Comments Off on hump daze

By Dave, October 13, 2004 7:21 pm

got out and on the van this am. Started with the rear door lifts. Found the torx set and other tools needed and got them changed without major problems. Took the inner panel off the rear hatch and collected an assortment of hammers, chisels, pry bars, and pieces of wood. Took the implements of mayhem and proceeded to reshape the bent area on the hatch into a semblance of it's original splendor. I may do more at a later time but it looks fair now so am going to wait till I have more and better tools before doing further damage.

Got the ramps out and moved the van upon them and changed the oil and filter. Put in the 30w hd and a quart of lucus and the engine sounds completely different. Much better. Oil pressure is better and turbo is quiet now too. Topped off the coolant in the radiator while under the hood too.

Looked at the transmission while under there and the bolts looked weird with epoxy around the heads of some of them (most of them)… decided to get a filter and change the fluid too.

Went to Jacksonville to O'Rellys auto parts and got a tube of emblem and trim adhesive, transmission filter kit, transmission fluid, a bottle of touch up paint, and 2 containers of goop hand cleaner. Then to Cecil's Hamburgers for lunch. To WinnDixie for tea and a few other things then back home.

Used the adhesive on the noisy trim on the drivers door and to affix the emblem on the back hatch. Took a bit of time and used the touchup paint to cover the worst of the cracks in the paint where I beat it out. Most of it will be covered with the tag. Should bondo and repaint but…

Rob came over and we sat a talked a bit then I got back at it for a bit longer making the stupid statement that this next bit shouldn't take but 7 or 8 minutes with the air tools…

Back up on the ramps with the van and after moving the air hose up the drive I took the bolts out of the transmission pan. or started to. some unscrewed, some pulled out. whoever had last worked on it had stripped all but 2 of the holes and used epoxy to put the bolts back in. They had also put the filter gasket in wrong. Replaced the filter and got the gasket in right (I hope). Cleaned the old sealer off the mounting flange on the transmission body. Removed the old gasket from the pan and cleaned it up good. Then found a tap and enough bolts to replace the now too small ones. Tapped out all but 2 of the holes. 2 of them had to go 2 sizes larger. No excuse in this level of sloppy work. NONE!

Was dark and 3 hours later when I finished so I'll fill with fluid tomorrow where I can watch for possible leaks. Got 2 more hoses I need to replace too. They are okay for now but I can see where they are breaking down inside and seeping into the cord and running out the end and really need replacing so will get and install them tomorrow. As far as I can tell that should about get it. I checked on air shocks today but they don't seem to be available for that van as a straight replacement so will have to try other sources and then see what is under there and what can be made to fit.

Want to try for a road trip in the next day or two and see how it handles. After the oil change the power went up a fair bit. Barked the tires with less peddle. Gonna check the pressure in them and air as necessary but I suspect I am going to have to get new tires for the front anyway.

And thus went the day. No major or at least no insurmountable problems, but not an easy ride either.