Rickdog

Hey Paulie: I still have those 1.8 parts: some new Y pipes, one new exahust pipe, two sets of rebuilt heads (one set with 2K on 'em, t'other set uninstalled), and that 5 spd, hi-lo 4wd transmission, plus some original radio/cassettes and some glass. Wanna' sell 'em for me, and take a commission? You've got all the contacts and the means to move 'em, and I don't. If so, I could bring 'em down to Bridgeport (or Trumbull or wherever) some weekend afternoon. Know of anyone who'd be interested in an '86 Golf 5spd diesel (it's a 1.6 TD without the turbo charger), rebuilt about 10k ago. Body is kinda leaky due to holes in the floor. Runs great: 45 mpg! PM me if you're interested. Rick Fowler

Thanks for your reply. Before the overheating incidents, I was getting at least 25 mpg in suburban commuting, with 28-31 hwy. I don't think it's ethanol related. I'll re-check the timiing marks tomorrow. For the past few weeks, we've had continual rain here in CT, and this weekend looks promising.

The car was spiking a temp. I added coolant, repeatedly; not much mind you, but I had to top it off. In hindsight, I think it was airbound. I removed the spark plugs, and the two front ones (1 & 3) were dark, and the two rear ones (2&4) were lighter, so I thought I had leaking gaskets at 233K. So, I removed the driver's side, only to discover it was okay. Then went on to replace the timing belt, the cam seals, the thermostat with an OEM one, the belts and an oil and filter change. Ya'd think the car would be grateful. Being a 5 spd, and driving sensibly, I got at the miniumum, 25 mpg. But now, after the work, only about 22. This is not specifically city driving, but suburban commuting, between 35-55 mph, and few stops. I don't think that the switch to 10% ethanol is the problem. The inside of the tailpipe is really sooty, whereas before it had a minimum of carbon residue. :-\

Fuel filter is new, as are plugs; the car was running well until my overheating episodes, which is why I thought the head gasket was leaking. I'll check the timing again on 05/20/06 Thanks, Rick

(Gr-o-a-n-n-n) OK. I was thinking the same thing. At least now, I know how to do it more quickly. Whaddya' think about an engine temperature control (?) sensor? Think that would or could make it run rich all the time? The tail pipe is sooty! Thanks for the additional brain useage. Rick

'95 Legacy 2.2, 5spd, w/233K: replaced driver's side head gasket 'cause I wrongly thought it was leaky. Replaced the cam seals, timing belt, OEM thremostat and belts, and Seafoamed it. Car seems to run great, but mileage has dropped from 25-28 city down to 22. I'm bummed. Also, sometimes if I don't downshift on an incline, it sounds and feels like it's running on three cylinders. I push the clutch in, rev it, downshift, and it sounds and runs okay. It has a new O2 sensor, air filter, plugs and wires. No check engine light on,though. This drop in MPG happened after I lovingly massaged it, too! I'm open for helpful hints and advice. If the ECM was possessed, would it show up as a CEL? I can't stand getting piss-poor mileage after all this time of beating the system. Help!

Awesome! Howdja' do that? I'd like to lift my Justy (love it!) about 2", just for grins. My 175.75x13's rub going over road bumps. Even with new struts. So... how'd you go about lifting that thing, and what did you have to do elsewise? Don't listen to the naysayers or the anal retentives who insist on low range. We have 35mpg! If you'd be so kind, reply to my email with some of what you did. Great beast! The hood bump is for your passenger's DVD, right? Rick

Back in the late 1980's while I was at seminary in Newton, MA, I had my own on-campus business. I called it "Rick's Theological Pit n' Pulpit". I did revivals and healings of great reknown. In between times, I also found time to study, go to classes, drive the seminary president to the airport (I also fixed his car), have a daughter, graduate and get a job. Down in the town of Walpole (of whose notoriety came of the Walpole State Prison... a r-e-a-l-l-l-l-y bad place... the tonwspeople got so stigmatized by having their town's name associated with "Walpole" (namely the Prison) that they petitioned the state of Massachusetts to chnage the name of the prison to something a bit more innocuous, a bit more cheerful, a bit more, say, welcoming. So the state chnaged the prison's name to ... get this... "Cedar Junction"! But, I digress), was THE most wonderful jonque yard on Earth. I was named "Goldie's", and it was over 50 acres of pick-yer-own cars, organized in neat rows by make, with noses pointing out, and forklift service if you needed to raise the car up onto Jersey barriers. On the first of the month, at 7:00 AM they would hold "Goldie's Grabathon". For an entry fee of $25, one, or two, or three could enter and rush to your desired carcass. I would go around campus during the week and take orders, and then go down on Thursday to scope out my stuff. On Saturday, I'd borrow the seminary's wheelbarrow, get a car hood, load all my 'stash ontp the barrowhood, and motor it to the gate, and stash it there. No one messed with it. At 1:00 PM, it was closing time. The deal was... if you caould carry it, it was yours. So... two guys could carry a hood full of stash easier than one. It was a real manly right of passage, replete with the Greek chorus of other grunters and stashers. One time, we had so much stuff on our hood, it just collapsed. Folded in two. The gatekeeper said, "Awwww... what a shame. But you know the rules. Ya' gotta carry it. (Quick! What to grab and what to leave?) But..." he said," I'm gonna turn around and have a smoke. I don't wanna' see you guys usin' that wheelbarrow." (Quick, get the wheelbarrow) "I'm smokin'... I sure hope you're not usin' that wheelbarrow...." Like I said, the place was wonderful. One day as I was wrenching, I saw this flannel-shirted V-shaped guy frequently walking by me and scopin' me out. I thought he was just an employee making sure no one had a power saw. Turned out he as the "muscle" for four guys who were stripping a Chevy C-30 stake body. At the finish line (gate), Mr. V-shape squats down like a Russian weightlifter, they put a 10 foot pipe across his shoulders, load up four brand new 19" tires and Budd wheels onto the pipe, the guy turns red, lets out a roar, arises and crabwalks across the finish line... to the lusty cheers of the all-manly-man chorus. Like I said... it was the ultimate in male bonding! And that's what I did in seminary. Rev. Rick (who still fixes his own)

A have a '91 Justy GL 5spd/4wd with 190K. I installed 4 struts @ 160K on principle. I am running 175-70 x 13 snow tyres, and despite some well-placed peening on the inside fender well, my car tends to scrape when going over a significant bump, or upon entering my bumpy driveway. Yeah, yeah... I know; go back on the South Beach diet. After New Year's. I was wondering:is there any way to lift this car, say 1-1.5 inches? Or, should I look for beefier rear springs? Any suggestions, warnings, referrrals for medication checks or affirmations would be appreciated by me. I do all my own work, and perhaps I could fabricate some of the lift hardware. This care is my daily runner; my wife gets the Legacy.