Welp....since the repair process is going slow, I've been feeling a bit depressed over the overwhelming list of things that need to get done on all my cars. I've been driving the red TGP to and from work the past 2 weeks after it had been sitting a year in my possession (was missing the computer when I got it, then the fuel pump when out). It still needs lots of work yet to be a 100% reliable cruising car, but it'* been doing ok thus far. A couple of weekends ago, I finally came to the conclusion that one of the main reasons I felt overwhelmed by the work needed is because the red TGP looks like a worthless piece of crap, not because it is, but simply because it'* a complete mess (cosmetically). So, a couple of Fridays ago, I took 2 Foaming Engine Brite degreaser cans, a few steel brushes, towels, a hose, and a couple of hours, and took to the engine bay. I struck engine! Far from the detail I originally planned for it (when I was going to strip everything in my boss' garage before we moved ), but FAR better then it looked when I got it. Pics below:

BEFORE


AFTER


BEFORE


AFTER


More Before:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...EngBayBfr5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...EngBayBfr4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...EngBayBfr3.jpg

More After:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...EngBayPlnm.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...BayLftStrt.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...BayAfter10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...gBayWndRsv.jpg



Aaaaaaand then the following weekend, I attacked the mess of an interior. I cannot BELIEVE the amount of garbage in that car. It took about 3 hours to yank the front seats out (wasn't planning on going this far initially, but there was no other way to get at all the garbage), scrubbing the carpet, seats and plastic trim pieces like crazy, and conditioning the leather. I put 3 coats of conditioner on the back seats, and it sucked all of it right up. Will go for another few coats this weekend. Anyway, end result....

After just removing the seat:


After throwing away all the garbage and vacuuming:


After scrubbing the hell out of the carpet:


Bag o' garbage removed from car (aside from the water bottle):


Found a picture of the culprits under the seat:


A couple more after:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...RrStAfter2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../RrStAfter.jpg


There was far more garbage then what the first picture shows. I had thrown quite a bit of it away already when I decided "that'* it, I gotta' get some photos of this before I continue". Still not to the point I like (some stuborn stains that may need another round of shampooing), but MUCH better then before, nonetheless. The back looks practically showroom new. All in all, I feel much better about the car, now. It actually feels good to get in it. Still LOTS of fine tuning to do (being as picky as I am), but at least it doesn't look like a war zone under the hood and inside the car anymore. I'll attack the exterior next for cosmetics, but need to hit some mechanical issues first (don't do much good to look nice if it can't get down the road ). Anyway, just wanted to share.

Amazing what a good cleaning will do. Ha, a Mot banana phone battery. That thing must not have been cleaned for 10 years!

Looks like your not afraid of work, good job and I hope she comes along for you

Theres a Tgp a few streets over me, been sitting there since I moved here in January, I should drop by and find out whats up, what are they worth?

nice ride

Nothing like a little elbow grease to make ya feel better.

Clean cars are always more fun to drive..........

They aren't worth a whole lot. If they are perfect AND low miles (like 50k or less) then they can go for $7k or so. 100k miles and perfect might get you $4k if you find the right buyer. But, generally, in the condition most of them are in, they are worth about $2k or so. In the condition this one started out as, I would guess he paid around $800-$1k, but I could be wrong.

Shawn

nice car.. my dad used to have a 1991 STE, loved that thing..

Thanks, guys.

Yeah, that was the last thing I was expecting to find in the car. How the hell do you loose that, anyway???


Oh no, sir. I'm not one to shy away from a ridiculous amount of work. I'm too driven by my detail freakness. I mean, I'll be cleaning things on the dash with a toothbrush that makes others ask "dude, wtf are you doing THAT for??? Who the hell is even going to SEE that?" Doesn't matter if it can be seen, or not. I'm just that meticulous.

Shawn pretty much nailed the value thing on the head. Except, I got mine REALLY cheap. It was off an eBay auction put up by Royal Truck and Auto/Towing (they do a lot of the towing around here). NO description WHAT SO EVER. Just a few pictures (that first picture of the dirty engine bay is from the auction), "Ohare" written across the windshield, and really, really horrible feedback, including things like "could not register car because it was stolen". So being that it was so close to me, I took a gamble on it, actually fully expecting to part it out because I was positive it was going to be a complete POS. Much to my surprise, when they towed it over to me, it looked very restorable. Just a bunch of things to put back together and/or clean. One fuel pump, fuel sending unit, fuel filter, and fuel injection cleaning later, I'm driving it to and from work for the past 3 weeks, now.


Yeah, I've always liked the STEs (6000 OR Grand Prix). The GPs basically expanded on what the 6000'* started. And having a turbo certainly doesn't hurt the fun factor. :P

that car definately has potential! Props to you for your hard work.