Matt's n600 rebuild project log

[RGR...]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

The problem, of course, is that I would have to get a throttle body/intake manifold custom made, as well as drill a hole in the exhaust manifold to fit an oxygen sensor. Custom fuel maps would have to be made as well to be fitted on a custom ECU. Sensors would have to be retrofitted to work with the car, and I'd have to get a different upper crankcase for it to have a tachometer.

Unless of course they make kits for things like this. I think it would be a very cool conversion, however.

Most of these things are going to be easier that you assume, I've done
some stuff that "they" said was impossible, and I'd be glad to help!

As for a TBI setup, you could get one from a 4 cylinder that is almost
twice as big in cubic inches, just use 2 opposed spots on the coil
pack possibly, custom TBI intakes would be probably no more than a
custom spacer but as for sizing I'd like to see cubic inch and RPM
stats on this engine, is it a 600 CC size? Most TBI setups are
speed-density or an even simpler version of that type, with some
porting and hot-rod style mods, a mild regrind cam (for mileage) and
proper injector sizing, I bet we could use a 1000 CC Geo Metro 3
cylinder TBI setup with a smaller injector size and/or adjustable
FPR. Higher CR and reduced pumping losses could really add up to a
hot ultra-miler! You could just use an inductive pickup for the tach...

The trick to injector sizing is to look at the bigger engine setups
that use mutiple injectors of smaller sizes, and try and find (for
your donor) a single barrel setup that will easily convert to this.

I'll give you my # if you wanna brainstorm some of this Matt.
In an email of course

[Matt Timion]

I'll think about it RGR. Right now I'd like to focus on restoring this thing before I go all frankenstein on it.

I've been talking with some people about throwing another engine in there once this one is dead. I have a few ideas that might pan out. It could be a very fun project.

BTW, I have family in Terre Haute, IN. I'm there every year or two.

[Matt Timion]

Received the seat upholstery yesterday. I enthusiastically installed one seat, and now that I've settled down I need to take it off and do it again the right way. It doesn't look too bad, but it could look better.

I also had to try to track down "hog rings" today, which was next to impossible. After going to Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Sutherlands (like home depot) and Autozone, I decided to just get some on ebay. They should be here in a few days.

In the mean time I need to fix a few things on the seat, so I should be okay with time.

At the junkyard today I obtained some seatbelt material to construct a new webbing under the foam of the seat. It will prevent the person in the seat from falling through the seat, which would be bad.

I'll take some pictures tomorrow of the seat in it's most raw form.

[GasSavers_DaX]

What are hog rings? Are they the metal rings that hold the upholstry together under the seat? Couldn't you just scavenge some from a junk yard?

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by DaX

What are hog rings? Are they the metal rings that hold the upholstry together under the seat? Couldn't you just scavenge some from a junk yard?

This is exactly what they are. I would just reuse my old ones, but in order to remove them you essentially have to destroy the ring. Besides, I'd rather just do it right and be able to use my cool new hog ring pliers.

[GasSavers_DaX]

Cool, they have pliers for that? =P I reupholstered the seats in my Civic and it was a ***** to reset the old hog rings. I had to use two sets of needle nose...took me all day, but the finished product is bling.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by DaX

Cool, they have pliers for that? =P I reupholstered the seats in my Civic and it was a ***** to reset the old hog rings. I had to use two sets of needle nose...took me all day, but the finished product is bling.

And now you know why I don't want to do it again. I used the two plier method on the first seat. The thought of re-doing this seat and the other seats frightens me. this is why I don't mind taking an extra day waiting for the materials to arrive

[diamondlarry]

If the hog-rings are what I think they are, you'll need to go to a farm supply store. They put them in the pig's snout to keep them from digging things up when they root with thier noses. Might not be any too close in the big city though.:-(

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

If the hog-rings are what I think they are, you'll need to go to a farm supply store. They put them in the pig's snout to keep them from digging things up when they root with thier noses. Might not be any too close in the big city though.:-(

Big city? Salt Lake City? You drive for 30 minutes in any direction and you're in the farm.

That being said, I think you're right about the alternative use. I did wondery why they kept saying "great for auto upholstery or farm use." Now I know the actual application... cool!

I should be getting my hog rings in the mail tomorrow or Thursday. Ebay is wonderful

[GasSavers_DaX]

Do post pictures...I want to see these pliers and the finished job with the upholstery.