Finally!

[piece-itpete]

So D, all fixed?

I noticed something interesting today. I've re-developed a rattle in the 85s front end. It's either the pitman or idler arm.

Chickens coming home to roost - I used all super cheap parts.

Easy jobs at least. Anyway I found the parts I needed on Amazon yesterday and it broke the $25 free shipping threshold, barely.

I go there today and guess what? They lowered the price on one, now it's below $25, so because of frt I've actually got to pay more.

Coincidence? I don't believe it. Not when since I looked at pitman arms every banner ad everywhere I visit is trying to sell me one.

Pete

[piece-itpete]

The rattle was the stupid gearbox. One part I really don't have the green for a new one.

So I get up early Sat and go to the 'yard. Pull one off a 99 cop car with 110k on it. Muscle work - oof.

Bad. Go back, by now it's 100+ degrees and 3 million percent humidity. Heat comes from the sun, the sky, and other cars. Pull one off a 00 cop car with 115k. Sticker says - rebuilt! Yay, how many miles could it possibly have on it? High hopes.

Dashed. Bad. Crap. And when I walked out of there I was 1 step removed from heat stroke. I hear that beat again. I least I've got pulling them down to a hack science, cut the steering tube coming out of the firewall, cut the hoses, pull the pitman, pull the 3 bolts holding it to the frame, wala'. 25 minutes. But that pitman and frame bolts'll kill ya.

The 03, turns out the timing chains are dead on. But, I found a little piece of broken plastic that turned out to be off one of the stationary chain guides, that secures it to the block. It's possible that with it loose it's giving the chain enough slop to effect engine performance. I hope so, I don't know what else it could be!

Pete

[barbara]

We're talking cars here......right?

[piece-itpete]

Sorry. Yes. I had defibulate the renooberator

I'm beginning to believe my rattle isn't the steering box

Pete

[piece-itpete]

I FINALLY fixed the 03, it was stumbling and hesitating.

It was the Camshaft Position Sensor.

I didn't have it plugged in.


Still can't find the clunk in the clunker.

On the plus side, got to shoot a Springfield 1911. Beautiful! The thing practically aimed itself. So easy to fire. I used to be a good shot and it's starting to come back, I'm thinking. The military and rogue gunmen better look out

Pete

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

I FINALLY fixed the 03, it was stumbling and hesitating.

It was the Camshaft Position Sensor.

I didn't have it plugged in.


Still can't find the clunk in the clunker.

On the plus side, got to shoot a Springfield 1911. Beautiful! The thing practically aimed itself. So easy to fire. I used to be a good shot and it's starting to come back, I'm thinking. The military and rogue gunmen better look out

Pete

Congratulations on finding the problem. Things like that one often overlooks due to familiarity. I'm to the point now that I do what pilots do and use a check list together with my digital camera. The DSLR camera has become an essential part of my toolkit. I can throw the picture up on my LCD, drink a beer, and look for problems.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

I FINALLY fixed the 03, it was stumbling and hesitating.

It was the Camshaft Position Sensor.

I didn't have it plugged in.


Still can't find the clunk in the clunker.

On the plus side, got to shoot a Springfield 1911. Beautiful! The thing practically aimed itself. So easy to fire. I used to be a good shot and it's starting to come back, I'm thinking. The military and rogue gunmen better look out

Pete

Control arm bushings? Could even be a bad shock.

[piece-itpete]

bh waaaay too fancy for me It's a great idea.

Killer is, I'm happy I was such a doofus. It means I did the job right, and I had both chains off the car! Odd odd world we live in

As long as you know which rotation the crank's on it's easy, once you grasp the concept. It tok me a while.

Dave, the 85 is driving me crazy. I've changed all front bushings (with poly!), the shocks are new. Heck the entire front end is new. Well about 2 years old. It's almost certainly the front end but I can't find any play. I'm beginning to suspect ball joints. I think I'll take it in for a front end alignment and let them tell me

Pete

[piece-itpete]

Going to rebuild the front end on the 03 Grand Marquis tomorrow, upper control arms, lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, all Moog problem solvers.

It needs an inner tie rod end but since I have to pay for an alignment anyway, and parts are dirt cheap, and the parts are better than OEM, and the thing's ten years old, and I can make a heck of a lot of excuses for this rebuild

Seriously I'll be in there anyway with the tools, I can establish a new base line. Looking forward to it. I really wanted to do the front suspension too (upgrading the struts should make a huge handling difference!) but ran out of funds.

I prefer the 85, it has character, a better straight line ride and more comfortable cockpit/controls, imo, but the 03 is such a fantastic daily driver. I wish I add some zing/zazzle/cabang to the looks though.

Pete

[bobabode]

Take a torch to the springs and make it a lowrider Pete. Edit- good thing you blacked out the license plate. I was going to sign you up to the Sierra Club and AARP.