Don't feel alone, Pat. It took 30 minutes to change the water pump on our
Crown Vic. Of course, it took over 7 hours to remove and replace everything
they had piled on top of it!
Best regards,
Fred Schroeder
Denison, TX
SRL311-13359
TDROC
Reg e-mail sitsinwest@texoma.net
Home page http://home.texoma.net/~sitsinwest
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick J. Horne" <horne@cs.utexas.edu>
To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 7:54 PM
Subject: OT: Why I hate working on cars other than Roadsters!
> I just spent a day and a bit working on my '97 Dodge 3/4 ton Ram Van. The
> tune up went really well, just 8 plugs. So did the air filter change. But
> it took about 4 more hours to change the thermostat! They hide it so you
> can't see it from either inside the car, or outside! A reall PITA to
scrape
> where you think gasket material is still pn place, then break out the
mirror to
> see if you are scraping in the right place. Things could have been
designed
> much better here folks!
>
> Next, it was on to the rear axle. Wheel bearings this time, and new brake
> shoes. Whoever decided that it was better (cheaper?) to use bearings that
> use the axle as the inner race needs to be shot. When a bearing goes out
> it generally takes the axle with it. One side was fine, the other needs a
> new axle to the tune of $280! It would have cost maybe an additional dime
> to design the axle assy to use a dual race bearing instead of this poor
> excuse for design work! With the axle costing so much, and probably not
> that common a problem, it will be a couple of days until it comes in.
> Until then the van is up on blocks waiting for the "shaft".
>
> Brakes went fine, they are the standard drum brakes that have been in use
> for decades. At least they did SOMETHING right!
>
> Well, I ran out of time today, so I wasn't able to get under the Roadster
> and adjust the clutch. I will probably be able to do it tomorrow while I
> wait for the Dodge parts!
>
> I think I will go for a top down ride this evening to return the bearing
> puller, that should calm me down a bit!
>
> Peace,
> Pat
>
> - Support Habitat for Humanity, A "hand up", not a "hand out" -
>
> Pat Horne, Network Manager, Shop Supervisor, Future planner, CS Dept,
> University of Texas, 1 Texas Longhorns, #C0500,Austin, Tx. 78712 USA
> voice (512)471-9730, fax (512)471-8885, horne@cs.utexas.edu
>
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