Week of the SHO

[zblackbeast]

Well, this week I'm going to try and get as much done on the SHO as possible..
I've got parts for a full 60k, rear suspension, new ball joints (my passenger one is about to separate) and rod bearings.. Its going to be a long week...

Heres what I've got about an hour into it. I've never so much as had the intake on this guy off so every single bolt is still there and has been there for 65000 miles!

161k

 

[zblackbeast]

So, is there anyway to clean the heads and that one nasty valve?

Also, i jacked the rear end up today to soak all the bolts in pb blaster. I figured "what the ****" and tried to loosen one of the pinch bolts on the passenger side and it came right out no problem.. I was so happy. only 5 maybe 6 or 7 bolts to go back there!!

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I would personally try to use a long Q tip like the doctors office has. I would also suggest spraying carb cleaner on it and rubbing that around on there.

I used a toothbrush and CC to clean out my LIM on my 99 back in 05. Haven't touched it since, nor do I want to.

 

[zblackbeast]

Any idea where id find said long q-tip? I was also thinking about taping those blue paper towels that you buy at wally world to a screw driver to get some of that gunk. Jason had a really good idea with getting some crud out of his plug wells with a small vacuum line and a shop vac.. But i don't have a shop vac and im sure my Dyson thingy wouldn't like oil and such in it very much.. Im thinking strongly about rigging in catch can of some sorts..

Jason, if you read this. I can't remember correctly, but is your catch can just a can where the oil/gas just dumps, or is it like the other Jasons where the can acts as an inline filter of sorts?

 

[zblackbeast]

Got a lot of stuff done today.

Thanks to Liberty and Tony first off for coming and giving me a hand, and in Tony's case bringing a bunch of MUCH needed tools.

I got one of the two LCA's replaced, got the second one to only the strut rod needing to be removed, i got the rear strut rods out of the knuckles, both pinch bolts removed and both knuckles opened up a bit to slide the strut out. I can't, for some reason, get the sway bar links off.. at all.. Also, I got the new struts assembled.

As for the motor, we got the front tore apart and replaced the front main, we also removed the cams and buckets to gain access to the seals. We got the number 4 cylinder done before we called it a night. Those keepers are sooooo small it really makes things hard when they have to be so precise.. We did drop one so Tony's got to bring some up from Lincoln tomorrow.

On the list for tomorrow is:
replace passenger LCA
Remove y-pipe and oil pan to replace rod bearings
replace water pump
remove and replace rear struts
finish the valve stem seals
and install new timing belt

If i get that far by time we call it quits tomorrow night I will be happy seeing as I can start to button the rest of the 60k back up myself.. I didn't take a lot of pictures but here is what I have.








and a little surprise..

 

[jthod]

you can also rotate the cam until the valve is close, fill with cleaner and let it soak.

 

[zblackbeast]

That'll be a fun first start up Joe.. ha

Got rod bearings, all the valve seals (what a PITA) and the other ball joint replaced today.

Tomorrow before I go teach at a competition I'm going to clean up the valve covers and oil pan. I also may try and install the oil pan, swap out timing belt tensioner and put the cam sprockets.. Theres still a lot to do but its all pretty much just put it back together..

 

[jthod]

let them soak, but clean out the fluid first....duhhh....

 

[zblackbeast]

Went to Seward today to pick up my struts/springs form Tony.. He was going to swap over all the parts form the origional struts (bump stops, dust covers, isolaters).. yeah These struts were really shot. He said the rods wouldn't stay up on their own it was all spring. They also, every time I went over a bump, smacked the bump stops.. so there was nothing left of them. ALSO the dust covers were torn in several places.. and one of the isolaters cracked becuase one strut was leaking.. 161k fail..They've been bad for about a year now. ill be putting these, along with a SS RSTB and sway bar end links tonight. Also gonna try and get the pan back on as well as paint my valve cover. ALSO need to put plugs in and tighten down the rear valve cover. I got it on the first try with out rolling the gasket.. WOOT.. This is a lot of work.. and also a *****..

As for the rod bearings, they all looked really good for 161k.. all 3 of us were quite surprised!

Again, BIG thank to Tony and Liberty for all their help!

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Mine looked almost new at 155k. Really kinda odd.

 

[LJRuddy]

Mine looked almost new at 155k. Really kinda odd.

They were replaced at 110k IIRC

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I never saw that receipt (5,800.00 totaled up). They had the factory stamps (National Bearing???) on them.

 

[zblackbeast]

Done.. It pulls hard, runs quiet and handles like a dream! It sits too high in the front now. ha.

 

[LJRuddy]

Clay, I'm glad its finally done! I got a little nervous after your text that said, "moment of truth. Going to start it." and then you never sent me a follow up message.


Thought there was rod knock ersumshit

 

[NEp8ntballer]

*Insert joke about joe not being there to not torque the pickup tube studs and cause the motor not to build oil pressure*

that's one negative sentence... I need a new way to poke fun at Joe, the oil pressure thing is getting old...

 

[zblackbeast]

It built oil pressure fast. There is a leak at the front of the pan. I can see it dripping off on of the studs.. yay.. :/ Other than that.. No other problems to report. The suspension is amazing. with the Sho Shop RSTB it handles so amazing.. Now I've got to do the bolts in the MM (Liberty, lemme know when you can help on that).. even with that i still managed to chirp 2nd tonight.. I haven't been able to do that in months..

Sorry I didn't reply Liberty! I got caught up in driving it!

 

[Izzmo]

Did you clean out your intake valves yet?

 

[LJRuddy]

Clay, I am off wed and thurs. I know that I have plans one of those nights with the significant other but I cant remember which evening that was. Either way, I can help you with that then... Or I can come over tomorrow after work (get off at 1pm) or Friday (get off at 1pm)

As for the oil leak.... I wonder if that front pan gasket might have slipped during the install... The RTV is still fresh so it should be pretty easy to pull off and reinstall.


EDIT: ****, I can come over tonight if you are free... I've got no plans. Just having a beer or two by my lonesome