Intrepidation

Interesting. Looks like a big performance jump is their forecasts are accurate.

Well China is a very important market for Buick, so it makes sense.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing the whole thing. Looks to be an interesting piece of design.

I use super saver.

When the car has been running for a bit, have a look under the car and see if the cat is glowing red hot. Classic sign of a clogged cat.

Amazon has a surprising amount of automotive parts at prices similar to RockAuto but with the free shipping bonus. Only thing about amazon sis they don't have any sort of parts catalog, so you have to know your part numbers before hand. Still, I can get the Quit Struts and brakes from Amazon, which is pretty sweet. Re: The Belt job. IIRC changing belts (at least some) on 3800 FWD cars requires removal of one of the motor mounts doesn't it? Even in modern cramped engine compartments, having a North/South engine makes the job much easier.

I've been looking into getting parts from RockAuto (as well as Amazon). Good to know they seem to do good business. How are shipping prices and times?

The battery isn't as bad as it seems. Remove the air box (one screw), remove the headlight (two 7mm bolts), then remove the twp bolts holding down the battery. Sliding it up the cavity where the airbox was is a bit tricky, but I've had worse issues withe some GM batteries being tightly wedged into the fender under a brace with so little clearance to get it out it can take a while to get the angle just right.

Front doesn't do much for me but I like it from every other angle. Nice to see it was saved and restoration is coming along.

Well with Spring kinda sorta here its time to get down to business. Lots to do for both cars. This thread will serve as a reference for part numbers and information as I get them. For the Prizm: Change the t-stat and do a coolant flush, check hoses: Stant Superstat, Part No. 45758 Felpro Thermostat Gasket, Part No. 35592 Felpro Thermostat Seal, Part No. 35292 Antifreeze New brakes all around: I have no idea when the brakes were done last, but I do know not withing the last 6 years. Front rotors are warped and parking brake shoes barely hold the car in place on an incline. Wagner ThermoQuiet Ceramic Disc Brake Pad Set Part No. QC562 Wagner Brake Shoe Set Part No. PAB551 Wagner Disc Brake Rotors Part No. BD125326 or Raybestos PG Plus Professional Grade Disc Brake Rotors Part No. 96354 Wagner Brake Drum Part No. BD125327 USA Brake Front Hardware Kit Part No. 15648A USA Brake Rear Hardware Kit Part No. 17149 New struts/springs: Haven't done and suspension components before, but it doesn't look too hard. Might do the fronts at the same time or wait on them, but the rears definitely need to be done. Car sags a little in back. Gonna go with Monroe Quick Struts. Good value and no assembly required! They use Sensa-Trac struts which are good quality struts, so I hear. Monroe Quick-Strut Part No. 171954 Monroe Quick-Strut Part No. 171953 Amazon has them for $129.99 and $125.31 respectively, vs $206.99 at Advance. Pretty sweet deal. New Exhaust manifold: Dorman Exhaust Manifold Part No. 674164 Body Work: I'd like to get the rear quarter taken care of finally, and fix that minor rocker rust before it can get worse. Intrepid First and foremost is a much more basic problem: new battery. Old one finally died. RIP. AutoCraft Gold Battery, Group Size 34, 700 CCA Part No. 34-2 Next up is a PCM, out of a 2000 Intrepid R/T without the Sentry Key Immobilizer Module. Just have to find one in a yard. The comes the fun stuff... A/C Revamp: This is going to a big a major project and one that I will do in steps. Up first is the Evaporator Core Factory Air Evaporator Core Part No. 54571 This will be the first and most labor intensive (but cheapest) part of the project. Requires removal of the dash, front seats, and center console. While I'm there I'd like to upgrade the dash harness to the ATC (Automatic Temperature Control) harness, and modify the center speaker housing to accept a larger Kicker speaker. I'm there, I might as well do it. While I'm at it I want to install a first gen lighted key ring. Easy mod. Next up will be a new or remanufactured a/c compressor. Probably new. Factory Air New Compressor with Clutch Part No. 78357 or Denso New Compressor with Clutch (Actual OE Part) Part No. 4710265 Tough One Engine A/C Accumulator Part No. T83104 Perhaps the lines, will have to inspect them. I may also replace the heater core and blower motor while I'm there, and if so, since it means draining the coolant, I'll probably install new lower intake manifold gaskets. Factory Air Blower Motor Part No. 75741 Ready-Aire Heater Core Part No. 398312 Felpro Intake Manifold Gasket Set Part No. MS92165 If I can locate a good Agate or Dark Slate 300M carpet while the seats and dash are out I plan to replace my carpet. On the subject of interiors, if I can get a hold of the remaining two door panels I need I can do my color swap too. I have two other big projects though I'm not sure I'll get around to them this year or not. The smaller of the two is body work. I want to get new retaining clips for the front and rear bumpers, and have a good shop repair the dents and paint on the driver's side and part of the roof. However, I may go the cheaper route if I can find matching driver's side doors and fender in good shape and for a good price. I also want to eliminate the small areas of minor surface rust underneath. I also want to do: Transmission service: filter and fluid change Differential Fluid Change Power Steering Fluid Change The big one: Complete suspension overhaul I suspect this one will be a project for next year, but I'm starting my research and gathering info now. In this case I'm not going to go with quick struts because there appears to be issues with aftermarket strut mounts. OE mounts are different and have two different part numbers whereas all aftermarket mounts are one part number for both sides. Plus they only make struts and springs for regular suspension setups. What I do plan to do is get OEM springs and struts. What I'm thinking is: OEM PHP (Performance Handling Pack) struts OEM PHP Springs OEM Strut Mounts Moog Spring Seat/Bearing Assemblies Polyurethane Coil Spring Isolators from http://www.polybushings.com/ Moog Strut Bellows Part Moog Strut Bushings As well as Moog Outer Tie Rods Moog Control Arms with ball joints 300M Special Front and Rear Sway Bars Polyurethane Sway Bar Bushings from http://www.polybushings.com/ Moog Sway Bar Links Its a big project to be sure, but when all is set and done it will ride and handle better than it was new. It will immediately be followed by new tires, and four wheel alignment. I'll probably refinish the wheels before new tires go on. Finally, True Dual Exhaust Flowmaster 40s Flowmaster X-Pipe It's a big list to be sure! We'll see how much gets done this. It will all get done eventually. So what about you guys?

Waffle House is quite good. Went to a few during our road trip in `86

Gray Optima.

Hope it's a great one ocnblu!

Well it is possible she enjoy business but question time also.

What I want to know the job has enough to be her.

What is this I don't even.

Nature played April fools on us. We were supposed to get 7-10 inches, I was expecting to have move a lot of heavy wet snow. Come to find out we got maybe 4 inches on grassy surfaces, barely a coating on the sidewalk, and the roads were clear.

Shhh! Hush with your facts!

I can play this game too. I can get a Malibu LTZ to $30,220 and that certainly doesn't have the features or interior of a 30k car. Doesn't even have Satellite Navigation or a rear arm rest. The Cruze has a nicer interior. The Focus has a nicer interior and more features, and costs $4,000 less fully speced out. Numbers don't lie. Hate the Koreans all you want but whose making the big sales gains? I also seem to recall GM's been packing on the incentives as of late. So it looks like they're also pushing DEALS!!!DEALS!!!DEALS!!! Is that even English?

Really? So $30,840 for an Optima SX with Premium Package ($2,150 -- includes panoramic sunroof, four-way power front passenger seat, two-way driver seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated outboard rear seats); Technology Package ($2,000 -- includes navigation system with back-up camera, Infinity audio system with eight speakers). is "cutthroat prices and DEALS!!DEALS!!DEALS!!"? Don't thinks so. It is good value compared to other competitors, its got lots of futures, and it looks terrific.

I was thinking that it reminded me of a second gen Aurora, especially in profile. As an aside, I don't get why GM killed the Aurora and didn't give it to Buick. It was at the time one of the best sedans in its class.

Interesting. I see GM dropped the ball on us and the Commodore more than once, and its nothing new. I don't remember seeing it before, but that Buick concept sure is good looking, looks mostly production ready too.

It doesn't have to come down to price just price. Features and value and style will help sell the car. Just ask Hyundai/Kia.

Welcome to C&G! I'm sure you'll find there's more than a few people who share your interests, especially vintage iron.