bscanian - The 88 LXi Learning Experience

[bscanlan]

This is the first car work of this magnitude, but it is the next step in a logical progression, so here goes! As I have stated elsewhere on 3geez, I drove to Virginia to get the 88 LXi coupe with 200 201 miles on her. Drove her home and started the dis-assembly. I forgot to take nice, full exterior pics so I better be able to get her back together

[bscanlan]

Definitely some work to do


Want to put this on a stand for overhaul, so I guess I need to build a cradle so I can rest engine while unbolting the trans, only to re-lift and bolt to stand??? Any thoughts from the brave souls who have been there?

[Dr_Snooz]

The oil pan is pretty husky and should support the weight of the assembly on the floor. Engine with auto trans will sit on the floor and not fall over. Engine with MT will fall over, so you'll need to put some support under the trans. I used a 2"x4" and rested the heavy side against the wall. If memory serves, I loosened all the trans bolts with the assembly still on the hoist and finished it off on the floor. Then I just hoisted the long block back onto the engine stand.

What are we doing to the car?

[2drSE-i]

Gotta love southern cars, thing looks mint!

[King Peetis]

NICE!!! what are your plans for the car?

[Rendon LX-i]

It's minty. Very nice

[bscanlan]

I intend to start from the bottom up once I have the engine out which I now do, to clean the entire thing paint the undercarriage paint the engine compartment rebuild the motor reinstall the motor redo the entire suspension paint the car and see where we are at that point.

I use Eastwood rust inhibitor and chassis black, and intend to do that on the undercarriage and engine compartment first.

At the same time and with the engine on a stand I'm going to redo all O-rings gaskets and rubber on the engine, header and intake, clean it all up and put it back in. At this point if it actually moves under its own power I will be very happy.

Of course with the suspension apart as it now is I intend to redo all control arms and bushings with moog products, and then new springs and shocks and possibly rotors.

There's a little bit of rust on the passenger wheelwell, never welded before so I will have to learn how to cut that out put new metal, prep and paint the car with the interior out since I'm changing the color and with all back together just have to see what else needs to be done.

Just a fun winter project.

[Dr_Snooz]

Sounds like a good project. You're pretty brave learning to weld on sheet metal. I hope it comes out well for you.

[mattisonfire]

Did you put a SE-i steering wheel or these ones also come with the LXi?

[bscanlan]

That is the LXi wheel. The SEi wheel has radio thumb controls opposite the cruise buttons.

As for the welding, I first need to rebuild the engine and suspension, reinstall the engine and see it run. If I get that accomplished successfully I will not be too worried about welding.

[obdriver6]

Looks like a clean coupe. Hows the project coming along?

[bscanlan]

I have posted a few of these pics in other threads, but I am going to put them together so this can be a coherent build thread. Below are some of the winter projects, like suspension and body prep, that I did, and now she sits just about ready for Black Cherry Metallic color. I hope to post those pics in the next couple of weeks. August 8 is my 1 year anniversary of driving to Virginia to buy her, and I hope to have her back on the road before then.

[stat1K]

looking good man, doing it right the first time!

[Legend_master]

Great work, keep it up!

[bscanlan]

Thanks guys, I hope to be in primer next week. I will keep the pics coming.

[bscanlan]

Finally got her out of the shop blew her off. Tack cloth and paint by the end of next week...god willing.




Also getting some black chrome going for the grille and emblems. Looking to go black chrome on wheels.

[bscanlan]

Primer begins

[bscanlan]

Got to get primer and color (black cherry metallic) on the jambs today. After drying I satrted putting the fenders and bumpers, etc. back on to prep for prime and color, then clear on the body. After starting to tear apart the car last August, I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Here are a few updated pics.






Paint this week!!!

[bscanlan]

OK It did not like dropbox, let's try again.

[Legend_master]

Coming along nicely!

[2oodoor]

Looks like progress

[bscanlan]

The final masking began, and four hours later I was ready for primer.



Then, with the help of a friend and my dad...the moment I have been waiting for all year!

Pics on the next post

[bscanlan]

I have not even been over to the barn yet this morning to see how I did. My first time painting anything, not with a rattle can. After a couple hundred hours of work on the engine, suspension, and body, I can't wait until there is enough light to see by.

The title of this thread, and of this car (unofficially) is after all "The Learning Experience"!

[stat1K]

damn beautiful!

[bscanlan]

Thank you! I am waiting for one week prior to wet sanding and buffing. In the meantime I am getting trim stripped for paint, and playing around with vinyl wrap possibilities. The paint is Barrett Jackson Black Cherry Metallic. It looks nearly black in low light, and then deep metallic red in the sun; I am thinking of gloss black wrap and then maybe black shoes.