A Tale Of Two Differentials

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 12/24/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: mazda miata

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With the holidays upon us, gather round and pull up a chair by the warm fire and let me tell you a story of how I spent Christmas and the day after a few years ago.

Read on Right Foot Down or continue below

In 2011 I acquired my third Miata. Like the two before it, it was an early NA, with the 1.6 liter motor, in Classic Red. It’s purely coincidence that all of my Miatas have been red 1.6 NAs - it just happened that way. This one had been a dedicated autocross car, but the owner upgraded to an S2000, so I bought this to be my daily driver.

Some reassembly was required. The go fast goodies were sold off separately, but as this was to be my daily driver it was no big deal. We just had to reinstall the stock parts. Plus the car came with a whole bunch of extra parts, which would be good to help maintain it. By 2011 the early NAs were getting a bit long in the tooth.

That was the main problem I hadn’t foreseen. I still thought of Miatas as bulletproof reliable, like my first 1990 model I got in 2000, and raced and drove hard for the next few years. But that was a 10 year old car. This was 18 years old, and in retrospect perhaps not the best choice of a daily driver. Of course, one could argue that any Miata is not the best choice of a daily driver, but come on - I daily drive a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , for crying out loud.

On Christmas day, 2011, my girlfriend at the time and I took the Miata to her family’s house for dinner. Just a couple of miles out from our destination, I started to hear a clanking in the rear end (the car’s, not my girlfriend’s), once per each revolution of the wheels. A quick look underneath the car revealed nothing, so I slowly, carefully finished our journey, and when it came time to head home it was once again on the back of a flatbed.

The problem appeared to be in the differential. I had to figure out what to do about it, fast. After all, this was my only car, and though I had the 26th off, I had to go back to work on the 27th. As it stood, I had no way to get there.

Then I remembered that I had a spare differential in my storage unit. Doesn’t everyone? Actually this was left over from my previous Miata. I had removed the open diff it came with and installed a viscous limited slip in its place. I tried to give away the old open diff, never mind sell it, and I still couldn’t get rid of it. But that meant that I had a replacement diff ready to install in this Miata when its original diff died. With no garage, no electricity in the parking lot, and during one of the shortest days of the year, I had to thrash to swap out the diff the following day.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Fortunately, I had some luck on my side as well. There was no snow on the pavement of my parking lot. The weather for December 26 looked good. Temperatures were supposed to be in the 40s with no windchill, and it was going to be sunny, which would help me take maximum advantage of what little daylight I had. Perhaps most importantly, I knew that the differential had been out of this car during the past year. It, too, had been upgraded to a VLSD unit, but the original had been put back in due to issues with the VLSD. This meant that I would not be fighting 18 years of rust to remove it.

I jacked up and supported the car properly ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), then got to work pulling the diff. It helped that I already knew how to do it after upgrading my last Miata. Wheels came off. Axle nuts got removed. Rear suspension got partially disconnected to allow enough movement to remove the axles from the hubs. Remove the driveshaft. Unbolt the power plant frame, a sort of girder that connects the differential to the transmission. Past experience had taught me that it’s easier to remove the PPF and diff as a unit, plus my spare diff was still attached to its own PPF - permanently, thanks to rust. Get a jack under the diff. Remove two nuts attaching the diff to the rear subframe. Lower the jack and get the old diff out of there. There goes my morning, but I was pretty much on schedule.

Photo credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Around this time my friend Brian (owner of the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I reviewed) showed up to help. Not only would he give me a hand during reassembly, he also brought beer, which also helped. (Typically I would’ve provided the beer in exchange for his help, but I had no wheels to get to the store.) We set about swapping the carrier from the old diff to the new one - er, the older one, um, no, wait... You know what I mean. In case you don’t, what would be a simple cover on the rear of many differentials was actually a structural part on the Miata’s, containing the supporting arms that bolt to the rear subframe. These arms often break in an accident (by design, to prevent the drivetrain from taking more serious damage), and since my original VLSD swap on my previous Miata came with a broken carrier, I’ve been one short ever since. So I had to swap the one that was already on the car over to the replacement diff. It’s not much more difficult than replacing a standard diff cover.

At this point, contrary to what I experienced reading many Haynes manuals, installation really was the opposite of removal. With the jack holding the diff up, the two of us managed to finagle it back into position and bolt it in. It was fairly simple to remove it myself thanks to gravity, but Brian’s help was invaluable to the reassembly. We could also divide our efforts, each of us installing an axle simultaneously instead of me doing one, then the other. The diff got fresh fluid, and the new seal held. We raced the sun to finish the job and get the car back on the ground before the sun hit the horizon. It was a tie, but that was good enough - I drove a successful test lap around the parking lot just as the sun slipped out of sight. The car got me to work the next day, and that differential install continues to serve its current owner today.

Working on your own car, when doing regular maintenance, on your own schedule, in a garage or driveway, with adequate lighting and no time constraints, can be a very enjoyable activity. An emergency repair, in a parking lot, crammed into a few short hours of daylight on one of the shortest days of the year, is not. But I’ll never forget how Brian and I spent the day after Christmas thrashing to get this done, and completing the job successfully. While the process may not have been fun, we definitely felt a sense of accomplishment afterward - not to mention great relief that I would, in fact, be able to get to work the next day.

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BaconSandwich is tasty. > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 09:35

6

You had me worried the whole time that it wasn’t going to be the diff after all. Glad to hear that it all worked out. I guess you could say it was a bit of a diff-erent Christmas. :P

I'll show myself out...

Justin Hughes > BaconSandwich is tasty. 12/24/2015 at 09:36

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Oh, that’s awful! I love it!

W A T C H D E V I L – keeper of the time > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 09:45

1

Dang I was hoping it was article about procuring a strange mystical axle that made that Miata go faster...

Justin Hughes > W A T C H D E V I L – keeper of the time 12/24/2015 at 09:50

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You need to look under the hood for that.

No, I didn’t have one.

Hollywood Speed: I don't know what I'm doing > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 09:55

4

I had an old Foxbody in highschool that I had to put a heater core in to get to work/school the next day. This was right around Christmas. It was about 30 degrees outside. The worst part is I had to take the dash out by myself, lay it in my lap and slide the heater box out enough to be able to pop the new core in and tighten it up. I got it done and got to work/school the next day. But Holy Crap that was a rough night.

JKER > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:01

3

I read this entire article thinking that something was going to go wrong... Was I the only one?

Seems like anytime I attempt a repair there’s at least five additional parts that I have to special order and sixteen thousand bolts that are rusted on.

ferric oxide > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:08

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“contrary to what I experienced reading many Haynes manuals, installation really was the opposite of removal.”

...and this is the exception that proves the rule. I started out my wrenching days using Haynes and I will never touch the “Readers Digest” of technical manuals again. I’m just thankful that in those days cars were simple enough that even when the Haynes/Chiltons book left out 4 or 5 steps I could still work out what to do. On a modern car? Not really quite so forgiving.

$300 more for the official factory manual you say? Done.

Justin Hughes > JKER 12/24/2015 at 10:09

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I suppose no further disasters, other than the diff failure itself, was a gift in itself. I was also lucky in that I already had the spare part, I knew how to replace it, and since the diff had already been swapped recently it wasn’t rusted on.

cretony38 > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:13

2

I’ve seen a guy do this at the drag races, after a few passes he blew up the rear end and had to replace it to drive it home. That was impressive. Later it encouraged me to replace one after blowing up on me on the highway.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:13

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I’ve got a steering shaft replacement and a bump steer kit lined up for the day after Christmas, but the garage is heated, so that helps.

Rustysteel > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:14

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My only vehicle many years ago was an ‘85 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel, I loved that car but what a POS. I don’t think it was Christmas time but not much after my starter went and I had to change it in the driveway, in a blizzard with winds in the 60 km/h range. F-U-N. So let’s say I can relate.

Chris Zimmer > W A T C H D E V I L – keeper of the time 12/24/2015 at 10:26

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That is the story I came here expecting too.

Daryl > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:37

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It doesn’t constitute as an emergency repair unless the only tools utilized consist of a wire coat hanger, a pair of pliars, a butter knife, a roll of ducktape, a flat rock, a tire iron, and MAYBE a can of WD-40. Anything else is an impromptu repair, at worst. While the level of difficulty can be commended, I can’t endorse this per your description. Your Medal of Honor Repair has been downgraded to a Bronze Wrench. However, we appreciate your intestional fortitude in keeping the car on the road.

Thud Slamrod > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:52

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Viscous? Ewwww. A clutch type LSD from an FB RX7 swaps right in ya know.

Cronus > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 10:53

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PSA: Never buy a dedicated race car to be your daily driver. It was usually turned into a dedicated race car for a reason and running it as hard as you can is not known to increase reliability.

Justin Hughes > Daryl 12/24/2015 at 11:04

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I’ll take the Bronze Wrench. I earned the Medal of Honor Repair when I had a brake line come loose on the highway and repaired it with nothing more than some lousy pliers from the gas station I stopped at.

Justin Hughes > Thud Slamrod 12/24/2015 at 11:04

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I know. The VLSD keeps the same gear ratios and didn’t bump us out of stock class for autocross.

rolandeschain > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:11

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“...one could argue that any Miata is not the best choice of a daily driver...”

One could argue that, but one would be wrong. I got my ND in September, and started using it as my DD every day. Freaking glorious. And I have quite a bit of stop-and-go every day, which sorta sucks with a manual, but still. There’s a guy in my shop that DD’s a first-gen NA, and he’s loving the shit out of it.

So much love for this car, I can’t even tell you.

VZSpyder > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:14

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Here’s a somewhat related tale-of-two-diffs story: LSD swap into the new 2016 Miata!

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.…

Justin Hughes > rolandeschain 12/24/2015 at 11:15

1

The main reason I got a BRZ instead of a Miata as my most recent daily driver is that I truly needed more cargo space than the Miata could provide.

offyatindy > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:18

3

The only thing wrong with this was the beer. Don’t get me wrong. I love beer. Just not beer outside on a 40 degree day. Brrr. Along with scraping your fingers on metal on a 40 degree day. (I know you didn’t say this, but I’m sure you did.) Ouch. Maybe I’m getting soft. Now that I think about it. I am getting soft. When I was 17, I pulled the cylinder head on my Jaguar E-type (the Miata of its day! It was just a cheap old car at the time!) in a snow storm and didn’t seem to mind. That ship has sailed. Anyway, I enjoyed reading about your wrenching day while relaxing in a warm house. Time for a beer. Merry Christmas.

rolandeschain > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:19

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That’s reasonable. As much as I love my Miata, you got room for a hankie maybe in the front, and an overnight back in the trunk. Sometimes I have to leave it home if I have something I have to take in that is of any size at all.

Also, BRZ’s are freaking fun cars to drive too. If it came in a soft top, I might have gotten one instead.

None > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:32

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Thanks for sharing this! I am contemplating changing out the final drive and pinion gear in my BRZ sometime to a 4.55 Cusco for a little extra zip. Any thoughts?

None > rolandeschain 12/24/2015 at 11:36

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Both are two of my favorite cars. I feel guilty for never having owned a Miata. Tried to make up for it with my BRZ.

Justin Hughes > None 12/24/2015 at 11:38

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I haven’t looked into such upgrades, so I honestly don’t know. Sorry.

None > Rustysteel 12/24/2015 at 11:38

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I had an 88 gas engine Jetta that I nearly got frostbitten from working on outside.

Daryl > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:41

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Your graciousness is appreciated. And yes, I think fixing a faulty brake line with potmetal pliars that NEVER stay in the detent you need would qualify for the award, provided it was storming

None > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:41

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No problem. Have read a little bit on the forums, and short of forced induction, it seems to be one of the most effective ways to wake it up a little, but fuel economy would suffer a bit.

Justin Hughes > None 12/24/2015 at 11:51

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Yep, it’ll definitely improve acceleration at the cost of top speed, fuel economy, and more frequent shifts. Each gear will be useful in a smaller speed range, and spending more time in between gears could slow you down a little. I once beat a pair of 6-speed Miatas at an autocross in my 5-speed Miata because I didn’t have to shift as often.

RSA > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 11:52

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A well-told story in which everyone (except maybe for the evil broken diff) lived happily ever after. This was a holiday treat.

MarkoftheIsland > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 12:04

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Thank you for this story. It brought back memories I have of the years I either valiantly/foolishly drove British sports cars as daily drivers. While it is never fun to bust your knuckle at the best of times, doing when it is cold and you’re racing the clock makes it all the worst. Your story brought back memories of the cold seeping up through the piece of cardboard I was laying on under the car, with a crappy flashlight wedged into the crook of my neck, praying that the cheap Chinese socket would hold up for one more bolt.

None > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 12:04

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Yeah, I am kind of holding off to see if I turn it from semi-daily driver to full-on track and autocross car. I am fine with it the way it is as a DD.

J. S. > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 12:14

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Sorta reminded me of replacing the 2-speed diff in our 1957 Ford F8 dumptruck. Took all of two hours in the gravel drive next to the shop. Afterwards, my father and I drove it around the farm for a bit, stopped, looked at each other. I said “that’s a different ratio”. We never did figure out the ratio of the “new one” (a dismantlers $350 special) cause I wasn’t about to take it out & count gear teeth. But it was lower and for the 5 yard that rarely saw 25 mph, that was fine.

Thud Slamrod > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 12:43

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But dat Torsen tho. Swapping a Miata Torsen into my FB did wonders on track.

MotorcycleRider > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 12:46

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Yep, I’ve been know to make a few emergency parking lot repairs. The worst being a tie between a starter on a 1990 F150 and a starter on a 1999 F350.

The starter on the F350 is massive. Easily 25-30 pounds. Lifting that thing up one handed while trying to bolt it in with the other hand in the middle of a dark parking lot? Not fun.

The starter on the F150 isn’t as bad. Maybe 10-15 pounds. But one of the bolts is in a position which requires you to lay on top of the (hot) engine bay, shove your arm down next the the (hot) exhaust manifold, with your hand next to the (hot) catalytic converter to feel for the bolt because your vision is blocked by insulation or whatever in the engine bay. Also in the middle of a dark parking lot. Also not fun.

Kiltedpadre > J. S. 12/24/2015 at 12:51

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Had the same thing happen with an old grain truck. Diff went out at harvest time and found something that'd work at a nearby commercial vehicle pick-a-part. Get it in, go for a ride, and I think one of the tractors could've given it a run for its money in a drag race. Same deal though; it only got used to take extra corn to the overflow grain bin so didn't matter enough to worry about.

risc > ferric oxide 12/24/2015 at 13:04

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Or $20 for a scan of the manual off ebay - I have no sympathy for manufactures that try to hold service information hostage.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 13:37

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I’m on my second Miata. A long nose 1991 1.6, and a 2002 NB LS model. My mom now has the NA and the NB is my daily unless it’s snowing.

With my NA, the whole “this is supposed to be a reliable car” was how it went down. I threw a ton of money into the car to get it baselined.

That’s the thing about Miatas. They are reliable, but only if maintained properly. You can’t skip on any maintenance items, ask me how I know.

I think for my next car I’m gonna pick up an Alfa Spider. If I’m gonna have to throw a bunch of parts into a car and deal with it being unreliable, I’d like it to be a bit more interesting.

ferric oxide > risc 12/24/2015 at 14:17

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And sometimes that’s your only viable option, agreed. Because for at least one of my 20+ year old cars, the full set of factory manuals is still well over $1,000. Yes I’m talking about you Toyota.

ferric oxide > risc 12/24/2015 at 14:21

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And for several others, there simply are NO (in print) factory manuals to be had period. Apparently they stop stocking those after 40 years and/or the manufacturer goes out of business.

ferric oxide > risc 12/24/2015 at 14:34

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I realize that makes me a dirty filthy pirate but deciphering the more cryptic passages of (Chilton/Haynes) is almost impossible. It is literally the Necromicon of Auto Repair Manuals.

Just try following and/or chanting some of those more archaic ancient Sumerian passages and automotive demons will be summoned to possess your car until the end of time.

Klatu Varata Ex Motorist!

Chewtoy88 > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 15:17

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I wanted to insert that Orson Wells applauding gif here, but couldn’t figure out how to do that, so just imagine a guy in a tux applauding you...

TomMetcalf > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 15:27

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Ah yes. Last year I did a starter change on a 1995 Cherokee in a Tops parking lot on Dec 23. Fortunately, it was unseasonably warm for Buffalo that day, and the Tops was right there so we could buy beer.

406z > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 15:58

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I understand the struggle had a 1981 z28 as a daily driver in 2007! Needless to say the inevitable result of modern oil and a non roller motor bent the pushrods and flattened the cam. Changing it in 34 degree weather sucked!

OneHeadLight > ferric oxide 12/24/2015 at 16:06

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+1. I spent most of a very cold January trying tto reinstall the dual point distributor on my 1970 Datsun 510 following Haines directions. I should have burned it for warmth.

ferric oxide > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 17:41

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I wouldn’t be sure of that. Isn’t a 1st gen Miata is like 500lbs lighter than the current model?

ferric oxide > rolandeschain 12/24/2015 at 17:45

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Oh noos, I have to DD a manual. My current daily driver is a Supra TT, pushing that clutch in stop-and-go is like driving a freaking stair-master to work. Not that I’m complaining mind you, I’d much rather deal with that than an attack of ‘beige’.

ferric oxide > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 17:48

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Chilton...is literally the Necromicon of Auto Repair Manuals.

Just try following and/or chanting some of those more archaic Sumerian passages inked in cheap paper and bound in crappy cardboard and automotive demons will be summoned to possess your car until the end of time.

Klatu Varata Ex Motorista!

TestDriver215 > Hollywood Speed: I don't know what I'm doing 12/24/2015 at 19:41

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Ha! My dad and I had to do the same project to a stupid ‘88 that I had! We did it over a weekend, but what a horrible job. That dash had so many freaking little screws. And yes, we did it in his garage which luckily had a wood stove in it, but it was still cold out there.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 22:24

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My uncle and I replaced the clutch in an ‘83 Civic wagon in an unheated garage in January. He literally been-pressed the transmission into place while I bolted it up. It was dang cold in that garage, especially lying on the concrete floor.

The worst part came a week later. The clutch was the wrong one, so the throwout bearing slipped through the splines, putting the car out of commission. The next Saturday we were back in the same garage doing the job for a second time. Experience counted for a lot and we finished it in record time.

RS5 > Justin Hughes 12/24/2015 at 22:44

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I once replaced a final drive on an old John Deere 65 combine in 2 feet of mud. Totally sucked.

rolandeschain > None 12/25/2015 at 00:58

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Having never driven either of the twins, I can’t really give you a comparison. Pretty sure they’re out there, though. A Motor Trend article maybe, where Probst drove them back to back.

rolandeschain > ferric oxide 12/25/2015 at 01:03

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Much this. Thankfully, my ND Miata has a sweet clutch and shifter. I get into the grove sometimes, and don’t even realize I’ve been going up and down the range. But there’s nothing like holding the lower gear a bit and shooting through a gap. That’s where a NA engine shines as well.

ferric oxide > rolandeschain 12/25/2015 at 01:48

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It totally does too. It is built to nicely handle exactly what the engine puts out. I have nothing bad to say about the Miata clutch.

That said, the Supra clutch isn’t really bad either. One is built to handle 200hp, one is built to handle 3-4 times that. Naturally it’s going to be way heavier.

Now if only I could just add that same stiffness to the accelerator pedal maybe I’ll get a balanced workout for once.

I mean, I hear spin classes are great for your body but I’d much rather do this:

Than do this:

But sacrifices must be made if you want to date this (*):

* What, really? If skanky media whores turned me on any of the Kardashians would do, I’d hardly need the one that’s a transvestite to boot.

Mr Clutch > Justin Hughes 12/25/2015 at 03:49

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Differential strokes for differential folks.

SchwarzeEwigkt > ferric oxide 12/25/2015 at 09:24

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I'll use the factory manual when I can get one, but I've found Haynes + Internet generally gives you all the info you'd need.

Justin Hughes > ferric oxide 12/25/2015 at 10:34

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They were NA M-editions, similar weight.

DocV2a > Cronus 12/25/2015 at 15:16

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My first thought...

John Pierce > Cronus 12/25/2015 at 18:17

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Yeah, I bet Jeff Gordon doesn’t use one of his old NASCARs as a daily driver, and his car was maintained by a professional pit crew.

rolandeschain > ferric oxide 12/25/2015 at 23:01

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Dude, we’re talking cars and you go there. Santa must have come at 420 at your house.

Ryanator122 > Cronus 12/26/2015 at 00:09

1

As a rule, if you drive your car to an SCCA race event, sans trailer, you will be the one who wrecks. Every time, it’s a guy in SM/ST who crammed a cage in his Miata/Civic/2007 Mustang daily driver who gets punted off or spins into the only unprotected wall and pushes his rear right wheel, suspension, frame, etc into the passenger compartment. Bonus points for duct tape numbers/class markings, no series decals, and “Oh well my wife is out of town, can someone give me a ride home with my toolbox?”

ferric oxide > rolandeschain 12/26/2015 at 03:39

1

Okay so maybe Santa had a little too much ‘Nog this year.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Justin Hughes 12/26/2015 at 11:45

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“Then I remembered that I had a spare differential in my storage unit. Doesn’t everyone?”

Ha! Great write-up.

Wotsac > Justin Hughes 12/26/2015 at 13:37

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I’ll never forget walking to Autozone one deep winter day to get brake pads. It must have dropped at least 30 degrees from the previous day, when I’d been out on a drive in the country only to come home to metal-on-metal. Of course brakes aren’t the worst thing to do, but this particular car’s were obnoxious as hell, with the pads retained by two long rods, requiring the caliper to be split in order to change them. And it was cold enough that I wore socks on my hand to take a bit of the edge off the wind chill that day.

MrBlob > JKER 12/26/2015 at 18:41

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Was expecting a complete disaster till the very end. That’s a very ... unusual ending.

gkwilly > Justin Hughes 12/27/2015 at 10:26

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Both my wife and I drive old DDs (89 Wrangler, 88 MB 560SL).

The trick to surviving with old cars is a spare. With (maintained) 3 cars and 2 drivers, there’s less of a panic situation. Yet we still have the luxury of no car payments.

Wotsac > offyatindy 12/27/2015 at 19:58

1

Heck. Yesterday I changed a TPS - two only slightly inconvenient screws - and nearly lost my patience with the cold. Cold tolerance seems to be about the first thing to go.

Wotsac > TheRealBicycleBuck 12/27/2015 at 20:03

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It was a Daewoo (Pontiac) Lemans in my case, December, no grandpa. As I recall I could avoid dropping the trans though.

Justin Hughes > gkwilly 12/27/2015 at 20:36

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Yep, that’s the way to go. My fiancee and I currently have her Flex, my BRZ, and our Jeep Comanche. The Jeep’s out of commission (failed lifters), but we’re both still independently mobile.

rolandeschain > ferric oxide 12/28/2015 at 09:57

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Ok, valid(ish) excuse.

Justin Hughes > Justin Hughes 12/28/2015 at 16:47

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Look what popped up on Facebook’s “On This Day” feature for me today...

SeanB. > Rustysteel 12/28/2015 at 19:46

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Was it a manual or an automatic? Changing the starter on a manual Mk2 VW, not so bad (in good weather). The starter on an automatic... nightmare!

Rustysteel > SeanB. 12/29/2015 at 16:40

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It was a manual but I had to remove a engine mount to get to the starter for some reason. Could have been the fact that it had a different engine, I believe it was from an ‘82 or ‘83 Rabbit. The blizzard and snow squall just added to the pain.