lack of motivation

[bluuuurr]

ever hit a point while working on your project car where you just wanna scream "FUCK THIS", smash your fenders in with a pipe wrench, and drive a geo metro?

I've been pretty close a few times this summer.. It seems that everytime I'm close to getting it back up to par, something stupid goes wrong and I have to rip everything back apart. I've had to pull and drop the motor twice in just the past week. I'm typically working by myself, and I'm definitely not a certified mechanic so this is quite a chore for me.

I really wanted to have my car ready for the 8/11 event at AMS. But I guess I'll just have to wait till next year.

Oh well, just a vent.

[1800DialKyle]

I have been there way too many times. LOL I have found it is best just to walk away from what ever I am working on if it is frusterating me.

[hellfire]

What exactly are you struggling with. Maybe we can help.

Tyler

[bluuuurr]

my own stupidity.. the first time, I realized I hadn't torqued the pressure plate bolts down.. then while I had the motor back out, my new megan racing motor mounts came in so I decided to install those, then I had a really big problem with trying to align the motor into the mounts. today, the motor is sitting out of the car until I can get someone to help me he-man the motor into place.

You guys got any tips for aligning the motor into the mounts? should I take them off the chassis, bolt them on the motor and try to drop it that way?

[hellfire]

Ok, I prefer to have them mounted on the motor and drop it in that way.

When dropping the motor in, you either need to have a leveler, or use a combo of the hoist and a jack under the car on the tranny.

The farther the motor goes in, the farther you jack up the jack.

Then, when you get the mounts close to where they should be, lower them so they are barely touching the crossmember, then use a large wrench, and push them into the slots by the studs sticking out.

It works perfectly and you will be done in like 10 mins.

I personally hate using a leveler. I don't know why, I guess I'm just stuck on my old ways.

Tyler

[S14Addiction]

Let it out and take a break. Just yesterday I was gonna grab my cam and post on CL. Then I just stand back and look at the bigger pic.

oh, then I play a game of brood war with a nice cold one=D

[carlova78]

dont quit.

[jdrop]

I think we all get to a point where your dream project becomes the money pit from hell. It goes back and forth, and sometimes you realize that your priorities have changed, in that a new/old person, thing, or event comes into or leaves your life.

Hang in there. When you're at rock bottom, you can only go up from there. :)

[Tire]

hey, just keep on keepin on and you will be greatful that you didnt give in. Nothing is unfixable so if you run into a problem just give it some thought and you will find a way. GL my friend. GL.

[Z infidel]

I have your solution. Take 3 scoops of n.o.-xplod, listen to some Atreyu and start wrenching. If that doesn't get your ride up and ready then maybe have some friends help or something. N.O.-xplod and Atreyu got me through Iraq so it should help you get past some auto anxiety.

[Hammerhead-i Eaglethrust]

What works for me is to have them loose. Just barely threaded on. I can't remember whether I had them attached to the motor or the car (the car I think), but anyway with a little forcing with a wrench it went right where it was supposed to. Also, what Tyler said about the jack under the tranny is very important. It's the only thing that can help you when you're fighting the firewall which is way too close.

I had a similar experience with my SR last year when dropping it in the gray S14. Took me and my brother in law most of a night.

[NISMODUDE1988]

i felt the same way with my rb but everything i touched it broke i was about to drop it in my car then my exhaust camshaft broke so i had to wiat 1 week then i put it in keep going if u wake up early then u have all day to work on it

[carlova78]

i felt the same way too when i couldnt get the oil cap off and nor the oil drain plug b/c i was turining the wrong way but duke got the cap off for me. i feel better now tho. i have done nothin to my car sadly too.

[Hammerhead-i Eaglethrust]

haha. wow. Just wow.

[Casey]

mmm....
yea about that

i had some SERIOUS issues taking the diff out of my part car a while back...
basically ended up having to hammer a little at the tire well... because i didnt have the right long socket. and i broke 2 rachets from overtorquing them... didnt have a breaker bar... then i had to get a size 14 to take the rear driveshaft bolts off... (diff and d-shaft bolts) and they were basically rusted on... i tried PB blaster... Heat... i stripped all the bolts... then i eventually cut them off with a rotary cutoff tool lol and hammered them out...
stupid cars

[1800DialKyle]

mmm....
yea about that

i had some SERIOUS issues taking the diff out of my part car a while back...
basically ended up having to hammer a little at the tire well... because i didnt have the right long socket. and i broke 2 rachets from overtorquing them... didnt have a breaker bar... then i had to get a size 14 to take the rear driveshaft bolts off... (diff and d-shaft bolts) and they were basically rusted on... i tried PB blaster... Heat... i stripped all the bolts... then i eventually cut them off with a rotary cutoff tool lol and hammered them out...
stupid cars


That is a bad habit that you still have to break. LOL

[bluuuurr]

thanks guys.. :cheers:

i'll be trying those methods as soon as I can move around on my feet again!

reps for everyone

[Casey]

kyle no... i was trying to break loose the diff bolts .. and i broke 2 rachets
i wasnt tightening them

[Dominic49]

I'm so glad I wrench on BMWs... things just want to work...

Like last time I had to do my brake pads... I had the new pads sitting around a week and me being lazy that I am didn't want to get under the car....


Well later that week my caliper fell off So i decided to do my pads. :-D


yay for efficiency!

[carlova78]

so......

are you motivated now??

[babowc]

LOL
i used to have problems ratcheting in the wrong direction when i was learning about cars..
lefty loosey, righty tighty.

always messed up in the beginning.. not a problem now.

[Beez_S13]

no, i never want to smash in my fenders and drive a geo. what you do is have a backup car, and take as many breaks as you need to. and im going to crank up the music tonigh and pull out my engine and tranny. should be fun.

[babowc]

yep^
if you have a dd, it's much less stress.

MUUUUCH less.

[carlova78]

bacock: how did you get into cars?

[babowc]

First s13.
Just fixed it up.. and sold it.
started flipping cars.

then landed on the current 2 s13s i have atm..

[carlova78]

how old were you? im like the 1st chinese to work on cars

[babowc]

lol.
17

[carlova78]

so are you motivated now?

[babowc]

me? or OP?
I'm getting there.
just got my VLSD going in the car.

thinking of buying solid bushings for the subframe..

[bluuuurr]

i'm sort of motivated.. i'd like to have my car done by the nopi nationals so I can atleast feel cool driving up there. but, I still haven't tried to put the motor in, I had a foot injury that kept me on my ass.. but I'm trying again on Tuesday. ;) wish me luck!

[babowc]

YAY!
for getting off your ass!
same for me too!
YAY for us!

[turbology]

lefty loosey, righty tighty.

tighten : close a coca-cola
loosen : open a coca-cola

do you remember how to open a coke bottle ? :)
lefty loosey.. blah.. is too complicated for me.
hope this help

p/s: remember to apply anti-seize or locktite. And ALWAYS use torque wrench when you can


ever hit a point while working on your project car where you just wanna scream "FUCK THIS", smash your fenders in with a pipe wrench, and drive a geo metro?
yes. try this. remove the engine head 3 times in. 1. drop a bolt 2. didn't clean up the old gasket 3. strip a bolt
remove tranny 3 times. 1. clutch failed. 2. clutch failed again 3. clutch failed again again
remove engine 3 times 1. replace pump 2. timing belt jumped 3. bend a valve
It got worst when you torque everything correctly and applied locktite , then have to take apart again in 48 hours.

Look at the bright side, by the third time, you can do everything and remember every nut's torque spec without a service manual :lol:

[bluuuurr]

motor is in! just gotta get it all wired up, and i'll be rolling again :D

[JJ Alfano]

dude, first things first, hand over the tires and RUCAs, then put the motor in and come with us on a rainy day. Oh, and if you dont want your front end, I got some 18s that need a good home :P