Because (Saturn) Race Car

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5) 07/01/2015 at 19:49 • Filed to: None

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So today was my last day at my old job, and I start my new one on Monday. I celebrated by bringing the Saturn around front and looking it over. The day I brought it home I was just happy to have it here, and the weather has been crappy since, so here we are.

It is not, all things considered, a bad looking little car. It maybe looks a little shabbier than the picture, but there’s no real dents or big scrapes. It is, as they say, good enough.

The interior is fine as well, albeit a bit musty and smelling like several different air fresheners. I’ve already liberated the headliner from its years of dedicated service, and the plan is to have the carpet out of it tomorrow. I think that’ll really make it seem quite a lot cleaner in there.

I really wanted to keep as much of the dashboard in there as possible, but I’ll have to see what we can do once the cage is installed. I’d like it to have a finished look inside, not just gutted. But that’s not exactly a deal breaker.

Probably the single biggest issue with the car right now is that it has virtually no brakes. Pedal to the floor, and it stops eventually. So in my short test drive, I’ve come to this conclusion: it’s a lot torquier than my DD ‘03 Civic. They make about the same power (127 Civic vs 124 Saturn), but the Saturn engine is bigger and feels like it has significantly better bottom end. It also has a cylinder 4 misfire and it needs an upper motor mount, but it feels like it’s pretty good internally for having 270k on it.

All in all, I'm quite happy with it. It's issues are minor and easily fixable, and it should make a (relatively) reliable, (relatively) cheap race car.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 20:28

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I’d rock it.

mazda616 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 20:35

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I was supposed to get one of those as my first car. Kind of sad I didn't. It would have sucked less than my actual first car haha

1111111111111111111111 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 20:37

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I’ve been trying to find one for a lemon. Just remember that part of the rules is that they can buy the car from you after the race...

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 1111111111111111111111 07/01/2015 at 20:50

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Yeah, luckily I think they say they’ve claimed two cars the whole time they’ve been doing it. You have to be reeeeeeally cheaty to get your car claimed. I doubt they’ll hassle me for my Saturn.

1111111111111111111111 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 21:18

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If that’s the case i may bend the rules a bit. Any idea what the cage is gonna cost?

TrickJos > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 21:22

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If that upper engine mount needs replacing don’t put it off. Mine was so sloppy at one point it broke off two of the three studs which thread into the timing chain cover and and pass up through the mount. One of them actually ripped out the side of the timing chain cover. Replacing that cover wasn’t a fun job.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 1111111111111111111111 07/01/2015 at 21:37

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Kits generally run around $400, if you can weld it yourself. Do remember that safety stuff doesn't count towards the $500 total, so you can spend whatever you want on the cage, seat, wheels, tires, brakes, gauges, etc. If you fudge the rules, they can penalize you laps, but with a car like this you'd have to do quite a bit to seem like you're over $500.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TrickJos 07/01/2015 at 21:38

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Yikes. Maybe I'll hit up the junk yard tomorrow after all.

1111111111111111111111 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 21:55

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I can MIG reasonably well. Nothing I’ve built has broke until years later under heavy use, but that’s the one thing I think I’d outsource and let it get tigged.

Nobi > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/01/2015 at 22:02

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For the misfire, cover the basics, plugs and wires, if that doesn't work they were known for either coil packs or the ignition control module (base the coils bolt to) shorting out.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/01/2015 at 22:21

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About the only issue I’d have with dailying one would be that the seat doesn't go back far enough for me. Won't be an issue since I'll be putting in a new seat/frame, but wouldn't work for a street car.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 1111111111111111111111 07/01/2015 at 22:25

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Yeah, I'll probably outsource mine to a professional as well. Luckily, I figure once I get the cage I can just have a succession of Saturn race cars if something happens to this one.

Nobi > Nobi 07/02/2015 at 07:40

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Also, I remember spark plug bore valve cover seals leaking on the dual cam models, and as an added trick if you want to remove the rev limiter on a manual S car, swap in a PCM from an automatic. The torque converter is the rev limiter on those.

TrickJos > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/02/2015 at 08:19

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By the way, I love this car. Looking forward to your updates on it.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TrickJos 07/02/2015 at 09:08

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From everything I’ve heard, it’s going to make a pretty good little race car. Lightweight, handles nice, four wheel discs, and easy to work on. It’s the car I should have bought the first time I bought a car to try and use a LeMons...I bought a Merkur XR4Ti, which was an awful idea.