Sterling #S009

[Brett Proctor]

Just a quick update
Changed out the front disc brake rotor.

Every time I applied the brakes the front brakes would make a loud annoying sound.

Old disc

I got these years ago and when I tied to find them on the web I couldn't locate any, so I imagine thats why there no longer available.

Replaced them with these.
No issues with this type

Replaced just the front.

 

[Zookatom]

Man, what an amazing journey so far! From seeing you put together the molds for the first dash design all the way up to the absolute slog that is the U.S title and registration system this has got to be one of the greatest documentation on persistence and determination for building a kit car I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Hats off to ya for your years of hard work and dedication and I look forward to the day I can hopefully assemble something even a quarter as good as you have here.

 

[Brett Proctor]

This might be helpful to other owners with Subaru engines.
Mine is a 1998 EJ25D and maybe this might help if your getting trouble codes. I didn't log the codes so I can't tell you the exact code I was getting but it had something to do with the transmission and the neutral position switch.

By grounding out the neutral position switch wire that seemed to solve that issue and there is a wire at the ECM that needs to be grounded if your using a manual transmission

View attachment Subaru Neutral Switch Wiring 1 of 2A.jpg
View attachment Subaru Neutral Switch Wiring 2 of 2A.jpg
This is the manual transmission wire that goes to ground
View attachment Subaru MT GroundA.jpg

Also by accident when I was working on the ECM grounds I disconnected the speed sensor wire. When test driving the car I noticed a lack of performance and the engine wasn't running as smooth as it once did. Not much longer a trouble code appeared saying there was an issue with the speed sensor. Got back home and realized what I did and reconnected the wire back up to the ECM and all was good again.
So if your not running a speed sensor the engine will run, but not as good as it could.

I think thats it for now.

The red/yellow wire at the starter relay tee's off and goes to the starter also. Picture doesn't show that. Thats how Subaru does that. They only show that one specific circuit and not if other circuits use it.
I found that out the hard way. I had one circuit wired in and found out later that another circuit used that same power source. Had to go back in and trace down that wire and then tap into it. Not much fun.

 

[farfegnubbin]

Good info! Thank you.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Just trying to help the Subaru members out from getting frustrated with getting trouble codes that wont go away.

Also I know some members are using GPS for a speedometer and the results from not using a speed sensor will hinder performance.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Just got a reminder from the DMV that I need to smog the car and renew the plates

Doesn't feel that the car has been on the road for a year.

I don't see any reasons why the car wont pass smog. When the issues with the title got resolved I was told that I didn't need to smog the car any more but the noticed states that I need to smog it.
No biggie, never had an issue with the car passing

Temps are in the 100's now and the AC seems to be working fine, so in the next few days I need to smog the car.

 

[letterman7]

Just got a reminder from the DMV that I need to smog the car and renew the plates

Doesn't feel that the car has been on the road for a year.

I don't see any reasons why the car wont pass smog. When the issues with the title got resolved I was told that I didn't need to smog the car any more but the noticed states that I need to smog it.
No biggie, never had an issue with the car passing

Temps are in the 100's now and the AC seems to be working fine, so in the next few days I need to smog the car.

I guess Nevada doesn't have a 'custom/homebuilt/modified' clause that would allow skating around that? Broadly speaking, street rods can get by without smog in most states. Here in PA we need to go through an 'enhanced' inspection with a new build, but after that it has to pass inspection for the year of chassis. Even better, we have antique and classic plates, which don't require any inspection/smog.

 

[Brett Proctor]

I guess it depends on who you talk to here.

I had a Nevada title and on the title it had the car listed as a "kit". Right on the original title.
When I Had the title transferred to me and it still had "kit" on it.
DMV requires to have the VIN checked before registering the car. Thats when the fun started.

 

[letterman7]

They're cracking down just like all the other states. How fun...

 

[Brett Proctor]

Just to give you the stupidly of things.

At the inspection station they wouldn't OK the VIN, even thought it was correct.
The gal at the inspection station spent about 30 minutes on the phone with her supervisor, got off the phone and told me the title was wrong. Its suppose to read a replica. Told her it wasn't a replica but she wouldn't listen.
Had to go to the main office and deal with them.

To get into the DMV you have to make an appointment now. This isn't for the next couple of days to get in, Its for the next month or month and a half that they have a spot open.

Anyway finally got things done that they gave me plates.

End of it, Nope

About 2 months later the speedometer went out. Fixed it with replacing it with another speedometer (Used). OK odometer reads different so back to the DMV.

Took all documentation including the new title.
Well after waiting for 45 minutes they came back and told me the title was wrong. It should read "kit" not "replica"
I couldn't make this up if I tried.

You can't fix stupid

 

[letterman7]

I blame California for their kit/replica rules being imposed across the country..

 

[Brett Proctor]

I blame California for their kit/replica rules being imposed across the country..

I worked for the government for over 30 years and came to the conclusion that, if it was a private business there is no way they could stay in business. They wouldn't make it a year before they would have to close their doors. And as the years went by people got lazier and dumber.

As for my car having to get smoged, even though it says on the title that its a 1967 car, which a 1967 car doesn't need to get smoged here ,they listed the car as a 1983 car which was the year I bought it.
and thats the year they consider the car being.
I wonder why they don't do that with all used cars.

You can't fix stupid

Any way I smoged the car today and paid the $30 for another year. It passed

 

[Brett Proctor]

Well another summer has arrived with temps in the 100's

I try to take the car out at least once a week to keep the battery charged and the oil flowing through the engine.

Point of this post
Fired the AC up today and after a year of not being used, its still blowing icy cold air.

Didn't get any pictures proving my claims, maybe next weekend I'll get some pictures showing the before and after output of the system.

One thing I got asked with this system is how much Freon is used.
Not having a clue of how much to add this was my solution.
I looked up the high and low pressure of the oem system and filled the system till I reached those values.
Seems to be working

Also how much PAG oil to add
I filled the compressor per specs and added 1/2 ounce more to the system per what the specs called for.

 

[Brett Proctor]

This car draws people to it like bee's to honey

Went for my weekly drive around the neighborhood and while I was out, I figured I mine as well stop at the grocery store and pick up some milk for when I have the grand daughter (she can't get enough of it) Usually I don't stop anywhere.
OK its 6:00 in the morning, nobody is around so I thought it was safe.
Didn't make it to the front door of the store before I was stopped by someone asking about the car.

Then on the way out I was stopped again. They wanted to know what "super car" it was and wanted to make a video with the car in it. I passed

Its 6:00 in the morning. One minute there's nobody around and the next there is.

I can only imagine the crowd it would draw if it was later in the day.


Not much posting is going on so I thought I'd post my experience going to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk.

 

[farfegnubbin]

I’ve had that same experience. We know our cars aren’t supercars, but they honestly draw as much attention as any million dollar car. I’m very entertained by that phenomenon.

The corollary to that is that I learned that I don’t love not being able to control when I can be anonymous. I’m pretty strongly introverted. This is a dream-car for EXtroverts.

 

[islandman]

I’ve had that same experience. We know our cars aren’t supercars, but they honestly draw as much attention as any million dollar car. I’m very entertained by that phenomenon.

The corollary to that is that I learned that I don’t love not being able to control when I can be anonymous. I’m pretty strongly introverted. This is a dream-car for EXtroverts.

Yup, you cannot be shy and own one of these cars, they pull a crowd whereever you stop, and even when moving you see people whipping out the camera phones and driving alongside to get a video, Happened to me on my last trip to the UK, had one car tail me and come alongside several times for about 5 minutes all so the guys passenger could get a good video.

 

[Brett Proctor]

At 6:00 in the morning and it being Sunday I thought Everyone would still be sleeping or in church and it would be safe to make a quick stop and get out without any attention
I was wrong.

An interesting thing too is both of these guys were into cars and none of them knew what a Sterling was.
I guess this is where age has some benefits.


Just an observation
With all the issues these new cars are having with powertrain failures and the technology required to make these modern cars run a line has been drawn as to what we can make work in these cars
Up to a certain year our options are slipping away as to what we can use.
My guess is we can still use donor cars up to the mid 2000's after that you'll need CAN and control modules to make certain systems work.

And just how long before these early vehicles can not be found is just a matter of time.

When I first started this project the parts for a Subaru EJ25D could easily be found in the salvage yard. Now maybe a Subaru with a EJ25D shows up once a month maybe.
You can still order aftermarket parts but stuff like an ECM you can't get even from the dealer.
Next time one shows up at the yard I plan to go there and get a spare ECM (engine control module) and as I stated in another post I wont have to program it for the engine to run as you have to in newer cars.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Well the yard had 2 Subaru's so I went to see about getting a spare ECM
The engine I have is a 1998 EJ25D, they had a 1997 and a 1999, both with a 2.5 in them.
Both of them had different ECM's in them.
This maybe a little harder than anticipated.

When I do find the right ECM I'm also thinking of pulling the MAF and the throttle body just to have spares of those.

 

[islandman]

I regret not getting a spare ECU for my Subaru model, someone told me to do that a few years ago and I had a search set-up on ebay with the ECU model number, but it never got a hit unfortunately.....so fingers crossed the ECU never has an issue

 

[islandman]

I regret not getting a spare ECU for my Subaru model, someone told me to do that a few years ago and I had a search set-up on ebay with the ECU model number, but it never got a hit unfortunately.....so fingers crossed the ECU never has an issue

After posting this it prompted me to do a quick couple of searches on ebay using the model numbers, and I couldn't beleive it when 2 ECU's popped up with exactly the same numbers! So duly purchased as spares....thanks for the timely reminder Brett . So based on my experience give google searches a try also