Elizabeth update 04/27/2017
>Now just shy of 5000 miles into having her, still commuting day to day.
>Siliconed the entire gutter length, the indoor rain feature now somewhat diminished
>Gave her her second carwash ever (touchless place at the chevron nearby), HVAC spits water onto pass carpet still.
>Colin found the major oil leak source, was the oil pressure sensor that spit oil on startup.
>Trans noises have gotten concerning. She has not yet lost a gear however... 2nd is impossible to hit in anything over walking speed unless you really baby the stick in.
>Very high pitched whine/scream in anything over 40mph, some rattling at idle.
>Low whine and grumbling in every gear
>Still pulls pretty dang good though
After work I drained the trans, then filled it with some 2nd hand MTL from her sister. This stuff I ran for a few weeks in the 110 before again changing, just to get out the last of the gear oil some shop had put in. Basically still very good albeit with a sprinkle of gear oil, and fine for Elizabeth's excessively angry comedy transmission.
The fluid that came out was dark golden brown, not opaque but had the beginnings of that bronze-like sheen you see when a bit of metal is in it.
Check out what was in the fluid... The catch pan was wiped clean before use.
Lastly: BAM. Look at the crap on the magnetic plug. This fluid was new three months ago when it was changed for MTL
While I am not digging the current mechanical situation here, I have particularly enjoyed that you can fix these cars with a hammer and maybe 2 wrenches. Trans serviced in 20 min. Elizabeth remains a total trooper. I promised her if she made it through February without dying I would buy her a new trans. So when it goes I'll find an Ashcroft unit and swap. Rebuild is an option but so far more expensive in this area, at least what I can find.
, and while I am not the D2's biggest fan, that is good mileage and a wonderful color. Nice find. 
