1984 Hyundai Pony 1600GLS review from North America

Upon purchase:

- Valve stuck (Resulting in 1 dead cylinder and EXTREME amounts of blue smoke!)

- Rusted rear brake cylinders (NO rear brakes)

- Burst rear brake line (due to rust)

- Seized E-brake cable (did not slow down the car because of lack of shoe lining).

- Warped right rotor.

- Rusted master cylinder bore.

- Partial lack of radiator (due to road salt).

- Leaking fuel lines.

- Inoperative horn, brake lights, flasher, defrost, brake light switch.

- Sagging driver's door.

- Lack of gas pedal linkage adjuster.

...lots of little things.

The car was bought for $200 for body and trim (little rust due to major anti-rusting). Barely ran upon arrival. I knew what I was getting into, as I had owned another Pony previously.

Actually, there is a rather funny and ironic story behind the purchase of this car: I was on my way to purchase another Pony (My previous one was VERY rusted) when it began to rain. Normally, my spine tingles and my gut wrenches when this occurs, as the car has SERIOUS rust problems, and any rain, and therefore oxidation, is unwelcome. Suddenly, a 2001 Grand Am decides to hit a Buick right in front of it and cause it to come to a dead stop in 1 second, leaving me little choice but to hit it. (It would be good to note that this little pony was raised 6' in the back) I essentially slid under the GM beast, totalling my car. My insurance increased $5 a month due to this... :(

Within 24 hours, I had another Pony in my driveway, and the overhaul began. For $200 plus about $500-$700 for parts (E-Test, and safety)

and 2 months of solid work resurrected this all but running Pony. Things that were replaced:

- Front seats (Replaced with Prelude 4WS side-adjustable seats)

- Instrument anel (RPM gauge added)

- Floor panels replaced (Not really needed, but since I had the carpet and seats out...)

- Engine replaced (From old the Pony that took a dive under a Grand Am! 310 KM's on that engine...)

- Fuel main and return line replaced.

- New shoes, cylinders and rear inter-cylinder brake line re-used from the totalled Pony.

-Master cylinder overhauled.

- New rotors and calipers (which were painted red)

- Resurfaced rear drums (also painted red).

- Installed 1988 Nissan Micra radiator (no useable Pony radiator could be found at the local wreckers...)

- Tinted lights, glass, installed 350 watt CD system.

- Interior thoughrally cleaned.

- 14" American Racing Rims (Courtesy of Eric, another Pony Enthusiast)

- A trip to a Truck (Mack) Junkyard yielded many gauges (volts, oil temp, oil PSI, transmission temp, air Restriction used for vacuum advance, amps, and several others) that are mounted atop the instrument panel and show the vital information under a green back-lit rheostat.

- Prelude leather shifter boot.

Future plans: 173 or 200 cc V6 Chevy Camaro engine (79-84)