What did you do to your other car(s) today?

[a]

The Rat's main electrical stuff is mostly from super etas. Yesterday, in a drizzle that was more comfortable than the muggies, I fixed the Rat's intermittent starter. The ground cable finally rotted through between the frame ground and the starter bolt. Starter is mounted on 2 1/2 shaft bolts. Supplemental grounds were fastened with 6mm hardware. The battery is from the last super E. It sits back asswards from the stock series 24. I used 2 positive cables. One for the starter power, other is now a frame ground. The E28 parts did the trick. The Rat starts like it used to. Click Vroom. The 4.0 OHV engine would probably fit easily in an E 28. An M 20 would likewise fit in a Ranger.

[jca]

Did a bit of interior work on my 83 E-21...used Liquid Nails to glue down the parcel shelf carpet and a small section of 2X6 pine behind the foot well carpet...works great as a clutch stop.

[tig]

Q7 (my Utah commuter for now) has a 6 disc changer in the center console.

I have something else that I'd love to spirit away in that hidden space when it's not appropriate for me to have on my person.

So I bought a set of euro radio removal keys, and a fiber optic loopback cable on Amazon and yanked that changer out.

Now if I flip up the armrest I see a flat panel. If I pull the latch of that, it opens up to a convenient and appropriately sized storage space.

We've not used a disc in this vehicle since we've owned it (2009).

[wkohler]

I did left front wheel bearing on the touring today. Not bad for 325k miles
I guess, but the car was undrivable with the old one, which I misdiagnosed as tires for the last 6 months. Then it got really bad. Was going to do the other one but I couldn't get two. Also was going to do brake pads since that's been screaming at me but I seem to have lost the pads and the sensor which doesn't make sense.

[gadget73]

Pulled the radiator to take it to the shop for a re-seal. I'd replace the thing but replacements do not exist. I figure a place that actually does radiators can either re-seal it or source me something I can drop in. If it has to be replaced, I'm halfway thinking that the smart move is to reverse the inlet and outlet so I can use BMW radiator hoses instead of the impossible to source Ford hoses.

[T_C_D]

H&R and Koni install on the e90.

[slammin_e28]

Made my rx7 run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRBgPQqQ4LU

[gadget73]

Hung a bumper on the back of the car. Old one had really nasty chrome above the exhaust, replacement one isn't perfect but at least it doesn't have peeling chrome. Added bonus, the bumper is not sitting in the middle of my garage floor anymore.

[Mike W.]

Added bonus, the bumper is not sitting in the middle of my garage floor anymore.

Reclaiming space can be huge. I had an antique grandfathers clock I inheirited when my Dad passed. C. ~1700, one hand, a basket case. Not in great shape. But a 300 year old clock, I can't just throw it away.

Put an ad on Craigslist and sold it for a couple of hundred. I was jacked, not because of the $250 but because I'd reclaimed ~8 cubic feet of garage space! Woo Hoo, more space!!! I'd have been happy to have given it away to an enthusiastic individual, the cash was just a bonus. But I couldn't just throw it away.

[gadget73]

yeah, space is the final frontier. I have a couple crates of old radio schematics that are getting donated to the radio club at their meet in September for exactly that reason. Its duplicate stuff for me anyway. I got a bunch of old test gear and tubes from a guy that was moving. Need to finish sorting through it, all the stuff I can't use is going too. I have a console stereo I got for a friend who wanted it. 3 years later he still hasn't made space for it. I think that one is going to another home.

[amagansa]

Finally finished repairing the power steering issue on the e23. Installed the rebuilt booster, replaced the bad hose, and bled the brakes, and no more leaks! Also discovered the source of the weird ticking noise from the wheels. Turns out one of the wheel weights has been rubbing on the strut. Gotta fix that. ALSO also discovered my left rear brake hose has swelled up to the point where no fluid escapes when you crack open the caliper bleeder. Hose ordered.

[Mike W.]

Not just today, but a little love the past week or so on the E12

Replaced headlight switch, no dash lights.
Refinished the wood trim on the door panels and dash. Looks so much better.
Cleaned door panels and armrests. Wow, what a difference. Really cleaned things up.
Replaced 2 door switches and interior light.
Cleaned battery cables, connections, fuses, fusebox connections in and out. Restored power windows and mirrors
Repaired inop power seats. Hot tap wasn't making a connection, nor was it fused. It is now with a small circuit breaker.
Trying to clean the rear windshield. That last quarter inch next to the rubber just isn't having it. I've used water, vinegar water, window cleaner and Tuff Stuff. I'm convinced at this point if I want to get it really clean I'll have to pull it. Not happening. Good thing the defrost grid was already dead or else it would be now.

Still to go is the sunroof, I've got power up there but no go.

[1st 5er]

Not just today, but a little love the past week or so on the E12

Replaced headlight switch, no dash lights.
Refinished the wood trim on the door panels and dash. Looks so much better.
Cleaned door panels and armrests. Wow, what a difference. Really cleaned things up.
Replaced 2 door switches and interior light.
Cleaned battery cables, connections, fuses, fusebox connections in and out. Restored power windows and mirrors
Repaired inop power seats. Hot tap wasn't making a connection, nor was it fused. It is now with a small circuit breaker.
Trying to clean the rear windshield. That last quarter inch next to the rubber just isn't having it. I've used water, vinegar water, window cleaner and Tuff Stuff. I'm convinced at this point if I want to get it really clean I'll have to pull it. Not happening. Good thing the defrost grid was already dead or else it would be now.

Still to go is the sunroof, I've got power up there but no go.

Glad to see it's getting loved.
Mine has been so neglected.

[Mike W.]

Not just today, but a little love the past week or so on the E12

Replaced headlight switch, no dash lights.
Refinished the wood trim on the door panels and dash. Looks so much better.
Cleaned door panels and armrests. Wow, what a difference. Really cleaned things up.
Replaced 2 door switches and interior light.
Cleaned battery cables, connections, fuses, fusebox connections in and out. Restored power windows and mirrors
Repaired inop power seats. Hot tap wasn't making a connection, nor was it fused. It is now with a small circuit breaker.
Trying to clean the rear windshield. That last quarter inch next to the rubber just isn't having it. I've used water, vinegar water, window cleaner and Tuff Stuff. I'm convinced at this point if I want to get it really clean I'll have to pull it. Not happening. Good thing the defrost grid was already dead or else it would be now.

Still to go is the sunroof, I've got power up there but no go.

Glad to see it's getting loved.
Mine has been so neglected.

It's a shame it got so neglected so much wasn't working.

[Mike W.]

Got the sunroof working, with much ado. Even fixed the wiring so it only works with the key on. Might be worth a separate writeup since it's the same as E28s.

Finally after 10 years I got the back up lights hooked up. Found the little harness in my box of tranny parts and wired it up. Notice I didn't say working. Seems the switch is bad, which I have seen before. I thought I checked it before I put the tranny in... but that was 10 years ago. Ah yes, two steps forward, one step back.

[dsmith]

I started on my e30 touring project. Tore down most of it and will probably buy a rotisserie to do the body work. I don’t feel like dealing with jack stands.

[amagansa]

Today I replaced plugs+wires on my e23. Also installed new parking brake shoes and finally got my parking brake to work again, never had it working ever since I bought it. Replaced a swollen hose near the LR caliper, but still feels like it's not flowing correctly. All I can think of is the caliper needs a rebuild. I'll try an extended bleed session tomorrow, maybe get some debris out. Also fixed another PS leak that sprung up. A copper washer and no more leak. For now...

[foamy]

fixed the emissions crap for my 98 outback so it can be re registered before winter comes.

[gadget73]

Injectors, injection pump, injector lines, and timing belt is back on the Continental. IP timing set as well. Basically at a holding point until the intake gaskets come in. I found that I need to modify my timing tool, the set screw for the indicator is on the bottom when its screwed in. I need to figure out how much to shave off the end to get that 1/2 turn. Of course the original hole I made lines up exactly where it should, unfortunately the tap broke in there so its useless.

[gadget73]

bled the fuel lines last night and the car tried to start. Got a shipping update on my gaskets, looks like they left Pelican and I may have them by the weekend. With some luck I'll have this abomination running by the weekend.

[SPF2006]

Installed a Class III receiver on the X3. Used the OEM kit. Pretty straightforward with minimal cutting required for the bumper.

Separately, replaced the taillight assemblies on the Volvo wagon. Amazingly the rear lights work now and don't leak when it rains. Wish I could say the same for the vapor barriers on the e46 and e83.

[Mike W.]

Separately, replaced the taillight assemblies on the Volvo wagon. Amazingly the rear lights work now and don't leak when it rains. Wish I could say the same for the vapor barriers on the e46 and e83.

If you're talking about the door ones and they're like E39s, butyl tape is inexpensive and probably what they used when new. Not a hard or expensive fix at all.

[SPF2006]

Right on, and I picked up some butyl tape awhile back to finally tackle this problem. Sick and tired of wet carpets. I may try to punch it out tomorrow on at least one of the vehicles.

[Dale3783]

Never a good sight. (Although I do think it looks pretty good up there.) Time to diagnose the small electrical problem on the wife’s Barracuda.

[/url]

[gadget73]

Sent it home with a friend of mine so he can give it an alignment today. He works at Pep Boys, not that I so much trust a PB alignment but I trust him to do it right. I'm hoping he can pop the factory alignment rivets out and get it to stop eating the tires. Less than 5k on those things and there is noticeable outer edge wear. Its not expensive rubber but at this rate they'll probably be down to cords by 15k, and I'm too cheap for that.

[foamy]

been fighting my 1998 outback for emissions. ive changed the catalytic converters and entire exhaust had to replace hoses for evap system and the radiator decided to develop a crack so had to replace that too but it finally passed emissions earlier today.

[Mike W.]

Its not expensive rubber but at this rate they'll probably be down to cords by 15k, and I'm too cheap for that.

I love it. I joke I drive a BMW because I'm cheap, and they really have been cheap to run, so here's someone who drives a Lincoln because they're cheap. Ah yes, Great Minds think alike.

[gadget73]

well, this is a complicated 80s Lincoln with a BMW diesel in it. Not much about it is really cheap to deal with but it doesn't stop me from being cheap where I can.


Rebuilt part of the trans harness last night. The wiring in this thing has gone gummy near some of the connectors, the wiring to the trans had 4 of the 6 wires bare for about 4". Got some of the factory proper pins and salvaged wire of the correct colors out of a chunk of harness i had laying around so now thats good.

[TSMacNeil]

Uncomplicated-

Commissioned a new zero-time “ S “ motor for the e34.
At 299k miles on the original motor, it seemed a good time to upgrade.

[glowell222]

Replaced the blower motor resistor on the TJ-now have speeds 1, 2, and 3 back along with 4. Also, extended the condensate drain from the firewall down past the frame-no more water in the passenger footwell.