JSATX
Goblin Guru
Howdy!
Another Future Texas Goblin here. I found out about the Goblin several months ago after looking for four-wheeled alternatives to my motorcycling habit. Basically I wanted the closest thing I could get to my sportbikes, but with a little more rubber contact area!
After going back and forth between an LS and SS, and searching through 1000's of photos looking for a manual shifter I finally found what I was looking for. I really wanted a 2009 or 2010, and it had to have under 120k. I found one in Arkansas, and while I definitely paid more than I wanted to, it met all the criteria well.
It was surprisingly clean, and after charging the battery it ran great. Brakes, clutch, transmission and electrical system all worked correctly, and no warning lights were present. Once I got it lifted up I was glad to find no leaks, there was some sub frame damage but it was from running over something and didnt appear bent.
The disassembly went well. I only had one weekend available to work on the disassembly, as the car is at my parents house a few hours away from mine. I started Friday night, and finished early Sunday, it was a bit rushed, but it definitely can be done. A common assortment of tools was used, with ample crowbar and BFH action as I wasn't going to try and resell anything. ( that's probably one reason to get an SS, there is much more demand for the seats and various other parts whereas base equipment is just not worth the hassle to sell as far as I could tell)
Honestly I'd say the most important tool was a couple of little tools
Because working under that dash is miserable. Luckily they were able to remove nearly all of the under dash components while I removed the engine.
I did not remove the dash in one piece as suggested in the donor parts guide, mostly because it felt like you had to pull the whole thing apart to access the main bolts.
Pretty soon I had the front end completly apart. I was planning on doing a bit of work to the engine so went ahead and removed the engine harness before I pulled it. While the car was jacked up I slid a flat dolly underneath the subframe....
Then used some forks and lifted the whole frame up over the engine.
I followed Adam's instructions not to cut any wire, and probably went way overboard. I traced every single wire to its termination. I probably could have unplugged the doors at the hinges, and various other connections, but went ahead and left all large and small connectors connected. This required complete interior tear down. Every last piece of carpet, the door panels and the headliner and airbag covers had to come off. But eventually it was done, and.... HOLY **** THATS A LOT OF WIRE.
Another Future Texas Goblin here. I found out about the Goblin several months ago after looking for four-wheeled alternatives to my motorcycling habit. Basically I wanted the closest thing I could get to my sportbikes, but with a little more rubber contact area!
After going back and forth between an LS and SS, and searching through 1000's of photos looking for a manual shifter I finally found what I was looking for. I really wanted a 2009 or 2010, and it had to have under 120k. I found one in Arkansas, and while I definitely paid more than I wanted to, it met all the criteria well.
It was surprisingly clean, and after charging the battery it ran great. Brakes, clutch, transmission and electrical system all worked correctly, and no warning lights were present. Once I got it lifted up I was glad to find no leaks, there was some sub frame damage but it was from running over something and didnt appear bent.
The disassembly went well. I only had one weekend available to work on the disassembly, as the car is at my parents house a few hours away from mine. I started Friday night, and finished early Sunday, it was a bit rushed, but it definitely can be done. A common assortment of tools was used, with ample crowbar and BFH action as I wasn't going to try and resell anything. ( that's probably one reason to get an SS, there is much more demand for the seats and various other parts whereas base equipment is just not worth the hassle to sell as far as I could tell)
Honestly I'd say the most important tool was a couple of little tools
Because working under that dash is miserable. Luckily they were able to remove nearly all of the under dash components while I removed the engine.
I did not remove the dash in one piece as suggested in the donor parts guide, mostly because it felt like you had to pull the whole thing apart to access the main bolts.
Pretty soon I had the front end completly apart. I was planning on doing a bit of work to the engine so went ahead and removed the engine harness before I pulled it. While the car was jacked up I slid a flat dolly underneath the subframe....
Then used some forks and lifted the whole frame up over the engine.
I followed Adam's instructions not to cut any wire, and probably went way overboard. I traced every single wire to its termination. I probably could have unplugged the doors at the hinges, and various other connections, but went ahead and left all large and small connectors connected. This required complete interior tear down. Every last piece of carpet, the door panels and the headliner and airbag covers had to come off. But eventually it was done, and.... HOLY **** THATS A LOT OF WIRE.
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