I was able to get the torque converter back onto the transmission and lower the engine back onto the cradle. Converter spins by hand threw the starter hole as it should.I can work on it now in the garage regardless what the weather is doing outside. I will add the AC compressor and the Rodney Dickman V6 belt idler assembly I have here in the house. New belts for both also.
Here is what I got out of the AC lines today. The liquid is paint thinner I used to soak inside the lines.: Dropped a small fishing weight with a line down and threw, and pulled a cleaning patch threw both lines. WAS real nasty in there
I installed all of the long lines onto the underneath of the car today. I hate dealing with this crap. BUT,it will be nice to be able to enjoy some AC this next summer. I purchased a new DA sander yesterday so I can get some of the body work started on my off time.
I will strat on getting the engine ready to go back in tomorrow.
I have ordered a set of the rubber fasteners that hold the AC lines to the body. I went to Loew'sand got a pair, but they are just a small amount smaller, and they try to pull away from the chassis.
Beautiful Texas day here today. Would have been a great day for a Fiero ride around Lake Livingston.
I worked out in the garage for a while. Torque converter bolts, and starter put back on the engine. Exhaust crossover pipe added back on. New bolts and springs for the crossover to exhaust pipe. Transmission to engine bracket installed. AC bolts and fasteners, '0' rings located and ready for installation. I need to put the crossover pipe heat shields to be finished with the exhaust.
------------------ 88 Coupe 3.4 V6
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-01-2012).]
Added 2.5 oz PAG to the AC compressor.Added the AC compressor and it's lines to the engine. Tightened the manifold bolt to 25 lbs. Tightened the alternator belt and have it ready to go back in the car.
I was able to get the cradle back in the car this morning. Under we go:
And all 4 corner bolts installed. Sitting on jack stands in the rear:
I will start reconnecting things tomorrow after work.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-08-2012).]
Just ordered new struts and front shocks for my 88. Struts will be easy to install before I add the CV shafts and brakes to the car. Gabriel shock were on close out at RockAuto for <$10.00 each.
So no updates until you get the rear struts? Hopefully you are taking advantage of the weather today on other things, as they are sending cold weather down tomorrow. When I get started on my 4.9L project, I may kidnap you for a couple of days. (I'm sure Cathy could use the break). OH BTW, the guy that bought my Yellow Formula is thinking about selling it.
Today I was able to get some things hooked back up. Passenger side coolant hoses, and fuel hoses. Throttle cable and transmission throttle pressure cable. C500.
I mounted my AC manifold and put 5/8 heater hose on it with 3/8 fuel hose for the small hose. I was able to route it a little bit better and cut them to the length I wanted before taking it to Houston Monday. I will have new rubber AC hose put on and crimped.
I will connect all of the driver side hoses and run the wiring back threw the firewall tomorrow.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-14-2012).]
We are planning on being in Houston next Saturday at the BBQ around 11:30am. You coming ? I do not think I will be in my 88. Struts will not even be here until sometime Monday.
I installed two new front shocks. I fed the C203 , ECM and ALDL wires threw the firewall. Sprained my right wrist. Thats all for today. Connected all the vacuum lines.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-15-2012).]
So no updates until you get the rear struts? Hopefully you are taking advantage of the weather today on other things, as they are sending cold weather down tomorrow. When I get started on my 4.9L project, I may kidnap you for a couple of days. (I'm sure Cathy could use the break). OH BTW, the guy that bought my Yellow Formula is thinking about selling it.
Steve I missed your posting. Sorry. I wish I could afford the yelow car, but for now I am 'CAR POOR'. I will be happy to get my 88 on the road again one day this week.
Struts are supposed to be here tomorrow. FedEx makes it here after 4pm every time they deliver here. Must be the last stop for them before heading back to Bryan. I will remove the two old ones and have them ready to switch out befor FedEx arrives.
I had these made for me today. $41.29 by Dixie AC repair in Houston, Tx I got to watch them make um up while he was working. http://www.dixieautoair.com/
After work today I replaced one strut. I had an old Harbor Freight spring compressor set I had around 20 years now. I had never had to use it until today. It had several mud dobbers nest inside the sealed box. How in the heck do they get in there?
I have the passenger side strut off of the car and ready to go after work tomorrow.
Tech Tip: Use some white out to mark the spring to the seats and top piece before dis-assembly.
Today I was able to get both CV shafts mounted, and the AC lines that go between the compressor and the junction behind the drivers seat. Added the heat shield there. Caliper on the drivers side mounted up and ready to go. I am gonna have to replace the passenger side caliper. I need to remove the red bridge for it before I mount my rebuilt one.
I got my 88 brake parts box in the mail yesterday. Purchased a whole flat rate box for $35.00 shipped. I now have 16 spare 88 slider boots. I have the parts to rebuild two fronts and will offer them up in the mall.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-22-2012).]
Got off of work late today. I painted the bridge for the passenger side rear caliper. Installed 4 slider boots and both sliders on the caliper. I had to drive to Livingston to get some slider pin greese. Guy at the parts house closest to me thought I was joking about brake greese. He didn't have a clue what I was asking for. Right rear brakes back on the car tomorrow.
I had to go to Wal Mart for my work after shift today. I was able to get my right rear caliper on the car before it got to late. I want to have this back on the road before the weekend ends
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-24-2012).]
I was able to connect the parking brake lever to the new right rear caliper. Added the brake hose. I removed the AC hose heat shield, and added some heat insulation. Replaced the heat shield. Repaired a damaged transmission line. New pads added to the caliper.
Today I added a new hose for the heater return. Mine had a hole in it. Joined the chassis transmission lines to the transmission coolant lines. Installed the parking brake adjuster, and adjusted same.
I used a level to adjust the camber on the two rear wheels. Made the center of the rears the same height as the center on the fronts. Weight of the car must be resting on the rear control arms. Give the car a few bounces.
Used as carpenter level to make the brake rotors a vertical as possible. And:
If you do this, don't forget to make sure your brake splash shield is not dragging on your rotor.
Tighten it all down to spec's.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-28-2012).]
A little of the ' Fiero Two Step' today. Got the new rear caliper bled. Speed bleeders are a wonderful thing.
Went to make sure the torque on the two knuckle bolts were right. One of the two lower camber adjustment bolts snapped off. New Raybestos ones on the way. I will continue after work tomorrow with the few remaining items I need to finish. Waiting on the new camber bolt.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-01-2012).]
Connected the throttle cable and transmission kick down cable. Retainer clip on the nub. Connected all the vacuum lines and dropped in the battery. It started with the first turn of the key. Only ran it 2-3 seconds as I haven't added the transmission fluid or coolant yet.
Today I hooked my scanner to the ALDL. Not connected it says. I checked the ground at "A" on the ALDL, all was well there. I will need to check the plug in connector as the SES light is working correctly in the dash.
Connected my transmission shift cable to the transmission. Installed the strain relief for the FI harness on the firewall. Got the wiring harness away from the exhaust system. Installed the new cam adjustment bolt and reset the camber. All looks sweet back there now. I have one fluid leak where the transmission cooler lines and the two long lines attach together. I will fix that and put the car back on the ground tomorrow.
Seem that one has to plug in the correct scanner cable to the scanner. The cable for my 2005 Malibu was plugged in. The cable for the OBDI was plugged into the ALDL, but not to my scanner. It was all in the passenger side seat.
Senior Moment # 7,000,002
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-06-2012).]
I was able to stop the transmission coolant line leak today. I put the rear wheels back on the car and dropped it back to the ground. Coolant added, and 4.5 quarts of transmission fluid added. The water got hot before I was able to get the thermostat back in the housing. I closed it off and went for a nice 30 mile drive. I will know tomorrow if my transmission leak is fixed.
I never got into open loop. The coolant was running about 158*. I was getting a DTC for idle speed. I am thinking that it was caused by not having the air intake tube installed, and no thermostat.
Nice 50 mile ride today after work, I was able to get the thermostat back in the engine. Car runs great. I didn't see any fluid drops on the clean garage floor today. I will take another look at it tomorrow after I get back home.
No codes today. I never did get into open loop.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-08-2012).]
Took the car for a real nice 165 mile trip today around Lake Livingston. Beautiful Texas day here.
I am still getting a clunking sound from up front somewhere. Sounds like a worn out dog bone sorta. I have replaced the two front shocks. The car rides pretty darned good with the new shocks and new rear struts I installed. I can stand in the front with the hood up and bounce the car. I can not get the car to 'clunk' this way. I am gonna take the car to a shop Monday after work. We are gonna put it on an alignment machine and let him take a look at the front suspension parts.
No transmission fluid on my garage floor.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-11-2012).]
Took the car for a short ride today. My wife was driving her 2005 Malibu in front, and I was behind. We got up to 55 MPH, 60MPH, and lastly 70. My speedometer was dead on with hers. My tach is off according to the chart on Ogre's cave. The RPM on my scanner is a few hundred RPM less than my dash tach.
I took off kinda hard one time today. It broke the tires loose. NEET!!!!!!!