The quad shocks are great while they work. They dampen the axle "wind up". The idea is to control wheel hop when the rear tires are spinning. The solid rear axle is a fine tool for putting a lot of power down but you don't want it jumping around. The car should retain its composure while laying stripes. IRS is great on the track and at speed, but not so much for spinning donuts in a gravel parking lot and jumping the curb with the tires squealing. Gotta have some heavy ground tackle for that.
If those tail lights fit the Sport you should keep them and sell the rest. Your right tail light is cracked from a dispute over a corner with a Goodwill truck. According to the insurance co Mrs. won the dispute.
My curiosity is well rewarded, thanks for the pics. Solid rack bushings sounds like a good upgrade. The crisp steering was always a delight on that car. That rack may have a different gear ratio so be careful about ever letting it go for a core. I knew the ft rotors were scored by the rivets, but was going to replace them with the drilled Mustang rotors. If you replace the ft. brake hoses, be sure to use the Mustang design, it has a longer metal pipe between the caliper and where the hose is crimped on for heat isolation. Glad to see you using the car and I'm glad every time I go out to the shop and don't have to move it outside first thing! Good luck with the job change.
Good job cleaning the motor. One must get creative to get the crud out and every flush is different. Running the engine with solvent-thinned oil as you did is the key, as it warms up the sludge and agitates it into suspension so you can drain it out. I have run customers' cars with a gallon of Berryman's B-12 and a couple quarts of cheap SAE30 oil, but not under a load, just in the shop for a half hour or so. The only risk is that all the loose stuff that does not come out the drain plug may stop up the oil pump screen. Then you have to do it the hard way. The gray sealer is HondaBond HT. Honda dealers can get it, or maybe online? It is an enhanced silicone that sets very firm and resists everything known to man. There are various versions of HondaBond for different purposes, but the HT is best I have found for coolant passage gaskets, and also the gasketless joints on newer engines. Get some, you'll like it. And don't feel bad about the car sitting outside, it spent the first 17 years outside in Texas.
! I thought the rear seal was changing the oil for me... That will be the third time the valley and valve covers have been shoveled clean on that engine. Hope not much of that sludge got down to the pan, because it is almost impossible to R&R the pan with the engine in the car. Probably easier to just pull it. So, how do you like my new avatar?
Indeed, I will be interested to hear of your exploits. Look at the build sheet, it may have sway bar numbers. I don't know sway bar part numbers, but the Sport had a tubular ft bar of larger than stock diameter, and a rear bar which I think LX cars did not have. You may have the good stuff already under there, although there are surely stiffer aftermarket units available.
Originally it would have been standing straight up so the spot welder could put a spot here and there. It SHOULD look like it has been continuously MIG welded. That's what race shops do to reinforce the factory spot welds and stiffen the body.
Car is Sold. 15 Oct 2018. One of our forum members got a real good deal and the car will probably appear again in this forum. I guess I'll go hang out at the F-150 / Expedition forum...
OK, I'm ready to consider any offers. Please refer to my previous post "Hot Rod Kit" for details of the excellent 88 Sport I really need to sell. All the extra parts will probably fit in the trunk and back seat but it might be easier to bring a pickup or trailer. This car needs a home with someone who wants to develop it (or just drive it as-is). That person must surely be reading this forum. Make an offer!
FYI to all who have replied to this post: I cannot see any of my private message responses. "Sent Items" folder is empty. Has anyone received any PMs from me? I can't tell if they ever were sent.
thanks, softtouch, that is precisely the sort of info that I wanted. I have saved the image and will study it. But in the interim the symptoms have not exhibited and so I reinstalled the old unit. The likelihood that the unit would survive the surgery vs. the current price of a NOS replacement made up my mind; spend the $ now or spend it later. I voted for later.
