Weekend Project

[fgummett]

Hi Guys... First a big "Thank-You".. although a newbie I have already spent many hours searching and browsing this forum and getting all kinds of great ideas.. plus some interesting discussion points ;-)

I am 47, live in Nova Scotia, am the proud owner of an '05 Avante XD2 (?) 5 Speed and an even prouder father of my 14 year old son Josh.

I learned to drive in the UK using a manual but since coming to Canada in 1989 I had been driving autos. First time I test drove the Elantra I had a grin ear to ear the whole time.. what a sweet gearbox!

Most weekends Josh and I take on a project with the car.. he wants bling, I want performance and handling.. I'd love a sleeper but am happy to be working with him whatever. Money is always short so we enjoy the DIYs offered on this forum

Last weekend we did a mild port and polish on the TB and knife edged the butterfly ...thanks to FordFasteRR... I agree with him in the way it looks stock on the outside but boy can I feel a difference! I wasn't able to take the butterfly off without stripping the screws so I used a zip-tie to hold the butterfly open (using throttle mechanism) and I ground the screw heads and tails down as well. Next weekend we are going to take on the IM.

Working on the intake system I became aware of the gunk that builds up courtesy of the PCV system so this weekend I added a couple of filters. I had already suspected I need to do both the pipe from the rocker cover to the IM, AND to the intake (see attached photos) but thanks again to this forum that thought was confirmed. From the local Home Depot, "Husky - Mini General Purpose Filter USA Sku: 401-910 CAN Sku: 131-688", 3/8s threaded hose fittings, and COLORITE 3/8 Reinforced PVC Air Hose in Blue and Red. I'm trying both colours 'till I am happy with one or the other (may even use red from engine to filter and blue from filter to intake). The filters are zip-tied until I figure out a more permanent way to hold them.

Cheers
Frank and Josh

[aLoNe I bReAk]

First and foremost, since this is the first time I've seen you here, welcome to the site! So much information here, it's great! And yes, the stock look to the ported IM and TB is sweet, I love it! That's awsome about your son, is he to be the future driver of the car? I remember when I was 14 getting into cars and modding, but my parents were always against me. My dad is awsome under the hood, and he's shown me alot, but for some reason when it came to something that was not "stock" he never agreed with me. Oh wells

[fgummett]

Many Thanks. Yes Josh is already learning to drive (stick shift..! can you tell I am proud?) on private roads and the plan is for him to take over the Elantra when he is old enough.

[BlackElantraGT]

Welcome to the site!

I think that's awesome that you and your son are tackling new projects on the weekends together. That's something that I wish my father had done with me. My father was a mechanic but never bothered to teach me anything besides doing an oil change. I even had to learn how to drive a stick on my own when I bought my XD.

[fgummett]

Thanks... I'm up against guitars, girls, manga, X-box, snowboarding and school friends (not necessarily in that order) so I figured that working on a car might just get me a bit of precious time with him 8-)

[aLoNe I bReAk]

Funny you mentioned all that stuff. I play guitar, like girls, used to snowboard, and own a PS2 rather than an Xbox. I was a dumb kid. You see, I wanted to impress the ladies by learning how to snowboard. I figured they wouldn't be able to resist my 720 degree sideswipe no looky reverse roundabout to a twisted fakey double rounded can-can.....but then I broke my arm going off my first jump, so no more snowboarding for me. I then moved on to guitars, of which I have been playing for 3 years now. I love music, and I love to play, but my skills haven't impressed any ladies yet :(

Anyway, it's now the XD for which I have to pick up chicks with...

[Estopatitiana]

the two filter thing you did is nice..for the pcv...

[KeWLKaT]

Very nice.

When I get kids I hope to be a father like you. I wish my dad thaught me how to work on cars, but the dude doesn't even drive since the 70s. I hope i will still have my XD by the time I have a son !!!! :D And yes, I am crazy and will keep this car forever, as I do not find ONE thing that I hate about it. And with all the cash I'm spending, this mofo is gonna live long LOL

Man, I always wanted to paint my valve/timing belt covers, just never had the time to take a full day and not use the car at all...

I guess that'll be one of my winter projects!!! :)

[vsolo]

I became aware of the gunk that builds up courtesy of the PCV system so this weekend I added a couple of filters. I had already suspected I need to do both the pipe from the rocker cover to the IM, AND to the intake (see attached photos) but thanks again to this forum that thought was confirmed. From the local Home Depot, "Husky - Mini General Purpose Filter USA Sku: 401-910 CAN Sku: 131-688", 3/8s threaded hose fittings, and COLORITE 3/8 Reinforced PVC Air Hose in Blue and Red.
I like when people put location & part numbers as well as Sku's in their posts :)

[yamaha]

First off, welcome to the site. Secondly, nice job with the porting and polishing, looks like you guys had some fun there.

[fgummett]

Thanks for all the "Welcomes" and positive feedback 8-)

As an update : I am surprised how much oil etc... the engine to IM filter is catching... the bottom of the bottle is already covered (in less than a week).. is ths normal? I drive most days on the highway to work and sometimes just for the fun of it (any excuse will do). Either way I am mighty glad this ain't ending up in my IM and cylinder heads.

How can it be better for the environment to be burning this oil??

I also wonder if the long runs of tubing have any detrimental effect? I plan to shorten them when I find more permanant locations for the filters

[BColeman]

Looks good...

How did you cut the hole in the timing chain cover??

Also, I'm no expert, but it would probably be more beneficial to have the hose coming from the head shorter (closer to the filter) and the hoses going to the IM and Intake to be just a tad shorter. I feel this way, because there is less of a chance of the oil just sitting in the line and has a better chance of getting to the filter.

I've got a 6 month old son, and boy, I can't wait till he can walk. He'll be helping me out in the garage in no time.

:-)

[fgummett]

Thanks.. yes I agree with the logic about oil sitting in the hose.

The timing belt cover comes off pretty easy.. just a few bolts and then I just used an exacto type knife cutting from the inside and following the circle already shaped into the plastic.. if you are careful and don't try to cut too deep at first it works fine. The edges could be a little rough but a fine sandpaper helps and then the paint also covers up some sins. I had toyed with the idea of leaving the cover off altogether but I guess it helps to protect the belt.

I envy you with a 6 month old son... you have probably heard it a million times already but this time is SO precious and they DO grow up so quickly!

[DAILLESTWUN]

Welcome to EXD. Great job there and to do it with your son...that's what it's all about. :thumbsup: