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Sterling #S009

farfegnubbin

Site Owner
Staff member
I really like how those exhaust tips emerge. They look very “intentional” and “finished.” Nice.

I also like that engine hatch. I don’t think I saw or noticed that you’d made that before. Yeah, that cover is subtle and nice. Great work.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Hi Sector
Thanks for your input
I agree its not proportionate to the car. Looking for a current look I came up empty and settled for this.
The previous lights that I had weren't perfect either. the curvature didn't match the curvature of the body. It was just hard to see that in the pictures.

Looking at the current pictures I think a tail light configuration like that of the Hyundai Kona might look good, but at this point in time I am concentrating on getting the car back on the road and not looking to do any more redisgn projects.
The only thing I have scheduled to do right now is to redesign the side pods and thats it .

Thanks again for your comments.
Hyundai Kona 3.jpeg
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
I really like how those exhaust tips emerge. They look very “intentional” and “finished.” Nice.

I also like that engine hatch. I don’t think I saw or noticed that you’d made that before. Yeah, that cover is subtle and nice. Great work.
Hi Warren
Just saw this

Engine hatch was designed with the help from David (islandman).
These are old pictures of the design process. I had other louvers installed but they didn't look like they went with the lines of the car.
Hinges and latch still need to be installed. Haven't looked at options for those right now.

All systems for the engine are done, just need to get some gas and the engine should start up.
Working on the new design of the side pods right now. I hope to get the basic design made up but will have to wait till it warms up before I can make the fiberglass molds of it. (to cold for glass to cure)
P7040005.JPG

P7040006.JPG

P7040007.JPG

P7040008.JPG
 

farfegnubbin

Site Owner
Staff member
Thanks for the additional pics.

Yeah, I like that cover. It’s tasteful and gives quite a bit more volume and access. I like modifications that blend in in a way that “could have been stock” and that checks that box.

Nice.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Start up that beast! We want to hear it come to life. You’re so close. I’m a bit jealous. 😁
Hi Warren
The beast is alive. Fired it up a few days ago. Once a few items were fixed (bad injectors) it purred like a kitten.
Engine light came on so I need to see what codes are setting that off and the alternator is not charging but I know thats because of the LED light I'm using and not using a incandescent bulb.
Under its own power it went from the garage into the driveway.
I don't know how many years its been since it was able to move under its own power (wasn't running when I got it). I've owned it for over 12 years and being #S009 its been around for a long while. Not sure what year it was made in.

Sorry to say, I'm unable to post a video of it. I don't belong to any social media sites except this one and the Nova site. So posting any links to a video of it running is impossible..

David (Islandman) has offered to help but the only way to post a video is to send him one via email but that brings up issues in itself. My email provider has limitations on the size of the email so if I do it that way it would have to be a very short video. Not really worth the effort.
 

sector

Member
Your car looks great, but it is very low. Have you checked how much clearance you have? Lifting it via suspension wouldn't look as good since it would create large wheel gaps. Perhaps bigger wheels or taller tires.
 

vpogv

Active member
Love the progress Brett. But I have to ask .... is that front lower nose going to change angles or something? It just looks blocky compared to the rest of the car.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Love the progress Brett. But I have to ask .... is that front lower nose going to change angles or something? It just looks blocky compared to the rest of the car.
I agree Will
Not being able to see it from a distance till now it doesn't look right.
Well it looks like I got another thing to fix.

Sector I'm thinking of getting higher profile tires for the front to fix the ground clearance issue
 

vpogv

Active member
I agree Will
Not being able to see it from a distance till now it doesn't look right.
Well it looks like I got another thing to fix.

Sector I'm thinking of getting higher profile tires for the front to fix the ground clearance issue
:ROFLMAO: Sorry Brett! On the plus side it's not a priority to get it usable. I am looking forward to seeing the end result of the side pods.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
No biggie.
At least with this colder weather I can use it for design time. Its to cold for glassing, even for here.

You can see in the pictures that I have left the proposed new design of the side vent in place. Its not finished but it gives you an idea of what it will look like. The sides wont tuck under nearly as much as the stock ones do.
The plan is to make a buck/plug then the mold and finally the part,

Today I hope to get the alternator working.
The check engine light stays on but when I connect the scanner up to clear the codes it says there are no trouble codes. Need to figure that out
 

Zenny

Member
Hi Warren
The beast is alive. Fired it up a few days ago. Once a few items were fixed (bad injectors) it purred like a kitten.
Engine light came on so I need to see what codes are setting that off and the alternator is not charging but I know thats because of the LED light I'm using and not using a incandescent bulb.
Under its own power it went from the garage into the driveway.
I don't know how many years its been since it was able to move under its own power (wasn't running when I got it). I've owned it for over 12 years and being #S009 its been around for a long while. Not sure what year it was made in.

Sorry to say, I'm unable to post a video of it. I don't belong to any social media sites except this one and the Nova site. So posting any links to a video of it running is impossible..

David (Islandman) has offered to help but the only way to post a video is to send him one via email but that brings up issues in itself. My email provider has limitations on the size of the email so if I do it that way it would have to be a very short video. Not really worth the effort.
If you make a gmail account you could upload it to YouTube, or if making accounts places is something you don't want to do you can use something like file.io and share the link here, somebody else could reupload it to their own YouTube channel for archival sake and repost that link
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Quick update
After hooking up the scanner to the engine I had 1 diagnostic trouble code (DTC)(Knock sensor) and 1 pending code( Transmission P1722)
Those codes are now fixed and cleared and the engine runs smoother than ever.

All thats left is to build the new side panels and the new front valence. After that it should get the green light for plates. Thought that day may never happen but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.
There still is the issue with the thermostat but with it removed the engine doesn't overheat.
The AC still needs to be finished (Condenser installed and lines run from it to the pump). Need to get motivated to finish that.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Tested the cooling fans yesterday to make sure they would turn on.

No issues with them
Fan came on at 200 degrees, a few seconds later it turned off at 195 degree
 

farfegnubbin

Site Owner
Staff member
Excellent!

Random question: Did you have to actually change anything to “fix” the transmission code? I have a Factory Five 818 with a Subaru engine and an automatic transmission. The engine light has been on forever and the code that comes up is for the transmission which seems to be behaving just fine. I know your setup is different yet it overlaps with my 818. I’m so very tired of looking at that engine light.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Excellent!

Random question: Did you have to actually change anything to “fix” the transmission code? I have a Factory Five 818 with a Subaru engine and an automatic transmission. The engine light has been on forever and the code that comes up is for the transmission which seems to be behaving just fine. I know your setup is different yet it overlaps with my 818. I’m so very tired of looking at that engine light.
In my situation the engine wiring harness that I used came out of a 1998 Subaru Legacy that had a automatic transmission in it.( didn't think much of it at the time)
The ECM's for the automatic and manual transmission cars are the same. The difference I think is the automatic version makes adjustments for the load the torque converter puts on the engine.
OK how to tell the ECM that the engine is bolted to a manual transmission.
In my case (1998 Legacy) Pin #81 in the B84 connector needs to be grounded. If using a harness out of a automatic this pin in the connector is empty. There are no wires going to it. You have to install one. I removed a wire from an extra connector I had and installed it in the connector I was using.

After grounding this wire the check engine light turned off and no more codes.

Subaru ECM Wiring for MT.JPG
 

luis

New member
The front end rebuild is finally finished
New tie rod ends(for such an easy item it was the biggest pain)disc brake conversion, new torsion arms w/ball joints, new torsion leafs(as simple as they are, They were a pain also. I had to mix and match my old with the new to come up with something that worked), new steering box and pitman arm(another fun story), and height adjusters installed.

I also found a guy here in town that has parts for the transaxle so I can rebuild that next. The guy at the transmission shop said that instead of going to the after market side plates use one from a super beetle there stonger and cost less.

Started to convert the rear stub axles from type 1 CV's to Type 2 CV's and replaced the axle bearings and spacers.

I'm actually showing some progress.

Later
Brett
do you still have the car
how much you want for the car
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Yes I still have the car but its not up for sale right now. Once completed I will consider it.

I will have some oem parts up for sale. I'll list those items when I'm ready to sell them.
 
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