here.

But I do has a sad. I miss it already, and it’s still in my driveway.

Thanks again to XJDano for basically giving me this car. It has been one hell of a ride!

DISCUSSION (61)

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 11:32

rip engine out.. install pedal power

get fit :p

vondon302 > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 11:34

Say it ain’t so.

Pour one out everybody!

someassemblyrequired > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 11:40

Nooooo! Glad it died an honorable death as a racecar...

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 11:43

Time to start looking for a new rallycross/gambler car.

The suspension mounts are too rusty for it to be worth fixing.

This made me laugh because I have some experience with rusty suspension mounts and geo metros. I had a Geo in highschool that my dad bought for $50 and got running for another $300 in parts. One day I ended up being the ride home for me and 3 of my friends...the lightest of whom was ~220 lbs. Made it all of 1/4 mile until I hit the brakes a bit hard (but not excessive by any means) and heard a clunk. The car wouldn’t move. Got out and found the right side A-arm decided it no longer liked being attached to the car.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 11:55

Get a 4-pot Metro next. That way, when you lose a cylinder, you’ll still have the correct 3

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
11/14/2018 at 12:03

I missed a nice 4-cylinder one with a manual trans for $700.

shop-teacher > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
11/14/2018 at 12:03

Uhhhhhh .... no.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:03

but but... ugh fine

*scoffs*

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
11/14/2018 at 12:05

I am genuinely shocked that the right front a-arm of this one never decided the same thing. The first time I brought it out, one of the regulars there who also had a Metro do that on the street took a look at those mounts. He didn’t think it would last one run.

shop-teacher > someassemblyrequired
11/14/2018 at 12:06

It did indeed. I was hoping for a more spectacular end. Either buy an a-arm ripping itself off, or the motor actually blowing up, but it’s just too determined. I made four runs wounded. Twice it banged and stumbled, but it still runs. Just really, really slowly.

shop-teacher > vondon302
11/14/2018 at 12:06

Yeah, she’s been a fine soldier.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:07

If you can find an Lsi model you'll get a whopping 76hp AND color matched bumpers!

shop-teacher > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
11/14/2018 at 12:09

LA-DE-DA!!!

I’m not sure I can handle that much racecar.

Urambo Tauro > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:12

The suspension mounts are too rusty for it to be worth fi xing.

This is the saddest part. So much for the ’ ol LS swap...

Tripper > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:17

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro
11/14/2018 at 12:19

Yeah, it’s honestly a miracle the right front a-arm hasn’t been ripped off by now. One of the regulars didn’t think it would last one run when I brought it out the first time.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:22

That sucks to hear.

Hopefully you can find a good replacement.

shop-teacher > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
11/14/2018 at 12:23

The search is on.

shop-teacher > Tripper
11/14/2018 at 12:24

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

XJDano > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:29

Well shit.

See if you can sell it far parts. “Spare transmission, also broke”

I was also waiting to tell you, I turned in that cat converter I replaced for $60 this year. So I was still making money from that car.

But seriously see if someone on the geometro forums want it. Or the one guy here that just bought one.

Spaceball-Two > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 12:37

So long little fella.

Kinja'd!!!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 13:21

2 years of fun for $500? Nice Price!

Is that a 3 cyl or 4 cyl Metro/Swift/Forsa/Firefly?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 13:24

I think the next logical step would be another Suzuki or Suzuki based vehicle... like the Esteem, Aerio or SX4.

My impression of my Aerio... it’s not ‘best in class’ in terms of performance or driving dynamics. But it’s a simple, straightforward, easy-to-service design. And even though Suzuki has left North America, parts costs are still okay.

And they are generally cheap to buy.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
11/14/2018 at 13:28

Or he can get a Twike!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twike

Kinja'd!!!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 13:44

Hmmm... maybe you need a Twike!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twike

http://twike.com/en/home.html

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 14:23

I think you got more smiles per dollar out of it than any car I’ve ever known.

RIP Rally Metro - what’s next?

shop-teacher > XJDano
11/14/2018 at 14:27

There’s another rallycrosser who has a 4-cylinder Swift, who wants that spare transmission. Apparently the 3-cylinder models had a lower ratio final drive.

I offered it to the Gambler 500-Illinois group, so we’ll see if anybody there wants it. The junkyard offered me $180 for it!!!! I’d rather see somebody do something with it though.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 14:28

I would agree with that!

Not sure really what will be next . Ideally something cheap, durable, and with a fully functional manual transmission.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/14/2018 at 14:29

I... I don't hate it.

shop-teacher > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/14/2018 at 14:31

If one pops up locally on CL, I’ll consider it ;)

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 14:31

Off to CL for ‘winter beaters’!

shop-teacher > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/14/2018 at 14:32

One of the guys who runs the rallycrosses suggested an SX4. I like the idea, but I don’t think they’ve gotten cheap enough yet for me.

shop-teacher > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/14/2018 at 14:32

Yeah, definitely nice price. It’s a 3-cylinder.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 14:35

Oh yeah, stayed up late last night looking at anything with a manual, and under $2k. I’d be a lot more comfortable at under $1k though.

XJDano > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 14:37

I mean it be cool to get the purchase price back in your pocket, but it’d also be nice for it to be an organ donor.

I looked up metros on my CL, $2800 for same car, better shape, less miles. I’d rather another XJ, I did put my equinox for sale, not even scammers want it

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/2005-chevy-equinox-ls/6743781710.html

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 14:46

Hmmm, there’s some pretty interesting stuff on Chicago CL for under $1800 actually. A lot of Civics and pickup trucks that are probably good candidates, a surprising number of 240SX’s , but some off the wall stuff too:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/d/1988-chrysler-lebaron/6744159385.html

https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/d/1991-mercury-capri-2dr/6748994103.html

This one has the same drivetrain as my BMW:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/d/bmw-323i-2000/6748706598.html

Here’s a really good, bad idea:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/d/4g63t-dodge-colt/6747982443.html

This one might be even worse:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/cto/d/1996-land-rover-discovery-s1/6747457568.html

Monkey B > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 14:51

that’s a bummer...but damn what a bargain! 2 years of doin stuff for $500 is a remarkably good bargain!

Monkey B > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 14:54

maybe you can luck into a “totaled” one...seems like it’d be ideal. Then again, I’ve heard complaints about parts prices/availability with some Suzuki stuff. Then again, the one complaining is notoriously a cheap sob.

shop-teacher > XJDano
11/14/2018 at 14:57

$2800!!!! Dollars? Not pesos????

I wish this would’ve happened a week ago, because there was a nice looking 4-cylinder manual trans Metro hatch on FB for $700. It’s gone already though.

Someone on the Gambler group is interested. I offered to sell it to them for $100. I’ll take less to see something done with it.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 15:00

I don’t want a convertible, I wouldn’t touch a BMW with a 10' pole (no offense to yours, but I’m way too cheap to buy German parts), and I’m definitely not buying anything that isn’t running and driving.

shop-teacher > Monkey B
11/14/2018 at 15:01

Yeah, it really is! I’m sad to see it go, but I won’t complain for a second.

shop-teacher > Monkey B
11/14/2018 at 15:01

We’ll see. I’ve got time to wait for a good deal. The next rallycross won’t be for another 5 months.

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 15:04

Haha - I wasn’t really serious about any of those, except the LeBaron might be amusing if you liked convertibles. And the last few (including the BMW) are horrible ideas.

If it were me, I’d stick with the various Hondas or a pick em up truck - seems to be quite a few to pick from in those two categories.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 15:07

The LeBaron is cool, and that’s a NP for sure. I’ve seen too many roll overs though, I wants a roof over my head!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 15:24

And then you can name it The LeBron...

Kinja'd!!!

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 15:38

Especially if it’s destined for RallyX!!!

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 16:10

Exactly!

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 16:26

WHOA!!!! I wish I could afford this!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2104929833105003/

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 16:28

Holy cow! That’s nice! But way too nice to RallyX anyways.

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
11/14/2018 at 17:15

I’d be tempted to do it anyways.

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 17:21

Ha - at least one of the pictures in the ad is from a Cars & Coffee or similar. I dare you to reach out to the seller and say “ yeah, I plan to RallyCross it”.

What do you think his response will be? :)

MM54 > shop-teacher
11/14/2018 at 18:52

shop-teacher > MM54
11/14/2018 at 21:16

Yep.

pip bip - choose Corrour > shop-teacher
11/15/2018 at 05:49

look for another beater

shop-teacher > pip bip - choose Corrour
11/15/2018 at 07:09

I am.

Alfalfa > shop-teacher
11/18/2018 at 23:15

Aw man, I can’t believe I’m just seeing this now.

...partout?

shop-teacher > Alfalfa
11/18/2018 at 23:18

Is there anything you need off of it? I have a factory service manual, if you want it.

If you were closer, I'd give you the whole damn thing for parts.

Alfalfa > shop-teacher
11/18/2018 at 23:21

The service m anual would be nice. Depending on what shipping cost is, I'd like at least one wheel for a full size spare and a spare trans if that's still any good.

shop-teacher > Alfalfa
11/18/2018 at 23:27

Consid er the manual yours , for the price of shipping. The syncros on the trans are shot. I do have extra wheels though. I wonder if they’ll fit in a flat rate box?

Alfalfa > shop-teacher
11/18/2018 at 23:34

Ha ha, I have a syncro on it’s way out myself. Ah well.

Without a tire, I'm almost certain you could fit a wheel in a flat rate box

shop-teacher > Alfalfa
11/18/2018 at 23:40

They’re known to have weak syncros. The tires are totally shot anyways, so I could cut one off, and shove it in a box.

Send me an email, woodshop00@gmail.com