So what have I learned working on my WRX?

"shpuker" (shpuker) 08/05/2013 at 11:39 • Filed to: None

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If a guide says you "might" need to remove something, stop thinking and take it the fuck off. If a guide says you "might" need to jack the engine slightly, remove the airbox and one bolt from the nearest motor mount and jack the fucker up. Oh and you WILL find other parts that will need immidiate attention when you get in there and start taking things off. AKA my CV axle is junk. Thus the whining noise I have mistaken partially for diff whine.

Oh and always have EVERY recommended tool. You'll be glad you do.

And 3-5 hours for a "rookie" really means 8-14 hours for an amature doing it for the first time. 6.5 hours in so far, up pipe still resting in the engine bay. Air-box coming out after work. Should be able to finish getting it out then.

And I swear I'm going to loose about 10 pounds with all the fucking heat shields on the stock downpipe that aren't going back on.

DocWalt > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 11:41

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I've learned to always put heatshields back when you can. :)

shpuker > DocWalt 08/05/2013 at 11:46

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Don't worry, turbo heat shield and the manifold heat shield are going back on! Albeit with some slight modifications to them.

DocWalt > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 11:50

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Good call! I melted a valve cover gasket because I deleted a heatshield... I also melted intercooler hoses. I was a stupid kid, heh.

I've also found that removing anything that could possibly destroy your flesh is a good plan. It's no fun hurting yourself because you saved five minutes not removing a bracket.

dropthatclutch > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 11:50

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UHG. I hated doing to up-pipe, and I did it twice. The first one I bought was a Grimmspeed with a leaky flex pipe that they refused to replace. So I replaced it with a hard pipe from Invidia. Of course I broke various bolts both times.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 11:51

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"I'm just going to change the spark plugs myself. How hard can it be?"

- 4 hours later: "that sucked"

SuperChargerHeaven Live in USA > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 12:00

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Boxer engines: love the sound, hate the maintenance.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 12:08

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Tell me about it. My BMW's break job took 2.5 Days , because I had to wait for parts, buy new tools, fight the corrosion, and chase threads. In one of the books that I have it says this about replacing the oil pan gasket, "Replacement is not too difficult, but you do have to remove the entire front suspension to be able to remove the oil pan." Really that doesn't sound difficult at all.

A lesson that I've learned from working on cars is this: It will always take three times as long and cost three times as much as you thought it would.

JJJenningsIII > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/05/2013 at 14:00

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jesus! what type of BMW was it on.

I'm going to tackle brakes on my e30 next weekend and it seems very easy. Granted, I'm a complete novice when it comes to working on cars so I'm sure I'll hit a bump or 2

Audio Tachometer > shpuker 08/05/2013 at 14:03

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What I learned working on an old Ford pickup:

Bring extra oil

You need exactly 1 special tool to remove the fan. Otherwise, it is all 9/16" wrenches and duct tape.

If it drives, drive home and fix that sucker in the comfort of your shop. Running on 4 cylinders? Check the electricals and drive that thing the last 18 miles.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JJJenningsIII 08/05/2013 at 14:07

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e36 328i, get your self some penetrating fluid, a heavy duty impact driver (at least 500 ft lbs), a good length off pipe to fit over your wrenches, possibly a hammer drill, and most defiantly a good set of Allen sockets. It really should have been a easy job, just the whole waiting for parts/weather and fighting the corrosion are the big things to look out for.

shpuker > dropthatclutch 08/06/2013 at 00:09

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Finally got mine out about an hour ago. Jacked the motor up about 2.5" Only busted one bolt, one of the 10mm's holding the baby part of the heat shield on.