inspector10 Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 I've always wanted a Starquest, and I've been lurking around this site for some time now trying to learn as much as I can about them before I made a purchase. I finally came across this very clean '87 Starion ESI-R 5 speed which I picked up for $1500. The good is that it is completely original, and there is virtually no rust on this car at all - amazing since it spent its whole life in New Jersey! The bad is that is has a blown engine. The previous owner said it actually threw a rod through the side of the block, but I haven't investigated closely enough to see if that is in fact true. Either way, I've ordered the factory service manuals and the teardown will begin soon. I'm sure I am going to become a much more active member! http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion002reduced.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion004reduced.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion005reduced.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Quest Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Nice car man. Welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natallica Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Nice find, welcome to the addiction! Good Luck on the teardown. -N8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOSTED88tsi Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) If it threw a rod you should be able to tell just by popping the hood lol but anyways welcome! Edited June 6, 2011 by BOOSTED88tsi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRACK BEAST Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 yeah that happened to a fiji shp car that i bought it through a rod straight through the side of the block. but i picked up mine for $500 check out my post in the restoration center youll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 If it threw a rod you should be able to tell just by popping the hood lol but anyways welcome! Lol - I thought the same thing! I figured it would be obvious, but there is a good portion of the engine that I can't see until I start taking off the intake and exhaust manifolds and such. With all that still in place, the parts of the engine block that I can see look fine. I tried turning the key to see what would happen, and the starter just ground on the flywheel, so I'm not getting my hopes up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyers151 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Strong Island, nice. I'm up in Orange County, probably a couple hours or more upstate depending on your location. Looks real clean, a very nice starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted June 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Strong Island, nice. I'm up in Orange County, probably a couple hours or more upstate depending on your location. Looks real clean, a very nice starting point. I've been to Monroe a couple of times. I have a friend that lives in Harriman. I'm sure I'll take the Starion up there on a road trip once she's running. We should hook up and compare stories. Thanks all for the warm welcome. I started tearing into her tonight after work. There is alot of stuff to unbolt under the hood of this thing compared to the small block Chevys that I'm used to! Got most everything stripped off the exhaust side of the engine, the intake side looks like fun.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyers151 Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Cool man, small world we live in, haha. I'm always around so shoot me a PM if your up this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted June 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 So I took the intake manifold off (which was a PITA with the engine in the car, just as everyone here said it would be) and found this http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion023.jpg That's a pretty nice size hole huh? At least it wasn't a surprise, since the previous owner had told me about it, but I needed to see for myself. Time to start searching for a new block...and starter lol! Here's a couple of pics of the engine bay before I started the disassembly. I'm not too familiar with these cars, but from all of the pics I've seen, it looks like it was completely stock (except for that K&N decal ) http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion020.jpghttp://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion021.jpghttp://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion022.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeuppance Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 That's a custom crankcase window. -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Some progress pics... I Pulled the bad motor and have spent some time unbolting stuff from the inner fenders and firewall, cleaning it up, and bolting it back on.http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion034reduced.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion038reduced.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion037reduced.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion036reduced.jpg The master cylinder was leaking pretty bad, most of the paint on the booster was gone, so I took it off and gave it a quick touch up with some rustoleum semi gloss black... http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion039reduced.jpg But it also made a mess of the steering box and frame rail...http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion040reduced.jpg It looks like the only way I can get in there to clean everything up and get a coat of paint back on the exposed metal is to remove the steering box. I really didn't want to do that, but I know I should. In the meantime, I picked up another motor. It had recently been rebuilt before I got it, but some moisture must have gotten in there while it was being stored. I took the head off to have a look, and found some rust on the cylinder walls. So I took it completely apart, sent it to the machine shop, and now it's going .030 over. The rods had been reconditioned and ARP bolts were installed, so that's all good. The crank has already had .020 machined off on both the rod and main journals, so it just needs a fresh set of bearings. I've got a fel-pro gasket set and pistons in transit, and I'll be contacting DAD this week with a laundry list of things I need to buy from him. Hopefully I'll have the motor back within the next 2 weeks. I want to replace the motor mounts, I see that there are 2 bolts mounting them to the crossmember. Does anyone know if the crossmember is threaded, or if there are nuts on the other side that need to be held? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 The crossmember is threaded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Cool, thanks. That makes it easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 I rebuilt the throttle body today. Here's what I started with - all dirty and grimy... http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion042.jpg After disassembly.. http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion052.jpg That carb cleaner stuff worked really well (as it should, it cost more than the freakin' rebuild kit) http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion053.jpg The result... http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion046.jpg This is the first time I've done this, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works! The previous owner had told me that she just had new injectors installed less than a year ago. They're from Fuel Injector Clinic. The seals and o-rings for the top of the injectors were different than what was in the rebuild kit, so I just left them in place. They looked fairly new, so hopefully it'll be ok. I also found this in the glove box...I wonder how many of these are still around??? I'm not even sure if I have a functioning tape deck anymore, but I am so curious to hear it!! http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion048.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted June 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 It's been a while since I updated this, but I've been tinkering around again, so I figured I'd share a few pics. I actually got the engine in and running back in November, and I put a few hundred miles on it over the winter. The calipers were sticking a little bit, and the front end needed some work, so I never really took any long trips, just alot of around town stuff to get a feel for the car. Short block assembled:http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion055.jpg New Head from Dad installed:http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/Starion060.jpg And then I didn't take any pics until now! Engine back in:http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0113.jpg And now she's back up on jackstands and I'm rebuilding the front end, and installing all new brakes. http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0119.jpg Brake fluid leak ate away half of the drivers side sway bar bushing!http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0115.jpg All the old stuff:http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0117.jpg I'm just waiting for the last few parts to come before I start to reassemble. Any suggestions on where to get replacement sway bar bushings? Oh, and I REALLY NEED AN AIRDAM http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0112.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pc85 Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 (edited) It's been a while since I updated this, but I've been tinkering around again, so I figured I'd share a few pics. I actually got the engine in and running back in November, and I put a few hundred miles on it over the winter. The calipers were sticking a little bit, and the front end needed some work, so I never really took any long trips, just alot of around town stuff to get a feel for the car.And now she's back up on jackstands and I'm rebuilding the front end, and installing all new brakes. Brake fluid leak ate away half of the drivers side sway bar bushing!http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0115.jpg All the old stuff:http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0117.jpg I'm just waiting for the last few parts to come before I start to reassemble. Any suggestions on where to get replacement sway bar bushings? Oh, and I REALLY NEED AN AIRDAM http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0112.jpgCkeck on e-bay, mk1 propose has complete set of bushings and sway bar mounts. Edited June 21, 2012 by pc85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted June 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 I took a look in his ebay store, and on the website starionpartsfactory.com. I saw the end links and the bushing kit, but the kit doesn't look like it includes the sway bar bushings. His larger sway bars come with the bushings, but right now I was planning on keeping the stock bars. Am I missing something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markhansenconquest Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 are you sure that is break fluid and not p/s fluid leaking from top of p/s gear box ...because if it is ..........you might as well rebuied the gear box too. .... autozone rebuield kit 67.00 bucks..its a lot easer to do with engine out or head off....those p/s hoses are really tight..... broke one break line wrench doing mine..........put on break line wrench and use vice grips around wrench head so it will not flex and break line wrench.........and cheater bar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted June 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Yeah, the steering box is leaking too. I've never rebuilt one before, and I'm a little intimidated... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I should be picking up the last of the parts I need for the front end tomorrow. In the meantime, I replaced the rear brakes - rotors, calipers, pads, and hoses. http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0133.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0135.jpg I also got real lucky and picked this up for $75 at a junkyard 5 miles from my house... http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0134.jpg My windshield has a crack right in the driver's line of vision, so it won"t pass safety inspection. Once I get this installed, I can finally make the car legal, and take it on some road trips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted August 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 Well, she's all back together again. Front end rebuild is complete. I replaced just about everything - control arm bushings, ball joints, strut rod bushings, wheel bearings, KYB strut inserts, newer front springs, strut mounts, center link, inner and outer tie rods, and sway bar bushings and end links. I also replaced the front brake hoses, anong with new calipers, rotors, and pads. What a huge difference! The front end no longer shakes violently at 45 - 50 mph, and even though I need a wheel alignment, she tracks down the road pretty straight. I should be getting the alignment some time this week. I suck at taking pics, but here are a few shots of things going back together http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0144.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0145.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0146.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0152.jpg I picked up an extra set of wheels a little while back for $100 bucks. They were kinda beat up, but had very little curb rash compared to the ones that were on my car. So after reading Burton's instructions on wheel polishing, I decided to give it a shot. This is an example of what I started with http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0157.jpg And after a few hours (and sanding my fingerprints off!) here's the results http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0160.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0161.jpg I think they came out pretty decent. Not professional results by any means, but a big improvement http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/IMAG0173.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/IMAG0174.jpg Now I have to tackle the fronts http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0162.jpg Also, I no longer have to look at this http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0164.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0167.jpg http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww217/anthonyo196/Starion/IMAG0168.jpg It's almost done!! I finally broke down and ordered a new airdam. Hopefully it will arrive this week.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironside Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 Great work.... you know white cars are the coolest.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector10 Posted August 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 Great work.... you know white cars are the coolest.... Thanks!....and yes they are.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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