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The "What Did You Work On Today" thread

3M views 36K replies 388 participants last post by  cerial 
#1 ·
4 hour work day for me at the shop. Used the time to do a valve body swap on a '01 Jetta 1.8t auto .... I successfully installed a transbrake on the car .... that however wasn't my intention.

Its in 2 gears at once in park, all other gears (R/N/D/2/1) are forward gears.... they all seam to be first gear.

I have it torn back down most of the way. Tuesday I'll actually get the VB back out and see whats up.... but part of me wants to take it out for a test drive the way it is just for the fun of it.
 
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#262 ·
stich626 said:
today, I plan on building my eliptical machine, (fitness) then go into the mad scientist lab ,and try again to make the wood inserts for the gauge panel.. first time was a major fail.. me thinking I could make round cuts with a saber saw.. they where round, but not good enough.. bought some hole saws.. so we'll be cooking with gas now.. just nowhave to figure out how to angle the outside cut.. as the gauge panel is 1" thick and the holes are smaller on the inner side than the face, by 3/8th" so, I'll mount the inserts on a bolt and spin it on the drill press(poormans lathe) and with a sanding block. hand fit them.. then cut the inner hole and router the edge..
then fire up the replacement computer, as this one is 4 weeks old have locks up..(dells testing showed harddrive on way out) the send a computer but it was the wrong one.. so.. fingers crossed this one will be correct..
then load everything onto the new one.. and then I can built a build thread/journal ..
then get ready to .wire the gauges, and be clean and ready to watch, our pats, kill the N.Y. jets.. :boxing: :spank:

eliptical done,,
foul, honey doo list....added sneak attack
back to regular stipulated programing soon..
dam you honey do list........................... :spank:
 
#263 ·
Hey Bill,
White tank on left is for alcohol water injection system.
Luggage will go in the, not yet built, trailer.
Already have it set up for a receiver hitch and trailer wiring.
Thanks for the tip on the fitting unix, but all the fuel lines are just laying in place right now for quick pictures.

Damn!
Didn't get far on the short block this morning before problems.
First rod/piston assembly in and rod bolt hits the block.
This is a stock stroke motor but the rod bolts don't clear.
The rods are Eagle h beams with the L19 rod bolt upgrade.
No one informed me that there could be clearance issues.
I'm really pissed I have to take it all apart again to clearance the block.

Hope everyone Else's day is going better.
 
#265 ·
Well, just over a week ago I started out with a simple, rear only brake job on my truck (it's an F350 4x4) to match the fronts done late last fall. Today, when finishing it up found one more dilemma. One of the hub bearings is shot. Now, so far:

A of Hawk LTS pads
Two new rotors - they're heavy suckas !!
Two reman calipers - these are beefy too
Two parking brake backing plates
Two sets of parking brake hardware
Two hoses (but will probably return them)
One expensive oil seal
One cup and cone inner bearing

Heck, I did engine overhauls for way less then this fiasco is going to cost.






I live in the rust belt :pain:

 
#268 ·
I don't know how you guys do it, man that is rough. I don't see rust like that on a fifty year old car, no kidding. Don't get me wrong, cars rust but it just isn't the same. My Windstar was from back east and you could see a BIG difference, it was not as old when I bought it as this Caravan I just replaced it with and the Caravan doesn't have a spec of rust on it.

Brian
 
#269 ·
MARTINSR said:
I don't know how you guys do it, man that is rough. I don't see rust like that on a fifty year old car, no kidding. Don't get me wrong, cars rust but it just isn't the same. My Windstar was from back east and you could see a BIG difference, it was not as old when I bought it as this Caravan I just replaced it with and the Caravan doesn't have a spec of rust on it.

Brian
Brian, after every snow flurry that leaves a coating on the roads, the highway department comes along and dumps the crunchy output of some salt mine - and the roads are white until it either rains or the next snow dump. That means the cars are white as well - regardless of the paint color. It IS a challenge. My 6 year old truck will be junk in another couple years without continued work - and at the price of even a 1 or 2 year old pre owned, repairs will continue until they can't be done any longer.

What's even worse, that salt is embedded in the road surface and every time it rains, more brine 24/7/365
Dave W
 
#274 · (Edited)
Checked with the speed shop today and it seems we have the rear disc problem cured. I should be able to get the completed rear assy next weekend. I was wanting it pretty bad, just so that I could get it in and check out the new "look" of the 4" channel up front. Just being vain! LOL, I decided I didn't like the front trans tunnel brace so I reworked it to make a smoother transition. Spent quite a bit of time on getting the tunnel cutout on the rear center piece of floor just right, (my son, "Low n 51ow" thinks I'm a bit anal about such things!). Gotta refrain from installing any of these pieces until I get the brakes & fuel sys. installed. Standing inside of those rails by the back will sure be easier than laying under that sucker!
 

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#275 ·
I couldn't get out there either but damn it I am going to do my best to get that five minutes in! I got to the hardware store (AGAIN) to pickup something to make my park lamp gaskets. I have to tell you guys, I would cut a car in half and weld a new half on without batting an eye, but these gaskets kicked my butt! :sweat: I searched and searched and searched and tried different things (the mouse pad was too thin) and ended up getting some rubber gasket material and doubling it for the job. Geeeeez, finally the lights on in.
I also got my original Reynolds Buick license plate frame back on. :) http://reynoldsbuickracing.com/cars_67_68.htm

So yes, I got something done. It wasn't very much but as I was walking back into the house a bit down because I didn't get all I wanted to done today on my only day available. Then it hit me, I got more done on the car than I did the entire years of 2010 and 2011! I feel better, the car is getting done!

Brian
 

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#276 ·
Irelands child said:
Brian, after every snow flurry that leaves a coating on the roads, the highway department comes along and dumps the crunchy output of some salt mine - and the roads are white until it either rains or the next snow dump. That means the cars are white as well - regardless of the paint color. It IS a challenge. My 6 year old truck will be junk in another couple years without continued work - and at the price of even a 1 or 2 year old pre owned, repairs will continue until they can't be done any longer.

What's even worse, that salt is embedded in the road surface and every time it rains, more brine 24/7/365
Dave W
But you get to run the Salt Flats sans ever having to leave home! :D

Actually, I grew up in a place where roads got salted a lot, so I know (and feel) your pain :pain:
 
#277 ·
adantessr said:
Great job ! I assume everything that you make is done with the same painstaking precision. Way to go. :thumbup:
Thanks.

I can get precision on my fabricated stuff, but the sheet metal shaping is kicking my butt.

I also did a bit more hood mockup yesterday.
 

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#278 ·
MARTINSR said:
I got something done. It wasn't very much but as I was walking back into the house a bit down because I didn't get all I wanted to done today on my only day available. Then it hit me, I got more done on the car than I did the entire years of 2010 and 2011! I feel better, the car is getting done!

Brian
when you put it like that :thumbup:
 
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