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A new Quest owner in MN

Mnementh

By Mnementh,
in Just plain ol' B.S.

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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Thought I'd introduce myself and my new ride, a bone stock '87 Conquest TSi.

 

I originally found this car for my then-current roomate back in '88. It had 6200 miles on it then and we had lots of bachelor fun in it back in the day. Fast forward to about a month ago. Afformentioned friend contacts me after over 8 years of silence. Seems he's losing his house and wants to sell the Conquest to help finance his move. It reportedly has 45,000 miles on it now. After settling on a price I went down to pick it up.

 

Thankfully nice weather that day. I changed the dead battery for a new one and filled the 24 year old tires BUT with no ramps I could not get enough leverage to get the oil drain bolt off so I slowly and carefully drove the 130 miles back to the twin cities on a 6 year old oil change(!) The good news of that day? The car does NOT have 45,000 miles on it - it actually has 38,000 miles!!

 

So, the past week after driving it home I've been changing the oil & filter & cleaning up the interior. (The leather was very dry and ALMOST ready to crack!) The car has not been cleaned or detailed for 15+ years so that alone was several day task.

 

My question is this: I'm gonna take it in and have the cooling system flushed... god knows how many years (decades?) old the coolant is! While I'm having that done, is there anything else I should have done?

 

It is also a very unusual color - a sort of greyish slate-blue metalic. The color code is B71. I have never seen another one in this color, even back in the late '80s. If someone would kindly advise me on how to post pics, I can post pics of my car that will be easier to look at than my avatar, LOL.

 

I'm planning to restore the car back to it's former glory and maintain it in stock shape. Mitsubishi got it right so why tinker with it, right?? My immediate goal is to get it into roadworthy shape so it's reliable enough to drive to the Starquest Nationals in Branson, MO this June.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC00055.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC00056.jpg

 

Took these two pics after changing the oil but before starting on polishing & waxing the exterior. The decade or more of no wash or wax really shows. Obviously this is not Fiji blue, but is it Atlantic blue or perhaps Baltic?

 

Thanks for your attention. I look forward to making friends, having fun on here & sharing the love of starquests!! ^__^

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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Sorry to reply to my own post but here's another question (yeah, damn newbie!): When I was cleaning the interior I saw this device on the ceiling between the two rear ceiling vents.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC00034.jpg

 

My guess would be a temperature sensor but why on the ceiling of the back seat? I know these had state-of-the-art climate control back in the day. It was supposed to account for passive solar heating from the sun, etc.

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Earl Newbie

Earl

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Welcome to SQC. Nice Atlantic blue. I think

you may have the lowest mile one around=)

And that is the tempertaure sensor for the

climate control, you're correct. You might

want to dig around in the FAQ section for

a bit and just brush up on some things.

You could flush the coolant easily at home.

Here's a link that is very helpful:

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/coolant_flush.html

Hope it helps.

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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Welcome to SQC. Nice Atlantic blue. I think

you may have the lowest mile one around=)

And that is the tempertaure sensor for the

climate control, you're correct. You might

want to dig around in the FAQ section for

a bit and just brush up on some things.

You could flush the coolant easily at home.

Here's a link that is very helpful:

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/coolant_flush.html

Hope it helps.

 

Thanks for the link regarding changing the coolant. I'm a bit intimidated by doing it on the 'quest because, when I was underneath changing the oil, I saw the drain spigot on the bottom of the radiator...buried under the plastic bits of the air dam. I briefly tried to touch it with my fingers but no go. I'll check at a car parts store and see if they still have the change kits they used to sell...the only thing is I hate cutting the hoses but oh well. And thank you; my guesses were right on both Atlantic blue and the temp sensor.

 

I've seen the new owner FAQs but since this is such low mileage and has never been raced or beaten on hard I'm wondering if I'd be safe in just changing fluids and inspecting all the belts and hoses. The belts are still mitsubishi factory ones and I bet the hoses are factory stock too. Even though the car ran just fine for about 140 miles driving it home I get worried when I think of driving it about 1300 miles round-trip to Branson with 24 year old hoses... -_-;

 

Anyway, thanks for the welcome! This seems like a great board - really friendly & full of info. I'll try hard to be a good contributing member and not an annoying newb! ^_^

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D_Venable Newbie

D_Venable

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Thanks for the link regarding changing the coolant. I'm a bit intimidated by doing it on the 'quest because, when I was underneath changing the oil, I saw the drain spigot on the bottom of the radiator...buried under the plastic bits of the air dam. I briefly tried to touch it with my fingers but no go. I'll check at a car parts store and see if they still have the change kits they used to sell...the only thing is I hate cutting the hoses but oh well. And thank you; my guesses were right on both Atlantic blue and the temp sensor.

 

I've seen the new owner FAQs but since this is such low mileage and has never been raced or beaten on hard I'm wondering if I'd be safe in just changing fluids and inspecting all the belts and hoses. The belts are still mitsubishi factory ones and I bet the hoses are factory stock too. Even though the car ran just fine for about 140 miles driving it home I get worried when I think of driving it about 1300 miles round-trip to Branson with 24 year old hoses... -_-;

 

Anyway, thanks for the welcome! This seems like a great board - really friendly & full of info. I'll try hard to be a good contributing member and not an annoying newb! ^_^

 

 

If you don't change them before the trip (I'd be happy to come help if you need an extra hand) buy them anyway, pack them in the car on the trip and the tools to change them all

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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If you don't change them before the trip (I'd be happy to come help if you need an extra hand) buy them anyway, pack them in the car on the trip and the tools to change them all

 

No, I'm DEFINITELY doing it before the trip! We're stopping by some in-laws in IA on the way back so it's gonna be almost 1400 miles total & I want to make sure the car is as good as it reasonably can be. When I bought it & drove it 130+ miles home it seemed fine. The needle stayed in the cold 1/4 of the gauge. I'm just worried about if it's old I don't want acids to be eating away at the head (& other parts!)!! :blink: I just have to make up my mind whether to cut the hoses and do it 'on top' or figure out how to get at the drain petcock and do it 'down below'

 

BTW, as a fellow local, are you going to Branston? If so, you wanna convoy? We're thinking of leaving Friday morning... ^_^

 

Oh and it doesn't say in my sig but I live in Eagan so anyone in the TC area that would like to convoy, I'd be interested. Safety and knowledge (for repairs!) in numbers, don't ya know...

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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Welcome to the club man lol. Im not in MN but im a neighbor :) La Crosse Wi here. I hope you are enjoying your car, these things are like crack... WATCH OUT!

 

I know what you mean! :lol: Normally I wouldn't have gotten THIS one, with the economy and money woes and all but now I'm looking at different colors, flatties and SHPs and thinking hey, I could stick it in the backyard and it wouldn't be SO BAD... :D

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Starfighterpilot Newbie

Starfighterpilot

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To get at the rad drain **** to drain the cooling system w/o creating a mess, remove the front metal air shield between the rad and the engine. There's only 4 or 5 bolts holding it on.

 

You have an incredible find with your new Lady. And I salute you for wanting to keep her OEM Original. Check out the Starquest FAQ's.

 

HHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMM!!! Mnementh, unusual handle, but it rings a bell. :) Did you read the Anne McCaffrey book series, The Dragonriders Of Pern? That's the name of the Head Male Dragon on the planet of Pern. I really enjoyed reading that book series. :) :)

 

For What It's Worth.

 

KEN

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rcm Contributor

rcm

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welcome to the club and a rare find.Change the fuel filter in the engine bay too.General tune up and a way you

go.... :D

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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you should come out to the Mitsustyle spring dyno day in Rogers at DB Performance tomorrow, I'll be there, but without my car (down for electrical issues)

 

Thanks for the invite...I was busy on Saturday. It was such questionable weather I wouldn't have driven my 'quest anyway...not after spending all the hours detailing it! :lol:

 

I realize it will be rained upon sooner or later, I just want to try and keep it later than sooner!! :rolleyes:

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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If you don't change them before the trip (I'd be happy to come help if you need an extra hand) buy them anyway, pack them in the car on the trip and the tools to change them all

 

Ooops, yes I did not reply correctly - I am going to change the coolant for SURE but am nervous about changing the hoses. That's not a bad idea to buy them all and take them along on the trip though. Any suggestions on where I can get them?

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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welcome to the club and a rare find.Change the fuel filter in the engine bay too.General tune up and a way you

go.... :D

 

 

Thanks. I hate to ask but where is the filter located? Just generally, I -SHOULD- be able to find it... :P

 

Also, is there one in the trunk? I'm supposing the THING sticking up is the fuel pump? (Sorry for all the newbie questions!) :blush:

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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I went out last Friday and took some pics. Now that she's all cleaned up, the old car doesn't look too shabby!! ;)

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC01602.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC01604.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC01597.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC01598.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/loli_cat/Rodan/DSC01589.jpg

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Mnementh Newbie

Mnementh

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So we hosted bible study at our house today. The leader is a motor head, manages an Oreily. He heard how I bought a car for $1000 and wanted to look at it. I took him out to the garage and he just went crazy. "You know owners of Eclipses will pay over $1000 for this turbo!" Yeh... :rolleyes: I explain that the car looked like CRAP when I bought it, though when I said I'd buy it I figured it was clapped out, had 150k miles and I'd probably break even parting it out. Oh, he says, I know someone who will pay $6000 for it! How about $7500 I counter. ^_^

 

He claims someone at a car show is gonna see the car, has ALWAYS wanted one, and will offer me $10,000 for it. Yeah, I say, and that's the day I'll sell it!! <_<

 

Anyway, I'm STILL finishing the detailing on it. I'm planning on driving it down to the Eddie Cochran Days car show in Albert Lea on 6/10-11 http://www.freewebs.com/cochrancarshow/ and also planning on driving it down to the Starquest Nationals in Branson 6/24-26. If you always dreamed of owning a clean original low mileage atlantic blue 'quest, just show up at one of those venues with $10,000 cash or money order and drive home!! :lol:

 

(No I'm only semi-serious - I wouldn't want to sell her but since I've been unemployed for awhile you could wave lots of money at my wife and she'd work on getting me to sell it... :blush: )

Edited by Mnementh
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