Can This $300 Ford Probe GT Actually Be a Daily Driver?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- Click to Subscribe! ► goo.gl/x9qFdW
Several months back I saved this 1997 Ford Probe GT from heading to the scrapheap. In the last few months I've slowly fixed up this purple beast, and it's inching closer to daily driver status. Parts are becoming harder to find, so today we install a cold air intake instead of searching for long discontinued intake parts. Is it possible for a $300 beater to become a daily driver with a minimum investment? Let's find out as we continue the story with this late '90s sports car.
===========================
Follow Hello Road!
RUclips ► / helloroad
Instagram ► / _helloroad
Twitter ► / _helloroad
Facebook ► / helloroadofficial
Buy a Shirt! ► helloroad.tv/shop
Follow Me!
Instagram ► / mrethantufts
Twitter ► / mrethantufts
===========================
Music used in this episode:
"Take Down the Sun" by State Shirt ( / stateshirt )
"Rio" by 1000 Names
"Beat of Today" by 1000 Names
"Baltic Levity Thatched Villagers" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Selected tracks by Kia Orion ( • Video )
Selected tracks from the RUclips music library.
Yeah I know, I know... it’s more like a Hot Air Intake 😬
Valve cover gasket should fix the leak. If you want it to be as quick as a 944 turbo, KLZE swap. NA power and it will sound better than your 944. It's easy bolts right in everything plugs in the same. The mid-shaft for the passenger side axle will need a 3rd hole drilled. You could do it blind, drunk, freehand and not mess this up. Basically, the swap costs as much as the engine you find and 4-5 hours of your time. You want the JDM one which will have no vin tag on the block, KL31 1A1 head (check in the valley between the intake runners,) and straightneck intake. Should have higher compression pistons and cams in there. Should be just as reliable after the swap and will run on the ECU in there. Ebay headers are $120 all day every day.
I drive my 1996 gt with 160000 + everyday just about knock on wood keep it like you said they don't get that much respect or sell it to someone who respects it like you've been mine's been burning oil but I've never seen it smoke but like the other guy comment valve cover gasket
Greetings from Spain. Congratulations for trying to save this misunderstood car. I have a 97 model for 7 years, and step by step I am restoring it. And every time I take a ride with it, it brings out a smile like yours in minute 8:21. Sometimes it drives you crazy and makes you want to scrap it, but at the end of the day, you sit behind the wheel and think "It goes great, it sounds great and it accelerates very fine, it´s like a big grinder" and you decide have it a little bit more.Be pacient.And sorry about my english level hahaha
Truly ethan, it IS a hot air intake! its sucking the heated air thats blowing at it from that radiator fan..
Ironically, the stock intake design was aware of that and attempted to draw the air from In Front of the radaitor position...the difference is the aftermarket is a more open design and can breath freer..the stock is more restrictive but grabs colder air and that strange shaped intake is actually computer designed to aid in the torque and widen the powerband.
@@skip741x3 that makes sense . I've noticed every junkyard I have gone to the stock air intake box and stuff is broken or missing something so a lot of people get a aftermarket one then I've seen they get a longer one that points down to the ground and I thought that was dumb because if you get stuck in the rain or area that's a little flooded you're just going to suck up water
My grandmother used to have this car and take me to the park. I miss this car for the nostalgic memories I have of her. Nice to see you give this car new life.
The Probe is how I found this channel and subscribed in the first place. Glad you ard giving it some love.
Agree 100 percent
@Eric G
Same here brother!!! I subscribed to the channel because of the Probe!!!
Me too, I was looking for Probe videos, and I found this one, and probably this is one of the few videos, where the Probe is introduced as a nice car, and not a "failed Mustang". Good to see that there are like-minded people. :)
I have words but not a single word matters because you managed to snag a Probe in my dream color and I am so jealous. Side note, I daily my current Probe with joy. She is my first car and a damned trooper.
That Probe is worth every penny!
KEEP THE OLD PARTS!
You broke Smokey Yunick’s number one rule for conventional engine performance .
Never suck in Hot engine compartment air.
After market junk is usually just eye candy.
For 30 dollars, you get hot and not properly filtered air in combustion chambers, i.e. shorten engine life and performance... I even do not mention about rainy days. I sould have found oem parts from junkyards if you do not want to buy new ones from the dealer .
This car is really coming along! I think you might want to consider keeping this car (if its as much fun on backroads as I bet it is, once its fixed anyways).
Its almost the "poster car" of your channel...Rad as hell, forgotten, and fun. With maybe another 700 bucks more worth of work and a 1000 dollar Maco paint job and a detail, I think this would be one-of-a-kind sports that would look and drive great for around $4k...Definitely worth it!
Exactly! This purple Paint is something else, he really needs to restore It to its former glory
Ford did something with the Probe that no other manufacturer (that I know of) has done: They made the rims angle the same direction on either side of the car. The rims on the car in this video are a perfect example. The spirals are clockwise on the driver side, and anticlockwise on the passenger side. On every other car maker, they would spiral clockwise on either side of the car.
If for no other reason, that is why I will one day own a Probe GT.
Please save the original air box, parts etc. for when the car goes to someone who favors the original look & configuration.
Have a great new year, Ethan!
Agree 100 percent.
The problem with his new cold air intake is he has to be careful of water puddles now.
For sure! I've kept all of the original parts.
@sleepyhollow783 you sound just like me!!!! Oem
@@mexicanspec that’s not the problem with this one , that’s a general issue with cai. The actual problem is it’s not a cold air intake . He was correct I’m his assertion it will make less power once the engine gets hot and it succumbs to heatsoak.
These Probe videos always take me back to my '97 GTS days. Spent many days swearing at it but always loved driving. Even to this day I still love the styling of the GT(S)...not much so the ones with the base model bumpers.
This was my first car back in early 2000s, they hold a special spot in me heart. Glad yours is driving much better than when you got it and you saved it from the crusher.
1) Keep it as original. 2) New paint. 3) Diagnose connecting TEN + GND (engine) and TENS + GND (ABS) and see codes to be fixed or why Check engine is lighting on. Keep well. I like your CD radio. (Does it work?) keep going!
I had a 95 Ford Probe GT manual and I freaking loved it! Wish I hadn't gotten rid of it! You gotta great deal on that one!
Can't say I've seen a Probe in 25 years. Bought a Mazda 93 or 94 MX-6 for $600 bucks in 2003 or so and it ran great for awhile. Thanks for keeping this car alive!
Always loved the Probe GT! Purple was the best color for it. STILL looks great, even in its current condition. This one would be awesome to bring back and restore. I'm no mechanic, but if it were mine, I'd want to get it back to like new condition, with a new coat of shiny Purple paint. Would make an excellent daily commuter car. For your next project, I nominate a late 80s Nissan Pulsar NX SE. Had one in Ferrari red for 4 years. Loved the styling and the fact that it had a reconfigurable rear hatch with T-tops. Fun to drive with a manual shifter and those pop up lights!
At least it isn't the horrible kit that adapts the air filter right to the end of the air sensor. Back in the hay day of the aftermarket for the Probe GT, there were kits that actually dropped the air filter right down to the splash shield. At least those didn't take the under hood air, even if they didn't do much.
I'm so glad to see you continuing to save this car.
Had one of these for a daily for 3 years love every minute of it, actually still have one it just not a daily anymore
Had a 93 probe gt in 1999-00, love it
Nice to know the probe gt is getting closer to becoming a reliable daily!!And kudos to you for even attempting to work on your own cars!! That's one of the perks of having cars from the 80s and 90s
I think the oil leak and check engine light should be next on the list. As far as the exterior goes, I'd say to just give it a good wash. It looks decent as is
This car would definitely be my daily if i had it 😍
The car definitely was the light in my not so great childhood and the few great memories i had were in our probe.
I really love people like you who take these "junk cars" and keep them alive.
I really wanna be able to do that some day.
Thanks for the effort to get it running. I wish these cars were taken care of with the same love and attention as other classics. The Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6 were unique standouts with timeless styling, and I probably haven't seen one on the road or at a show in nearly twenty years. 😕
I had a 93GT 5 speed in the late 90’s. Loved it the V6 sounded great. Nice power for the time. It was a dependable daily driver and easy to live with. Only complaints was the lift over the hatch but that’s a problem with every hatchback. Someone pulled out in front of me swerved to go around them but wrecked into a snowbank totaling the car.
I had a 96 GT 5spd in black and absolutely loved that car. Very glad to see you save it! It was a very reliable car for my long commute back and forth to work.
This car introduced me to your channel. Keep up the good work with it!
so you took my advice I gave you in an early video on this car, worked good on my 93 mx6, made on same assembly line at Ford Flat Rock plant, used to go ice fishing on Lake Huron in the shadow of this plant. I've had my 93 since 96 when I bought with 20k miles, now has 134k, I left that scoop on the front that you took off and had shorter hosing for cold air intake it landed directly under where the air blows in from it
Purple is the most iconic 90’s car color
Always loved the probe! Fun fact: the headlight housings are the same as the fd Rx-7, since Ford and Mazda had a partnership in the late 90’s to mid 2000’s
Also the interior is almost identical than the one in the RX-7
"I will deal with that oil leak at some point ..."
The Probe must feel like a patient lying in the ER, hearing the doctor say, "I will deal with that internal bleedings of yours at some point. But today I'm gonna take care of that little cough you had last month, which has already been cured with some drops. Btw, we really gotta work on your tan."
Please do a Maaco paintjob (in purple of course)
One of my buddies had one of these and I loved it. He couldn't hang with my taurus sho though. That v6 Yamaha screamed
First thing to do on those is to get the valve cover gasket replaced. That is what I did after I bought mine and it's been a few years now and there is no problem with any smoke. Installed original mazda seals. Keep the car or sell it to someone who is gonna care for it. Cheers from Poland ;)
I'm all about this purple life! That cold air setup has aftermarket turbo vibes.
You’re the reason why I have my ford probe, it’s a bit broken as well but it runs lol
"I am taping the Probe today" has a totally new level of meaning for Ethan...
-
Fun video, very nice, I daily drove my GT Probe for 20 years no issues. Recently pulled clutch, was still like new. I posted a few videos. These rev and handle great with proper firm sidewall ZR tires. You Could maybe get away with a snug on the valve cover bolts to lessen the oil leak. Keep original please and just clean it good, inside and out, and enjoy it.
If it were mine I'd fix oil leak, sort the check engine light issue, find a decent paintless dent repair guy to smooth out the dings, and give it a Maaco paint job. In the original color, of course.
Mmm love that car the pop up headlights that purple and minimalistic 90s design
Im amazed at the condtion! I had a couple friends in college 20 years ago with cheap Ford probes. I recall the rear quarter window of one fall out when he closed the door. He just went to town with whatever sealent he had on hand to glue it ack in olace.
A little more scare i remember us replacing an A arm on one.
Old cars to me are like adopting rescue dogs, every new vehicle needs time and care to get close to their former glory and they all have stories. You seem to have a similar disposition. Of the 4 cars I own right now the newest is a 1996 and they all arrived on flat decks. I appreciate your documentation of your experience on the journey that is old car ownership, learning, maintaining, restoring, improving and the unexpected failures!
I had three GTs back when loved them all..
Loved my 95 gt when I had it. White with saddle leather and a 5 speed. Currently looking for another one.
I just did the same cold air intake to my 95 probe gt. These cars sound great with some exhaust work done, just cutting off the rear muffler and putting in a pipe to replace it works great.
i have a 93 probe gt project its been on the back burner for a while but it has a fully built v6 kl engine... just k swapping playing with an 80s mr2 right now and that has become my priority
I love your aesthetic, even when you delve into what could well be undeniably bad taste! But it's ecological saving these old machines with all their embodied energy, and your service to engineering heritage is wonderful.
Groovy videos.
Happy New Year brother! Nice to see the Probe getting some love
Happy New Year Ethan and a happy prosperous new year in 2021. Love watching your RUclips videos on your Ford Probe Hatchback i can't wait to show you my 96 Ford Probe SE Hatchback named Praisenator
I have a hard time calling the Probe a sports car. A sporty economy car maybe? I absolutely love the color though. I also dig the styling. Funny how often they're mistaken for a 240SX hatch. Just so you know, to me, you're at least the 569th best automotive channel! Keep up the great work. :)
same here ...
Not sure if there is something like a front-wheel-driven "sports-car".
And if there is, I doubt, it's the Probe.
I like "sporty economy car" though ...
Or a "sporty-ish car" maybe ...?
@@holdencaufield7485 Haha well it's kind of like hot hatches. They are sporty hatchbacks, but they aren't sports cars, ya know? My friends and I have talked about this a lot. Like can a 4 door even be a sports car, or is it a GT car? Can it be both? So funny to think about. Nice name, BTW.
@@802Garage
I really think, the drive-concept matters a lot.
There is nothing wrong with front-wheel-drive. For many puposes, it has its bonuses.
But a front-wheel-driven car will never be a sports car. Understeer won't get you nowhere fast.
As for four-door-cars, I think there are some sports cars with four doors. Not many but some.
The Porsche Panamera is definitly one. Everything about it is made for sporty performance. No one would use it as a limo to drive around VIPs in the back.
The same goes for an M3 or a C63. They'll go in circles around many two-door sports cars.
Can you imagine, how old I have to be to hold that user-name on youtube?
First off, Happy New Year Ethan and I hope u had a safe and happy holiday. Second, if that Ford probe gt was mine, I’d get the check engine light solved and then drive it. The faded paint and hail damage adds character in my opinion. Third, if you know any RADWOOD organizers/judges or anyone who has a say on which cars are allowed in the show, I would really appreciate it if u gave me an email I could contact to ask if my car would be allowed in. Thanks and I hope 2021 is much better than this year has! Oh one more thing, thanks for all the entertaining and informative content!
I had a brand new 97 probe back in the day mine wasn't a Gt, but I Loved that car ! It wasn't the fastest thing on earth but was fast enough looked cool wasn't real expensive and was fun to drive. it also got great gas millage. and the trunk space was cavernous if you flipped the useless backseats down. Plenty of room up front though was great for a young single guy kinda looked like a miata except big enough for people over 5'5" lol - good luck with the project i hope all goes well
This is surprisingly high quality content! I have been subed for a while and am loveing it!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for taking time to make interesting content. I relate because I like old ugly cars and am probably about the same level of mechanic as you are so your videos are a must watch for me.
Dude I need to get myself a probe. I love that car.
Der Ford Probe ist wunderbar! Überall auf der Welt!
Happy New Year Ethan!
Work is all great work as always!!!
Ebay headers , obx cat back and it will sound awsome , do the I take manifold gaskets while your their same as valve cover gaskets , if I owned your probe if keep it and track it ,all youd need is coilovers and youd be less than 1k in and a solid car
My dad had a red probe here in Brazil in the 90s, my brother stole the car one night, and while racing a fiat uno turbo in the street and he rolled the thing over but great car, and congrats love the channel.
Happy new year
Is your brother still alive?
@@mexicanspec yup the airbag broke his arm but he is alive and well
@@jonhcena3809 I meant if your dad killed him, because I would have.
Yup, I tore the curved tube part when I was messing around with mine one day. I did end up replacing it but only because I wasn't prepared to add any CAI street cred to my life :D
Ethan, when you register this car, please consider one of Californias special plates. They offer a lot of them. They will make your unique car even more unique.
One time I ordered a special series plate for my Pinto wagon and even the lady at DMV didn't know it existed. I showed her in the book it did and she ordered it for me. Almost nobody else had that style plate.
Clean it as it sits. Make it look as clean as you can, and enjoy it. Sell it to a Probe lover to save it. Oh, and fix that leak. You’ll fell Better about it, and yourself.
When you're ready to sell...I'll be first in line. I've owned 2 of the 93-97 2nd generation GT's. Both 5 speed. One a 1994 in the very rare Wild Orchid Purple. Tossed a set of headers on her. Later I owned a 1994 Rio Red with a KL-ZE swap, headers, filter, full exhaust (No Catalytic, gotta love Florida) short shifter with brass linkage bushings and pucked clutch. (There's actually a video on my channel of this one) I would shank someone no questions asked, to have either back in my life. The 1993-1994 models were more aggressively tuned suspension wise as opposed to the 95-97 due to harsh ride complaints over the first few years. EXCELLENT cars though. The KL series V6 sounded way more exotic than it had any right to be and rev-limit was set at 7500 rpm. LOVE THEM.
Take it to Macco to get it painted and light body work
I’m looking for cars that look like this or just like this. Love the design. Can you suggest any more brands like this?
subaru svx
Mines 27yrs old at this point..bought it new and driven every day.. man, the issues are indeed chronic at high mileage points with this car.. its probably not worth much so I just cant bring myself to sell it for nothing..My brother is always trying to get me into Any newer car, as he has had dozens of car in the time since I bought mine LOL. most recently, I drove thru a Dip in the road at 25mph and snapped on of the front coil springs!
Then had the joy of scouring the net for a stock spring set and renting autozones "scare the shit out of you" spring compressors to replace the springs on both front struts.. now it looks like the cars sitting an inch higher, or its my imagination playing tricks on me... maybe,the original springs had just sacked alittle in all that time..
I get tired of doing work all the time on it.. its slow as a weak 4cyl , even though its a gt with a stick..no ecu codes, all stock, runs smooth but idle is high and needs the airscrew turned all the way in to achieve 700rpm.
no vavuum leaks that i can find and IAC seems to work ok.. It gets me from point A to point B but I gotta say,
the motor is the biggest letdown..just no power, sound nice but a weak ass engine.. drive any 4cyl non turbo today and they will feel like a rocket ship compared to the probe gt.
My first car was an 89 probe! Miss that car. Mine had the nasty oil leak too lol
Looks so similar to the orchid, thought you got a hold of a unicorn.
I daily one but its a 94 same model but my engine does do some ticking but over 2000rpm it stop. Planning on swapping the engine and doing a rwd conversion this winter. Dang i love those probe gt
I always wanted one of those. Ended up with an ‘88 Dodge Daytona instead, but I still want one!
This is the color of legend!
💜
Maaco I guess can do paint cheap? Also it would be fun to have as a weekend car.
Maybe if the oil leak requires you to remove the engine to fix it you could swap it with a 3.0 L Duratec which externally is identical in dimensions to the 2.5 to get an easy boost in horsepower and torque. Another thing to consider would be if you could actually put the factory air cleaner back in and use the rubber boots that came with your cold air intake to reconnect it so that you actually have cold air intake as opposed to hot drawing off the side of the engine and transmission air.
Yeah in hindsight the installation of the "hot air intake" wasn't great, going to swap back to stock at some point :)
Just a thought, with all the leakage going on it might work better to pull the motor and replace all seals and gaskets. Have you done a compression check on the cylinders?
I had one here in the UK a 1996 2.5 V6 24v, it was stolen back in 2004 :-( it was found in good condition but after the insurance paid out so went to auction, sadly I think it only survived till 2009 when it fell victim to a UK vehicle scrappage scheme as it showed no longer on the road after that time.
Love the car man do I miss my 92 probe
Where are you located and if you sold the car how much would you want for it, I'm looking for another probe .
You can put that plastic intake snorkel back on to bring some cooler air directly to the intake.
does anyone know the name of the song in the intro?? it’s soo good
Enjoyed your video. I have a 1993 Ford Probe GT automatic with about 80K on it (my first Probe was a '97, 4 cyl.) I'd love the wheels off of your car, lol. I also need a driver's side window with the rollers/bracket attached, can't find them anywhere. Kid next door accidentally shot out my window with his BB gun and the auto glass installer broke the rollers in the replacement install. :(
If I owned this car I would drive across the country with it and make amazing memories with friends in a cute and fun cat!
If I owned that car, first thing I would have done is remove that rear-view mirror dream catcher! And a good wash, and exterior and interior detail goes a long way. Even with old, faded, peeling clear-coat paint. At least it would be clean.
So True. A good honest cleaning goes a long way.
Absolutely. A deep cleaning is coming soon for this car. Just trying to sort out all of the mechanical stuff first :) :)
Maybe it’s because I’m more experienced mechanically, but I’d modify the parts in the cold air kit to just replace the stock boot, and be able to keep the easily replaceable stock filter and not suck in hot engine air.
I also like to rescue cars, drive then a bit and sell (find them new homes). I’ve always had a soft spot for ford probes.
You do know there are Probe clubs out there right? At least yours runs. I have a 91 that doesn't. I would like to know what that piece of Funk was @ 3:56.
good taste brother. great series. hey that car was very first car ive ever owned and is my absolute favorite car and i miss it to this day. mine was stolen and never found. I had painted on racing stripes and had it straight piped and it sounded like it had a beast under the hood. As far as suggestions go I say if you arent going to keep it then donate it to a subscriber. I dunno maybe someone who had theirs snatched by a big meanyhead.
Lol I came across a Ford probe several years back at a auction that head Dryer vent hoses As Intake boots. I figured it had just been ghetto rigged By a past ricer Racer owner but if they are hard to come by I guess that would explain it? I wonder if it would be the same part and more readily available from Mazda?
I just bought a probe it’s awesome
Man I wish I could drive one of these.
Living with a daily that has a CVT sucks.
Sorry to be all buzz killington here but the check engine light & 'cold' air intake are going to fail you at the smog test station, should you need to do so (iirc in order to sell a car in CA it needs a good smog within 90 days of sale). I'd recommend spray painting that chrome 90 degree elbow black, then stuffing the stock airbox back in it, with the 90 degree elbow replacing your stock tore-up accordion hose. Also, the hose from the airbox to the silencer up front probably exists on the aftermarket in silicone. Measure inlet and outlet inside diameter, and length, then start digging around on ebay. I've replaced a ton of no longer available SAAB and Volvo parts like this (and gotten them to pass smog, too)... just hope the smog guy or gal doesn't fail you on visual when they see the non-stock intake parts (which is why I rec'd painting the shiny part dull black).
I don’t know if the virs system works on this car but if it doesn’t fix it it will make a huge difference in acceleration past 4.5k rpm
Good point. Is this true? I have to fix mine. Both my solenoids are dead. Just such a tight fit and hard to reach.
I envy the manual transmission. As mentioned before, my Probe GT is automatic.
The Probe was really just a Mazda, so parts can be crazy expensive. I had a 93' GT and the thing just destroyed me in parts prices and the fact it broke all the time.
Nice t shirt you got more of that one for sale wid the purple probe on it???
Thanks! Yes, they are for sale here! www.helloroad.tv/product/hello-road-broken-ford-probe-t-shirt/
YEAH, PGT VIDEO!
Id take that Ford Probe off your hands. Ive been aching to replace the 89 Probe GT I had as my first car.
My grandpa has a Ford probe that needs an oil pump he says he’ll give it to me should I take it?
I thought they were a good looking coupe when they were released here in Oz way back when. I like the colour
Not bad! Re: the exterior....would it be possible to wrap it inexpensively?
I looked into wraps, I cannot find a place that does it on the cheap. A few places I checked are almost as expensive as paint!
@@HelloRoad Well, that sucks! You think it would be cheaper than getting paint done... I think paint is much more labor intensive...
If you need those boots, I just klze swapped my mx6 and have the originals just sitting around
Your mechanic showed you that the CV joints were leaking at the boots. Once the lube is gone they are going to seize at precisely the wrong moment. New half shafts aren’t very expensive.
One of the saddest days of my life was when my wife got rid of my 93 probe that I bought new. Now I’m thinking of finding a replacement.
Replacement probe or wife?
Man i think it would be a good idea if you try to box in and protect that air filter a little better than just leaving it like that. You dont want to hydrolock your engine if you hit a puddle.
This is good advice. We rarely get rain here in Southern California, so I'm not concerned at this point. If I start to drive it more regularly, I may do something like that :)
The Probe would be a great daily driver with the engine fixed and a new paint job.
At least is a manual... Good job!