Long Term Replacements

[Medikerik]

Originally I'd intended my cb7 to just be a beater; something to last me until I had the money for a new car. I'm starting to fall in love with the thing though; my question is with 167k miles on it, what should be replaced? It has all the basic tune-up stuff done to it (plugs, wires, dist cap), new water pump, new tires, new header/downpipe... I figure though the bushings need replacement, the rest of the exhaust is about rusted through... How did ya'll determine your cb7 was worth keeping and investing, and am I leaving anything out? (Shocks/springs, etc)

[BBuncky2]

One piece of advice: make sure that you change the automatic transmission fluid at regular intervals. A transmission rebuild or having to find a replacement really makes you re-consider keeping the vehicle. I mean, the $1800 (plus whatever you could get for the vehicle itself) required for a rebuild would make a nice down payment on a car.

Take it from me...in my young stupidity, I had my transmission rebuilt twice!

[Jon]

Maintain your transmission very well! I see way too many people neglect it.
New bushings is also a great idea. Replace any suspension pieces are parts that are worn out/are wearing out.
Shocks/struts, replace them as needed. Same with springs, if they start sagging and whatnot.


And there were a few reasons I determined my CB7 was worth dumping money into.

1. Great body, only one small ding on the passengers side door and no rust! It could use a touch up paint job, but only on the hood.
2. Put a fair amount of money in it fixing the problems the previous owner had. And now I know every little problem that it has. Buying a newer or new car, you don't know what you are getting sometimes.
3. I know how to fix it from head to tail (for the most part), and fairly cheaply too.


So unless the car gets totaled (bent frame), I'll be more then willing to dump a new motor, tanny, whatever in it to keep it on the road.

[sin2k5]

Originally I'd intended my cb7 to just be a beater; something to last me until I had the money for a new car. I'm starting to fall in love with the thing though; my question is with 167k miles on it, what should be replaced? It has all the basic tune-up stuff done to it (plugs, wires, dist cap), new water pump, new tires, new header/downpipe... I figure though the bushings need replacement, the rest of the exhaust is about rusted through... How did ya'll determine your cb7 was worth keeping and investing, and am I leaving anything out? (Shocks/springs, etc)

I decided that my car was worth keeping since finding the resources and help on this site! I started out not knowing much. It's OBD1 and easy to work on. Parts for CB7s are abundant, easy to find (new or junkyard/used) and relatively inexpensive. Invest in some tools, take care of your car and could go another 100k+ miles.

I bought mine at 178k miles. for just $2000 garaged. Now it's at 205k miles and runs better than my sis. 99 camry 120k miles

easy things to help your car run better: clean IAC, clean EGR, change transmission fluid, oil, valve cover gasket

assuming your car is in overall good shape, common parts that will leave you stranded are:

• distributor tends to fail (the actual igniter inside, engine turns over but wont start),
• ignition switch (car will shut off unless you hold the key),
• Main relay (wont start in hot weather)
• Spark tube seals (hard/cracked seals allows oil into spark plug tube = hard start)

of course, other parts are fair game, but those are notorious in the CB. how well you care about the body of the car is up to you. if i never found this site, i mightve sold/trashed my car already for afew hundred bux. all repairs done myself, saved tons in labor costs and its worth so much more to me now than $2000

[bobbycos]

Maintain your transmission very well! I see way too many people neglect it.
New bushings is also a great idea. Replace any suspension pieces are parts that are worn out/are wearing out.
Shocks/struts, replace them as needed. Same with springs, if they start sagging and whatnot.


And there were a few reasons I determined my CB7 was worth dumping money into.

1. Great body, only one small ding on the passengers side door and no rust! It could use a touch up paint job, but only on the hood.
2. Put a fair amount of money in it fixing the problems the previous owner had. And now I know every little problem that it has. Buying a newer or new car, you don't know what you are getting sometimes.
3. I know how to fix it from head to tail (for the most part), and fairly cheaply too.


So unless the car gets totaled (bent frame), I'll be more then willing to dump a new motor, tanny, whatever in it to keep it on the road.

i'm in that same boat too

[lonski]

4 things for me:
I've spent waay too much money to sell it now
I don't want another monthly payment/high insurance on a new car
I don't need to go back to square one on another used car
And, given some TLC, still looks good as the newer cars out there

[Jon]

I don't want another monthly payment/high insurance on a new car

Man oh man, no joke. I'll keep my 18 year old car insurance premiums over most anything. Nice and cheap.

[wed3k]

well i practically replaced everything on the car so i might as well just keep it.

[Fred'sRide93]

Medi,
Same here...never intended on getting rid of it, but by finding this sight and asking questions, I have fallen in love with my CB7! I too agree with no car payments for 6 years now, and way low insurance, plus the never ending direction you can go with the car. Good luck with taking care of all those "minor" but VERY necessary replacements/cleaning everybody else mentioned above.

Later Days,

Freddy

[BBuncky2]

But the rust! The rust is the unanswered part of the problem! It's so hard to get rid of and do the body work if you're not an expert, and so expensive if you wanna bring it in and have it done!

[lonski]

Tell me about it...

[CarbonEuroR]

Maintain your transmission very well! I see way too many people neglect it.
New bushings is also a great idea. Replace any suspension pieces are parts that are worn out/are wearing out.
Shocks/struts, replace them as needed. Same with springs, if they start sagging and whatnot.


And there were a few reasons I determined my CB7 was worth dumping money into.

1. Great body, only one small ding on the passengers side door and no rust! It could use a touch up paint job, but only on the hood.
2. Put a fair amount of money in it fixing the problems the previous owner had. And now I know every little problem that it has. Buying a newer or new car, you don't know what you are getting sometimes.
3. I know how to fix it from head to tail (for the most part), and fairly cheaply too.


So unless the car gets totaled (bent frame), I'll be more then willing to dump a new motor, tanny, whatever in it to keep it on the road.

I think we're all right there with you, Love the car, know tons about it. Wouldn't trade it for the world!

[Gotz Cb7]

Yea, the more you do to the car, the more you'll fall in-love. I put some semi-crap on the car, but I replaced everything that wasn't in the best of shape. Bulbs, oil, filters, tires, brakes, exhaust, etc. Don't go spending your money on "performance" parts, until everything on the car that's not working right, needs to be replaced. I see people do that daily. Sometimes broken parts, are helpful in matters. Everything that's not working right on mine, I replace with a performance part. Don't just run and get the cheapest stuff for it. Just take it from experience. I went and bought the cheapest thermostat advance auto had, and it ended up failing/seized, and blew my engine. (blown head gasket, cracked block). After I got a new engine installed, I can't get rid of the car now. Too much money in the car. I'd never be able to sell it for how much I think it's worth. The people above are pretty much on the same page, as for the regular replacements, spark plugs, filters, oil change, auto transmission duties. My problem the other day, was my alternator. It went up at the weirdest time. Glad I was near home when it did.

My dad always tells me to stop puttin' money into it, because it's just an "A to B" vehicle, and isn't worth it, but the more I replace, the newer it's gonna get. Hey, the heart died, and I had it replaced (engine), and after reading on swaps and stuff, I shoulda did it myself. The engine blowing, is the reason most people get rid of the car, but they don't have any idea how much cheaper it is to put another engine in it, rather than buyin' another used car.