baby steps

The car was towed to the house undrivable on July 2nd, 2010. It was mostly dismantled on the 4th (in the oppressive heat). The gear box got stuck and was left hanging until thursday when the immobile car needed to be closed up while we were gone on vacation.

Then, last Saturday the gearbox was removed. Took some help from my brother to lift and get it off, but we did it.

Clutch came off, disc was in rough shape. almost no groove left in the grooves, 2 of the 4 springs in the disc were lose and giving the impression that they could fall out if they wanted to (but they weren't, a likely cause for noise though). The flywheel fortunately was in perfect shape. Cleaned off some of the glaze today with a blue scrubby thing and some alcohol. Nice and clean and dry.

Got the old diff flange seal off (the old one was leaking and having removed the flange, you are supposed to replace the seal) and the new one in. Lots of puttering today.

Cleaning up some bits. Getting the driveaxle seals installed. just need to get the transmission bolted back up and then, drain and fill the tranny and hopefully remember how everything was attached when I took it apart over a month ago now.

That's a long time to remember where all the damn bolts go. But as I was sorting through what goes where, I think i actually have a pretty good idea where it all goes and how it goes back together.

A pain in the butt job no doubt. I'm tempted to clean the gearbox, but, you know what - if i do then I just have to put an anti-corrision coating on it anyway so, i'm not going to bother with that. G-ride just won't be jumping to crawl under there next time.

Next big job might be welding some new floor pans on, or some nice heavy duty plates so that when it is jacked up the jack won't be in the driver's footwell.

It is an old car. But that engine is still in great shape. Heck if it came down to it I could probably take that engine out and get more for it than the car in one piece. If i could find a decent replacement? well don't tempt me. Maybe I should start looking for a vanagon with a blown gasser motor in decent non rusty shape and do a heart transplant with the passat... would make a good summer project next year. Esp with all the massive amount of free time i have (that last bit is sarcasm).

I had briefly considered heading out for a ride, seeing if any of the local boys were looking for a last minute saturday afternoon ride, but, I'm tired. I've had enough work this week. I need a rest day. A day off. So, feet up, futzing on the computer and writing and having a Porkslap Farmhouse Ale (hint of ginger in it is awesome). It is tasty. Light beer though. Only 4.5% ABV.

Getting sleepy - either nap time or i get motivated and do some yard work. We'll see which side of me wins today.

heddwch
G