Automotive

Up until around 2016 or so, I primarily drove these quirky "Turbo Mopars" employing Chrysler's 2.2L turbocharged powertrain.  My last daily driver of this type was a 1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z C/S.  The car was a bit of a basket case when I got it, but it was eventually sorted out: the frame was straightened, the floor pans replaced, and the powertrain and interior were upgraded.  It was a very fun and comfortable car to drive (for a Turbo-Mopar anyway).  Eventually I had to let it go, as it just wasn't practical to use a 30+ year-old car as a daily.

My previous daily driver from 1995 through 2002 was a 1988 Dodge Shadow ES.  It was laid to rest due to a fatal case paint peel and floorpan/frame rust.  It had been in a few collisions over its life and it just wasn't worth saving.  Prior to that, I drove a 1987 Dodge Shadow Turbo and a 1987 Plymouth Sundance Turbo.  I had a thing for these particular cars (the "P-body", in Turbo-Mopar parlance), especially the first generation (1987-1988).

Back when I first graduated from college, I strongly desired the ultimate first-generation P-body: the 1987 Shelby CSX.  After some searching and waiting for the right car in my price range, I found Shelby CSX #694 of 750.  It has mainly been a project car, though it has had to step in as a daily from time to time.  This is the last of these cars that I still own.

Chrysler had an interesting relationship with Carroll Shelby in the late 1980s.  While the resulting vehicles were never taken very seriously in muscle car circles, a great online community did form around them.  The discourse has moved from mailing lists to online Forums to (unfortunately) Facebook Groups, but the community itself still exists.  The Shelby-Dodge Auto Club still holds an annual convention to this day.

In the dark recesses of the Internet lies an ancient tome of knowledge that (according to the server logs) people still visit for some reason: Mini-Mopar Resources.

The Daytona: June 25, 2004

Posted on June 25, 2004.

I pulled the A568 out of the CSX so I can bolt it to this powertrain.  I found an A523 with 3.50:1 drive ratio in another corner of the garage.  Where did that come from? Then I tripped over this box marked "Quaife"....

The CSX: June 25, 2004

Posted on June 25, 2004.

Well, the car is back together.  While I had it apart, I swapped in the A520 that I had just rebuilt before getting rid of the Shadow.  It has the chrome moly bearing plate too, so it should hold up to this motor.  The taller overall gear ratio will be welcome.  Since it had the A568 in it before, I had to swap the shifter, cables, etc.  I also replaced the middle rear freeze plug with a rubber one, as it was starting to seep.  It was rusted through from the inside, just like the one behind the starter was.  I also replaced that first one as the rubber was looking cracked and shabby.

I couldn't see where the headgasket had blown into a coolant jacket, but it did blow between cylinders 3 and 4.  The gasket was still there, but it was burned between the gasket and the head.  That area of the head is still flat and intact, so it should be fine.  Unfortunately, I drove it to and from work and it still runs like crap except now it won't rev past 4500.  Grrr.

The Daytona: June 12, 2004

Posted on June 12, 2004.

I am slowly collecting parts to build up the new power train for this thing.  Who knows, maybe I'll have it done for SDAC.  Hahahaha...yeah right.  Via a series of junkyard trips and parts cars, I finally have all the interior bits for a complete '91 interior.  The center console was a bit of a challenge, as it changed between '90 and '91.  I wanted a manual shifter and trying to find the right center console pieces in the right color was tricky since I am partial to the '91+ style.  I am still confused about how the whole center console works with the navigator and CD player slots.  I am not going to install a factory CD player, but it would be nice to understand this.  I don't see how one could get at them with the console up so high.  The service manuals didn't really have any diagrams that were terribly helpful.  I have my hands on a parts car that has everything else I need and more...bwahaha.

The CSX: June 11, 2004

Posted on June 11, 2004.

I fiddled with it some more, but now I am seeing that the coolant system is being pressurized with gas after driving it around the block.  Coolant is being pushed out out of the radiator.  Looks like my aggressive cal blew the headgasket.  I took it around the block again and it got even worse.  Perhaps this is why it is running bad.

The CSX: May 28, 2004

Posted on May 28, 2004.

I added a little spark to the cal and now the motor is not running well at all. The idle is very rough and it pings a lot.  I backed out the change, but the problems continue.  I then went back to the cal I was running during the winter, but it still didn't help.  I swapped the coil, wires, cap, rotor plugs.  No dice.  Next I decided to look at the timing it looked OK, but when I took off the belt cover, I noticed that the idler side of the belt was very loose.  I figured this was making the timing jump around, but even after fixing it and triple-checking the timing again, it still idles bad, pings in boost, and won't rev past 5k.