What are you working on today?

[D60]

Kubota engine install attempt #1. Engine dropped in, new mount bars align good, including the driveshaft will almost mate up, except the oil pan bumps into the frame towards the driver area and it wont drop the final two inches. Just my luck the oil pan is 12 inches long on this d722, and the d902 is 13 inches long. I believe more welding is in my future where I chop my own indentation. (red circle below), the d722 is squared off like the left side. None for sale on Ebay, OEM is about $120. I wanted a challenge.

View attachment 204497

What an evening.

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If you weld that pan as an inexperienced stick welder, I definitely want pics. And a shot of the graduated mixing bucket full of tears.

 

[Pablo]

Hung two fixtures. Time for a nap. Still waiting on light fixture.

 

[Kennedy01]

1987 Chevrolet Silverado R10 5.0 V8
Replaced radiator, radiator hoses, thermostat, flushed block and heater core, changed oil

2005 Ford Mustang 4.0 V6
Replaced right rear brake caliper, rear brake pads, changed oil

 

[wander2039]

If all RVs have junctions and plugs like this probably why most burn. I’m changing out all the plugs to regular plug. Debating if I want to change out for normal breaker box.

 

[RAR]

Replaced left rear wheel bearing on my Grand Caravan.

It was howling badly last time I drove it so I ordered in some el cheapo bearings. All this van will do is haul cargo for my shop so if they fail early, I’ll throw a couple more in it. . Easy job for me.

Now I have to put the front bumper cover back on, and it’s “relaxing” after being folded in a shipping box. It should be ready tomorrow.

Then I’ll send it for a new windshield as the one in it looks like a roadmap with all the cracks.

 

[edyvw]

Finally nice weather, 62f! Time for 40k service which is fluid change on Haldex electro-hydraulic clutch (AWD) on VW Atlas.
This is 5th generation (Tiguan I have is 4th) and 1st generation since Borg-Warmer bought Haldex and they kind of messed up immediately.
Previous generation has filter element in it. This generation has just small screen that collects junks in the pump. This is how it looks:

I dumped old fluid (which looked surprisingly clear) and then took out pump. Then disassembled screen. I was expecting a lont of gunk as that is what I saw in DIY videos. But, surprisingly (again) it was really clean. Anyway, some brakeclean, dried it good, assembled everything, filled with Ravenol AWD-H fluid which is PAO and has much better cold properties than VW one.

 

[D60]

I went thru the carb on this '99 Polaris Xplorer 300. Then had to adjust float height twice. I think it's going to work this time, but hesitant to declare victory. I did at least shell out for the Japanese rebuild kit.

The carb was leaking into the cylinder and the fuel shutoff switch only kinda worked. It would hydrolock after sitting, but fortunately the starter isn't strong enough to bend anything.

I finally pulled the plug and cranked it, THEN later learned of the drain plugs below for just this reason. It spit fuel everywhere.

Anyway, I already knew I hate carbs and my dislike for 2 strokes is growing, too.

 

[Kennedy01]

2005 Ford Mustang
Replaced 2 left front wheel studs and nuts

1978 Ford F100
Installed the rebuilt carburetor. Got it running right with minimal adjustments. Changed the oil.

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan
Replaced front struts and sway bar links, rear shocks. Tomorrow I'll be replacing the oil cooler.

 

[wander2039]

Think it’s pretty much how it was before but slightly better.. maybe. Everything electrical is mounted on blocks for ventilation and it case the tank leaks. Now just need to run the AC and DC for the beds.. outlet, dc light/usb charger and fan on each side. Putting a false floor over all this except the panel. Store shorter stuff.

 

[cptbarkey]

If you weld that pan as an inexperienced stick welder, I definitely want pics. And a shot of the graduated mixing bucket full of tears.

Engine attempt #2. I was all prepared with 6013 1/16th electrodes, but chickened out after your wise words and learned how the risk of metal warping was very high. Instead I chopped about 1.5 inches off the center frame cross member. There is 4 inches of 1/4 thick flat bar left. It will be fine. Maybe. If not can reinforce it later.

Then I chopped up the lower radiator fan shroud a bit because this engine is shorter, and the engine fits great. Tomorrow picking up a 90 degree coolant fitting for the lower rad connection. Its really tight between the engine and radiator but it is what it is. I am confidant enough I poured in 3 quarts of sacrificial Rotella T4, then its rehooking things and see if it chooches. ETA this weekend?

 

[KGMtech]

Updating my will. The last time we did this the kids were toddlers. The boys are 26 and 29 now. I have avoided this dark task for a few years according to my financial advisor.

 

[Sedin26]

Updating my will. The last time we did this the kids were toddlers. The boys are 26 and 29 now. I have avoided this dark task for a few years according to my financial advisor.

Something everyone should do. It puts a world of hurt on those left behind if there’s no will or it’s not up to date. Makes it so much easier on them when things are in order.

 

[Kennedy01]

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.6 V6
Replaced oil cooler, upper/lower plenum seals, changed oil

2018 Toyota Camry
Was positive it had bad struts.... turned out to be a large gravel stuck between the passenger side lower control arm bushing and subframe. Made a terrible grinding/pop under moderate to hard braking. Got the gravel out, no more noise.
*Notice* the panels Toyota puts under practically the entire bottom of these cars for aerodynamics and fuel economy (presumably) are gravel traps. I have no idea how many pounds of gravel are under this car. So after six years, the miniscule fuel savings you*might* get from improves aero has to be offset by the rocks you're hauling around. I didn't volunteer to pull the panels and remove the rock. This is one of the big truck shop mechanics and I feel confident he's up to the task.

2015 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.6 V6
Replaced front brake rotors and pads, front sway bar links, and you'll never guess this: tomorrow it gets an oil cooler replacement.

 

[meep]

Updating my will. The last time we did this the kids were toddlers. The boys are 26 and 29 now. I have avoided this dark task for a few years according to my financial advisor.

Something everyone should do. It puts a world of hurt on those left behind if there’s no will or it’s not up to date. Makes it so much easier on them when things are in order.

Oooof. My wife has us scheduled for tomorrow. She wants information i still haven’t dug up yet.

 

[meep]

Last ditch effort to save tankless water heater in our home. We moved in last year and the inspector said the heater was fairly old, hadn’t been maintained and was at risk. I flushed it per YouTube and it gave us about 8 months of trouble free service. It’s quit working 4x in 3 weeks and finally gave a bad news error code. Google says, “uh oh, try a Hail Mary flush … but really go get your checkbook.” Did the flush, got a few pieces of grit, and a pretty normal blue colored water, followed by a steady leak into the wall the next day. Used some aluminum foil to divert the water to the exterior. Plumber is scheduled. These are a bit of a Rube Goldberg contraption when you get inside of ‘em.

 

[RAR]

Scheduled a windshield installation on the Grand Caravan for Friday morning.

Went to town to pick up some supplies and grabbed new wiper blades for the Grand Caravan, some coolant and European car motor oil.

Walmart had a clearance on Pennzoil Euro oil - $18.50 for a 5 quart bottle of 5W30. I have three European cars that can use this stuff so I bought them out. I have 5 jugs of oil, my mom grabbed the 6th and the local Walmart is sold out of inexpensive Euro oil at least.

Returned home, replaced the thermostat on the Grand Caravan along with the slightly swollen upper radiator hose. Refilled with the coolant I bought, and ran it up until the car was at operating temperature. No leaks, no problems, the new thermostat opened at around 203*F as designed. I replaced it because the temperature never got very high and the gauge was at 1/4 of the way up the scale. My scanner also showed it didn’t get beyond 160*F.

Tomorrow after the windshield work, I’ll tackle the wheel hub bearing on my brother’s Wrangler. At least that’s the plan.

 

[jeepman3071]

Engine attempt #2. I was all prepared with 6013 1/16th electrodes, but chickened out after your wise words and learned how the risk of metal warping was very high. Instead I chopped about 1.5 inches off the center frame cross member. There is 4 inches of 1/4 thick flat bar left. It will be fine. Maybe. If not can reinforce it later.

Then I chopped up the lower radiator fan shroud a bit because this engine is shorter, and the engine fits great. Tomorrow picking up a 90 degree coolant fitting for the lower rad connection. Its really tight between the engine and radiator but it is what it is. I am confidant enough I poured in 3 quarts of sacrificial Rotella T4, then its rehooking things and see if it chooches. ETA this weekend?


View attachment 204770

Working on it with the loader mounted must be a pain.

 

[wander2039]

Last ditch effort to save tankless water heater in our home. We moved in last year and the inspector said the heater was fairly old, hadn’t been maintained and was at risk. I flushed it per YouTube and it gave us about 8 months of trouble free service. It’s quit working 4x in 3 weeks and finally gave a bad news error code. Google says, “uh oh, try a Hail Mary flush … but really go get your checkbook.” Did the flush, got a few pieces of grit, and a pretty normal blue colored water, followed by a steady leak into the wall the next day. Used some aluminum foil to divert the water to the exterior. Plumber is scheduled. These are a bit of a Rube Goldberg contraption when you get inside of ‘em.

View attachment 204889

Makes me feel better about flushing our Rhinna every year. Takes about 3 gallons of vinegar.. it's a good time. Get a little bit of crud out each flush.

 

[meep]

Makes me feel better about flushing our Rhinna every year. Takes about 3 gallons of vinegar.. it's a good time. Get a little bit of crud out each flush.

The inspector said that this is absolutely what one should do. He said, “this unit is 14 years old. It’s never been serviced. If you learn to do it right now, you might get a few years out of it, maybe. If you don’t, you’ll get a year. It may be beyond what a flush can do now anyway, but I’d try. If they had done it themselves, this heater should make it to 20.” It was 14 years old when he said it. He was right on the money - it made it 8 months.

The cost to not maintain these is high. They need to be flushed periodically, unlike a tank which can make it 15 years with 0 help and then simply be replaced in an afternoon without much trouble.

 

[Creekside]

Knocked out two private deliveries with the dump truck this morning, both to customers that wanted to do some driveway work. Then left around noon to run up to the Kansas City area to look at a lime truck which I bought. 1989 Chevy C-70 with either a 454 or 366(we have a discrepancy), 5 speed manual transmission and air brakes.

I’ll have to replace the conveyor belt and the drive roller(broke in half), spinners(about to fall off) and the left spring on the drive axle only has 2-3 leafs that aren’t broken. It actually runs really well and is in decent shape for the age. I have a trucking company picking it up on a detach Monday and I’ll get started on repairs as soon as I have time.