The "What did you work on today" thread.
#81
I installed new foam, used the old seat heaters, and installed the new embroidered leather front seat upholstery.
Just as a cautionary note: This job is not for first timers!... Pulling, folding, and inserting the welting in the seat backs, that have had other leather in them for 16 years, with only factory clips will take you days, unless you really know what you are doing.
I sat in front of the furnace in an 85 degree garage, sweating like a boxer, just so the welting would be flexible enough to be inserted in the seat back slot. I did cheat a little though, and used a little leather glue, from a shoe maker, and held the welting in with wooden wedges overnight. The seat bottoms are a snap to install. Things should be ready today, for installation in the car. It looks nice, I just hope the 6 hours was worth it. The remaining wrinkles should go away once my fat **** sits in the seats for awhile.....Be cool...Mike
Just as a cautionary note: This job is not for first timers!... Pulling, folding, and inserting the welting in the seat backs, that have had other leather in them for 16 years, with only factory clips will take you days, unless you really know what you are doing.
I sat in front of the furnace in an 85 degree garage, sweating like a boxer, just so the welting would be flexible enough to be inserted in the seat back slot. I did cheat a little though, and used a little leather glue, from a shoe maker, and held the welting in with wooden wedges overnight. The seat bottoms are a snap to install. Things should be ready today, for installation in the car. It looks nice, I just hope the 6 hours was worth it. The remaining wrinkles should go away once my fat **** sits in the seats for awhile.....Be cool...Mike
The following 3 users liked this post by mrplow58:
#82
Transmission Pan Replacement
Oh, I wish I could curse in German! Dumkopf does not quite cover it, really.
I have been mulling over my options for a while regarding fixing a transmission fluid leak. I bought the pan kit (pan, fluid and hardware) a few weeks back, and eventually decided to tackle this myself. Figured I could replace the plastic pan/filter combo real quick, fill it up, and call it a day. But no! I had the dreaded early pan bolts on this 6HP26, with the tiny T27 Torx head. I ended up stripping 6 of them, and spending a lot more time under the car than I planned on. Curse, drill, extract, repeat.
The old fluid was dark coffee colored, but smelled about the same as the new one. Magnets showed no sign of metal shavings.
Altogether, an overall no fun zone, but I am glad this is behind me.
I have been mulling over my options for a while regarding fixing a transmission fluid leak. I bought the pan kit (pan, fluid and hardware) a few weeks back, and eventually decided to tackle this myself. Figured I could replace the plastic pan/filter combo real quick, fill it up, and call it a day. But no! I had the dreaded early pan bolts on this 6HP26, with the tiny T27 Torx head. I ended up stripping 6 of them, and spending a lot more time under the car than I planned on. Curse, drill, extract, repeat.
The old fluid was dark coffee colored, but smelled about the same as the new one. Magnets showed no sign of metal shavings.
Altogether, an overall no fun zone, but I am glad this is behind me.
#84
#85
Fuel Filter
I tackled the replacement of the fuel filter. Pretty straightforward, and just as described here on the forum. I did not follow what the online parts search was coming up with (screw-on type filter) but went ahead with the quick connect type. The hard part is to reach the nut on the bracket to free the filter. The fuel removal/refitting of the lines were completely drama free.
Altogether, a boring, smelly job that offers no driving improvement. Only satisfaction is that it is now off the to-do list.
Altogether, a boring, smelly job that offers no driving improvement. Only satisfaction is that it is now off the to-do list.
#86
#87
Brake/Cruise Control Switch
Also spent some time looking at the brake switch. After taking it out of the car, it became apparent the 2 switches were not clicking together, which most likely caused the occasional errors on the message center (check rear bulbs, cruise not available). For now, I put a piece of tape on one side of the "ramp" to re-sync the switches. Solder looked fine, switches seem to work just fine. Just the plastic cam seemed to be more worn on one side than the other. And yes, putting the whole thing back in place was a pain. We'll see in the next few weeks if the message comes back...
#88
Took Thunderbird1 into my local Indy for the autobox exchange today. He is also going to free up the O/S side top link and replace the ball joint etc. Says it may be in for 2 days.
I just hope the secondhand box is as was described with only 37k miles of use!
An update will come later, unless of course it all turns to you know what and I abandon it at the garage.
I just hope the secondhand box is as was described with only 37k miles of use!
An update will come later, unless of course it all turns to you know what and I abandon it at the garage.
#89
EBC Red Stuff with EBC USR Slotted Sport
Finished the brakes front and rear. EBC Red Stuff pads with EBC USR Slotted Rotors. The rears were very east. The fronts however were time consuming. One rotor was "frozen" on and the front caliper bolts were not picnic to break loose.
On Saturday I think I will do the front struts. I have new springs, shocks, shock mounts, and associated hardware.
On Saturday I think I will do the front struts. I have new springs, shocks, shock mounts, and associated hardware.
Last edited by R3Wood; 04-28-2015 at 08:01 AM. Reason: Addition
#90
#92
#94
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Summerville, South Carolina
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#95
Hello All, I actually started this project about a month ago and finished up in the last few days.
I did a custom install on the speakers in the front door, front dash and rear seat and removed the tweeters in the corner windows.
I used Rockford/Fosgate T4 component speakers.(pretty high end)
I had already added a subwoofer in the front passenger footwell.
After the speakers I added a 3sixty.3 Fosgate digital sound processer.
The sound system sounds amazing, the digital processor tuning makes for some incredible improvements to the sound quality and of course the speakers can handle power and all the highs, lows and midrange.
The complete sound spectrum is literally tuneable to your exact specs/liking.
The pictures that follow will show your the actual custom install.
I did a custom install on the speakers in the front door, front dash and rear seat and removed the tweeters in the corner windows.
I used Rockford/Fosgate T4 component speakers.(pretty high end)
I had already added a subwoofer in the front passenger footwell.
After the speakers I added a 3sixty.3 Fosgate digital sound processer.
The sound system sounds amazing, the digital processor tuning makes for some incredible improvements to the sound quality and of course the speakers can handle power and all the highs, lows and midrange.
The complete sound spectrum is literally tuneable to your exact specs/liking.
The pictures that follow will show your the actual custom install.
#96
Changed the transmission fluid then tried some lead loading.
Practice hole.
Hammered flat.
Patch prepared.
Tacked in place, I missed with one.
Ground down.
I brushed on some standard plumbing flux.
And then "tined" the area, note that the areas with slag did not work and had the be cleaned better and retined.
Filled with standard plumbers solder.
Filed down and sanded.
A bit of dolphin filler.
And then flatted off.
This was the first time I had tried solder on a body panel, not sure when I will use it for a real job.
Practice hole.
Hammered flat.
Patch prepared.
Tacked in place, I missed with one.
Ground down.
I brushed on some standard plumbing flux.
And then "tined" the area, note that the areas with slag did not work and had the be cleaned better and retined.
Filled with standard plumbers solder.
Filed down and sanded.
A bit of dolphin filler.
And then flatted off.
This was the first time I had tried solder on a body panel, not sure when I will use it for a real job.
#97
I plan to re-spray my front wings after getting rid of the rust on the wheel arches and just completed my air set up today to give me both oiled air for garage tools and clean dry air for breathing/spray gun.
Still need to sort out a small issue with the compressor restart pressure first.
Still need to sort out a small issue with the compressor restart pressure first.
#99
Oil and filter change, air filter, pulled the left hand rocker cover to check on the tensioner and a mystery noise, refitted the right hand headlamp, changed out two ignition coils.
The old oil was a rich dark chocolate colour and easily the darkest I have drained from any petrol/gas engined car I have owned. We have only had the car a year and 5,000 miles and I thought the garage we got it from had changed the oil.
Do these cars sludge up or cook their oil much? It only has 88,000 miles on it so I would not have thought wear would be much of an issue.
Both upper tensioners are the updated aluminium type, so no worries there. I found a 2.5" long piece of red gasket stuck in the cam box right next to one of the valve springs so I spent a while fishing that out. I didn't fancy it finding its way down one of the oil passages.
Tomorrow sees me changing the spark plugs and the fuel filter, repairing a cracked plastic casing on the side of the passenger seat and trying to figure out why the demist button has stopped working. Busy busy
The old oil was a rich dark chocolate colour and easily the darkest I have drained from any petrol/gas engined car I have owned. We have only had the car a year and 5,000 miles and I thought the garage we got it from had changed the oil.
Do these cars sludge up or cook their oil much? It only has 88,000 miles on it so I would not have thought wear would be much of an issue.
Both upper tensioners are the updated aluminium type, so no worries there. I found a 2.5" long piece of red gasket stuck in the cam box right next to one of the valve springs so I spent a while fishing that out. I didn't fancy it finding its way down one of the oil passages.
Tomorrow sees me changing the spark plugs and the fuel filter, repairing a cracked plastic casing on the side of the passenger seat and trying to figure out why the demist button has stopped working. Busy busy
Last edited by dhog4n; 05-16-2015 at 03:57 PM.
#100