What are you working on today?
- Thread starter Amkeer
- Start date
Is that the original engine? The caps and fittings appear to be from a more modern era than the vehicle itself.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
It has been a rough week. Ghost staff and annoying new workers. And now I get news that a Subaru broke down about 50 miles away and has no oil in it and is coming back on a tow truck. I did put oil and new gasket and filter on. I hope it’s not damaged the engine. Everyone else in the shop said I put oil in it so they know I did. Everyone makes mistakes though and I hope I will be able to fix it. The new guy talks so much he was probably distracting me. I really hope they don’t keep this new guy long. Today I put my foot down saying he was not using anymore of my tools. He is a mechanic he needs his own. At least he has been not working with me too much today. I’m doing more advanced work than he is so he is angry because he has a certificate from a major mechanic school.
Not today, actually, but last Friday. Just getting the chance to sit down and post.
Installed OEM Toyota-spec Bilstein front coil-overs and rear shocks from a 2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road on my 2007 Tacoma PreRunner TRD Off Road (the guy bought the truck and immediately installed aftermarket suspension and a lift).
These had less than 400 miles. He was selling for $200, but I paid $375 with shipping because he had to ship them from Las Vegas.
They’re direct bolt-on replacements.
Not a life-changing improvement, but still significant, since I was on stock suspension that had 239,000+ miles. And a bonus is that the stiffer spring rate, in conjunction with the fact that my stock springs had some sag after >14 years, equaled out to a front end lift of >1”, which it needed (these trucks come from the factory a bit lower in the front than in the back).
The front end of the truck, especially, feels much better and more solid.
Bonus pic of the boy and me:
Installed OEM Toyota-spec Bilstein front coil-overs and rear shocks from a 2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road on my 2007 Tacoma PreRunner TRD Off Road (the guy bought the truck and immediately installed aftermarket suspension and a lift).
These had less than 400 miles. He was selling for $200, but I paid $375 with shipping because he had to ship them from Las Vegas.
They’re direct bolt-on replacements.
Not a life-changing improvement, but still significant, since I was on stock suspension that had 239,000+ miles. And a bonus is that the stiffer spring rate, in conjunction with the fact that my stock springs had some sag after >14 years, equaled out to a front end lift of >1”, which it needed (these trucks come from the factory a bit lower in the front than in the back).
The front end of the truck, especially, feels much better and more solid.
Bonus pic of the boy and me:
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Just put together an IKEA computer workstation … 52 steps and one of the worst designs - and poor quality fasteners to ever to ride a cargo ship out of China. (in temporary apartment across the pond).
Need a drink …
Need a drink …
I have a couple things to do, not sure what order, or if the cars are available.
1. My son asked me to give his 2000 Camry a good once over before he moves to Omaha and is 2.5 hours away from home. It’s a 200,000 mile car and is in decent shape, but has had a rough life under his ownership due to being a college car.
2. My sons Rouge, which his wife drives, and was once my car, needs an oil change and rotation. I bought the oil and filter before they became owners of it, and I said the change was part of the deal. it was too soon to change the oil that was in it. It’s moving to Omaha as well.
If these cars are available, I’ll put them to the front of the line.
3. Lastly, my 95 Jeep needs the leaky output shaft seal changed, and I need to plastigage the rod bearings. It idles at around 9PSI hot and sounds like a sewing machine when it runs. Time to verify how bad it is. I’ll borrow a compression gauge as well if I have time, but the lower end is my main concern due to the oil pressure. It does not use any oil.
1. My son asked me to give his 2000 Camry a good once over before he moves to Omaha and is 2.5 hours away from home. It’s a 200,000 mile car and is in decent shape, but has had a rough life under his ownership due to being a college car.
2. My sons Rouge, which his wife drives, and was once my car, needs an oil change and rotation. I bought the oil and filter before they became owners of it, and I said the change was part of the deal. it was too soon to change the oil that was in it. It’s moving to Omaha as well.
If these cars are available, I’ll put them to the front of the line.
3. Lastly, my 95 Jeep needs the leaky output shaft seal changed, and I need to plastigage the rod bearings. It idles at around 9PSI hot and sounds like a sewing machine when it runs. Time to verify how bad it is. I’ll borrow a compression gauge as well if I have time, but the lower end is my main concern due to the oil pressure. It does not use any oil.
Volvo 240. Upgraded the fuse panel from the original bullet style to blade fuses.
Sounds like the new guy won’t last. Borrowing your tools shows me he’s a bum. We have a guy like him with same 1997 era Craftsman box and he works like a Diesel engine. Hang in there Blake
Of course not, the Bedford is from the '70's and came with a 214cu in engine very similar to the Chev engine. It has a 3.6 litre V6 from a Holden Commodore. Here is a much better J1 Bedford I was working on a couple of years ago, and the original 214 engine, although the carb is off the larger 300 engine.
That is a thing of beauty! If only the steering wheel was on the correct side. 
Put a bumper harness, plate bulbs, and 4 parking sensors in a '09 Avalanche
Worked out cheaper than putting 4 new connectors on, just in parts
The sensors were destroyed (I suspect this truck came from Canada/Upstate NY
...makes parking the big rig in NYC just a little easier
Worked out cheaper than putting 4 new connectors on, just in parts
The sensors were destroyed (I suspect this truck came from Canada/Upstate NY
...makes parking the big rig in NYC just a little easier
Front engine mount, dogbone mount, oil change, trans + diff drain/refill, front brake caliper hardware and rear pads on a 2000 Avalon.
As you can see — the job left a huge mess on the floor. Plus I now look like I crawled out of a coal mine.
I was surprised that the DRA/Marmon engine mounts actually worked. Fitment was a C+, as expected. I am betting they last 6 months…
Changed the drums and shoes out on my 03 Civic. I hadn't done brakes myself in about 20 years, so I was a little nervous, but in the end I got them done and it made a huge difference!
Taking the horseshoe clip off was probably the single most time-consuming part, followed closely by getting the last spring on. It took me a couple of hours yesterday and about another 45 minutes this morning to get both sides done. I did have to take the passenger side off after a test drive and open up the star wheel adjuster a bit more to get rid of some shuddering. The clue was when I set the parking brake that tire would still spin a little when tightening the lug nuts.
I'd ordered Powerstop shoes and coated drums form Rock Auto. Delivery was a few days and shipping was reasonably priced considering the weight. Although I hated doing it and my hands are all cut up, I'm glad I did it myself. It's probably the only time I'll ever have to do it on this vehicle. The old shoes were original and still had a decent amount of life on them after 161.5k. I could've gotten away with just cleaning and adjusting the existing hardware, but I liked the idea of having new components on there. The fronts are still in good shape, so I left them alone.
Taking the horseshoe clip off was probably the single most time-consuming part, followed closely by getting the last spring on. It took me a couple of hours yesterday and about another 45 minutes this morning to get both sides done. I did have to take the passenger side off after a test drive and open up the star wheel adjuster a bit more to get rid of some shuddering. The clue was when I set the parking brake that tire would still spin a little when tightening the lug nuts.
I'd ordered Powerstop shoes and coated drums form Rock Auto. Delivery was a few days and shipping was reasonably priced considering the weight. Although I hated doing it and my hands are all cut up, I'm glad I did it myself. It's probably the only time I'll ever have to do it on this vehicle. The old shoes were original and still had a decent amount of life on them after 161.5k. I could've gotten away with just cleaning and adjusting the existing hardware, but I liked the idea of having new components on there. The fronts are still in good shape, so I left them alone.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Jacked up the 2004 Camry to see what was popping and clicking under there. Didn’t really find anything other than the brake caliper bolt was a little loose on one side. I’ll have to get on to my friend for not using loctite on it. He rebuilt that side and I done the other about 8 months ago is when it was done. This whole time I thought the axles had gone bad again lol.
Those bolts did not have loctite from the factory. The bolts were probably loose because they were undertightened.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Yeah I know. I just always feel better when they have Loctite on them. I know when we broke them loose that first that that they were tighter than heck.
Any updates on the Subaru @AutoMechanic ?
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Yeah so new kid told me the wrong oil amount so it wasn’t but barely any on the stick. He had put the wrong engine in the system we use. It was half a quart low but enough to trigger the light. The people checked the oil level with the engine running so it wasn’t showing any on the stick after the first dip lol
. They are terminating him tomorrow when he shows up especially since they had to cover that tow and since he backed over a computer stand in the shop and done a bunch of other stuff. And he doesn’t have any tools so he follows me around asking for them. I knew I put oil in it.