Ren-dog

So i fired up the liberty last night to make sure it doesn't hydrolock because of the head gasket leak. When it started it had a knocking/clicking sound that i could hear over my exhaust, it didnt go away or get quieter. It still has plenty of oil.

Wondering what it could be? Its coming from the same side of the engine as the oil leak. I will try and get a video latter.

I'm just wondering if its a major thing, because if its something big then i would be better off buying a reconditioned engine for it than just fixing the head gasket.

Well since my Liberty blew the head gasket i have been walking everywhere... Which gets rather painful when your not the fittest guy in the world. While im still thinking about what to do about the Lib i need something to drive. I have a few hundred dollars that i can spend, and cannot afford to spend much more than that.

I was walking down the street the other day when i spotted a 97 Mazda 121 Metro. On closer inspection it was for sale, but i could not find the owner (no number and the house was deserted). So over a couple of days i looked around and asked questions until yesterday when i was walking to my mates place and i heard a mower... Someone was in the house yard mowing. Waved to them and had a chat, Turned out to be the owners daughter, the owner is in Brisbane for a couple of weeks, back this weekend. So i asked about the car, Apparently it still ran and she just wants to get rid of it because her husband died and she was stuck with 3 cars. She called her mother and accepted the offer of $300 (These things still sell for $3-5000 in good condition and $2000 in need of work) which i thought was fair. She will be back latter this week and give me the keys etc.

So here is the only OK picture i have of it at the moment


So hopefully with minimum work i can bring it back to its former glory.

Plans:
Clean up
Get running smoothly
RWC
Rego
Drive
Install stereo from Liberty (Head unit, speakers and 12" sub, for the sake of it)
Cover the bad paint on the roof with carbon fiber vinyl
Get wheels and tyres
Maybe lower if i get bored

the purpose of this is to have a fun small economical car that i can drive while i decide what to do with the liberty.
Also this may be pushing it but... i want it rego'd and running by the 25th so i can drive to Townsville for my sisters 18th birthday. Fingers crossed.



Car costs
Car $300
Oil & filter $45
Head unit wire harness $15
New wipers $20
Total so far: $380

My Gen2 RX (EJ25D) is miss firing, mostly noticeable <3000rpm.

I suspect its the spark plugs or leads because i can smell un-burnt fuel heating up in the exhaust...

Anyway my question is what type of plugs should i get, and what part number/model etc? (cant trust the stores in this town)

Also any leads that are worth buying?

Gonna be going down to townsville this weekend. Want some new rotors and pads.

I dunno much about brakes having never having a car long enough to replace them.

I do want some slotted rotors all round, But what size?
I want some preforable dustless pads, to get ready for my 17's, but i also want them to stop the car, Can i have best of both worlds? What do you recomend?

My 98 Gen2 Liberty RX Sedan suspension is really in need of replacement, drivers side is about 2-3cm lower then passenger and its spongy as hell. What would be my best bet for price vs performance.
I dont want to lower the car much because i already grind going in and out of the servo.
The bushes appear to be in decant condition.

Should i just do springs? Or shocks as well? Are coil overs worth it? Should i just get STi gear? I would like a firmer ride as i dont like soft (all my cars have been firm and i like it that way).



Also apparently because i have an RX i have the crossmember from a turbo. So its near impossible for me to find a new set of extractors (mine are cracked and leaking) to suit the car.

Is it possible to get a standard crossmember and install that?

Cheers!
Ren