What did you do to your other car(s) today?

[Mike W.]

Renewed the ceramic coating on the windshield of my F150 yesterday. The water shedding performance at speed was starting to drop off. I got about a year from the last application, so that is pretty good and less work than applying RainX every 3-4 weeks during the wet season.

Also wanted to wash, polish, and wax the truck too but it was 90°F in the shade so I was not terribly motivated. Supposed to rain today anyway.

Ceramic coating for windshields?

Am I the only person who hasn't heard of this stuff?

https://www.duragloss.com/ENVIROSHIELD- ... ING-SYSTEM

Nope, you're not the only one who hadn't heard of it. I'm a big RainX fan and a little goes a long way, a $50 price tag has a bit of sticker shock to it. That's a lifetime supply of Rainx on multiple cars. I suppose if it was really good, maybe...

[oldskool]

Starting to work on the e12.
It needs a slave cylinder and center support bearing to go ripping down roads again. Seems that the old girl has been used for storage for so long that there was just tons of junk to remove. Oh yeah, and then there's that. . .

[Karl Grau]

When do they start bearing radishes?



When I bought the Honda back in 2007 I didn't know what the state of the timing belt was, and now 8 years later I've finally gotten around to replacing it. I've never done a timing belt but but I watched a 2 minute YouTube video so I'm pretty much an expert now.

[cddallara]

This past week saw the slip ring replaced and therefore a functioning horn, and a rear seatbelt receptacle replaced. Tomorrow with any luck, the hood will be off and stripped of paint.

[1st 5er]

Ordered some parts.

[Mike W.]

Put the old wagon up for sale, http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4954414214.html first thing this morning and not a call or email yet. Not a good sign, but I guess it is a niche market. And washed the new wagon.

[Tammer in Philly]

More track car progress. Didn't have much time, but got the rear subframe back in, finished mounting accessories on the motor, pulled the last remaining door harness (had forgotten to remove one), did some interior cleanup, and organized a bunch of stuff to get ready to build the car back out. I am now planning to reassemble most of the critical stuff, decide what changes need to be made (e.g., where to mount the Tilton pedal assembly, where to put a bracket for the cutoff switches, anything else that may require cutting and welding), then do the cutting and welding*, strip the car back down, and send it off for paint.

-tammer

*Welding to be done by a friend as I lack the capability ... still on the "things I want to learn" list. But first I want this damn car on the track again!

[1st 5er]

Put the old wagon up for sale, http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4954414214.html ...

Wish I were in the market.

[Tammer in Philly]

Put the old wagon up for sale, http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4954414214.html ...

Wish I were in the market.

Seriously, looks like a great deal for someone.

[Karl Grau]

I finally got the &%*$#@ crank pulley bolt off the Honda so hopefully I can finish the timing belt replacement tomorrow. My wimpy Harbor Fright impact wasn't up to the job, I had to call the Wolf.

[wkohler]

Had an exhaust leak on the E34 at one of the downpipe flanges welded up which required exhaust removal. And a welder. Turns out it wasn't just a leak, rather the flange separated from the pipe completely.

[cddallara]

This past week saw the slip ring replaced and therefore a functioning horn, and a rear seatbelt receptacle replaced. Tomorrow with any luck, the hood will be off and stripped of paint.

Making slow progress.

[wkohler]

I'm lyk cunfuzed n junk. I thawtz u seds ur car lyk wuznt getting the paints, yo.

[cddallara]

I'm lyk cunfuzed n junk. I thawtz u seds ur car lyk wuznt getting the paints, yo.

The hood has always bothered me. Never came out right and the failing original clear started taking the tan off with it. I also needed to refresh my windshield squirters, hose and fittings.
So it's project time!

[Karl Grau]

Old water pump out.



New pump, tensioner and idler on. I'll finish it Saturday, I've already worked too hard on a holiday.

[davintosh]

What the heck do you use for coolant in that thing? Seawater?



I get to replace the alternator in the e32 tomorrow. When I left work for lunch it turned over a little slowly, then while driving the ABS light came on, and the cluster display started to dim. Then the radio and HVAC fan quit; voltage was getting low. With everything shut off it ran ok, but about a mile from home I forgot and used the blinkers when making a turn, and the whole thing just about shut down. By the time I got home it was barely idling, and when I checked the voltage (with it running) it was down to 5.4 volts. Yup; bad alternator. I guess swapping the alternator in my daughter's e36 a couple of weeks ago was just practice for this one; I can actually see the alternator without having to remove parts on the 735i, so I think it'll be a bit easier than the 318ti.

[slammin_e28]

Same deal happened to me a few weeks ago....but at night. Managed to make it up the 1200ft climb that is Afton Mtn...but then it was drive and not see (headlamps off) or stop. I stopped. Coulda made it home if it was daytime.

[cddallara]

Same deal happened to me a few weeks ago....but at night. Managed to make it up the 1200ft climb that is Afton Mtn...but then it was drive and not see (headlamps off) or stop. I stopped. Coulda made it home if it was daytime.

Wuss. First AC, now lights. Sheesh.

[Mike W.]

Same deal happened to me a few weeks ago....but at night. Managed to make it up the 1200ft climb that is Afton Mtn...but then it was drive and not see (headlamps off) or stop. I stopped. Coulda made it home if it was daytime.

One time 20 miles from nowhere on I80 in Nevada with a dead alternator I disconnected one headlight to get further on what charge I had. By the time I got to a gas station in Battle Mountain you couldn't even tell that one headlight was on.

[slammin_e28]

Same deal happened to me a few weeks ago....but at night. Managed to make it up the 1200ft climb that is Afton Mtn...but then it was drive and not see (headlamps off) or stop. I stopped. Coulda made it home if it was daytime.

One time 20 miles from nowhere on I80 in Nevada with a dead alternator I disconnected one headlight to get further on what charge I had. By the time I got to a gas station in Battle Mountain you couldn't even tell that one headlight was on.

Ha! I shoulda done that. My luck I would have gotten pulled over....Officer....mind giving me a ride home?

Ended up rolling by the next day with the Rover and towed the thing home. So far that Rover has been the most reliable car I own....knock on wood.

[davintosh]

The e32's alternator played hard-to-get today, but it got done. That was a bear of a job, much harder than I expected. The new one is in and charging fine, but there's something else going on with the car, and I'm thinking coolant temp sensor. Runs like crap when cold (idles rough, spews black smoke occasionally on cold starts) and has an occasional miss at steady speeds. I've got another day off tomorrow, so I'll be breaking out the Bentley and DVM for some serious shooting of troubles.

[Karl Grau]

Finished the Honda timing belt/water pump replacement and I only had two small bolts left over.
Now I just need to get the balls up to start it, I think the belt might be off a tooth or two. Maybe I'll have a beer first.

[w0014170]

Found a place in Australia Marks 4WD, sells engine swap kits for the Land Rover Discovery II, a bolt in small block Chevrolet as usual. I ordered the kit, done with ck engine lights and all the other falter-all the Discovery offers over and above a sweet ride and mountain goat off road capability. So the MGB might get an Aluminum V8 (no time soon) yet since its age has exempted it from Louisiana emission control check. Seems like all the good stuff anymore is coming out of Australia.

[Karl Grau]

Finished the Honda timing belt/water pump replacement and I only had two small bolts left over.

The bolts were for the fan shroud I forgot to put back on.
It started up without exploding and it ran great on the test drive to the beer store. It was kind of a pain in the ass but it was good practice for M20 timing belt that's pending.

[Tammer in Philly]

Nice work on the t-belt.

I made incremental progress on the track car. Didn't have too much time this weekend. Pulled the engine off the stand to install the flywheel, which I need to do so I can lock the timing so I can pull the Vanos. However the new flywheel bolts I have (stock M50 M12x1.25 x 50mm) are too long for the aftermarket flywheel. Measured the original dual-mass unit and realized it is 21mm thicker than the new one. New one has a 3mm spacer, so the ideal bolts are 32mm long. I have access to 30mm and 35mm bolts. Any opinions on which to use?

I threw then engine back on the stand so I could return the (borrowed) hoist. So I turned my attention elsewhere. Installed the rear subframe, trailing arms, and upper and lower control arms with all new hardware. Got the front subframe, new (reman ZHP) steering rack, control arms, and tie rods in place. Now the car just needs the knuckles bolted on the front and dampers & springs to be a roller. I pulled the steering column coupling off the splines, cut off the rivets, chucked the worn out rubber guibo, and installed an AKG poly steering coupler. This and the front diff bushing (also AKG) are the only poly pieces on the car. Front diff bushing was delrin, but the inner sleeve of that siezed to the through-bolt and the delrin itself was looking pretty abused (chipping away around the edges, oddly). So I put the poly piece in, which at 75D is about as hard as the delrin that came out. Pressing it in was an awkward task given the subframe's shape.

It is amazing how tightly and smoothly everything glides through its range of motion. No rubber left in the suspension or steering--the car has spherical bearings at all moving joints and aluminum for all mounts and supports excluding the aforementioned front diff bushing. Obviously the driveshaft giubo and the rear shifter bushing are exceptions to the "no rubber" comment.

[euro24]

Finally replaced the OBC backlight in my e24

It requires removal of the entire center console back to front, so I've only been putting it off for five years. During the process a neighbor called the police and the cops stopped by to ask whether I owned the car, or if I was stealing a stereo

[slammin_e28]

If you can't see it....there is coolant pouring out of this thing.

1yr old radiator. Something got in between it and the fan, left a bunch of divots in the core....then pierced it. Heard it bouncing around up there then smelled coolant....then the temps started rising. Fuk. Coolant poured out as fast as I could pour water in. Fan is in tact. IDK what the fuck got in there. Rovers @ Wintergreen is this weekend too. Great timing. Just great.

[Nanajoth]

New fuel pump in the E34, I also fixed the telescoping for the steering column. I discovered that the person who ran the speaker wiring ran it in front of the column, preventing it from the full range of movement, the nut was also over tightened.

[dland]

New rotors and pads all the way around on the Jetta TDI. Now I can put her up for sale with a clean conscience. Been a good car for the last five years. Sad to see it go.

[euro24]

Why are you putting rotors and pads on a car you're not keeping?