Cary's 73 1.7 Rustoration Thread Options

[cary]

Having all this time to think, and Doug (Raynecat) stopping by to add to my parts stash. I might do a cost analysis on putting in the 6 cylinder 2.2T with Italian Webers that I have on the shelf. As my skills have improved, this is turning out to be a much nicer car than I'd planned on. Plus it will add value to all my hours of hard work.

IIRC the leak down numbers from Rothsport gave it about a 1/2 life left in it. Plus 6 Webers with rain hats look bitchn. Not to mention the roar when you put the hammer down.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/914-6_cons..._info_guide.htm
I have a set of Fuchs 7 & 8's also .....................

[cary]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif) Being off during the holidays for the first time in 35 years has been fun.
Had time to shop. Not just a mad dash after work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif)

Had another interview. It went very well. I'll know more after the first of the year.

My auto project the last couple weeks has been working on my son's 2002 A6 2.7T, again. I finally drove in and put new gaskets under the cam tensioners and replaced the cam plugs. Then set about finding a one quart per month coolant leak we've chasing for 5 or 6 years. After taking it apart and putting it back together a couple times I finally found it. It was a small chip on the lip of the thermostat cover. That rim seats right into o-ring that is used as the thermostat gasket.





It's got a few more hoses and electrical connectors than our T4's.

[Andyrew]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif) Being off during the holidays for the first time in 35 years has been fun.
Had time to shop. Not just a mad dash after work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/santa_smiley.gif)

Had another interview. It went very well. I'll know more after the first of the year.

My auto project the last couple weeks has been working on my son's 2002 A6 2.7T, again. I finally drove in and put new gaskets under the cam tensioners and replaced the cam plugs. Then set about finding a one quart per month coolant leak we've chasing for 5 or 6 years. After taking it apart and putting it back together a couple times I finally found it. It was a small chip on the lip of the thermostat cover. That rim seats right into o-ring that is used as the thermostat gasket.





It's got a few more hoses and electrical connectors than our T4's.

Looks familiar... Needs more coolant (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You replaced the spider hose yet? PITA...

[cary]

Yep, that was last year.

[cary]

A couple more dads garage projects before we return to our regular scheduled programming.

#1 Project. #2 sons fiancees 2006 Mazda 6.
Car goes electrically crazy when it rains. Turn signals and flashers don't work. Turn signals stay on and drains the battery. Thru web research I narrowed it down to the flasher. But then we have a problem. Most the brain surgeons on the web don't have a clue where the flasher is. News Flash, 2006 Mazda doesn't have a stand alone flasher relay like our experienced (age is an attitude) cars do. It's embedded in the Body Control Module. Which I finally locate under the small inside fuse panel. The going crazy issue is caused by leaking water. When I finally find it, it and the attaching plugs are drenched. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) Took the module apart and put the board in a bowl of rice to dry out.
Carpet is saturated. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Dandy. The leak is coming from a Mazda design flaw. The hood release cable pops out of the side panel. So when driving down the road at speed in the rain some kind of pressure/vacuum event sucks the water in. The hole in the inner fender is behind the plastic inner fender. Really out of line of fire.
Remedy. Time to use the Big Ass Craftsmen screwdriver and press the strain relief/grommet back in the hole. Getting enough light and screwdriver in place is a bitch. But it finally pops in. End of story.

Except the little heater is still running in the car to dry out the carpet. The board fired right up without any issues.





Body module is the black box with the white plugs.
Car will have one more big road trip. After he and the fiancce pass the Oregon bar in June. They're heading to Wall Street to pay off their loans.

#2 Project. The water pump goes out Sunday night in our one owner 99 Explorer. Girls were coming back from the mall. So we hook up the open trailer and go and pick it up.
Pouring down rain and 40 degrees, pitch black Nice thing about a water pump failure. Belt comes off and the power steering stops, all the lights come on.

No story. Got only 70K on the water pump. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) NAPA warrantied it. Finished up installing the pump last night. Pulled the thermostat right before quitting time so we can do a static flush this am. Rinse and repeat till it comes out clear.

[cary]

Then I get a email from Mark(914Rubber) last night. He wants me to look at an R/R on the front panel of a project car. Havent heard back when its coming. Need to get the Explorer off the rack.

Today starts 5-6 day window of no rain. So I hope to get blasting/stripping finished.
Only issue : cold, 30 degrees (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

On the employment front. Things look promising. Let's just say, a regional VP wants me for a specific account manager job. I'm part #3 of the puzzle. But the puzzle only came about because I became a available. Kind of complicated.

So based on the conversation/interview with the sales manager I'll probably have only 3 weeks left on my sabbatical.

[cary]

Finished up the Explorer. Flush went smoothly. Probably ran 20 gallons thru it to get completely clear. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Decided to install a spin on filter onto my HF parts washer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNqsQ-jxvHA
Filter hanger from Summit. $25 worth of barbed pipe fitting from Ace.
Pulled the cover off the pump. Kind of ugly ........... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[cary]

New Episode of Tool Whore

Got a couple new IR Die Grinders with a $100 Amazon gift card I received.
For twice the money $40, there's no comparison. The HF ones will be relegated to little wire wheels.
Plus a larger tubing bender for the e-brake cable tubes that come thru the firewall.



Then I found the replacements for my welding close up lights. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)
My McGyvered ones bounced off the floor one to many times. New ones $22 at NAPA.

[76-914]

Those would be great for welding in tight spots with old eyes. Good idea!

[JoeDees]

It's question time again...

I was looking at your post #593 where you were using the Eastwood HD anti-rust inside the targa bar. Can you tell me more about your schutz gun/interior spray hose set-up? Thanks.

[cary]

Eastwood sprayer and hoses. I attach it directly to the Anti-Rust can. Then use the black plastic jar to clean the gun and hoses with lacquer thinner.

http://www.eastwood.com/undercoating-gun-a...ses-bottle.html

I have another one to spray U-Pol Raptor bedliner. They look almost the same. I'll use that spray the Lizard Skin on the interior. I think I have two of those, one in an un-opened box

http://www.tooltopia.com/u-pol-up0726.aspx...StUYaAj3D8P8HAQ

[J P Stein]

OK, now we've seen Mr. Fixit mode. Today is a day to sit back & watch it snow

[cary]

JP the snow surprised the crap out of me too .................
Last forecast was 20% precip at 4pm today............

[JoeDees]

Awesome! Thank you. I think I've found my Christmas present.

[J P Stein]

JP the snow surprised the crap out of me too .................
Last forecast was 20% precip at 4pm today............

Remember those are the folks that are the "know it alls" about global warming.

[cary]

Finished up the parts washer filter install. Solvent was coming out crystal clear



Hose is on a pivot so it can be folded down to be out of the way when the lid is closed.

[cary]

Then went on to extracting my first parts off the $75 parts car.



Not bad for a $75 inveestment.
Parking brake short cable
Part #: 914-424-256-01-OEM
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperC...S_pg1.htm#item1

The one off the project had a couple loose wires.

[cary]

Then on to pulling the harness from the front trunk. Photo documentation before pulling wires from headlight sockets.

[cary]

Hand brake handle #2. Out of the parts car

I put a pot of water on to boil. Just as the small bubbles started to form I dipped it once for 10 seconds. No Go
Waited about a minute, then gave it another 10 second dip. Water still not boiling
Then gave it a twist with a towel. Came right off.



This time just a little discoloration. Could be reused.

[cary]

Finally get back to working on the rustoration.
Started off a little chilly ...............



First item was filling the holes in the muffler shield supports. I plan to install blind nuts on the flange so I'll be able to R & R the shield.





All fixed ................. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)