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It's refreshing to see someone who is going hands-on, doing their research, and then asking well thought out questions to fill in the gaps, not asking for us to do their research for them.
Keep up the great work, Jim!
BTW, maybe I missed it but are you going with OEM bushings for your differential or polyurethane?
Thanks! I am going with the Z1 bushing polyurethane bushings and aluminium inserts for the sub frame bushings.
Well, this did not go as planned. So, my son did a great job supplying the muscle and it was all going well until I needed to loosen the bolt to thread it out a bit so the socket could reach the nut on the inside part. That's when I had to take off the "can" portion of the device and realize how off it is!! Now the tool part is stuck in there as well as a "little" bit more of the sleeve. The bolt is bent to hell. Apparently my son was torquing the heck out of it as you have to do. Should have paid closer attention to it as he was cranking along on it. Now what. hmmm. That thing is stuck in there solid. Thinking maybe I get a fresh bolt and try cranking down on it pull the metal tool piece back out the way it came in? IT is so close to coming through dang it. Not sure what the best approach is so thought I would stop and see what other think and also ponder it myself a bit. I have already ordered a new bolt that should be her in a couple of days.
You and your son may not like this style, but when it was time for me to buy new headlights I picked these up from Spyder for a decent price. Also had to update my ballasts since they didn't play nice with the new lights at first.
**Ninja edit** Was reading this off my phone and just saw you addressed the headlight issue upthread.
Looks a little skewed in there too....if you cant replace the bolt, you might have to drop subframe and pound it out....
I think I have two options:
1. Get a bigger hammer and pound the crap out of it to see if I cant get the tool leveled back out in the hole
2. (I like this one) Get another copy of the tool. Slide another metal puck in the hole, that way I can get the nut into the slot of that is square to the hole and then pull the entire mess out using a fresh bolt and wrenches. It's so close to coming out I think I can place the second "puck" piece on top of the crooked piece and it may level it out and push it our that final step. OR, I could put the bolt in the opposite way and try and back out the tool. I like the idea if of just seeing if I can put that sleeve the rest of the way out. sooo close. Vegas style, doubling down on it.
The issue is with the can around as you are torquing the sleeve out you really cannot see it is crooked to easily and I should have kept a closer eye on it while we were torquing it out.
Last edited by Jim Stephens; 11-26-2019 at 06:57 PM.
This is where we thought we had it and it was all going well. LOL I went for awhile on it and then handed over to him. Gives you a sense of the torquing down on the bolts. I told my son this thing will ultimately yield to us, were Stephens. Lessons on not quitting. My plan B and C are much more extreme if it does not yield, but it will! LOL.
May consider trying to use a long big socket and a dead blow hammer from the back side to finish it off. Looks like you are really close.
Yes, I may try a few things on it while I wait for the part. I hit it pretty good several times with shorty iron hammer with no movement at all. It does look close and I like the idea of getting a socket in there to do it. Will give a try tomorrow. One way or another we will get it out. The good news is my son and I went and saw Ford vs. Ferrari tonight and we are inspired to work on the car again! Great movie!
Glad you enjoyed the movie.
Just be extra careful when using iron hammers on metal. It can splinter and have a nasty medical emergency due to it. Dead blow hammers are more ideal and don't cost much at harbor freight. Dead blow is less apt to bounce as well.
Having the morning coffee thinking this over. Still going to use the tool I ordered to crank on it I think, but this might work. Would put the hydraulic end "driver" on the "puck" that is in the hole and then clamp the arms around the tools canister on the other side and just pump it through. I need to measure some things on reach of the tool etc, but might work nicely.
I would think constant pressure and force might win over forceful impact. A variation on a C clamp. And penetrating oil. If the metals are similar a torch may or may not help.
I've got it- a 4-6" bench vise, the extra puck tool to press out and a cheater bar with something extremely sturdy on the back side allowing space for it to pass through. Rigging cribbing/support for the vise might take a minute, gl!
While we wait for the tools we went ahead and installed the new Diff cover. The inside was clean with no metal fragments. Looked pretty much perfect. A fun short project.
Motul 75W90. I have not put it in yet, so might consider another opinion. The Diff cover came as a "kit" from Z1, so I figured, might as well spend a bit more on the diff fluid than standard because it will probably be in there quite awhile and I am still thinking some light track time in the future. By the way, the Diff fluid that came out of was very clean looking.
Hoping too see my bushing removal tool today so I can continue with the project. With the Black Friday and Cyber Monday stuff going on, we will see. Z1 has a nice Black Friday sale on the Valve covers, so I am getting everything rounded up for the next project. I have one leak on the valve cover on the drivers side. Given the car is 15 years old it's time. It also has the original spark plugs I am told(45k miles). So, the next project is new covers, plugs, oil. I was told by the previous owner it has a Plenum insert(will check that out) and from what I have read that should be good. I was toying with buying a Kintex black intake manifold, but why spend the money if there is a plenum lift is in there already? I really like the "look" of the chrome Kintex intake, but it is 800 or 900 dollars and of some dubious value and quality from what I have read?
My last planned update will be the suspension as a few of the shocks have slight leaks, none were pointed out to be terrible, but from what I am reading a nice pair of shocks/coil overs and sway bars really will improve the cars handling. Not certain about lowering the car as my driveway has a kind of steep entry point as you pull up into it. I would need to break out a ruler or something to check that out. There are SO many options here. I could just put in a good set of Koni Shocks that are adjustable, but is getting coil overs going to be that much better? Lot's to learn on this one.
Lastly, my son is keen to put some new bumper and spoiler stuff on. There is a lot on the market out there. Some look to be of very poor quality from what I read and see. I do kinda like the V3 Nismo front end, but have not discussed it yet with him and I am really still just looking around. Whatever it is, I want to fit well and not be a "project" to cut and shape to fit. Open to others input on this topic on good sources, brands and other "looks". By the way, my son wants Rocket Bunny kit. While it's not my thing, I do think it can be pretty cool looking. The issue is also the extensive body work, tires, rims etc. to make it work are far beyond what I want to do. Also, not really what I am looking for personally. I have nixed that idea with him, but we will get something..
There is an O'Reilly auto show going on here in Houston this weekend, so we are going to check that out I think. My son thinks it will be all muscle cars (he is most likely right), but I told him let's go look, they are bound to have some imports there also, I hope..
Last edited by Jim Stephens; 11-29-2019 at 05:49 AM.
If no imports.....who cares, still quality time with family.
Most spring lower about an inch, unless you get tein s tech, cant go wrong with koni shocks though
Agreed, gives my son and I another thing to go do together with just he and I. Of course, I love the muscle cars, but we can just cruise around and check it all out. Funny story, I had to drag him to the annual new car show in January when he was 14 and we literally walked in, he saw all those cars, and he practically ran to the first car! I spent the entire day just following him around and he check out his "new" cars. The funny thing he said was Dad, let's not look at the Mercedes, Porsche etc. cars as they are too expensive. LOL. I am thinking, yes they are ALL too expensive for a 14/15 year old. It was a fun day. We now go to that every year. We both have a good time with it. Hopefully, we will both feel the same way about this type of show.
Last edited by Jim Stephens; 11-29-2019 at 08:08 AM.
Victory! Many tools and different approaches were tried. In the end, a reciprocal saw, Diablo Metal blades(bent quite a few, and dulled them), lots of cutting oil, and my best idea, a hand held pneumatic chisel. Used a dremal tool to smooth it all out and ready to move forward.
Last edited by Jim Stephens; 12-03-2019 at 02:40 PM.
11-26-2019, 01:38 AM
