Topic: What did you do to your non-motorcycle vehicle today?

[grcamna2]

Do you have a qualified transmission person not far from you which you could pay a certain amount to ....Would you consider purchasing a good,used transmission, to work with ?

Well, I have a hard time paying someone a lot of money to have all the fun when I can do it myself.  There aren't a lot of these transmissions around, and the ones that are out there go for big money.  Then you have a used transmission you don't know anything about until you go to considerable effort to get it back in the car.    If it has a problem, you are back to square one.  Of course, jobs like this are always easier the second time around.

wow massive job!!!

It's a big job.  But the reason I bought the lift is for stuff like this.  The lift makes oil changes fun, but it is for jobs like this that it pays for itself.  Back before I got the lift, the clutch slave cylinder on my son's previous C5 needed to be fixed.  He paid over $1800 to have the work done, which involves much of the disassembly we did for this job.  I also bought a high lift transmission jack a couple of years ago which comes in handy for all kinds of jobs.  So we are well equipped to do it.

  If any of you have advice or experience to share on these transmissions, I'd appreciate hearing it.  Stev-o?

Hey Greg...  Sorry, I have no experience or interest for that matter in Corvettes after model year 1972. I'm a "chrome bumper" guy.

Perfectly understandable.  I am basically the same.  And I dislike complexity for complexity's sake.  But the power and handling of the newer cars is seductive.

Greg,do you and your son plan to purchase a new shaft and new parts to be pressed onto it ?

[BenelliSEI]

Your son will appreciate the savings and learn to be “independent”. I love doing stuff like that with my son and there’s nothing better.

Yes, the time spent with him on this has been great.  I am impressed with how good a mechanic he has become.

Excellent. Perseverance often leads to useful learning!

[ofreen]

Greg,do you and your son plan to purchase a new shaft and new parts to be pressed onto it ?

Yes, that's the plan.  Parts are on order and we hope to get them by the weekend.  However, I won't jinx us by predicting when the car will be back together.

Excellent. Perseverance often leads to useful learning!

I have been accused of being stubborn and obstinate all of my life.  I reply no, I am persistent.

[grcamna2]

Greg,do you and your son plan to purchase a new shaft and new parts to be pressed onto it ?

Yes, that's the plan.  Parts are on order and we hope to get them by the weekend.  However, I won't jinx us by predicting when the car will be back together.

Excellent. Perseverance often leads to useful learning!

I have been accused of being stubborn and obstinate all of my life.  I reply no, I am persistent.

Do they also have a shim kit? for this model transmission.. 

[ofreen]

They do.

[BenelliSEI]

Greg,do you and your son plan to purchase a new shaft and new parts to be pressed onto it ?

Yes, that's the plan.  Parts are on order and we hope to get them by the weekend.  However, I won't jinx us by predicting when the car will be back together.

Excellent. Perseverance often leads to useful learning!

I have been accused of being stubborn and obstinate all of my life.  I reply no, I am persistent.

I suspect that is a fairly common trait of those on here……

[Terry in Australia]

For the second time in 23 years in this house, some areshole broke into one of our cars. Recently someone smashed the rear door's quarter glass, ratted through the various junk in the little Hyundai Excel that I bought in 2002 when it was only 5 years old, and has been so reliable that extended loans to both of my sons hasn’t managed to kill it.

There are a few issues apart from the busted out glass. Two outside door handles were broken, the exhaust is rusted out, aircon needs regassing, oil, air and fuel filters and fresh oil, coolant and thermostat replacement. If it was an unreliable pig I would’ve just had it towed away to the wrecking yard but in 22 years and 100,000 miles I’ve replaced one windscreen, a set of tyres, brake pads, oil and filters, and a timing belt.

So instead of getting rid of it, I’m slowly fixing stuff. Did the thermostat, radiator cap and coolant last week, and on the weekend replaced the glass. I’d never done this before but Youtube is your friend and showed me how to remove the window winder securing clip, which was the hardest part of the job. The little green bean is a 4 door hatchback and is “rarer” (because they were a tad more expensive than the coupes) so the only place I could find a window was in Queensland. It arrived last week and I installed it on Saturday.

I’ve got a new exhaust system to install, new door handles, oil and filter etc, ready to go. I’m tempted to buy new spark plugs too, the ones in it are probably the originals, and the car is 28 years old and has done 160,000 miles.

[BenelliSEI]

Terry…..Well done! The “devil you know” is often the best option. I keep my old Volvo C30 running for the same reason.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry…..Well done! The “devil you know” is often the best option. I keep my old Volvo C30 running for the same reason.

Thanks John, and it seems that more and more modern cars have problems. I watched a video on Youtube about the 10 cars you should never buy due to engines not lasting 60,000 miles and it seems that even Hyundai’s have issues now, so I hope to keep my motley fleet intact for the next 20 years or so.

I’d hate to spend $50K on a new car only to find out that it’s only going to last until the warranty expires. We don’t have “Lemon Laws” here in Oz, so once the warranty expires it’s my problem. After I finish renovating the little green bean I might get a cheap paint job done and just keep driving it.

[BenelliSEI]

Good plan.

[grcamna2]

Good plan.

+1

[Don R]

   I cleaned the shop and prepared to put the rods and pistons together for my 350 chevy     SBC with Vortec heads motor. I lasted quite a while before my back had enough. I made an aluminum spacer to gauge how far to push the wrist pin into the piston and rod while the rods end is hot. It's a one-shot deal so it has to go right the first time.

[Stev-o]

Took the "ol' Chevy" to the annual Taylor Classic Car Show, an hours drive from my home.  The car ran great with the spare carb I recently installed but I have a front end "shimmy" at 55mph, but it goes away at 60 so I just power through it!  Was a beautiful day and a huge turnout - over 800 cars parked all over the Downtown area of this small town.  It was quite a festival with live music, good food and a beer tent, but I limit myself to one drink when I'm driving.   Went with my buddy Gary, he has a gorgeous '65 Corvette.  Two other Corvette buddies were out of town and couldn't make it.



This truck caught my eye, some interesting modifications!



 

[dave500]

I always love any metallic blues Stevo,light or dark.

[Stev-o]

I always love any metallic blues Stevo,light or dark.

Yeah, me too Dave.  Have 2 Blue bikes [550F & Z1]

[grcamna2]

I always love any metallic blues Stevo,light or dark.

Yeah, me too Dave.  Have 2 Blue bikes [550F & Z1]

 

[dave500]

well after my wifes little beloved Hyundai excel bit the bullet we started looking for a newer car,boy its tough but i said lets focus on one brand and model and approx year model as theres a dissying array of cars these days,we settled on mazda 3 and bought a 2015 skyactive 2. litre auto,mettalic red,its only done 66,000 kays and in nice condition all around,lotta gizmos we aint used to but shes happy with it,ill post a photo later.

[Stev-o]

well after my wifes little beloved Hyundai excel bit the bullet we started looking for a newer car,boy its tough but i said lets focus on one brand and model and approx year model as theres a dissying array of cars these days,we settled on mazda 3 and bought a 2015 skyactive 2. litre auto,mettalic red,its only done 66,000 kays and in nice condition all around,lotta gizmos we aint used to but shes happy with it,ill post a photo later.

Sounds like a good upgrade Dave.   Don't know much about Hyundai, I dont know anyone here that owns one, but wouldn't buy one!  We've had great luck with Toyota [Tacomas, 4Runners & RAV4's] & Nissans over the years.

[Don R]

 I spent a day figuring out the Lincoln Mark V rear disc brakes on the 9" ford rear end in my 69 firebird project. The emergency brakes are a little complicated and none of my manuals had a pic. I finally found a discussion and pics. on a vintage Bronco site. The E brake cables should be OK but my Thunderbird brake hoses are a no-go. I ordered 7/16" banjo to 3/16" flare hoses from Speedway that should be perfect.

[BenelliSEI]

Got it ready for whatever comes next. One of these days that plow is just going to fall off the old 1980 FORD F350. It’s so rotten underneath I’m sure I could dismantle the entire truck with a hammer……

Having said that, the engine runs sweetly and starts instantly every time. I’ve been saying “one more winter” for almost 10 years! With any luck it will out live me. I didn’t disturb the oil filter but did change to oil, lubricated the plow and added a bit of air to one tire. Got to love it!

[Kelly E]

Yesterday we pressed in the new upper ball joints on the 01' Honda TRX 350 Rancher. Then removed the bent steering shaft and replaced the lower steering shaft support bearing and seals. My buddy's son barrel rolled it into the Nooksack River while being stupid and never mentioned it. He kept riding it for who knows how long but long enough for the plastic upper steering shaft bushing to wear grooves into the shaft.

A straight used steering shaft will be here next week. The new one in the picture turned out to be the wrong one. I already have a new set of handlebars. They were bent back to keep riding and the left side looked about ready to snap off.

We've rebuilt the carb and are waiting on a new bowl gasket. We still need to recover the seat, clean up the rear brake and replace the rear wheel bearings. When we assemble the front suspension it's getting a disc brake kit to replace the drum brakes. We still need to straighten the front cargo rack so everything will go back together and there's still more cleaning to be done to remove 23 years of dirt and crud. The motor is finally starting to look like it's made from aluminium not dirt.

[dave500]

well after my wifes little beloved Hyundai excel bit the bullet we started looking for a newer car,boy its tough but i said lets focus on one brand and model and approx year model as theres a dissying array of cars these days,we settled on mazda 3 and bought a 2015 skyactive 2. litre auto,mettalic red,its only done 66,000 kays and in nice condition all around,lotta gizmos we aint used to but shes happy with it,ill post a photo later.

Sounds like a good upgrade Dave.   Don't know much about Hyundai, I dont know anyone here that owns one, but wouldn't buy one!  We've had great luck with Toyota [Tacomas, 4Runners & RAV4's] & Nissans over the years.

even though her old hyundai has been great we didnt look at the later models as they all mostly have the CVT transmission i wanted to steer clear off,i actually test drove one to see and its like a slipping auto or bad manual clutch feel,pieces of crap!!looked at a Honda civic and same deal,#$%* that #$%*,we looked at a mazda cx5,wife said too big didnt even open the doors,looked at a cx3,same thing too big,saw the mazda 3 and bingo,this might seem like a #$%* around just to buy a used car but i havent bought one for 35 years and my wife 25 years so it was a real culture shock with all the gizmos etc,but now all done,PHEW!if its cast iron motor and chrome bumpers with carby and wind up windows i can fix it,this OBII stuff will test my learning curve?

[BenelliSEI]

Dave…. That Mazda red is a great colour! Parked my cb750K1 next to one like yours a few months ago and thought “that would be great/close colour for a repaint”. 

[dave500]

its mazda soul red premium metallic,has a few faded spots but its 8 years old,gave it a clay bar wash,polish and wax this morning,wifes happy,i see the guy who invented candy apple red,Joe Bailon  died at 94 in 2017.

[70CB750]

...

I worked in a shop, specialized in Corvettes.  Got some good stories.   Regular customers, brothers, both pilots, each owned a vette.  With the shop owner we were fixing something they done to one of their cars and the boss comments:

"They are the reason I don't fly anymore."