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Things I Learned Working on my Vette this weekend #4
A few years ago, I watched a professional mechanic friend of mine pull and replace to 2 u-joints. 15-20 minutes tops. I thought to myself "THAT did not look too hard."
I need replace all 6 on my '73 and start with the driveline. First one came out with just a bit of cussing and a vise and cheater bar using the "socket" trick.
Second one...
- broke the cheapo vise while pushing the caps one way then the other
- used what seemed like a quart of Kroil penetrating oil.
- bought a new BIG vice
- bent the handle on the new big vise just a little.
- tried tapping on the ears with a hammer while caps were under pressure. ..... Still, nothing.
- fired up the torch (i.e. blue wrench) and FINALLY got it out.
What did I learn?
1. Profession mechaincs are underpaid.
2. When you burn away all the grease, the needle bearings fly all over the garage when the caps are pushed out.
3. Each cap has at least 418 needle bearings under it.
In the same vien of gravity and siphoning. The C3 gas tank sits higher than the fuel pump and the line on the frame that goes to the pump. When you pull that fuel line gas SHOOTS out of the line be ready to plug it, at least with your finger, but have every thing in reach when you have the fuel line pluged with your finger....
Things I Learned Working on my Vette this weekend #6, 7, & 8
#6 When finally freeing up some time to fire the vette up after 3 months of down time, you should REALLY put the drive shaft back in first, even if you are not planning on moving it. I did not put it in gear but did not appreciate how much gear oil was sloshing around the muncie while the engine was idling.
#7 Any time you've done work on the car, you should IMMEDIATELY look under it for leaks, fires, potential fires, .... Perhaps I would have noticedthte gear oil flying everywhere if I had glanced instead of just dealing the the fuel line leak immediately!
#8 There is not a matching interior screw on my car other than the one's I've put in it.
I learned that a 53 year old man can cortort his body to reach the horn relay under the dash, but will find himself partially paralyzed the next day. Thank god for Advil!
Lar, I am pretty new to site... But is my favorite tread so for....But for some reason it has enable my forgetful memory of all my past blunders...Hopefully, we live, laugh and learn through them....
Fortunately, so far the worst I can recall on the Vette is putting my 79's drivers seat in folded down under the steering wheel. DOH! On another car, I was doing a routine tune up, but after finishing, the car wouldn't start. It would crank and crank without even making any indication that it would start. I noticed the old rotor button on the radiator support, and finally after an hour or so if choice words, realized the replacement rotor that I was sure I had installed was in fact still in the box, sitting right next to the old one.
I will agree with the heater hoses and gas line at the pump.
What I do, vise grips to pinch the lines.
If your bypassing or replacing lines, put the new on the end you pulled first, be ready to put it on, pull the other end and throw on the new.
Not a corvette but a good story.
To many people changing one engine. When it was all back together and driven around the block. Had diesel running out of the air filter.
Gear hubs, diff's, transfer case, transmission all vented to the air filter housing.
That line got switched with the fuel pump return line.?
I got to drain everything 2 or 3 times.
My '73, while not perfect, is in pretty good shape as far a rust.
I needed to pull the half-shafts to change u-joints. While there, I decided to pull the rear end and mix some leaks. I was expecting problems with the shock mounts based on some of the horror stories I've read. Left took some kroil and 3 taps with a hammer. Right took kroil, some cussing, time, more kroil and 20-30 blows with a hammer using the thread protection tool.
Same with the rear end crossmember. I was expecting problems but one side popped out with a small screwdriver. The other took a pry bar but again, not in bad condition at all. The "leave the bolts in while you pry it loose" trick worked like a charm.
Pulled u joints. It is now hard to walk in my garage and not find a stray dry rusty needle bearing. I was lucky the right side had not come apart.
"If you can see it, you won`t be able to reach it.
If you can reach it, you won`t be able to see it!"
And only HALF of the time will you be able to get a wrench in there!
Lots easier to use two sturdy squeeze clamps to block off that section of heater hose when installing a shut-off valve. No need to drain the coolant, if you do that.
Things I learned last summer, always have the iPad close and charged so when I end up witha part on the floor I can quickly take a pic, post it up to e forum under the heading WTF is this, where did it come from and why did I do this again.
Things I learned last summer, always have the iPad close and charged so when I end up witha part on the floor I can quickly take a pic, post it up to e forum under the heading WTF is this, where did it come from and why did I do this again.
Agreed. Not sure how many times I've been in the garage, with greasy hands, on a phone or ipad searching on variations of the expression "How to ___________ c3 corvette".
Things I learned this weekend working on my vette - #11
Things I learned this weekend working on my vette - #11
Pay VERY close attention to the direction of the intake manifold during installation.
I had sealant on the gaskets, ran a HEAVY bead of sealant on the front and back like I've read and seen on YouTube, and after carefully dropping it straight down in place and beginning to tighten up the bolts, I "noticed" the distributor hole was in the wrong place and I could not access the oil pressure hole at the back. I was installing it backwards! Took it off from one side of the stand and set it down but then picked it up to install on the other!
That takes talent right there ladies and gentlemen. ;-)
Things I learned this weekend working on my vette - #11
Pay VERY close attention to the direction of the intake manifold during installation.
I had sealant on the gaskets, ran a HEAVY bead of sealant on the front and back like I've read and seen on YouTube, and after carefully dropping it straight down in place and beginning to tighten up the bolts, I "noticed" the distributor hole was in the wrong place and I could not access the oil pressure hole at the back. I was installing it backwards! Took it off from one side of the stand and set it down but then picked it up to install on the other!
That takes talent right there ladies and gentlemen. ;-)
We need PICTURES of these lessons as well. Some of us are VISUAL learners! So PLEASE share some pictures of you installing the intake manifold backwards. Also, that way I can say "NOW I have SEEN everything!"
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I learned that f you can't get your lower radiator hose off, to tighten the clamps back up before you forget too. Getting the engine hot will make sure that loose hose comes off when your topz down and the hood up
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; 06-29-2016 at 12:17 PM.
07-16-2014, 12:02 PM
. Starring at motor....
