Making use of garage space!

[vernjeggies]

Finally working out file sizes so I can post a few photos from after the wash

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It got too dark by the time I had the engine bay cleaned up a bit, but I'll snap some this weekend maybe.

[vernjeggies]

The worst of the rust damage was the hood

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and under the rear hatch

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The fenders will both be getting replaced, and obviously the grille as well. Still in the market for the Lil Wide Track style grille.... if anyone has anything... I'm your guy.

[67shovel]

Your starting with a better wagon than I did! Funny thing, I have the same exact dog at my house too! Don't tell me your dogs anme is "Luci"?

[zeke]

Doesn't look too bad so far from here! Looks like someone found out the hard way that vega hoods open from the windshield end maybe.

[SeniorSavage]

Hey Jeff, here's another nice Astre wagon thats running around on the island here somewhere north of Nanaimo that I ran into last year.

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cheers, Todd

p.s. I also happen to have a spare 4.3 block sitting on an engine stand in my shop.

[vernjeggies]

Your starting with a better wagon than I did! Funny thing, I have the same exact dog at my house too! Don't tell me your dogs anme is "Luci"?

Yeah, I think I got pretty lucky on this one! Haha no, his name is Chopper.

[vernjeggies]

Doesn't look too bad so far from here! Looks like someone found out the hard way that vega hoods open from the windshield end maybe.

Kinda looked that way, until I started getting into it last night... Looks like it was in an accident at some point. The rad support is in pretty rough shape, home weld job to keep it in, and cracks and bends all over. not even close to straight. Looks like I'll be needing one of those eventually.

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Here's some photos of the damage I found under the passenger side fender

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And some serious filler work around the back end.... Looks thick

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[vernjeggies]

Hey Jeff, here's another nice Astre wagon thats running around on the island here somewhere north of Nanaimo that I ran into last year.

p.s. I also happen to have a spare 4.3 block sitting on an engine stand in my shop.

That thing looks amazing! And it's in Courtenay too! I'll keep in mind that you have that block.... maybe we can work out some kind of a trade haha

[vernjeggies]

Last night I started gutting the interior. Found a couple small rust holes, and a few good sized rat nests, but over all, incredibly good shape!

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Nothing major, and all easy fixes so far.
Also, you can see in the first photo, the previous owner cut a 4"x4" hole in the tunnel for the trans dipstick access. They also home made a dip stick thats about 6" off the top of whatever was full length haha. No marker lines on it at all. Cover the hole up with carpet.

[vernjeggies]

Got her running today! First time shes done more than just fire a couple times in almost 15 yrs! Idled on its own and everything! Pushed a bit of black for the first 20 or 30 seconds, but not bad, all things considered. The 3.8L might be the motor I stick with for a bit, just to get it on the road. Still waiting on ICBC to come through with the registration for me, and a bunch of body work, but the major question in my mind has been answered.... IT LIVES!!!

[bugdewde]

Awesome. Keep the 3.8L. It has a super flat torque curve. Plenty of pulling power at 2000 rpm as at 4000 rpm. Very useable. Watch oil pressure..... oiling is their weak link. If I remember correctly, they rely on high volume rather than pressure.

[92turbogtz]

I didn't realize you were in Victoria.

[vernjeggies]

Awesome. Keep the 3.8L. It has a super flat torque curve. Plenty of pulling power at 2000 rpm as at 4000 rpm. Very useable. Watch oil pressure..... oiling is their weak link. If I remember correctly, they rely on high volume rather than pressure.

I'm definitely going to keep it. It'll need a bit of work, but mostly easy stuff. I've noticed that the fuel pump leaks pretty badly and the radiator isnt actually secured to anything at all! It just floats around haha Also, It had an aftermarket oil pressure guage, but the line leading to it was really old and brittle, so it broke and started squirting oil everywhere

I didn't realize you were in Victoria.

Yeah man!

[vernjeggies]

Ok, so I'm having an issue chasing wiring. I have a service manual in the mail, but we all know what ebay timelines are like. I'm trying to figure out why the starter wont engage when I turn the key. Everything else works fine (electrically), and the starter will work fine if I jump it straight to the battery. Is this a fused circuit? If so, anyone know where the fuse is? If not, I'm going to troubleshoot my ignition switch, in which case, Which two wires are the main power and starter at that level?

[vernjeggies]

Well, I've narrowed down the problem to what looks like it could be a missing relay? Does that make any sense? I found the purple wire from the battery positive meets with a blue wire and a red wire all in a 3 slot female outlet against the firewall under the hood near the fuse panel. Anyone know what is supposed to plug in to this?

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