Well, a while back, I replaced the valve stem seals on my old '93 Nissan truck. It did better (as in less oil comsuption) and smoked less. But I am still using too much oil. And then I find out there are different seals for the intake and exhaust valves. Dang it! After I get a new timing chain and stuff in it, I will replace the seals.

We are on our 3rd tear down and repair for jumped timing chains at work now. Two BMW's and an old Mercedes. So I am getting to learn a lot by watching.

Ahh, well now I know what a head gasket looks like, and am learning some mechanical stuff. I do not want to be a mechanic, to much work for me!

But I have a fun, but stressfull job. And it is nice to have a lift and tools to work on your car on the weekends.

E

Welcome to the school of hard knocks...I could tell ya a few stories, but it's late!

Ill just send ya a link to what it eventually lead too

El Camino

Does your truck need pressed in seals or can you get away with umbrella seals, they would make the job simpler to do (i.e. dont have to remove the head), your shop mechanic should know also.

Welcome to the grease monkey club. Now to finish initiation you have to eat grease.

Working on cars and trucks is always a good skill to have. Once you get use to it you'll be rebuilding engines in your dreams.

M&C, eating grease, heck that is lunch if I actually work in the shop and don't have time to clean up before I eat!

And $Solids$, I drive a Nissan truck. A 4 banger. Any work I do to it is to keep it up and hopefully restore it to stock. Yep, I am that jerk you get behind that drives the speed limit. But hey, been driving legally for 22 years, no speeding ticket so far. I have to be real careful in some of the Mercedes I drive at work, they ride quiet and will run like crazy compaired to my ride.

mdgmixmaster, I am guessing it is the umbrella seal type. When I did it, we hooked up compressed air to where the spark plug was, compresed the spring, removed the springs, and just replaced them by hand. No head removal required.

I just want to learn enough to save some cash on my own vehicle, which I have gotten a good start on, and enough so I can deal with my customers and the people I order parts from in a somewhat intelligent mannor. It is a lot easier to get a part if you know the part number or at least what group it is in, makes my suppliers more willing to help me when I need help. Usually I have the exact part number, might need a color code.

Do any of you have any knowledge about the EPC or DAS computer programs? I am teaching myself how to use them, but they throw me some curve balls sometimes.

New timing chain is my main priority on my truck. Right at 200k miles. Oil is cheap, I will do the seals afterwards.

E

You think you got it bad, do a timing belt on a 93 - 97 Ford Probe GT. You have to remove so much crap to get to it, including the left engine mount. It's ridiculous.

Quote: Originally Posted by j-dogg You think you got it bad, do a timing belt on a 93 - 97 Ford Probe GT. You have to remove so much crap to get to it, including the left engine mount. It's ridiculous.

That is why I love my little Nissan truck. It is pretty easy to work on, most of the stuff is easy to get to. It seems like in the late '80s they started making cars that are just hard to work on. These new Mercedes, geez, front and rear SAM controllers, seat control modules that drain the battery, D2B fiber ring problems, Electronic Ignition System problems, Air Mass Sensors, half life brake pad sensors, and all that stuff just drives me crazy!

I screwed up and did not realize I needed different seals. No big deal, they are cheap, I can do the work now by myself. The timing chain kit, I will need some help with. My boss will help, I just have to pin him down to a time to do it.

E

Quote: Originally Posted by Fred_G And $Solids$, I drive a Nissan truck. A 4 banger. Any work I do to it is to keep it up and hopefully restore it to stock. Yep, I am that jerk you get behind that drives the speed limit. But hey, been driving legally for 22 years, no speeding ticket so far. I have to be real careful in some of the Mercedes I drive at work, they ride quiet and will run like crazy compaired to my ride. E

LOL...Did I push the wrong button here?

I was just trying to encourage you, I too drive pretty slow these days, and that is certainly not what I drive everyday!

In time, you will get it all figured out, cars are not too complicated in theory (At least the older ones) but are a huge PITA to work on in in real life....however, I thought you were a bit younger, so your days of lusting after hot rods are probably well behind ya!

Quote: Originally Posted by j-dogg You think you got it bad, do a timing belt on a 93 - 97 Ford Probe GT. You have to remove so much crap to get to it, including the left engine mount. It's ridiculous.

'90 Eclipse RS Turbo.

Thats beyond Ridiculous.

When i had to change the sparkplugs on my Jimmy i had to jack up the front end, take off the fromt tires and use a sparkplug socket with a 11mm stubby wrench to get at the plugs. #3 was a pain to get at. GM thought it would be funny to put it behind the steering shaft.

It is lots of fun to work on cars though despite all the stupid things car makers pull.

Quote: Originally Posted by j-dogg You think you got it bad, do a timing belt on a 93 - 97 Ford Probe GT. You have to remove so much crap to get to it, including the left engine mount. It's ridiculous.

The hardest things to work on i belive are any FWD cars, and conversion vans. You gotta take half the car apart to even see the area your going to work at.

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro LOL...Did I push the wrong button here? I was just trying to encourage you, I too drive pretty slow these days, and that is certainly not what I drive everyday! In time, you will get it all figured out, cars are not too complicated in theory (At least the older ones) but are a huge PITA to work on in in real life....however, I thought you were a bit younger, so your days of lusting after hot rods are probably well behind ya!

Hell, I am not that damn old! I love driving fast cars, just don't have the budget for one. And as far as 'pushing' a button, well, I am tired of people tailgating me! I think it is these kids and their damn Rap music... The kids and adults driving and talking on their cell phones...

Now where is my walker, I need to make sure none of those kids are on my lawn!

E



Flame and M&C, the strangest one I have seen yet is a Land Ranger? Frelander. My boss's friend has one. They had it torn down the other day. 2 valve cover gaskets, one by the radiator and the other by the firewall. I found 3 timing belts on the damn thing. 2 small belts on the left front and back on the engine, and on connecting both on the right side. WTF?

E

Quote: Originally Posted by Master Yunk '90 Eclipse RS Turbo. Thats beyond Ridiculous.

I'm defeated. Anyone who owns a DSM is the only person who is wrenching on their cars more than the Probe guys.

At least our motors are non-interference

And you would be referring to the GS-T, not the RS.

RS = Really Slow

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro Welcome to the school of hard knocks...I could tell ya a few stories, but it's late! Ill just send ya a link to what it eventually lead too El Camino

Nice El Camino...I always wanted one of those and stufe a LT1 Corvette engine in it! Love the work you have done with that!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Master Yunk '90 Eclipse RS Turbo. Thats beyond Ridiculous.

I all I can say is "Any Quad 4 Grand Am". There is absolutely nothing worse to work on.IHO

I still love my 93 Nissan truck. It has over 450k now. I drove it for 2 years 95 mile a day round trip, with no 1st gear! Sad to say now, I'm getting ready to put in my third tranny. Easy to do, just a pain in the butt.

try working on a mid engined car like a SW20 MR2 or a Z32 300ZX TT

Quote: Originally Posted by Andrevas try working on a mid engined car like a SW20 MR2 or a Z32 300ZX TT

A 300ZX isn't a mid engine, but I can testify on them being a PITA to work on, engine compartment space is limited on the Z. Changing my downpipe was complete hassle.

My dad has a 92 300ZX TT. It is definitely not a mid engine car. It would be a oain to work on though. Just looking at the engone compartment makes ya wonder where the sparkplugs are. You cant see em from the top.

I should have worded it Z32 or a mid engined car like a SW20

I know that a Z32 isn't MR