Metro Thrashing

[metroschultz]

I've been lazy and neglectful.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
I have decided it is time to stop futzing around and get to the business of re-building my Geo.
I am at the point where I must put a quart of oil in every other week just to get back and forth to work.
It leaks and has much blow-by.
I have a tranny from a Swift sitting in the garage waiting to be transplanted and many other thing to get done..
If I am to make a 550 mile trip in with peace of mind and drive my own Geo I must get on the ball.
So today begins the Saga of the Geo Thrash.




Me on the way to the Boneyard.
Do people really wake @ 08:00, $#it I just went to bed @ 3:30.
I believe if I can find another motor and re-build it,
Mate it to the tranny in the garage,
Then replace the unit.
I can save a little time.
However, todays trip was fruitless, other than the exercise from walking around for 2.5 hours.
SO
I went to Ralphs and picked up my Integra seats. I've had them stored their for a long time. I know they will be more comfortable than the 200 thousand mile wore out seats in the Geo now.



Aren't they pretty?
I forgot they were charcoal gray,
well nothing else in or on the Metro is color matched.
More tomorrow,
Schultz
One tired puppy.

[metromizer]

Why not rebuild the engine you have? I know that would mean down-time for your commuter, but if you have a back up car, that might be your best choice <the devil I know, versus the devil I don't know>.

From everything I've read, the little 3 cylinder is almost bullet-proof. If it were me, I'd have the cylinders honed to the next oversize, polish the crank or grind undersize as needed, rebuilt the rods (both ends), have the head rebuilt and cam checked out <if I could afford it, get an Xfi-like cam from 3tech Mike). Put it back together with all new bearings, a new oil pump, new pistons, rings, seals and clutch assy.

[RacerX]

Nice Seats ! I,ve been thinking of doing the same thing, Maybe this weekend....I'll go up to the U pull it...O My aching back and neck....

[Crono]

Before my current '92 metro sedan, I had a '93 coupe which my dad and little brother are driving in another city. It came with these terribly ghetto front seats that were basically an inch or two of foam on a wire mesh. I was wandering around a junkyard looking for something else one day, and I found a '94 metro with much much nicer seats, so I took them and switched them in. It was much, much nicer. (Just saying not all Geo seats are created equal...or something like that.)

[Noel]

Are the Integra seats a direct bolt-in, or do you have to fabricate an adapter?

[metromizer]

and speaking of adapters...

I made some rail adapters for my factory '96 Metro driver's side seat. They move the seat rearward by 4" to accomodate my long legs (34" inseam). In retrospect, a 3" extender would have been plenty.

I don't mind the '96 seat itself, not bad for an econobox seat at all, but It's MUCH more comfortable, now...

PS 15 years ago I sustained a surgery requiring back injury from a car accident where the factory seat recliner mechanism broke on impact.

A word to the wise:
If you 'adapt' a seat from another vehicle, make darn-sure it's new mounting and brackets are just as strong as the OEM one you removed. Your seat belts do absolutly no good if the seat breaks loose from it's mounting. Also, I'm no attorney but you might be liable if the next owner gets hurt in a car you modified then sold.

[metroschultz]

Rebuilding the motor that is in it, is one of the options I've looked at. Time is my concern. That is why I was looking for another to build then swap.
I already have a spare head and an Xfi camshaft. I will redo the head myself. I just need to take it to my machine shop buddy so he can
Clean it (hot tank)
Flux it (looking for cracks)
Mill it (make the surface smooth again)
then I will rebuild it in my garage.

The Integra seats came from a car left at Field Auto (my Friend Ralph) when I worked for him. The car was junk so we scavenged what was good and sent the rest to Acura heaven.
They are not a direct bolt in.
I will use the sliders from the Metro seats and bolt those to the Integra seats. The Integra seat mount is about 1/2 inch wider so all I need to do is open each hole 1/4 inch to the inside.
You don't have to be an attorney to realize their could be some liability issues.
I am not likely to sell this car.
Ever.
If I can't find an engine to build I will build this one.
I have made arrangements with 2 of the guys I work with.
One starts the same time as I do, and the other stays late like I do.
They both live nearby so I am covered for the trip to and from work.
This weekend is seat weekend.
Tomorrow (later today) I go back to the yard. They were supposed to change out a bunch of the GM stuff. (thats where they hide the Geos.)
Later,
Schultz

[Hacksaw]

Don't forget to take pics of the seat upgrade, I'd be interested to see how you do it...

[Johnny Mullet]

Originally Posted by metroschultz

I already have a spare head and an Xfi camshaft. I will redo the head myself. I just need to take it to my machine shop buddy so he can
Clean it (hot tank)
Flux it (looking for cracks)
Mill it (make the surface smooth again)
then I will rebuild it in my garage.

Cleaning, and milling are optional. You would be surprised at how tough these engines really are. It's up to you, but if it were me, "flux it"

Rebuild the head at home and get it all ready. Take a couple days at home scheduled for the car and simply, remove the old head, drop the pan, push out the pistons, hone and re-ring it and get it back together with the head.

If you have any problems or questions, don't be afraid to ask so we can help!

[Johnny Mullet]

Please post here before bolting the head on so we can determine if your head gasket was properly cut for the drainback and the oil check valve stayed in place.