Hybrid Spirit- Back on the Road and UGLY!!

[Powerlinefixer]

Hybrid you ask? Yes, my Spirit R/T is a hybrid vehicle. It burns gas AND rubber.

Cometic headgasket is now complete and a new timing belt installed. I completely forgot how much fun this car is to drive. I was leaving white paint chips and green moss everywhere (it's amazing what will grow on a car). The interior survived very well. No mold or anything. I'll post pics of the exterior tomorrow because it is downright UGLY! After eight years, my Spirit R/T is licenced, insured, and I'm getting new tires tomorrow. It seems like it has more power than it used to, but it's been so long since I've driven it I may be wrong.

The old timing belt was cracked badly. So I threw a new one- without using a tension gauge. I tighten the timing belt, then start the engine. I adjust the tensioner tight, then loose and listen to the sound the belt makes being very careful to stop adjusting if the noise gets louder. Then I slowly tighten the belt until it starts to make noise, then back off the tensioner until the belt goes quiet. It takes me at the most one minute to complete the whole procedure so there is no way any harm is being done to the engine. I had over 40k on the last belt with no adjustments or anything. The only reason why I replaced it was because the car sat so long and the belt rotted. It's a trick I learned from a fellow worker when I used to be a mechanic.

[dakota]

where in the northwest are you? Jeremy

[Powerlinefixer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakota where in the northwest are you? Jeremy

Just outside of Portland.

[turbomini]

hybrid? lol i want pics!!!!

[Powerlinefixer]

Unfortunately, I am alone at the time and I am unable to post pics of the Hybrid Spirit in action. Here are some still shots. Note the moss and green slime. They consume the CO2 emissions from my vehicle and from the vehicles around me.

The moss and slime also help hide the severe visual impact that vehicles impose on our environment. This helps endangered animals, such as the spotted owl or snowy plover, remain calm just before impact.

[MachIIIRayzor]

Lol, sleeper effect with a x10 multiplier!

[djd's turbo]

Can I be nosey and ask why you parked it. Other than the 'stuff' growing on it, it looks pretty solid!! Congrats on getting it running!!

[abarguy]

I don't feel as bad, now. Thanks for posting those great pics!!!

[turbokid]

ya looks extremely solid! A good car wash and it looks like it would clean up pretty well

[Powerlinefixer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by djd's turbo Can I be nosey and ask why you parked it. Other than the 'stuff' growing on it, it looks pretty solid!! Congrats on getting it running!!

I parked it because the headgasket was leaking coolant and I didn't want to keep rolling up the miles. I bought it in 1998 with 48k miles. Now it has 80k miles. Unfortunately, I can't afford to drive my truck so I have to drive my Spirit. I drive about 30k a year.

It is a solid car. There is one door ding on it and the paint is peeling off. That's it.

It wouldn't start at first so I had my kid crank the engine while I hit the gas tank with a broom handle. VROoomm, and the aroma of varnish (from old gas burning) filled the neighborhood.

[abarguy]

Sounds yummy.

[lennylebaron]

Im gonna go out on a limb here and say you reside in either Mcminnville or Vancouver. Damn I would take that car in a heart beat, moss slime and all!!!!

[Powerlinefixer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lennylebaron Im gonna go out on a limb here and say you reside in either Mcminnville or Vancouver. Damn I would take that car in a heart beat, moss slime and all!!!!

It seems that any car parked for a length of time around here (Pacific NW west of the Cascades) gets the green slime moss. My car isn't as slimy now. I took it through the car wash. When the air dry jets began drying my car, they blasted the 2 inch thick mat of green by the wipers all over the walls of the car wash. ROTFL!!

I don't know the orginal owner, but when I bought the car it had Washington plates.