SOHC Horror Story

This's my first ever thread post on any forum so plz excuse the way I build this post.
These are the events leading to my SOHC project that I'd love to drive off a cliff. Dont ever buy one of these unless you have very deep pockets.

Stock 1998 SOHC Base Model, Red, 95k Miles.

So no shit there I was. 1 year left in the military at the time and I was ready to move to Texas with my older sister after our contracts were up. (Joined at the same time). I was stationed in hawaii and didn't want to try picking up a POS island car but knew I needed a daily driver the day I got out. So I started scouring craigslist in the FT Hood area. Found a few 3gts and called my sis up and asked her to take her mechanic buddies(she had 3 of them) and go look at one. I said if they were mechanics they'll know what I'm after. I wanted wheels. RUNNING wheels. Turns out.. her mechanic buddies.. weren't very good mechanics at all. I got a call about the first one from her.. said all that was wrong with it was the windshield was cracked and needed a new cap for the washer fluid. Had low miles. Even new tires. I asked if everything rubber looked good. (I was talking about the motor mounts, visible seals, and suspension bushings of all sorts.. She replied yes. everything is great. I asked how does it sound? She said "Like a racecar" I asked about the title, she said it's good. I asked about doing a VIN check, she said dont worry about it and that I would love this car... So I spent $4k and had her drive it home. All I had to go off of was pictures and trust here, assuming my sister knew better than to... nevermind

So for about a year, I was about the happiest person you could've met. Thinking I had a DOHC project car in great condition sitting in my driveway in Texas just waiting for me to show up and start tearing it apart and learning all I could in the meantime. I read the manuals I found on 3sx.com front to back several times and was quite excited.

The day came for me to take my flight back to the states from hawaii. May 13th 2013. I felt like one lucky sunovabitch. Slept the whole flight so I would be all rested and rdy to take the car for a drive and see what kinks she may have if any.

I got out of the airport and was standing there in what looked like a desert. Was about 90 degrees out probly.. and I see my red 3000gt coming up to pick me up. From afar.. I started creaming my pants.. but as it drew nearer.. I started seeing the scratches. The dents. The fucked up rims. The wobble in the front tires. The terrible sounding engine.. I went to open the passenger door and the handle was barely staying in the door. The outer window seals were completely gone. As I sat down inside.. Terror filled my heart. The airbags had been blown and ripped out. The steering wheel with it's center empty. I could feel broken and ruined fabric under the seatcover I sat down on. The stereo was asking for a PIN to turn it back on. When I pressed the button to roll down my window.. the front end of it fell 6 inches and terrible scraping noises followed..

What the fuck.

I told me brother in law (who was driving) to go ahead and get us home since he knew the way. But first I needed to put my bags in the trunk. He shut the car off and handed me the key to open the trunk. Apparently the latch my the driver's seat didnt work. I put my things away. got back in. and as he turned the key to start it all I heard was "click". He turned it multiple times and every turn just gave a "click". After about 10 turns the car finaly started. I wanted to scream.

On the way home.. every bump we went over felt like we were going to goto the moon. I could only assume the stuts were done. And every time he shifted gears, the entire car jerked. Grinding followed each shift.

We got home. I got out and opened the hood. What I found was a mess to say the very least. A jumble of black tape on every wire. Completely worn out motor mounts. Oil leaks everywhere possible. Blown out strut mounts. Coolant in the power steering reservoir. Sludge caked on the oil dipstick. So much dirt and grease and oil down through the entire engine compartment that was so thick I decided to start describing the buildup as "chocolate cake"... It was a piece of shit SOHC base model and had ticking coming from the lifters. I asked for the title. It was a salvage title. Fuck my life.

So here I am. Needing wheels. Knowing that if I were to sell this load of crap I'd get maybe 1k back out of it. I've put around another 4k into parts and special tools.

Replaced with OEM or equivalent Sofar

Master/slave cylinders and clutch lines
Clutch pad, spring and throwout bearing
Flywheel
Power Steering Pump Rebuild
Rack and Pinion
Tierod ends
Control and bushings
Head gasket
Had local machine shop clean heads/plenum/lower intake
Valve Lashes
Valve Springs
Valve Stem Seals
Lapped Valves back to head
Flushed brake system
Brake rotors
Brake pads
Adjusted Ebrake
Adjusted Clutch
Fixed Trunk latch
Found many random interior/exterior aesthetic parts. Too many to list
All electrical plastics and tubes replaced after wiring inspection
Headlights rebuilt (they're still rigged as hell but not as bad)
Water Pump
Oil Pump
Transmission Replaced with another used one in better condition
All front exhaust gaskets
15MAY2014 UPDATE
Audio Head Unit replaced with a fancy pioneer one. lol.. at least now I have music.
Swapped out the steering wheel for a 1995 one. It's a bit torn up but nothing a cover won't hide. THE AIRBAG ISN'T BLOWN YAY!


To Do List

Struts/mounts
A/C refill
Windshield
Power Window Regulators
Replace ghetto seatcovers that came with it..
Trim. All of it.
To be Continued

So here I am. She's been on and off the road many times in the last year. More off than on I'd say. After the head job she's running a lot better. Still chasing the ticky lifter syndrome. Everything's been done by the book. No corner cutting. All tolerances double checked. This's my first rebuild. She's not reliable enough to call her my daily driver yet. But it's getting there. Pictures coming soon. Just gotta figure out how to post them. I really wish I'd known then what I know now. But hey.. live and learn. Dont let this be you though. If you're ever going to buy a 3s; make sure you know exactly what you're buying.




The Car. At least the body is in half decent shape. Needs a paint job in the future. Either sticking to the original red or going dark orange. Haven't decided yet. Just don't want it to look too ricey
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...hll/small1.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/small002.jpg


Irwin bolt extractors can kiss my ass...
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0152.jpg


Sometimes.. I have to look at the things the previous owner did to this car.. and ask myself "What the hell was he thinking when he did this.. was there a reason for this madness? Or am I over reacting?"
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0059.jpg


A terribly expensive little piece of trim. If anyone has any leads or an extra driver's side window trim on the cheap lemme know
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0033.jpg


Still looking for a good replacement for this totaly badass (sarcasm) garden hose e-brake
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0046.jpg


They're not even hooked up. Why are these even here? I found some original ones. Gunna install them soon and get rid of this crap.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0044.jpg


Painted it up best I could to match the car
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0053.jpg


After months of work.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_0144.jpg


First start after top end rebuild. Sorry it's sideways..
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q9lSA4plo4c?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

More To Come

Geez. Bad luck dude...

The SOHC is not that bad. Its more reliable than the DOHC and almost as quick. The ticking you head I can almost guarantee is NOT the lifters. The injectors are very loud. Use a screwdriver like a stethoscope and listen the next time you have the hood up with it running.

As lousy as your story is, I agree it has nothing to do with being a SOHC... If anything, it was still around and not crushed yet because of it. A DOHC that was treated like that, would probably have blown up long ago, then landed in a wrecking yard because the owner couldn't afford to fix it.

I would have cut my losses and got rid of it, but I applaud your efforts to bring it back from the dead. Should make you a good daily driver once you're done...

hey man, sucks to say it but it sounds like your sister and her mechanic buddies just showed up and looked at it, "yep, that's a car" and did nothing else. would you have been unable to receive any cell phone photos or email with photos? those alone would have steered you clear of the thing. sucks that you got a lemon, but i can't imagine the seller wouldn't have said "this is everything that is wrong with it as anyone with two eyes and ears can see" with a car in the condition that you've described.

You got 100% ripped off somewhere down the line. You could have bought a 1gen VR4 for the same price, in much better condition...

Where in TX?

I agree with above. NOT a SOHC problem; a douchecanoe you trusted problem. Happens to everyone though. Jeremy at WSR f'd me over on a 3.5L build wasting 8 months and >$1500 of my money with nothing to show for it. I'm still going to much that mutherfucker if I ever see him.

It goes without saying, but you really need to research well when buying a 3/s. At this point, I wouldn't even think about buying one unless I myself saw it or an owner I know and trust saw it. They're just too old and beaten up to trust anyone but a knowledgable 3/s owner.

And yes, I agree about VR4. Milt will sell you a Stealth TT with all the stuff to make it work for what you put into this.

The SOHC engine proves once again it's a tank. Agree with above post that a DOHC (or heaven forbid a turbo car) would have been blown up a long time ago with that level of neglect and stupidity.

Also agree that for $4k you could have had a good running VR-4 or TT. That may not be what you were after if it's basic transport.... but.... somewhere someone pocketed your money. They did not pay $4k for that car on your behalf, and if they did, they are stupid.

You should have backed out of the deal and flew home. Would have been cheaper.

The ticking is the injectors. The injectors are low impedance injectors and they are notorious for clicking.

The cylinder head gaskets are usually made of paper composite and will blow easily and usually blow oil. The valve covers are a problem, the solution is to use the factory torque spec, i think it's only like 5 ft/lbs. The crankcase doesn't get very pressurized.

Stick with it, hope you didn't pay a lot for it. The SOHC engine can and will run forever.