Hey guys, checking out evo VIIs atm cause theyre in my price range. The one i saw today was very clean and straight apart from two things:

1. Rust on exhaust manifold studs/nuts. To me, the nuts are actually falling apart, and this would need to be addressed quickly. But it looks so bad that the nuts probably wont come off the studs, and the studs look so bad i would want to replace them too. This is common if i understand right. I will need to remove the entire turbo assembly and exhaust manifold etc (ill do it myself, i generally do most work myself and have the tools) but are theyre any writeups about people fixing this?

I would have to inspect the wastegate actuator and other turbo parts when doing this etc.

2. Lumpy idle, car drives very smooth but idles lumpy, he said when he got the timing belt done that his mechanic said not to worry because it has cams. Fair enough, but just changing the timing belt doesnt mean you remove the valve cover and check the cams (or do you need to do this for cam positioning in evos? cam marks on the shafts under the valve cover?). Other than that, if it doesnt have cams then could be a few smaller things because it drove very smooth.

Thanks for the help, i understand that the first one is pretty common so i just want to udnerstand it correctly because 3 of the evos ive seen have rust around the area and i would probably end up removing the turbo and cleaning up the whole area no matter what car i get because of what ive seen!

 

regarding the idle, i guess i can check for cams either with a boost/vacuum gauge (-10 - -12 mmhg for cams, around -19 without?) or open the oil filler cap and check for casting hole
http://www.evomoto.com/article_image.../step_499.jpeg
Like that?