Abaddon's Riv

Abaddon wrote:

Sir Psycho Sexy wrote:

Stuck up or down?

Up! The motor still runs its cycle, but the antenna itself doesn't move an inch.


Stan.....lol

98riv wrote:

Abaddon wrote:

Sir Psycho Sexy wrote:

Stuck up or down?

Up! The motor still runs its cycle, but the antenna itself doesn't move an inch.


Stan.....lol

Welcome to the club!  Mine also broke in the up position a month or so ago.  Don't know if I will replace it or not as a replacement isn't that cheap.

Just how much $$$ is a replacement.??? Are they only available used or you can you still get new.??

BTW, Congrat's on the purchase of parts. Will be interesting to watch the transformation. That's if you can post the pic's as you change everything out. I know it can be a pain in the ass to stop and snap photo's when the wrenches start turning.
Good luck with the project. At a minimum we need to see the 1/4 mile or dyno times.

Scott, just remember,,,, there's no such thing as TOO many pictures.

Everyone likes pictures.

so take lots of pictures.

pictures.

I'm surprised Charlie doesn't drive over and help Abaddon...

matt270avian wrote:

I'm surprised Charlie doesn't drive over and help Abaddon...

Help him with what? He's a friggin pro. I am the one that needs help!

Sometimes 2 hands are nice, especially if he's going to be pulling the whole motor.

Thanks guys.

This project may take some time. I'd honestly be surprised if just the engine isn't done until mid-late summer. I'm doing it "right". I'm going to have the block sent out and checked/bored if needed, and the Crank will be machined if needed as well. I also plan on having the entire rotating assembly balanced. I have to port the LIM to match the heads, figure out which Injectors I'll need, etc etc.

I bought the woman a '96 Camaro convertible this week (pics and more description to come). This will allow me to commandeer the Aztek for the summer, and shred both Rivs in the meantime. The goal is to gut the '97, then strip the '98 of its entire suspension, trans, and all engine mods that will be on the new engine. All the stock parts from the '97 are going to be put on the '98, and then the car will be sold. This will leave me with a shell of a '97, and a shit-ton of parts lol.

I've been slammed at work lately. I haven't had any time to do really anything of my own. The weekends that I do have off, I'm too damn tired to do anything lol. I don't even want to look at a car if I'm not at work. However, this Riv build is something that's been in my head every day for a decade. I'm finally in a situation where this can actually happen. I promise to myself (and to you guys) that I'll spend all of my "spare" time on it.

Any one of you crazies are more than welcome to head up here and help (planned of course). Anywho, I feel like I'm rambling on. I'm scatter-brained and dead tired. I'm gonna go shower and hit the sheets. I'll see you Riv psychos in the A.M.

http://shop.zzperformance.com/store/p/47-XPZ-Cam.aspx
  Make sure to turn your sound on

No work today  I'm working on the Camaro. I got the Oil Pan gasket done last night. I would've had it done last week, but all four pipe-to-manifold bolts broke off in the manifolds. I spent about 9 hours total drilling them out. I got them opened up for a 5/16" bolt and a nut. Screw rethreading the manifolds. If I ever have to take it apart again, it'll be MUCH easier now.
Once I get the Trans Output seal and the Rear Diff Pinion seal changed, oh, and rear springs, this thing can hit the ground and be driving. I was amazed at how clean the OP was when I got it off. Not even the slightest hint of "glitter" in the pan. I stole this car.....just some needed maintenance on a 20yr old piece of metal.

Once the 'maro is on the road, I can stop driving the Riv and yank the engine/trans. It's getting closer to actually becoming a reality.

OH!!! If you guys think working on your Riv is tough, try working on a '96 Camaro!!! I had to support the engine, disconnect to engine mounts, and jack the the up. Also had to lower the front frame just to get the OP past the Flexplate. Even with all this shit off the car, you STILL can't see 2 of the spark plugs!! I will forever be grateful that the Riv is "easy" to work on...

Do you have an ET for having your Riv rebuilt and back on the road?

charlieRobinson wrote:

Do you have an ET for having your Riv rebuilt and back on the road?

Nope. I'm in no hurry whatsoever. Rush, and you make mistakes. Mistakes are bad.

You guys remember (3/27/13) when I got rear-ended on the way to work? Well, come to find out, my insurance company has it in their records that the accident was MY FAULT. I had no idea this was even on there until I switched insurance companies. I've been paying an extra $65 a month because of this!!!!! How is it that I'm at fault for being hit sitting in traffic?
The only reason I found this out is because I insured the Camaro and Aztek on a joint account with the woman last night. She was filling everything out and yelled across the house about it. I have some people I need to call and straighten this shit out. I have the pictures to prove everything....

That's balls! That's a crap ton of money I bet you don't see back again...

So I just got off the phone with the "proper authorities". The accident report does not list who's at fault. The insurance company is assuming that I'm at fault. Looks like I'll be arguing with the insurance company later on today.....

Abaddon wrote:

So I just got off the phone with the "proper authorities". The accident report does not list who's at fault. The insurance company is assuming that I'm at fault. Looks like I'll be arguing with the insurance company later on today.....

You might need to complain to the insurance commissioner in your state that the ins co is acting in bad faith concerning the accident.

albertj wrote:

You might need to complain to the insurance commissioner in your state that the ins co is acting in bad faith concerning the accident.

I got it handled. My woman got me fired up more than was needed. When she put the Aztek and the Camaro on the same policy (in both of our names), this is when she noticed the "flaw". I have the same insurance company for the Riv. I called the company and explained the situation. On the Riv policy, it lists the accident but says "not at fault". For some reason, when she opened the new policy, it showed "at fault". No clue why this happened. The insurance company saw this and fixed it while I was on the phone.

Now, my old insurance company (pre March this year) was absolutely ass raping me. When I made the switch, my premium (6 months) dropped by almost $300, and I have better coverage.

Ok. On to the next order of business.....

The Camaro is home, and stripping the Riv is about to start. I'm trying to figure out how this is going to happen. I can't leave this car here at work for too long, otherwise the General Manager is going to get pissed and make me miserable, even though he's allowed to store cars here year-round (I could talk for hours about this guy). Anyway, I'm debating on seeing if I can sell this entire car minus my engine parts that I need off of it, springs, struts, sway bars, etc. I don't think I have enough time to strip it down slowly. My garage certainly isn't big enough for it....
Everything on the car is in great shape, minus the underbody, which is the reason for scrapping it in the first place. If I had room, I'd store it for the time being. Hell, I've even considered renting a storage garage for now (I still might).

I'm looking for intelligent suggestions. DO NOT ask me for parts until I post about what's actually happening with it please. If someone maybe wants the entire car, we can talk about it.

Are you considering taking what you want off the car, replacing it with stock parts, and selling it as a running/driving complete car? I think trying to demod it and sell it as a complete car would probably have the best return.

Sir Psycho Sexy wrote:

Are you considering taking what you want off the car, replacing it with stock parts, and selling it as a running/driving complete car? I think trying to demod it and sell it as a complete car would probably have the best return.

No (been said before). Underbody is too rusty for me to morally sell off.

Abaddon?! Morals!?

Abaddon wrote:

...OH!!! If you guys think working on your Riv is tough, try working on a '96 Camaro!!! I had to support the engine, disconnect to engine mounts, and jack the the up. Also had to lower the front frame just to get the OP past the Flexplate. Even with all this shit off the car, you STILL can't see 2 of the spark plugs!! I will forever be grateful that the Riv is "easy" to work on...

You're not kidding. I did a fuel pump in a buddys '96 Trans Am and we cut a hole in the floor, rather than drop the rear axle and gas tank... and I helped him change the spark plugs - a miracle we got that done. He keeps telling me he wants to replace the OptiSpark - I keep telling him no way until it's broken. The engine is basically impossible to work on. The worst of the worst. Right up there with that audi timing chain where you need to remove the front clip, only harder.

Well, the Aztek has fallen victim to the old PWM Trans Solenoid failure. It's been acting funny for about a week now, and this morning, it mysteriously developed its own shift kit I put a trans filter in it on Wednesday after work. Made it worse.
I seriously do NOT want to take this thing apart. Only good thing is, it's the same trans as the Riv (4t65e). So, its the same procedure as the one I posted for the Riv....cradle down, side cover, yada yada.

Boo!!!!

Pontiac’s Aztek is finding popularity among millennials, thanks to Breaking Bad
By Miles Branman — September 10, 2015


Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/pontiac-aztek-breaking-bad-popularity-news-

How is that by any means relevant to what I posted. Seriously.....wtf

Abaddon wrote:

How is that by any means relevant to what I posted. Seriously.....wtf

aztek was in the news today because its gaining POPULARITY. How is that NOT relevant

Abaddon wrote:

How is that by any means relevant to what I posted. Seriously.....wtf

It's Charlie, probably