- 03 November 1993
Purchase Yellow 1991 Geo Metro LSi convertible
Odometer: 41800 - 26 September 1996
Eastbound Metro meets westbound truck spare tire (Ouch!)
Odometer: 115600
Insurance company decides car is a total write off
Buy car back from insurance company - Cost: $250 - ?? November 1999
Pull engine from Metro for use in current daily driver - 22 May 2000
Purchase 1989 Suzuki Swift GTi
Odometer: 145555 - Cost: $500
Have to haul it home on trailer - Status: Engine seized, rod broken, evidence of previous front end collision damage
Debate whether to repair Swift or use parts to rebuild Metro into GTi - 21 June 2000
Internet search (www.car-part.com) locates low mileage (supposed to have only seen 11XXX miles) GTI engine
Purchase 1989 Suzuki Swift GTi DOHC engine from salvage yard - Cost: $486 +$100 freight
Decide to build Metro GTi - 22 June 2000
Officially enter Grassroots Motorsports $2001 Challenge - ?? June 2000
1989 Suzuki Swift GTi DOHC engine arrives on the back of a semi
Bad news: the oxygen sensor was damaged in shipping
Good News: the engine included the clutch and pressure plate - 12 July 2000
Purchase replacement upper tie bar for GTi project - Cost: $101.06 - 31 July 2000
Purchase Jamex lowering springs via ebay auction - Cost: $114.90 - 15 October 2000
Last Autocross of the season - Time to really start working on the project car - 21 October 2000
Begin stripping all useful parts from Swift GTi - Severe rust found in body structural areas, decision to part out Swift justified - ?? October 2000
Begin stripping front sheetmetal from Metro
Damaged upper tie bar removed from Metro
Swap brake proportioning valve and booster from Swift into Metro
Swap ignition coil from Swift into Metro - ?? November 2000
Replacement upper tie bar welded onto Metro - ?? November 2000
Pull dash and steering columns from Swift and Metro
Remove heater core, blower and ducts from Metro (to reduce weight)
Remove entire SIR (air bag) system from Metro (also to reduce weight)
Swap wiring harness and ECM from Swift into Metro
Swap bucket seats from Swift into Metro (had to use Metro adjuster rails)
Swap lock cylinders on Metro so they match Suzuki ignition switch
- 11 December 2000
What little remains of the Swift is moved to outside storage - 16 December 2000
Repaint forward engine compartment area and replacement upper tie bar - 18 December 2000
Transmission is attached to new GTi engine
GTi Engine is installed in Metro chassis - 26 December 2000
The Metro GTi engine runs for the first time
front brake & suspension transplant begins
Jamex lowering springs are installed on front struts - 28 December 2000
The front brake & suspension transplant is completed - 29 December 2000
The rear brake & suspension transplant begins - 31 December 2000
Jamex lowering springs are installed in rear
The rear brake & suspension transplant is completed - 01 January 2001
The Metro GTi moves under it's own power for the first time
Discover that one rim is bent and will need to be replaced
Begin repair of dents in replacement hood (lightly damaged hood donated by friend who runs body shop) - 06 January 2001
Install Swift windshield in Metro
Begin painting fenders and replacement hood - 07 January 2001
Finish painting fenders and replacement hood - 08 January 2001
Swap fuel pump and fuel tank from Swift into Metro
Install Swift GTi front stabilizer bar on Metro using replacement polyurethane bushings - 09 January 2001
Install fenders, hood and headlights on Metro - 10 January 2001
Get replacement rim from salvage yard - 13 January 2001
Cut rear stabilizer bar mounts off Swift
Repair exhaust system and install new muffler - 15 January 2001
Get tire mounted and balanced on replacement rim
Paint rims - 17 January 2001
Install custom Metro GTi graphics in place of original Metro LSi emblems
- 19 January 2001
Make and install replacement rear window for convertible top - 20 January 2001
Weld Swift GTi rear stabilizer mounts onto Metro
Install Swift GTi rear stabilizer on Metro using replacement polyurethane bushings
Fabricate and install rear strut tower tie bar - 22 January 2001
Fabricate and install front strut tower tie bar - 23 January 2001
Load Metro in trailer and begin 1500+ mile trip to Florida for the Grassroots Motorsports $2001 Challenge - 25 January 2001
Arrive in Florida - 26 January 2001
Here we are at Orlando Speedworld ready for the drag race portion of the challenge. Turns out we are one of four entries in the challenge that made the trip from Minnesota.
The Metro GTi begins another pass down the quarter mile. If I recall correctly, our best time was around 16.37 sec. and our top speed was about 85 mph. Lack of traction due to the use of street tires made launching without excessive wheel spin very difficult. Maybe some nice sticky race rubber could get us into the 15's? - 27 January 2001
The Metro GTi takes another crack at the autocross. I believe our best time was around 38.45 sec. on a course that had a fast time of day in the 33 sec. range. The use of street tires hurt us here as well. Race rubber here ought to be good for a couple of seconds. - 28 January 2001
It's just before 6:00 am CST as we prepare to depart Florida and head north. One of the other teams who drove their car down from Minnesota has suffered mechanical problems, and they don't trust their transmission to make it home. They have accepted our offer to haul their car home in our trailer, and let them drive the Metro home (maybe leaving out the heater to save weight wasn't such a great idea?) - 29 January 2001
It's just after 1:00 am CST. somewhere in Illinois and we've stopped for gas again. The ice on the ground here is just little preview of what is to come. A couple hours down the road, we hit glare ice and could barely keep the trailer straight, even after slowing to under 15 mph.
Back home in Minnesota, just after 4:00 pm CST. It's 1700+ miles, 34 hours, an ice storm and two really cold drivers later and the Metro GTi has survived it's baptism by fire and ice. The car needs a few tweaks and some decent tires, but I can hardly wait for the autocross season to arrive. - 30 March 2001
Time to add some sticky tires for the upcoming autocross season. 14 x 6 Borbet Type H aluminum wheels with 195/55VR14 Kumho Victoracer V700 tires. I made some custom center caps to match the car. - 21 April 2001
So here are the comparison shots. The top is the stock 3 cylinder sohc Metro and the bottom is the 4 cylinder dohc GTi powered Metro - 24 May 2001
Add Conversion Notes & FAQ to web page - 23 August 2001
2931 miles since the conversion and running great. Recent additions: Personalized license plates (June), K&N air filter (July), 15 x 7 American Racing aluminum wheels with 195/45R15 Kumho Ecsta Supra tires for street use (August). The red "Grand Sport" stripes are electrical tape, and were added as a joke at an autocross in July. My co-driver won our class at that event, and I won the class at the next event. Looks like the stripes are going to have to stay (at least until I lose again). - 26 October 2001
Check out the Team Swift forum if you want to discuss your Suzuki powered Swift, Metro or Firefly.Be sure to tune in again next week for another installment of "As the GTi Turns" ...
