---:::Project Targa Update:::--- - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center

drgonzo3000 · 07-30-2007, 07:23 PM

Had a couple of people wanting an update on the Targa project that I started about two years ago now. With everything that keeps happening with the engine I decided to do a rebuilt and basically work the car over from ground up.

The Targa top was put on hold when the engine blew a head gasket. Upon looking further into it I found I had major leaks. Oil, Coolant, Etc… If you name it, it was leaking on my engine. Just a little warning to Dr. Motorworks in Coral Springs, Fl… Their work SUCKS!!!!!. Not even 30k on the rebuild they did and everything is leaking.

So into the engine I went. Figured that I might as well start from the block up.

Here is one of the numerous messes I had to deal with.

Here is the head with the bad head gasket. It was holding about 40psi in 2 cylinders. Yeah not to good!!!

After pulling everything out as I did I figured this was the best time to go and strip the firewall and engine bay to add a fresh coat of paint. I hate a red engine bay “Nothing to you out there that have red.” Looks so much better black!!!!!

I had to pull the dash to get the wiring harnesses out of the engine bay.

Sorry I don’t have a better Image of the stripped down engine bay.

I spent about 10 hours sanding the engine bay down. The old paint was flaking badly and I had a little spot of rust under the battery tray.

Time for a nice coat of primer then off to paint…..

---::::Continued Below:::---

drgonzo3000 · 07-30-2007, 07:24 PM

Now I got a nice looking clean engine bay. Now the fun begins, putting the engine back together.

I can’t seem to find a lot of my images so here are the ones I have.

I have gotten the engine completely done. I just don’t have any recent images of it completed. I will take some in the next day or so depending on if the weather clears up or not.

I started it for the first time in 7 months and it ran just fine. Just needs a little minor tuning and she will be back on the road. Now that I have the engine done I can spend the rest of my time on getting the Targa top complete. I’m looking at about a 2 to 3 month timeframe on getting the top complete. I will keep everyone posted on how it is coming.
Here are a few images of the car I took about 9 months ago that I just found.

Greg

GONZO Inc.
Creative Web Designs
www.gonzoinc.com

92ttawdstealth · 07-30-2007, 07:26 PM

Wow, nice work. Looks sick.

Sean3S · 07-30-2007, 07:29 PM

That looks great! Nice work.

NJStealthTT · 07-30-2007, 07:34 PM

keep us updated

project looks great

badass3000 · 07-30-2007, 07:50 PM

is everybody going targa! Damnit, guess Im behind the curve.
That looks nice, love the black engine bay!
I like the idea of a black primer stealth, I just do.
Needs some black rims, and for gods sake paint the red on the inside rear hatch!

drgonzo3000 · 07-30-2007, 07:55 PM

LOL, I know the red drive me nuts. I'm waiting to get the top done first before I ship it off to the paint booth.

The black primer was just a quick "Don't let my car Rust!!"

I'm looking to do a black pearl. My goal it to basicly black out the entire car with some small traces of ghost smoke.

VR4nothing · 07-30-2007, 09:21 PM

Looks great man. Hope to see the car at the meet this Friday

AudibleSilence · 07-30-2007, 09:35 PM

Maybe I missed it, but how did you reinforce the frame?

drgonzo3000 · 07-30-2007, 09:46 PM

Specter: I haven't heard anything on location or time yet. Can't drive it yet. No plates or brakes.

AudibleSilence: As it stands I have not found a need to. There was less then 1/16 of body flex after the section was cut. The upper section has square 1/8 tubing welded in for structual support. I spent a long time doing research on this before I cut anything. The flex is equal to the flex on most convertibles. I intend to have a custom x-member welded to the underside, but other then that I haven't found any issues.

07-30-2007, 07:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
drgonzo3000 Think I Drive to Fast???? Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Durham, NC Drives: 92 Stealth R/T Trader Rating: (7)	---:::Project Targa Update:::--- Had a couple of people wanting an update on the Targa project that I started about two years ago now. With everything that keeps happening with the engine I decided to do a rebuilt and basically work the car over from ground up. The Targa top was put on hold when the engine blew a head gasket. Upon looking further into it I found I had major leaks. Oil, Coolant, Etc… If you name it, it was leaking on my engine. Just a little warning to Dr. Motorworks in Coral Springs, Fl… Their work SUCKS!!!!!. Not even 30k on the rebuild they did and everything is leaking. So into the engine I went. Figured that I might as well start from the block up. Here is one of the numerous messes I had to deal with. Here is the head with the bad head gasket. It was holding about 40psi in 2 cylinders. Yeah not to good!!! After pulling everything out as I did I figured this was the best time to go and strip the firewall and engine bay to add a fresh coat of paint. I hate a red engine bay “Nothing to you out there that have red.” Looks so much better black!!!!! I had to pull the dash to get the wiring harnesses out of the engine bay. Sorry I don’t have a better Image of the stripped down engine bay. I spent about 10 hours sanding the engine bay down. The old paint was flaking badly and I had a little spot of rust under the battery tray. Time for a nice coat of primer then off to paint….. ---::::Continued Below:::--- __________________ Project Targa Almost Complete Gonzo Inc

07-30-2007, 07:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
drgonzo3000 Think I Drive to Fast???? Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Durham, NC Drives: 92 Stealth R/T Trader Rating: (7)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- Now I got a nice looking clean engine bay. Now the fun begins, putting the engine back together. I can’t seem to find a lot of my images so here are the ones I have. I have gotten the engine completely done. I just don’t have any recent images of it completed. I will take some in the next day or so depending on if the weather clears up or not. I started it for the first time in 7 months and it ran just fine. Just needs a little minor tuning and she will be back on the road. Now that I have the engine done I can spend the rest of my time on getting the Targa top complete. I’m looking at about a 2 to 3 month timeframe on getting the top complete. I will keep everyone posted on how it is coming. Here are a few images of the car I took about 9 months ago that I just found. Greg GONZO Inc. Creative Web Designs www.gonzoinc.com

07-30-2007, 07:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
92ttawdstealth Automotive Machinist Join Date: Jul 2006 Drives: When My Car Lets Me Trader Rating: (0)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- Wow, nice work. Looks sick. __________________

07-30-2007, 07:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sean3S Verified Asian Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sugar Land, TX Drives: 94 TT Trader Rating: (36)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- That looks great! Nice work. __________________ '94 RT/TT 13T's \| PTE FMIC - PPE Pipes \| 560's \| Supra FP w/ 8ga Hotwire \| MAF-T 1.37 & LT1 Blow-Through \| E-Manage Blue w/ Boomslang Harness \| HKS DLI \| Stillen Downpipe \| Gutted Rear Pre-cat \| Borla Catback \| Tial BOV \| AEM FPR & Rob Beck Adapter \| DejonTool Intake Pipes \| PWR Radiator w/ IPS Pipes \| FAL Fans \| MP Motor Mounts \| 99 Lash Adjusters \| Clevite 77 Rod & Main Bearings \| Leatherseats.com Dk. Graphite w/ Red Center Seats \| Sparco Flash 5 Black w/ Red Alcantara \| Spec Stg. 2 Clutch & 3SX Clutch Line \| 3SX Crank Pulley \| Bob's SS Shifter & All Solid Bushings \| NGK Coppers & MSD Wires \| eK2 EGR Blockoffs \| eK2 Fuel Line Loop \| PST 1 Pc. CFDS \| Volk LE37T \| Falken FK452 \| Megan Racing Coilovers \| Adj. Rear Control Arms \| Slotted Rotors w/ Hawk HPS Pads \| GReddy Profec B \| AEM UEGO WB \| GReddy PWH Boost, EGT, GReddy OP, FP, Temp \| Hybrid Logger \| McColluch 5300K HIDs \| Shaved '99 Bumper & Turns \| PRM Style Hood 295.7 AWHP / 310.3 TQ @ 1 Bar - BPU @ TX04 Collecting Dust - Setrab Oil Cooler, Snow Stage 2 Meth, Brake Lines Some Day - ABS Delete, Ducting WTB - ek2 Harness Cover (above the fuel rails)

07-30-2007, 07:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
NJStealthTT Verified Seller Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Piscataway, NJ Drives: 92TT, 95RT, 97VR6 Trader Rating: (35)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- keep us updated project looks great __________________ Girl: "you know..my obsession with shoes is just like your obsession with cars" --"no it's not, cause your shoes are ugly."

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07-30-2007, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
badass3000 Wanted: Traction Problems Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Drives: 18 Y.O. "badass" VR4 Trader Rating: (20)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- is everybody going targa! Damnit, guess Im behind the curve. That looks nice, love the black engine bay! I like the idea of a black primer stealth, I just do. Needs some black rims, and for gods sake paint the red on the inside rear hatch! __________________ ++++++++++JUNE 2007 RIDE OF THE MONTH+++++++++++ Slideshow1..........Slideshow2..........My Photobucket..........My ImageStation.........MOD LIST Questions about the silver car?.....Rear message board info.....Turbo oil cap info.....nicest ass

07-30-2007, 07:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
drgonzo3000 Think I Drive to Fast???? Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Durham, NC Drives: 92 Stealth R/T Trader Rating: (7)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- LOL, I know the red drive me nuts. I'm waiting to get the top done first before I ship it off to the paint booth. The black primer was just a quick "Don't let my car Rust!!" I'm looking to do a black pearl. My goal it to basicly black out the entire car with some small traces of ghost smoke.

07-30-2007, 09:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
VR4nothing Verified Seller Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC Drives: 1 wheel Trader Rating: (10)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- Looks great man. Hope to see the car at the meet this Friday

07-30-2007, 09:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
AudibleSilence Mr. Chocolate... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Brooklyn Zoo Drives: 1997 3000gt VR4 Trader Rating: (47)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- Maybe I missed it, but how did you reinforce the frame? __________________ 1997 Black Top Red Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 - 93k miles and 100% stock Cars Owned: 1992 Dodge Stealth RT (sold) 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 #1 (parted) 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 #2 (sold) 1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 (KIA) 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 (sold) 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT Base - awd/atx (sold)

07-30-2007, 09:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
drgonzo3000 Think I Drive to Fast???? Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Durham, NC Drives: 92 Stealth R/T Trader Rating: (7)	Re: ---:::Project Targa Update:::--- Specter: I haven't heard anything on location or time yet. Can't drive it yet. No plates or brakes. AudibleSilence: As it stands I have not found a need to. There was less then 1/16 of body flex after the section was cut. The upper section has square 1/8 tubing welded in for structual support. I spent a long time doing research on this before I cut anything. The flex is equal to the flex on most convertibles. I intend to have a custom x-member welded to the underside, but other then that I haven't found any issues.