TeamSwift

I'm not a big convertible fan. Never have been, and probably never will be but I'll have to admit, the little white
93 has been very cost effective and trouble free this past year.

No oil leaks, and good compression, so we've been using that high end Mobil One oil.
We were feeling a little guilty about not spending any money on it, so we 'splurged' and put on a new top.
We happened upon it by accident and here's why I think she's beginning to like it:
The other night I explained that it was almost time to order four underbody braces for the cars.

I told her that it would make her car more steady in the curves and she would like the improved experience.
Just figured she'd say, "OK, it's up to you..." like always. Instead:
(You can tell your wife LIKES her car and wants it UPGRADED when she says)
"What are those braces which go across the top inside where the engine is?



I haven't even put on the underbody brace, and already she's angling for a strut tower brace.

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

You've got to like that!!!

No more Aluminum underbody braces though... I tried to buy one, and that Jard sold the last one on me as I was sending payment, good thing I forgot to include the shipping amount in hind sight... Since the alloy costs about what the steel costs with shipping.

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My cars:

J. McBean: '98 Suzuki Swift 1.3L 16v SOHC 5sp+ "Mk5" Made in Canada
The Mini Rattler: '94 Suzuki Swift .993L 6v SOHC 5sp+ "Mk3" Made in Canada *The Winter Beater*
B. Berry: '90 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint 1.0L 6v SOHC 5sp+ "Mk2" Made in Japan

I got 18MPG in a 3cyl with a 5 speed manual 4dr, '93 Metro!

You better hurry, I have only one of those strut bars left in stock.

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It looks like you'd better reserve it for 'Her Highness'.

She must be reading Teamswift on the sly at work.
How did she even KNOW that they were available?

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

It's like a daily question

lizzie went with me today to the pick n' pull on a parts run for her atomic fireball. we got a nearly perfect steering wheel, a driver's side window regulator, window tracks and seal, and some trim parts.

we got her a/c working again. 4th time is a charm (i hope.) after replacing leaking o-rings and a 134a recharge, the condensor split it's lower seam and puked $40 of pag oil and freon. the new ebay condensor was the cheapest part, $34 plus $30 shipping

she's already on me to bolt the steering wheel and window parts onto her car.

post script: a couple of hours of love and lizzie's window rolls up smooth and straight. the trim on the outside door sill got replaced with a better looking piece, the steering wheel looks like new, and all the cracked or scuffed interior trim got swapped out.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

Yep, I'm seeing more young couples in the junkyards these days.
Up in Oregon last week there was a nice set looking for sun visors.
Her: Are they any good?
Him: Nah, they've already been taken.

So the Wife decided to get those braces after all.
Guess she wants me to put them on????


Now that's a woman who knows what she wants. Instead of buying one and seeing if she likes it, she gets braces for ALL the cars.
Ugh. No excuses, time to put them on!

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

you don't have those on yet? ya' freakin' slacker!

you better get those on before the boss gets back.

scotty, have you gotten any more time logged on the project? when do you get your next liberty, matey?

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

geez you were up here in oregon and didnt bother to say hi...the vert sure is looking good

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90 Swift parts car
93 sohc swift Ga might part out soon
89 Swift Gti pulled from Arizona Big project

4 days of driving (2 days up and 2 days back) and 3 10-hour days of working on Fal's car, so I didn't have a chance to hook up with you. You were going to shoot up some pictures of what you had for sale and I had a bit of room for some parts...I owe you a steak dinner, eh?
I drove the little '87 Gold 4 door Sprint because it's fast on the open road (3.79s) and has a large storage capacity; I brought back a dash, an A/C setup and a lot of GT parts.
The Wife's convertible just got her little underbody brace put on; pictures to follow.
She did one side; I did the other. Nothing to it, really, even a CAVEMAN can do it...Ha!
Pictures to follow. Right now she's on my computer in the garage so I came in the house to post this! (and she used jack stands this time)...

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

So here is how we started:

(Suzuki SV650S in background)
It's a simple matter to unbolt two nuts and two bolts.
She helped on the passenger side:

...while I did the driver's side.
When we were done, it looked VERY close, but there was sufficient clearance for the stock cat:

and happy to report no rubbing.
The passenger view shows how close the brace comes to the cat shield (not the clearest photo):

but again, the high-tech engineers who designed these things apparently knew what they were doing!
No horror tales, no come-alongs, it just bolted right up to the stock non-fatigued frame.
Tomorrow she goes for a run down to the big city, so feedback on the difference in handling will have to wait.

That's the second thing she's bought for the convertible this year.

It just seems to be a very reliable little money saver...not a money pit!

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

Wow... No need to pull the stub arms closer together?

I really need to get a strut tower brace, too much steel has been chewed out by the rust munchies and I had to get a cammed camber adjusting bolt shoved in to sort out my driver side wheel.

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My cars:

J. McBean: '98 Suzuki Swift 1.3L 16v SOHC 5sp+ "Mk5" Made in Canada
The Mini Rattler: '94 Suzuki Swift .993L 6v SOHC 5sp+ "Mk3" Made in Canada *The Winter Beater*
B. Berry: '90 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint 1.0L 6v SOHC 5sp+ "Mk2" Made in Japan

I got 18MPG in a 3cyl with a 5 speed manual 4dr, '93 Metro!

Nope, no need to pull anything closer together.
The second brace we installed had a lot more clearance.
It was a '94 GA with a standard transmission:

picture is a bit dark, but the clearance is a lot greater than with the automatic.
Although I've been toying with the idea of selling our GA, looking at the undercarriage gave me pause:

and the passenger side:

plus the 'rocker area':

leads me to think that this little car could easily be restored to factory like new with some elbow grease.
It really is clean inside and out.
So now we've got two braces installed, and you will get an update on both as time progresses.

D Wife was in a good mood, so she helped me change out the back parcel tray mounts in the GA.
Much easier for her to put those three little bolts in than me!

Well, it's off to dinner; be good to your little lady!

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

I bet she likes the way the car steers with the lower brace on!
keep the GA body and floor is mint.

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"I love the whine of a turbo in the mornin" 1991 Sprint Turbo
"I also love the 7500 rpm scream of a DOHC" 2X 1989 Swift GTi's a 92 and Jr's new 93 GT

Keep your eye on the boost guage!
And I love this one!
"Dale Jarrett's crew chief" "Drive it like ya STOLE IT!"

You've met the Mrs.
She likes the braces because they're 'cute' (well built) vs. my grubby welding style.
Some women want to hop in a new Lexus and tool around.
Mine likes the way we are looking at the bank, and is starting to flex her new found wealth by:
-buying little things for our cars
-taking trips overseas
-buying $500 purses
-shopping at Macy's and Victoria Secret.
Back in 2006, it wasn't like that for us at all!
She's the silent type, but likes a little bling in her cars.
We'll see what she says over the next few weeks; there's a curve on the way to Palm Springs that I just KNOW she's redlining! (She gets to work way too fast compared to when I drive.)
That curve will be the acid test; I wonder what her reaction will be.
Like you say, I hope she likes the way the car steers now.
She wanted to put the tower brace on, and I had to do a mock up to show her that it would hit her air cleaner
and then she decided it would go on our GT.
So she can surprise you.
When there's a mount which will bolt in up top, you watch, I'll let her know and she'll say, "O.K."!!! Let's get two!

Women can really surprise you...

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

Phil, the handling will be like no other. It's night and day. You could score a upper brace for the little 3bangers from ebay australia or lurk around redlineGTi. They come up every now and then.

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An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.

1989 Suzuki Swift GTi: Red "My PocketRocket"
1989 Suzuki Swift GTi: White (Being resurrected)
1996 Geo Metro (Stocker)
1999 Suzuki 1.6 Esteem (Baleno) Wagon (Sleeper creeper)

You can tell your wife wants her car fixed when.....all of a sudden, after years of marriage, you seem to once again (and very unawares) have a sex life!

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~the other Ralph~
Certified Suzuki Owner:
MKIII Swift GTi - The Green Destiny!
2010 Suzuki Jimny - The DD Workhorse!

"I got 99 problems; but,"

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All Wheel Drive-187 FWHP @ 18 psi...... SHE LIVES!!!!
METRO SS Certified honda H8R




AHM NOT AN AHSOE!!! DO I LOOK LIKE AN AHSOE!?!?!?

what? a cliff hanger!!!!! but what?

what's the punch line?

....a wife ain't one of them.

.....with a broke jaw she don't give me no chin music.

.....the old ball and chain was number 100 so i ditched her ass.

jeez! finish your sentence.

_________________
1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

Haha! Your right on, Richard... 1st guess! "I got 99 problems; but a b__ch aint one." Jay-Z actually makes my skin crawl; but I'll give him credit for at least that one good one-liner.

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All Wheel Drive-187 FWHP @ 18 psi...... SHE LIVES!!!!
METRO SS Certified honda H8R




AHM NOT AN AHSOE!!! DO I LOOK LIKE AN AHSOE!?!?!?

Your Wife is a slave driver?
Now, you've got all the oil leaks fixed, the hood shuts tight, and she's sporting a new top and tires.
What next?
You can tell your Wife wants her car fixed when she brings home:

and asks, "When was the last time you changed the oil?"

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

You can tell she wants an upgrade when she springs for some front 'mud flaps':

We'd better get some before and after pictures.

Imagine...mud flaps in the desert.

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!

phil, are you putting those on the front or rear?

if you had 2 sets she could have them on the front and rear.

are you running the inner splash guards, too? i added them to my vert after finding a set on a mk3 swift ga. those really help to keep the inside of the rear bumper clean and, in these parts, helps keep the muffler from rusting out. me? i like the cleaner look of the rear wheel houses.

_________________
1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

It sounds like the front or back, they fit the same. These are destined for the front, and are a nice close fit.
In the rear, they have a few slight gaps, but it looks like you're right, they'll also fit the rear.
Hadn't thought of that.
I've got a spare lying around somewhere, but only one side. Might even be for an MK1.

Once I put it up to the car, the thought occurred that it might look better painted white.
Hmmm.
For now, I'll slap them on in the black. The Teamswift member who sent them really spent some time cleaning them up, so better not tempt fate. He even painted the mounting hardware so her car won't have any rusty bolts!!!
Also, it looks like the tar and mud gets slung from the front tires further down the side of the car than the rear tires.

This keeps up, I'll need a tuxedo if she wants me to drive it!!!


Inner splash guards?
What the...
not really sure what they are, but after looking at the rear wheel well, there isn't much room in there. I'll keep my eye open for some rear GA splash guards, just in case.
...
After checking our GA, I see what you mean about the rear inner splash guard. Duh.
Yeah, I've always thought those were a good idea. If those little puppies will fit, then eventually I'll have a set on her. Thanks for the helpful hint, Heloise!

Only reason for putting em on her car is a dip in the road on the way to work which has some sprinkler run off.
That and we haven't spent very much on the dang thing this year except the new top and under body brace.
It still has no leaks and is 'tight as a drum'.

_________________
DIY Broken Bolt Removal: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41042
DIY Clutch Adjustment: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48281
DIY Wheel Bearings: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29003
DIY Shocks: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45483
DIY Wheel Align: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42479
Once you get the cars dialed-in (compression, leaks, bearings, alignment, brakes) swap in new rubber and glass, you've got something which should last for years!