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

[CycleRanger]

I replaced the fan bracket/mount on my '02 Tundra.
(The water pump is driven by the timing belt on this engine.)
I got every mile possible out of the old one. (276K)
I noticed the bearings were making noise a few weeks back.
Last week it was loud enough that I ordered a new part and didn't drive for several days.
My new part was due to arrive yesterday so I decided to drive the five or six miles to get a gallon of antifreeze since I would have to drain the radiator.
I got to the store and then headed home. About a half mile down the road I heard a clunk and my alternator light came on. I drove the few miles home and looked under the hood. The fan bracket bearing was completely seized and it threw the belt. Glad I have a good battery.
(No power steering was a lot of fun too.)

Anyway, not a terrible job, there was just that one bolt down low that took like 30 mins to get the right leverage on to pop it loose. 
However my back really doesn't like leaning over the front of truck all afternoon.

[BenelliSEI]

I replaced the fan bracket/mount on my '02 Tundra.
(The water pump is driven by the timing belt on this engine.)
I got every mile possible out of the old one. (273K)
I noticed the bearings were making noise a few weeks back.
Last week it was loud enough that I ordered a new part and didn't drive for several days.
My new part was due to arrive yesterday so I decided to drive the five or six miles to get a gallon of antifreeze since I would have to drain the radiator.
I got to the store and then headed home. About a half mile down the road I heard a clunk and my alternator light came on. I drove the few miles home and looked under the hood. The fan bracket bearing was completely seized and it threw the belt. Glad I have a good battery.
(No power steering was a lot of fun too.)

Anyway, not a terrible job, there was just that one bolt down low that took like 30 mins to get the right leverage on to pop it loose. 
However my back really doesn't like leaning over the front of truck all afternoon.

There’s seems to always be “that one bolt down low”! Working on the FORD brakes a few day ago, I was impressed by how easy the calipers are to remove from their brackets. Two slide pins, superbly engineered with excellent weather protection caps (totally rust free) and a deep design so the 7 mm Allen wrench goes in about 20 mm deep for excellent grip. All good, until you get to the back….

Let’s add a sway bar drop link that completely blocks access to the lower pin. Idiotic.

[CycleRanger]

There’s seems to always be “that one bolt down low”! Working on the FORD brakes a few day ago, I was impressed by how easy the calipers are to remove from their brackets. Two slide pins, superbly engineered with excellent weather protection caps (totally rust free) and a deep design so the 7 mm Allen wrench goes in about 20 mm deep for excellent grip. All good, until you get to the back….

Let’s add a sway bar drop link that completely blocks access to the lower pin. Idiotic.

I think I've seen that design faux pas watching mechanic videos on youtube.
There's always something like that on every vehicle it seems but it's pretty dumb to do that on brakes, something that will require multiple maintenance sessions over the life time of the vehicle.

My mistake with my fan bracket was not changing it out when I did the timing belt 25K ago. 

Now as far as brakes, the front disk pads on the Tundra can be changed without removing the caliper, which I though was clever design. The caliper bolts themselves are readily accessible.

[BenelliSEI]

The massive Toyota Supra callipers on the front to our LEXUS IS300 are the same. Two pins in and out…. Two guys (and a Jack man) can change out the front pads in under a minute.

[Don R]

 I finished assembling the 40 chevy. I didn't test the newest front cover, if it leaks oil I'll put a gutter under it. I got the front clip on and poured a gallon of distilled water into it.
 Only the temp sensor for the fan leaked. Because I hadn't put it back in yet.

[Stev-o]

Only the temp sensor for the fan leaked. Because I hadn't put it back in yet.

Ha.  Should be an easy fix...

[BenelliSEI]

Guy sent me this photo. Two laps before the season ended. Nice shot, me in the car.

[Don R]

 I got the 40 Chevy buttoned up, it has orange antifreeze now, fresh Rotella semi-synthetic for the flat tappet cam. I filled the filter with 15/40 but the pan got 10/30, I only had the one gallon of it to fill a 6 qt. Corvette pan.
 No apparent leaks, at least in front, the old rear Aldan coil overs gave up their seals a long time ago, they need replaced. The lifetime warranty expired. Does that mean one of us ended our lifetime?
  The running boards are back on, the guy that made them 30 years ago told me they would need paint to protect the black fiberglass from the elements. So far so good. I used to put Armor All on them.
 I also found a missing bolt and am not impressed with my 45 years ago welds. They've been to the drag strip multiple times so I'm going to say they passed stress testing.

[Don R]

 I put the 40 chevy in storage, I'm concerned with moisture, so I laid down my 2 old cheap tarps under it and topped them with a new moisture resistant tarp, I bought one that was obviously too big, and I was able to double it up and cover almost the entire unit.
 I put in dryer sheets, supposedly mouse repellent and covered it with a cheap cloth car cover followed by my old faithful fabric Beverly Hills car cover.
 I'll have space in the garage for working on my Firebird and a couple bike projects.

[BenelliSEI]

I put the 40 chevy in storage, I'm concerned with moisture, so I laid down my 2 old cheap tarps under it and topped them with a new moisture resistant tarp, I bought one that was obviously too big, and I was able to double it up and cover almost the entire unit.
 I put in dryer sheets, supposedly mouse repellent and covered it with a cheap cloth car cover followed by my old faithful fabric Beverly Hills car cover.
 I'll have space in the garage for working on my Firebird and a couple bike projects.

Just about to stash away the old Volvo C30. I have a few ancient tarps. Will try one underneath!

[Don R]

 I worked with a union laborer/teamster/cement finisher, he had a like new 70 monte carlo and every fall he would collect cardboard and sheet plastic to put under his car. His thought was that more moisture comes out of the concrete than out of the air. In case he was correct, I tried this. The old 40 deserves a heated stall but I have too much planed this winter.

[Kelly E]

It's been a lot better storing the bikes and keeping them running since I got the heat working in the shop. I keep the shop at 68° all the time. We run the bikes on the center stand and put them in gear at least once a month until they are hot. We haven't had to clean any carbs since I got the heat working.

[BenelliSEI]

It's been a lot better storing the bikes and keeping them running since I got the heat working in the shop. I keep the shop at 68° all the time. We run the bikes on the center stand and put them in gear at least once a month until they are hot. We haven't had to clean any carbs since I got the heat working.

Kelly….. Good plan! I only keep mine around 55* but do the same, on a nice day. Seems to be just enough. Haven’t needed to change any fuel tee “0” ring since!

[Stev-o]

Went to start the '69 Mustang but the battery just said no!  Pulled it out, the tag had a date of '20, so I guess we got our money's worth. 
Put a new Diehard in there with a three year warranty...

[dave500]

crank and go,I like the old die hard advertisement where a crow or vulture lands on the horn ring of an old rusty incomplete relic and the horn blows loud scaring it away.

[CBJoe]

Been working on my old jeep for the last few months.  Rebuilt engine (left rotating assembly alone) with refreshed heads and a new cam.  Rebuilt TH400 Trans and transfer case.  Cleaned up front end.

Big day as I just bolted transfer case in...and have bruises to prove it



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[grcamna2]

Been working on my old jeep for the last few months.  Rebuilt engine (left rotating assembly alone) with refreshed heads and a new cam.  Rebuilt TH400 Trans and transfer case.  Cleaned up front end.

Big day as I just bolted transfer case in...and have bruises to prove it



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360 engine ?
Good looking Restore. 

[CBJoe]

Yessir.  Mostly stock, but I put the melling RV cam in it so should have a little more torque.


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[dave500]

thats chained how I would hang it aswell,I just cant get my head around using the manifold carb mount as a lifting point,good centre of gravity and plenty people do it but not me!

[Don R]

 I got one of those adjustable load spreaders, haven't used it yet but I will this winter. I saw a mythbusters type test where they loaded the carb bolt lifting plate until it failed, I forget the pounds where it finally failed but it was several times over what any normal V8 might weigh.

[dave500]

ugg,I just cant stand that load on four little bolts into alloy,plus the possible manifold distortion that may occur against the head mating surfaces seal?plenty people do it,but its like brushing a cat backwards to me?and if the manifold is old with weary threads?

[CBJoe]

I had considered it, but with the aluminum intake I just wasn't comfortable.  When I removed it all I left trans attached.  I reinstalled separately...and it was super easy.  Without the front clip on it was easy to access all the bell housing bolts.

I'm going today to put in some more hours....need to get this thing started soon!  Been daily driving a 73 firebird, but snow is coming.





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[dave500]

good job,lotta fun that requires some effort aswell!

[CBJoe]

good job,lotta fun that requires some effort aswell!

I have quite enjoyed myself....but I wont lie...I'm ready to be finished. Almost bit off more than I could chew with the budget I had.  Essentially I did a full rebuild of The Transfer Case, Trans, and part of the engine.  I left the rotating assembly alone as the only real reason I tore it down was to just fix all the oil leaks.  Found the timing chain was super loose, valve guides were extremely worn, but otherwise all the internals looked good. Cam was ok, but was showing age and was a smogger cam from california.  So I went ahead and replaced all the lifters and put a Melling MTA-1 in.  Should have more low/midrange torque.  But we'll see.

Lots of firsts for me with this project....If I had to do it all again i'd be done in a fraction of the time.  Really hoping the cam breakin goes well next weekend.

Cheers, Joe

[scottly]

Make sure you have extra zinc in the break-in oil Joe!!