Mnementh Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 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!! ^__^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 (edited) it's Atlantic Blue, and welcome to SQC Glad to see you make it over to this site that is a temp sensor, it's for the auto climate control Edited May 10, 2011 by D_Venable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 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 fora 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.htmlHope it helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goddard Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 That car is hawt! My buddy Charlie has a couple Atlantic blues back in MD. I love that color! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 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 fora 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.htmlHope 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 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!)!! 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 unfortunately I can't afford the trip this year (just bought a new truck) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89PalermoSHP Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I wont be making the trip either but Im in Woodbury and maybe we can meet up once you get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyquest Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 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! 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighterpilot Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanta Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Caliber308 is going to be so happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchi934 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Welcome to the forum! I figured you must be new; resurrecting all those old threads LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcm Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 welcome to the club and a rare find.Change the fuel filter in the engine bay too.General tune up and a way yougo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87TsiOwner Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted May 14, 2011 Report Share Posted May 14, 2011 Hello fellow B71 owner! And welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted May 14, 2011 Report Share Posted May 14, 2011 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 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! I realize it will be rained upon sooner or later, I just want to try and keep it later than sooner!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 welcome to the club and a rare find.Change the fuel filter in the engine bay too.General tune up and a way yougo.... Thanks. I hate to ask but where is the filter located? Just generally, I -SHOULD- be able to find it... Also, is there one in the trunk? I'm supposing the THING sticking up is the fuel pump? (Sorry for all the newbie questions!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 you can get all the hoses and belts at any auto parts store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnementh Posted May 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 (edited) 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... 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!! (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... ) Edited May 23, 2011 by Mnementh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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