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WIsh me luck

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1976Midget

1976Midget

Jedi Hopeful
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wish me luck! tomorrow is A-arm replacement on the Red MG. After that all it needs is a Brake bleeding and alternator and belt and where on the road.
 
ohh yeah and a title! anyone here from Alabama that cant get me a title for my car.
 
it was a piece of cake. the a-arm all went together like a big puzzle had it done in less than 4 hours.
 
Don't you love it when it all goes to plan? I've been trying to change the water pump on one of my cars this weekend: 3 hours in, not only will the fan not come off, but I've managed to put a dent in the front wing. Have now given up for fear of costs escalating through further inflicted damage!
 
It's not the Sprite, but if you can think of a solution let us know: I've taken off the fan shroud, and need to take the fan off to get access to the last two water pump bolts. There's a bolt holding the fan onto the water pump pulley, and it has a clutch mechanism built it. Apparently you should be able to put the 32mm spanner on the bolt and turn it anticlockwise to undo it. Unfortunately it's turning the whole engine, and as its an automatic, I can't lock it in gear. In theory it should be a 30 minute job...
 
On a Chevy vortec (similar set up I think) I remove the serpentine belt and hold the pulley with a strap wrench. What are you working on?
 
BMW 730. I think maybe if I clamp some mole grips onto the pulley and turn it till it butts up against the engine block should do a similar thing
 
That'll chew the pulley and subsequently every belt you put on it, Pete... Chris' belt method is a better "Plan A".


Oh, wait.... nevermind. Use the gets! File the marks.
 
I used the strap method when I did my Aerostar - that job left me bruised for life! Ever work on the front of the motor on an Aerostar? Or the sides? Or the back? SHEEE$$$ what a stupidly designed engine compartment. I ended up drilling one inch holes thru the firewall to get at a couple of the plugs! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif

Anyhow - Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...
 
1976Midget said:
anyone here from Alabama that cant get me a title for my car.
Click to expand...
Nope, too new a car...anything '75 & later has an Alabama title already - or we have to transfer it in from another state on that state's title.
 
I feel yer pain, Rick. I ~stoopidly~ volunteer'd to do plugs in one-a them Aero-thingies once... Now ANY friend with any kind of mini-van gets: "You'd be wize to take it to a dealer."


BTW: I ~really-really~ like the idea of takin' a hole-saw to one! Or a SawzAll... right about amidships. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
DrEntropy said:
I feel yer pain, Rick. I ~stoopidly~ volunteer'd to do plugs in one-a them Aero-thingies once... Now ANY friend with any kind of mini-van gets: "You'd be wize to take it to a dealer."

I rear ended someone with mine - the entire front end was apart - rad - grille etc etc (5k damage 10 years ago) asked the body guy to change the plugs while it was apart - still charged me $150 and this was a good friend. sigh - way too much labour there /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/pukeface.gif especially for an Aerostar.
Click to expand...
 
I did heads, pistons, plus new rod bearings, etc. in my V6 Aerostar.
Outside.
In the winter.
On a gravel driveway covered with frozen snow.
What doesn't kill you, makes you stonger! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif

I'm speechless
 
Nial, you are the man! I did the plugs in a V6 Aerostar I had. Once. Going in through the wheel well with the world's longest ratchet extension. Stupid money pit of a car (2 engines -- one under warranty, and 1 transmisison) in a bit over 2 years. Happiest day of my life when I sold that dog.
 
I used the wheel well method on most of them, but that back one on the passenger side really gave me a bad time.

That's when I made the hole. A one inch hole drilled precisely in the spot where the ratchet extension & plug socket went right through to the plug. Made it the easiest plug to change on the car. I replaced wires, coil cap & rotor at the same time - it ran like new at 225,000 miles.

Then I wrecked it in a multi car pileup on I-5.
You live - you learn - you forget & have to learn again...
 
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