Rollin'

Over the weekend I finally got tires for the rims I got a few weeks back.

I couldn't wait to take some pictures of them, and so I got a few not great shots at night. I'm very pleased with how they look and fit!!!

If you happen to remember way back when all this started, I had some different rims, and you may wonder what became of them. I had them on the back porch area of my house, which is well hidden and not an area where anyone goes. I was waiting until I rebuilt the suspension and got it aligned to put them on. Just a few weeks before I got that wrapped up, some LA DWP workers were towards that area, working on the sewer lines, and when I went to retrieve them, they were gone. While I have no proof, I have a very strong suspicion as to what happened there.

Anyway, I once again started looking for a set of rims. I don't know when it happened, I didn't used to care for them, but at some point the factory Ion rims I ended up getting began growing on me. They are only 16" as opposed to the 17's I'd had, so likely the tires cost a bit less. Keeps it a factory rim, too, albeit one that wasn't offered on this model. Actually, when I was shopping for the transmission, I was already on the prowl for them.

I decided on going with 205-50-16's, which come to find out isn't so common a size. They had 55 series all day long, but I had to special order 50's. Actually came out $10 cheaper going with this size. Look at that, they've got the size right on the tread!!! I've never seen that before. So how do they handle and ride??? The handling, I haven't broke 'em loose yet, even though I have only had a couple chances to really lay into them. This morning I took a 270 degree right turning clover leaf ramp, finally with no one ahead of me. Whenever I get a chance to do this corner like this, I mute the radio and roll the windows down to hear what the tires are doing. Didn't hear a thing. Ever since I put the new springs in, I've slightly regretted it. They are just a tad too harsh for my liking, but for whatever reason, these tires seem to ease the ride somewhat.

This morning at work, I parked next to one of my co-workers who happens to have an Ion with the same rims, with a different style center cap. Who do you think wears it better???

Saturn S Series Technical Bulletin v. #512.0

Just to share a little of the information I've recently acquired...

The smaller oil filter on the right is the specified unit for all S Series 1.9 engines. The one on the left is slightly larger, hence it has more filter surface. It has the same base size, thread size and bypass pressure as the specified one, and sells for exactly the same price as the other, so no reason not to use it. I believe it is the one specified for 2000-2006 Mustang V-6 engines, but the STP one has an easy enough part number to remember.

The next two pictures I took because attempting to do an image search for "Saturn 1.9 Twin Cam Air Injection Ports" came up with only one picture of what I was looking for!!! If I ever get an engine to rebuild, I'll get some better shots. The ports are lined up directly under the studs. In the second picture, I've added in a helpful couple of purple arrows. For a while I've been getting the p0410 check engine code for secondary air injection. At first I thought it was from the connector to the valve, which was damaged in the hood incident, and the code started coming up shortly after that. I replaced it, and it didn't take care of the issue. Next, I took off the metal pipe from the valve to the exhaust manifold and cleaned out the carbon build up inside of it. Still no good.

Smog check time is coming up, and the code keeps coming back. The only thing left to do is pull off the exhaust manifold and clean out the rest of the way. The air conditioning compressor bracketry needs to come off to get to all the bolts. I left the down pipe connected and just made some room between the head and the manifold and was able to get to the ports. I had a couple wire brushes I had intended to use, but the carbon was also rather gummy in this area, and I ended up using a stiff piece of wire to get out quite a bit of gunk. Hopefully it's enough.

In addition, since I had the transmission done, I've been getting a code for the torque converter lock up not working. Took her back to the transmission place (they'd wanted to see her back in a few weeks, make sure all is well) and they told me at that time they'd need a couple hours to see to it. I couldn't do it at that time, so my wife and I came back a couple weeks later. Called them back in a couple hours, and they said they were going to need more time to take things apart. Ended up being there a couple days, and they replaced the external switch, which wasn't making good contact, they said. Made it most of the way home before the light came back on. I took it back to another garage of the same chain, not because they failed me at the first one, but because it's closer to home. They've got it now, and they've replaced the torque converter, even though it looked like it was fine, and are replacing the valve body. Seems to me that's every possible thing it could be, so this should do it.

Just last week 3 turned 100!!! Two and a half years, and I've rolled around 33,000 miles on her!!!

Also a week ago, I finally got a set of the 16" Ion alloys I've been wanting to get for Scruffy!!! Got them from two different Ions at the junkyard, and turns out there's a little difference, do you see it??? Apparently, on some they have a dark gray inside the spokes and machined look faces, and on others they've just painted the whole thing with a metallic silver paint!!! I'm looking into getting them matched, but if not, I'll just put a pair of either style on opposite sides!!!