What did you do to/with your van today?

[tequilasunset]

Great location... glad the challenges didn't slow you do or bum you out, you seem to have handled it well.

[H2OJoe]

Yeah, Punta Abreojos is a good place to chill. Without some mis-adventure an adventure is no adventure at all.

[Cobra]

98: installed new rotors, EBC pads, water pump and changed oil and filter then went for a drive

[Captn. Crunch]

Wired up my np236 transfer case, er I tried to wire up my np236 transfer. It did not go as I had hoped. I did manage to get the encoder motor to do something and now I'm kinda stuck it 4hi. pm to racrx7 for a consult. More to come...

[Captn. Crunch]

One step forward two steps back...
So I got the 236 all wired up and gave it a try. The encoder motor buzzed and I got a flashing 4hi light. The tc was stuck in 4hi and I couldn't back out of my parking spot due the front end binding up in a turn. racrx7 was great as he tried to diagnose from afar. Due to a camping trip with my scout troop this weekend, I was up against the clock. I would have loved to have had the time to go back and re-check the whole setup but no time. So I restored the AWD setup and I'm back on the road. So next week I will start again and look forward to better results

[Captn. Crunch]

So once the dust had settled and the van was functional, I had a few minutes to look things over as I cleaned up. The 4x4 encoder motor is not new. I tried to rotate it on the bench to no avail. Wouldn't it be just my luck that everything was right but the motor was bad? Anyway new motor on the way

[Herbie]

I've been scheming on a new storage option for the passenger side dutch door, which once again calls for removing door pins. I thought I had the system figured out after doing my driver's side, but I ended up bending 3 c-clamps and not getting the pins out, so I'm down to building my own tools.

It's built sort of like an "I-beam", with 3/4" CRS top and bottom, 1/4" spine, and 1/8" plates on the outsides, to (hopefully) keep it from twisting:


The bolt is from the (too small) Eastwood pin press kit and is center-bored for a set of hardened steel pins. I drilled and tapped the lower bar with a matching 1/2-20 thread. You could make that part from scratch if you had a lathe, but I don't.

The picture is of the first draft, and it was "just OK". I was rushing the job and did not get good welds or penetration. I was able to pop the top pin, but the tool failed at the crappy welds on the second pin. I was able to clean it all up and took my time getting much better welds on version 1.1. (Really pushing the limits on my tiny 115v welder with the thicker stock.) I finished the re-welds last night, so I haven't tested the new version yet, but I do expect it to pop the lower pin.

Biggest issue now is clearance - it's tight to the tupperware (plastic trim) at the bottom of the door and quarter panel, so I'll end up having to turn it with a box wrench instead of a socket.

[Astrophysics]

Very clever, but wow, a bit of work to get pins out.

To get more outside storage i just ordered a Rola Dart folding hitch mounted storage basket.
I have 2003 AWD Astro with 2" lift.
The Rola Dart is pretty nice with 56" x 23" shelf with 5" side wall. It is steel with fancy plastic trim and oval cutouts for extra red tail/stop lights.


AP

[Herbie]

As a follow up, both pins are now popped. Re-welding with proper heat and a little attention to detail did the trick. Adding it to my drawer full of custom-built tools for "just in case".

(I still have a shifter-ball-cup-remover-tool I built for my Z3 coupe a while back - should work for any ZF-tranny on E30, E36, etc.)

[skippy]

new radiator , new spider injectors & gaskets , new tranny cooler lines , new oil pan gasket , new axle seals on the front , new sway bar end links , oil change & inspection ..... should be good to go for awhile lol

[Captn. Crunch]

Camped with the Boy Scouts last weekend and the used trans. I installed after my original went south started acting up. Towing is tuff on these things. Local trans. shop wasn't interested in helping me on my budget. Gave me the name of a guy around the corner. Ten minutes later Dave was holding the broken sun shell in his hand. " well here's your problem".
Trans rebuilt with towing and off-roading in mind will be done under budget in a matter of two days. He also sets up differentials so when I pick up the trans. I will drop off the cast iron 7.2 and the Torsen LSD. I must make it a point to stop at my local trans shop and thank them profusely for not taking my work and pawning me off. My dream of twin torsens and a two speed tc are on the fast track. Fingers X'd
[-o<

[doyoulikeithere]

Camped with the Boy Scouts last weekend and the used trans. I installed after my original went south started acting up. Towing is tuff on these things. Local trans. shop wasn't interested in helping me on my budget. Gave me the name of a guy around the corner. Ten minutes later Dave was holding the broken sun shell in his hand. " well here's your problem".
Trans rebuilt with towing and off-roading in mind will be done under budget in a matter of two days. He also sets up differentials so when I pick up the trans. I will drop off the cast iron 7.2 and the Torsen LSD. I must make it a point to stop at my local trans shop and thank them profusely for not taking my work and pawning me off. My dream of twin torsens and a two speed tc are on the fast track. Fingers X'd
[-o<

Awesome news

[WoodButcher]

Gave me the name of a guy around the corner. Ten minutes later Dave was holding the broken sun shell in his hand. " well here's your problem".

[-o<

Name and number of this shop?

I've got a rear end I want rebuilt w/ a locker and wouldn't mind a short road trip to get it done right. I'm sure there are others I'm our are that feel the same way.

[Captn. Crunch]

He doesn't have a "shop". He works out of his garage at home and at first glance I almost turned around and left. But I'm not paying for a shiny floor- I need someone who knows this stuff inside and out. Watching him tear that 4l60e to bits in moments and scan every part was what gained my trust. If you don't mind, I'd like to Guinea Pig before I turn the world on to my new found savior. I'll have the trans in within the week and hope to contract him to re-set the rear of the van next. I did the Torsen swap awhile back and it is very close but not right. If he can diagnose and fix that a quick as he did my tranny, he get the front axle rebuild and the I will ask if he would be interested in meeting the world.
So lets all think happy thoughts [-o<

[Mmusicman]

Pulled the V8 from my 92





Heads are going out for a valve job... then everything goes back in.