This Weekend Is A Bust...

[tresola]

Okay, well, we started working on the sway bar yesterday, and first the bolts snapped off, then they were stuck on the sway bar plate mount. In other words, the car is now screwed until I can get some new swaybar plate mounts. Does anyone know how I can possibly locate these?

Yesterday I got some Woolite stuff to throw in my Bissel for another pass at the carpeting. First disaster- the Woolite ended up being pretty foamy so I had to take the hose to the carpets and suck up the water. Disaster two- the hose broke inside the car while I was spraying and I drenched myself AND the interior of the car. Disaster three- I picked up the waste bin off the Bissel wrong and soaked myself with the dirty water. I was all too happy to call it quits after finishing up the passenger side of the car. The good news is, it doesn't seem to smell anymore! The bad news is the car's up on blocks so I cannot continue my cleaning.

Today I'm thinking of spending the day sitting around so I cannot get into any more trouble. If only I had left the video camera on, I could have had some fun videos for my upcoming blog. Geez!

[dvdchris45]

I had a similar issue with my sway bar plate mounts on my gen 2 a month or two ago only the the top bolts were stripped and spinning in place. After getting the plate mounts replaced w/ new bolts, I applied Locktite on the bolts (use blue or red) to make sure they dont come undone again.

[tresola]

http://s635.photobucket.com/albums/uu74/tresola/Final%20Interior%20Cleaning/

Well this weekend has gone better. The sway bar's finished thanks to the help of my mechanic, and I think the carpets are finally finished. My mechanic was able to save the plate mount by doing some helicoil and stuff to it. My bf was able to get the other plate mount fixed by using the Grab It tool on it. So all is well, the new bar seems to work great although we're questioning if the track setting has made the car slightly bouncier.

As for the interior, I ended up buying some Woolite carpet cleaner for the Bissell out of whim, it was basically my last shot before I tore out the carpets. The stuff was supposed to be a no foam, and unless the stuff I used previously was foaming, something sure foamed! But the good news is after I sprayed the Woolite on, put some water on it, scrubbed it with a brush, sucked up the stuff, and did this for like half hour per carpet, the car barely has an odor! I also scrubbed the headliner with Blue Coral's foaming can stuff, and I think that made a big difference as well. After running the AC for a bit yesterday, its gotten even better. I'm throwing the defogger in probably this evening, and then I call it quits on the interior after a final dust/vacuuim job. I got the moonroof plus the rear windows tinted with some static cling for now. It looks crappy but its effective nontheless.

After our 50mph winds earlier this week, my car developed measles. There were brownish black spots all over the car, it was so sad! It poured rain yesterday morning which got a bit of it off, then I followed up with a wash job. It looks really nice now! I haven't taken the after shots just yet, I have to do some work on the tires first.

And the great news is I won factory mats for $10 on eBay to replace my raunchy ones! They're preowned but they look very nice, and I could care less if they need a quick swipe with the Bissell. MY mirror also came, and I'll try to get some before and after shots of cleaning up the scuffs on it. I bought it for $30 and it had two nasty scratches on it, but thanks to claying, they're gone now. If you look super close you can see the fine lines the scratches made, but who's going to care? I'm going to attempt to get that installed this weekend myself, it doesn't look too hard.

AFter a month of work, I am so close to that finish line!

[D-money]

im always amazes at every ones dedication to their laras good job what a transformation

[Eye8Pussies]

great to hear you got it figured out, it's always a challenge and frustrating when things break

[campfire9]

It is great to see someone who is so excited about their car that you will do what ever it takes to have it the way you want it. The transformation in your car from the time you got it is amazing and you should be very proud of what you have done. Keep up the great work that you have done so far and you will put a lot of us to shame.

D-money, you are the only other person on this forum that I have noticed a wood and leather steering wheel. I had mine done through American Stitches about 6 years ago. The best treat I ever gave myself and my Solara. I just smile every time I get in to drive.

[tresola]

Thanks! I want to take good care of this car and get it restored back to factory condition. And I really want to replace that front end- new sway bars, etc. The rear end behaves so well now, I want to see what would happen if I did the front end.

I didn't get any more work done on it this weekend, I have to figure out how and when to tackle the mirror. I shouldn't break anything or lose any screws putting it in...