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My Weekend Project

R

Rodd

Recruit
Messages
1,735
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Location
Antelope, CA
Now that soccer season is over I scheduled this weekend to do some upgrades to my truck.

1. Feed the Beast
2. Racor
3. Down pipe and Crossover pipe
4. Gauges - fuel pressure, turbo, and EGT

Is getting 1 out of 4 bad?

I started w/ the dp and xover since I thought those would be easiest. Was I wrong. :mad2: The xover was easy. The dp was a pita. Penetrating oil my butt. Nothing penetrated crap. I sprayed penetrating oil for the last week on the bolts where the dp meets the rest of the exhaust system. They wouldn't budge. So I sprayed more and decided to tap the upper intake for the turbo gauge. Putting it back on I thought I would check the torque settings listed in tech library. I read the intake at 43 and stripped 2 of the bolts. I had to tap and modify 2 bolts that I had so they would fit. Finished that and went to the dp I broke 1 bolt and got 2 others off. The last on (top closest to the body) would not budge. I tried my propane torch for 5 minutes just heating it up and nothing. The only thing I had to get up in there was my dremel. It went through 10 cut off wheels. When I got 1/2 way through I thought my impact wrench would break it off. No luck. I got about 3/4 the way though and nothing. I grabbed it and started shaking it back and forth, stuck my big screw driver in between and tried prying it and nothing. Shaking it back and forth finally did it. It finally broke. I think it may have been tacked at the top of the nut. It didn't look like it but that is what I think. Then putting in the DP I realized I needed to remove the xover in order to get it in. More work :mad2: Didn't get to finish anything else. I guess I do the gauges this week and the fuel stuff this weekend.
 
Oh man, I feel for ya, Rodd... those DP-flange bolts are the worst to remove, and penetrating oil is only so good...

The only time I've had much luck at removing them is by wicking some candle wax into the threads... and iirc, I still ended up using a hotwrench on them to get them out.

Something about the stuff they're made of, combined with the constant high temperatures of the exhaust, just bakes the parts together.

Anyway, glad you got that all done... good on ya, mate!
 
I'm with you Rod going through cooling upgrade project, including new timing chain though I have not had near the frustration you've had. I'm down to the final strokes to remove the chain, then it's getting the parts and gaskets to put it back together.
 
Hey, Big T... do me a favour? When you get the cover all off, measure the total slack in the chain (pulled-out to pushed-in) and post that, along with your mileage, please.

I've wondered about that but haven't ever seen it posted... pics would be great, too!

I'd like to put something together for the Tech Library about what you're doing.
 
JiFaire said:
Oh man, I feel for ya, Rodd... those DP-flange bolts are the worst to remove, and penetrating oil is only so good...

The only time I've had much luck at removing them is by wicking some candle wax into the threads... and iirc, I still ended up using a hotwrench on them to get them out.

Something about the stuff they're made of, combined with the constant high temperatures of the exhaust, just bakes the parts together.

Anyway, glad you got that all done... good on ya, mate!
Click to expand...

Ya, I wish I had a plasma cutter. It took me over 1 1/2 hours to cut through that one nut off. I only wish it was one of the lower ones so I could get a sawzall in there. Unfortunately it wasn't. I also wish I had a creeper. My back feels like it is sun burned all from being and scooting around on my back. My neck and shoulder muscles are sore as well. This is the most exhausted I have been after working on the truck.
 
Rodd,

You need to get a lot of motrin in you and get in a tub and soak or you'll hate yourself tomorrow. Regardless of how you feel dose up before you go to sleep to keep your muscles from tightening overnight.
 
Dan Hunter said:
Rodd,

You need to get a lot of motrin in you and get in a tub and soak or you'll hate yourself tomorrow. Regardless of how you feel dose up before you go to sleep to keep your muscles from tightening overnight.
Click to expand...

Thanks! It's already too late. Today is tomorrow and I am sorrrre. Mostly my neck and shoulders right now. I am too sore to get up and get some. Maybe I'll ask my wife to get me some. She is in the kitchen making cookies. My kids are eating the dough so the finished product should be good.
 
My wife knew I was working on the truck this past weekend but she didn't know what I was doing. She drives it more than I do so I asked her if she noticed anything different since I swapped out the dp & xover. She said it is quicker and smoother. When I get a chance I'll post a picture of the dp I took out. It had some serious dents all over it like the factory took a sledge hammer to it to get it to fit.
 
Big T said:
JiFaire, the pics are posted in my project thread:

http://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/showthread.php?t=17709&page=2
Click to expand...

Thanks, bigT ... I'll get them into the library. 3/8" doesn't sound too bad... I wonder what the limit would be?

Rodd said:
My wife knew I was working on the truck this past weekend but she didn't know what I was doing. She drives it more than I do so I asked her if she noticed anything different since I swapped out the dp & xover. She said it is quicker and smoother. When I get a chance I'll post a picture of the dp I took out. It had some serious dents all over it like the factory took a sledge hammer to it to get it to fit.
Click to expand...

ROFL... those old downpipes are really ugly! Good work, my friend. Since it's her daily driver, I think perhaps a massage for the mechanic is in order?

You can tell your wife Mrs Faire thinks she should, if that'll help. ):h

(it's a lie, but nobody will know, really... trust me :D)
 
jifaire said:
ROFL... those old downpipes are really ugly! Good work, my friend. Since it's her daily driver, I think perhaps a massage for the mechanic is in order?

You can tell your wife Mrs Faire thinks she should, if that'll help. ):h

(it's a lie, but nobody will know, really... trust me :D)
Click to expand...

That's funny. Massage, what's that? That would be her response.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Man you're really lucky. You get free massages and get to have sex legally w/ your massage therapist without it being considered prostitution. :D
 
Rodd said:
Man you're really lucky. You get free massages and get to have sex legally w/ your massage therapist without it being considered prostitution. :D
Click to expand...

And there's no problem when the wife finds out:D
 
Your hard days troubles will soon be forgotton by the endless hours of enjoyment of the mod.

Thats what I tell myself when I contemplate life crawling out from underneath the beast...

I also save large pieces of cardboard for 'sliding' around underneath, avoids the road rash, and catches oil. Then at end of job, just slide the cardboard out with all your tools and debris still on them.

I never use my creeper... limits room, and always running over tools.
 
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