Ownership Verified: My 1990 Mitsubishi Sapporo

Damn, so now I know where the Saga came from.

800px-Proton_Saga_%28first_generation%29_%28front%29%2C_Kuala_Lumpur.jpg
 
You don't, that's originally a lowly '80s Lancer. :p

Edit: Lastsoul: yeah, waiting in line for my turn my stomach turned :lol: It's like going to the dentist, except the inspection guy uses a bigger hammer.
 
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Yeah, I know the feeling. Exact same thing happened when I heard from the woman in MOT office that he can't register my MX-5 because of failed inspection :D There was 1 extremely long second waiting to get the paper back to find out why, and at the same time thinking worst case scenarios :D
 
Ouch..but hey, at least that's the only fault in the car. Failing at emissions, or any other system would have been a lot more expensive.

Don't worry, I think this won't be the only "fail at MOT" on the forums during this year...I will make sure :p
 
Every car I owned failed MOT for emissions, except for my last Audi, which passed for some strange reason.
 
It wasn't even close to failing emissions, and actually some numbers were a bit better this year than the last (handy to have a folderful of MOT certificates).
 
New tie rod joints on both sides and a fresh MOT. Also bought a reasonably-priced double-pad buffing machine yesterday, will be interesting to see if it can be used to salvage the matte'd paintwork.
 
Please show some before-after pictures. I should really do something about my paintwork as well, but am a bit skeptical about those buffing machines. And congratulations with the MOT :)
 
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Thanks :)

Looks like I will be dropping the car off at the bodyshop on Monday, so I won't get to buff it just yet - will be trying it on the Mazda, with some 50/50 shots.

Bought some STP Injector Cleaner, which might or might not have done something to how the car runs. The light bucking is still present, but I haven't run the tank dry yet.
 
After a 450km trip, it looks like there's no urgent need for alignment. The car goes straight and the steering wheel is actually straighter now than it was before.
 
Mitsu's been delivered to the bodyshop. Let's see when I get it back, and what horrors are revealed when they get to work.

Documented the extent of the rust /other imperfections on the car, everything can be seen in this gallery;

Actual rust that will be treated:

2j2jl91.jpg
 
Went to the body shop to look at the progress. Welding on the passenger side is pretty much done, a section of metal by the rear wheel well has been changed and the holes on the rocker have been fixed. Driver's side is still in progress, the rear wheel well on that side needs some more new metal. Looking good so far.

A couple of pics

http://img64.imageshack.**/img64/5549/weld6.jpg

Will have the car back on Tuesday.
 
Looking good. Ever thought about shaving the trim on the rockers to prevent future rust?
 
The rocker trim has protected the door bottoms from flying rocks etc etc, so it goes back on. Doors have zero rust because of the trim; and if the rocker repairs are properly done, they won't catch rust anytime soon again. They will also be properly sealed with some thick heavy-duty goo.
 
http://img691.imageshack.**/img691/7199/mitsufull.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.**/img225/9522/mitsuaffa.jpg

It's finished and re-assembled. Guys did a thorough and honest job; the rockers are triple-coated inside. Outside, there's a 3M elastic coating that's apparently used in VAG products of late.

http://img714.imageshack.**/img714/5655/helma2j.jpg

Rest of the photos
 
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http://img40.imageshack.**/img40/3434/japanesedesign.jpg

Who says all Japanese cars look the same? :p

http://img849.imageshack.**/img849/3301/lasi.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.**/img62/6237/wipers.jpg

Fixed the rancid wiper arms with a spray of satin black.

http://img593.imageshack.**/img593/8717/wipersfixed.jpg

Now the view from the front isn't ruined by rusty wipers. (I let the cracked glass do that, for now.)

I then unscrewed the rear spoiler, and awaited what horrors lay underneath;
surprisingly, it was pretty tidy.

http://img171.imageshack.**/img171/3563/mg0095.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.**/img684/7839/mg0099l.jpg

http://img600.imageshack.**/img600/3632/mg0102.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.**/img716/8381/mg0100x.jpg

The only really rusty bit was underneath the middle fixture, and that was probably partially due to somebody "fixing" it before. Should be rectifiable without issue, and hidden again.

http://img97.imageshack.**/img97/3013/spoilerholes.jpg

Cleaned the marks a bit and claybared the GDPO overspray. The brown in that pic is from the screws, it's not rust in the trunklid itself.

http://img815.imageshack.**/img815/1072/spoilerunder.jpg

This is what the spoiler looks like, turned around; the screws have rust on them. Will have to treat them with something handy.

http://img811.imageshack.**/img811/3479/mg0098.jpg

http://img857.imageshack.**/img857/7294/cleanrear.jpg

Opinions of the rear with spoiler delete? IMO it looks a bit bare.

http://img94.imageshack.**/img94/7358/enginebaye.jpg

Here's how the engine bay looks after hours of scrubbing; I ran out of cleaner products so I'll have to continue later. I also need new, correct-length spark plug wires.

Edit: older pic for comparison:

http://img708.imageshack.**/img708/1356/sapporoengine.jpg
 
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looks like yet another 80s japbox without the spoiler, it does add something. Personally it reminds me of an old hundai Stellar we used to own in that rear 3/4 shot
 
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