Old Car Problems

"Berang" (berang) 10/06/2015 at 15:32 • Filed to: None

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Since I’ve had the 96 I’ve had a To Do list of things that needed to be repaired. The thing is more problems keep showing up.

The big major project is to pull the engine and put new gaskets in because it leaks like the St. Francis Dam - and while doing that put new suspension bushings in and swap out the noisy transaxle for a quieter one. This I was planning to do during the winter months when it’s cool down here, and these problems are not particularly pressing yet so putting them off for another month or two is not a big deal.

In the meantime though one of the calipers has started to leak, and a CV joint has split, that wheel has also started making terrible graunching noises when reversing, but this may be unrelated. This is more annoying because these are issues that should be taken care of immediately, but will mean taking the front end apart which I wanted to avoid doing until I have the car ready for the bigger work mentioned above. I’d prefer to do it all at once when I have good access to everything.

Old cars! They don’t care about your schedule!

Hiroku > Berang 10/06/2015 at 15:44

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I have an Excel spreadsheet which I use to keep track of what I have done and still need to do to my car. Over the past few months I have had access to a garage a friend lent me during the summer months, and have been able to clean up the most urgent stuff. It’s very rewarding to see the “To Do” list grow smaller. Since then more issues have cropped up though and it’s starting to grow again...

I’m pretty sure you can never actually complete an old-car project. Even once you have replaced every single component and have Theseus’ Project Car in your hands, the very first thing you replaced years ago will need replacing again. It’s an endless loop!

Berang > Hiroku 10/06/2015 at 15:47

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Minor stuff breaking or dying is the usual, it’s when you get complicated or important repairs piling up that it drives one nuts. I’m going to have to find a car to borrow while I have it apart too. My fear is that instead of being a week long project it will stretch out into a month or more.

Hiroku > Berang 10/06/2015 at 16:06

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Yeah, I understand what you mean. I do have an exhaust leak and a small head gasket leak so I was planning to pull the motor and do everything in one sitting once I have my own place to work.

The biggest problem for me is keeping my “while you’re in there” mentality in check. I mean, the head is going to be out, might as well drop the engine and replace the piston rings, while you’re in there. The compression isn’t great anyway. Also, if the engine is coming out, might as well rebuild the whole bottom end, while you’re in there . It does have 240.000 miles on the original engine after all. Aren’t we going to be removing the exhaust manifold and turbo? Sounds like a great time for an upgrade. Hey, now that the transmission is separated from the engine, maybe it’s the best time to replace that noisy release bearing. Of course, swap the clutch disc and pressure plate, while you’re in there . What the hell, might as well replace that bad syncro causing the annoying grind while going into third gear. If we’re going to crack the gearbox open, might as well rebuild it with new bearings and seals. Didn’t we take the half-shafts out? That left-hand CV joint was on its last legs, we should replace that...

Now what was supposed to be a two-day head gasket job has turned into a 6-month job and a 5000$ bill.