Aerocivic - Restoration and further modding

[Ecky]

I (nearly) finished reassembling Aerocivic's suspension, and replaced the rear brake shoes while I was at it, even though the ones on it looked like they had at least half of their life left. I'm taking it in to a shop to have the main bushings in the rear trailing arms pressed in. Temporarily, the driver side bushing with the broken bolt is actually welded to the frame of the car on one side. Currently waiting on one brake line hose (I guess I can just reuse the old one, it seemed in ok shape) and then to bleed the brakes before I have the bushings done and get an alignment. After that, it will be mechanically ready for a road trip.

I think there might be a very slight exhaust leak somewhere, but that can wait. The car has 100% new fluids and every bushing and suspension component, aside from the front shocks, is new.

Next task will be putting the interior back together (I had some of the trim pieces off for cleaning them in the bathtub), and wiring up the new MPGuino color touch, courtesy of abbalooga, and putting some test miles on it.

[Ecky]

Decided to do something about the rear visibility. After polishing, I started washing the rear window, and noticed there might actually be a pretty handsome car underneath the accumulated moss and dirt and tree sap and sun damage...

[Ecky]

While I was thinking about visibility, I decided to put some camera mirrors on Aerocivic. This isn't going to be their final form, but it'll get me across the country more safely at least. I also replaced the speakers with some new Pioneers I had in my spare parts bin while I had the doors apart.

[M_a_t_t]

No antique plate?

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

No antique plate?

I don't know about Vermont, but in Colorado an antique (collectors) plate means you can only drive it a certain amount of miles per year. That's what makes them cheaper, because they're for a show car you don't hardly drive.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

No antique plate?

It'll be getting a Michigan plate before long anyway. I'll look into my options there. There may be some opportunity for a neat vanity plate.

[Ecky]

Took Aerocivic on a short drive. It has considerably more power now - from the tuneup I suppose? The mirror cameras also work great. Currently the car is just aligned based on the best I could do with a measuring tape, but it drove fairly straight.

At ~50mph I was seeing as high as 95mpg, but the mpguino isn't calibrated yet so take that with a grain of salt.

[Ecky]

Turns out you can't swap the CEL and SRS bulbs with LED. There's a constant low current which is enough to keep these bulbs lit, and they end up being dim or bright, rather than ever turning off.

[ECO-AKJ]

Originally Posted by Ecky

It'll be getting a Michigan plate before long anyway. I'll look into my options there. There may be some opportunity for a neat vanity plate.

Hopefully they will allow 7 letters/numbers...: AEROCVC

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Turns out you can't swap the CEL and SRS bulbs with LED. There's a constant low current which is enough to keep these bulbs lit, and they end up being dim or bright, rather than ever turning off.

You need a shunt resistor to bias that idle voltage