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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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#9,161 ·
John, again, someone else may have a better answer to your question. But basically the shrinking disc is a "shrinking block". You heat only the high spots, thus shrinking only the high spots.

Brian
 
#9,162 ·
John, again, someone else may have a better answer to your question. But basically the shrinking disc is a "shrinking block". You heat only the high spots, thus shrinking only the high spots.

Brian
Does that mean you could "finesse" a larger area? I know they will shrink the high spots in a lumpy panel but what about a smooth panel thay has a high area as mentioned earlier?

John
 
#9,165 ·
Here is the disc.





Here is the grinder, I have to say this video does it no justice. With the disc on there when you hit the trigger it about rolls over. The movement you see is the torque twisting it in my hand. And it runs forever when you release the trigger.

Brian

Click on the photo or the link.



DSCF6197_zps0d4a7026.mp4 Video by BasicsofBasics | Photobucket
 
#9,167 ·
Does that mean you could "finesse" a larger area? I know they will shrink the high spots in a lumpy panel but what about a smooth panel thay has a high area as mentioned earlier?

John
It won't be hit it and presto, it's done. You just got to know, which it sounds like you do already, that some spots will shrink more than others and you will need to do some bumping up, but yes it will easily bring it down. If you overshrink, you may need to slap on dolly to re-stretch.

I believe the only other choice is to heat with a torch and you know that will be a lot worse.
 
#9,168 ·
That is interesting. What is the procedure for removing an oil can in a panel?

John
Whoops, didn't see this.

An oil can is there because somewhere on the panel is over stretched. You'll know this if you've ever straightened out a buckled dent. The key is to find that overstretched spot and shrink there. Simple. :drunk: Well, we know finding that exact spot on a welded panel is not so easy but you keep plugging away and you'll get it.
 
#9,169 ·
What did they do about the out-of-round you mentioned ???
They straighten them somehow, don't know how. I assume it's bolted to something and then "pushed" straight somehow???? I know they have straightened many for us. And in fact I just learned that I was wrong telling an insurance estimator that they don't "reman" steel wheels like they do aluminum ones, and we changed his remanning the steel wheel to replacing it with new. But then I was talking to the reman place about mine and it hit me, they DO repair bent lips, my bad. :drunk:

Brian
 
#9,170 ·
Whoops, didn't see this.

An oil can is there because somewhere on the panel is over stretched. You'll know this if you've ever straightened out a buckled dent. The key is to find that overstretched spot and shrink there. Simple. :drunk: Well, we know finding that exact spot on a welded panel is not so easy but you keep plugging away and you'll get it.
to get a general idea of the location you can tighten up the metal with your finger til you see the oil can tighten up. Usually I cheat and hit the corners to tighten up a hood but for an isolated issue like an oil can you need to address it firsthand.
 
#9,171 ·
to get a general idea of the location you can tighten up the metal with your finger til you see the oil can tighten up. Usually I cheat and hit the corners to tighten up a hood but for an isolated issue like an oil can you need to address it firsthand.
What's funny is the basic instructions for the shrinking disc is to hit up everything and shrink it then hit up the low spots too high and shrink them down and keep doing that until the panel is flat! I have a REALLY hard time accepting this but that is how I was instructed in videos and in person by Ken from SunChasers.

Brian
 
#9,172 ·
What's funny is the basic instructions for the shrinking disc is to hit up everything and shrink it then hit up the low spots too high and shrink them down and keep doing that until the panel is flat! I have a REALLY hard time accepting this but that is how I was instructed in videos and in person by Ken from SunChasers.

Brian
well I think in that environment there will be a lot of back and forth, it just makes sense with how the metal is but being in a shop atmosphere it's shrunk til it's tight enough to where you can block your 1/16" of filler. :D Trust me, I don't like that dusty crap anymore than you do. I can't comment on whether or not that introduction video is right or wrong as I haven't had much experience using the disk on my own time where I can really pamper the metal. I can say I felt it did wonders on my tank build but I didn't go back and forth.
 
#9,173 ·
well I think in that environment there will be a lot of back and forth, it just makes sense with how the metal is but being in a shop atmosphere it's shrunk til it's tight enough to where you can block your 1/16" of filler. :D Trust me, I don't like that dusty crap anymore than you do. I can't comment on whether or not that introduction video is right or wrong as I haven't had much experience using the disk on my own time where I can really pamper the metal. I can say I felt it did wonders on my tank build but I didn't go back and forth.
I'm not talking collision use, I am talking how Ken taught to use it and what's in his video. I basically used it to metal finished a number of very difficult dents, it really did work.

Brian
 
#9,174 ·
Mainly I used it on a Hudson roof to tighten it up around the edges, which tightens it up in the middle. Did the same with the hood. With the Fenders it was more or less metal shaping. I used a palm nailer with some bits to imitate a planishing hammer and went over it with the disc. It was close to only needing primer but for those big jobs in your typical restoration shops you need to save that extra time for unforseen issues that come up so I knew I couldn't spend too much time trying to perfect it. In my garage no problem but at work it doesn't have all that much use, but when it does it's a great tool. I also tightened up a Nomad roof with it and a couple random hoods and decklids. It works great for that. At home I plan to use it to finish everything I metal shape and I really like it for that.
 
#9,175 ·
Pulled clutch and pressure plate back out today,, I think I might have found the problem ,the bolts holding the flywheel to the crank are scared up as well as the face of clutch face and springs ,bolt heads may be to big ,Also the truck should have a 12 in flywheel and clutch the clutch is 12 in but the flywheel is 11 in ,the box is marked 12 so they are ordering me another flywheel packaged wrong :evil:
 
#9,176 ·
Pulled clutch and pressure plate back out today,, I think I might have found the problem ,the bolts holding the flywheel to the crank are scared up as well as the face of clutch face and springs ,bolt heads may be to big ,Also the truck should have a 12 in flywheel and clutch the clutch is 12 in but the flywheel is 11 in ,the box is marked 12 so they are ordering me another flywheel packaged wrong :evil:
Progress !!!!!!!!!! Damage is good for finding a problem...;)
 
#9,177 ·
Pulled clutch and pressure plate back out today,, I think I might have found the problem ,the bolts holding the flywheel to the crank are scared up as well as the face of clutch face and springs ,bolt heads may be to big ,Also the truck should have a 12 in flywheel and clutch the clutch is 12 in but the flywheel is 11 in ,the box is marked 12 so they are ordering me another flywheel packaged wrong :evil:
Glad it was easy to find and hopefully the new flywheel will fix it!
 
#9,178 ·
Pulled clutch and pressure plate back out today,, I think I might have found the problem ,the bolts holding the flywheel to the crank are scared up as well as the face of clutch face and springs ,bolt heads may be to big ,Also the truck should have a 12 in flywheel and clutch the clutch is 12 in but the flywheel is 11 in ,the box is marked 12 so they are ordering me another flywheel packaged wrong :evil:
Cool beans.:D:D:D

John
 
#9,180 ·
trains trains and more trains. My daughter has expressed a liking to trains and Thomas the Train books/cartoons. So today we went to Old Sac and took the old touristy train along the river and afterwards went to the train museum. Then ended the day with a good sub sandwich place I knew of in the area. My daughter had a blast! Raising kids is awesome cause things you wouldn't normally care for are all of a sudden exciting and fun because you're doing it for your daughter/ son and you can see their face light up and it's the best feeling ever. Tomorrow it's back to the river cause she loves sand and water and being on the beach. It will hit 100 too. Oh, and as we were leaving Old Sac I crossed paths with Jason Thompson, a star player for The Sac Kings. That was pretty cool. He saw that I noticed him and quickly turned into a store cause I think he thought I was gonna ask for an autograph but I was just trying to tell my wife he played for The Kings. :D
 
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