Diaries of the Noob Mechanic: Fuzzydunlop's '85 MR2

[FuzzyDunlop]

Today I went searching all morning, all around town for a Inch-Pound torque wrench so that I can torque the bolts on the oil pan to spec... No Dice. Not a single in-lb can be found in town, and the only one I could find to order was $140.
Im looking online for one now.

So my plans changed and I instead bought some truck bed liner and applied it to the top and bottom of the floorpans I installed.
Heres the drivers side ptach that I installed, primed and seam sealed.

And here is the interiors after I gunked it all up. Should never have to worry about rust ever again - I hope.

Maybe this is a bit of overkill?

 

[JCH13]

Bedliner looks good! I will probably be doing that to the inside of my Miata's trunk.

In-lb torque wrenches - Sears FTW. They are a little pricey normally, around $100, but I just got one for $30 on sale.

 

[Eli]

Are you sure you've never done any of this before? You must have been a mechanic in another life.

 

[Howard]

If you really need an in-lb wrench you can rig up a ratchet to a spring scale and do it that way.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

If you really need an in-lb wrench you can rig up a ratchet to a spring scale and do it that way.

Explain

 

[NutBucket]

Are you sure you've never done any of this before? You must have been a mechanic in another life.

Seriously, I must agree. Being a shade-tree mechanic myself I've never known of any "n00b" able to do what I see in this thread. Hell, the most I've done is an engine swap and that's easy compared to your work. Needless to say I'm very impressed!

 

[Howard]

Explain

A spring scale measures force

You can make it so that the force is applied always at the same point of a wrench

Multiply (properly) the force and distance and you get torque

 

[JCH13]

A spring scale measures force

You can make it so that the force is applied always at the same point of a wrench

Multiply (properly) the force and distance and you get torque

The scale and the wrench must always be perpendicular, so you have to rotate the scale as you pull it.

 

[NutBucket]

For something like an oil pan, there's really nothing wrong with just using a small ratchet to torque it down. Sure it won't be perfect, but we're not talking about a "critical" component.

 

[simonizor]

For something like an oil pan, there's really nothing wrong with just using a small ratchet to torque it down. Sure it won't be perfect, but we're not talking about a "critical" component.

Right... Tell me how "critical" it is when it drops off, you don't have any oil in your car, and your engine seizes up.

 

[JCH13]

For something like an oil pan, there's really nothing wrong with just using a small ratchet to torque it down. Sure it won't be perfect, but we're not talking about a "critical" component.

Anything to do with oil is critical. Oil leaks suck to deal with, and if they're bad enough you'll loose the engine.

 

[NutBucket]

Ok guys. Not saying it's pointless to torque them to spec...just speaking from personal experience. I've never had any issues with leaky oil pans or valve covers from not being torqued exactly to spec.

 

[exdeath]

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Seriously, I must agree. Being a shade-tree mechanic myself I've never known of any "n00b" able to do what I see in this thread. Hell, the most I've done is an engine swap and that's easy compared to your work. Needless to say I'm very impressed!

well. if doing an engine swap is easier than what I have been doing, then I am excited to swap out in the future!
I just do a lot of research before I attempt anything. And then when I do do it, I try and take my time.
And honest to goodness, total car noob. The only thing I've ever really wrenched on before was a fridge door! Hell, a few weeks ago before I started working on this car I had no idea what a sway bar, strut, mass air flow meter, or what an O2 Sensor was. I had almost no idea how a basic combustion engine worked... and Im still learning - and am enjoying every minute. There have a been a few let downs (having to park the car till I can get it fixed and inspected again, the nutty amount of rust that was hidden from view when I purchased, the crazy oil leaks that were also not visible before purchase), but Im taking each thing on as a new challenge and new learning experience.

After looking over things in the interior, I think I can actually start reassembly on it. There are only a few minor things that Ill leave out to be fixed (door panels need some leatherwork which looks simple, need new shift knob and boot, new stereo surround piece is required). I was going to paint all the interior plastics, but after cleaning them, I dont think it will be necessary. Ill do another coat of bed liner on the floor pans and maybe start putting it all back together. - or not, cuz driving around with bare metal is fun!

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Ok guys. Not saying it's pointless to torque them to spec...just speaking from personal experience. I've never had any issues with leaky oil pans or valve covers from not being torqued exactly to spec.

from what I have read and heard, these Japanese vehicles can be a mighty bit sensitive when it comes to torqueing to spec (speak with JCH13 )

 

[NutBucket]

I only do Japanese But, I digress. It can never hurt to be accurate. My experience is limited to what I've actually worked on....and I've never had an oil pan off a Toyota.

 

[mztykal]

Truthfully I've never torqued a oil pan down to spec. Just go by feel. Only things that are done with a torque wrench is headwork. LOL!

 

[Zargon]

you dont have a sears? they have a 3/8th tq wrench that is in in/lbs

I assume its low enough that the regular one you have wont read low enough(less than 20 ft/lbs on most)

 

[NutBucket]

It's usually something like 8 ft-lbs for oil pans and things.

 

[Zargon]

I thikn mine were like 16 when I did it on my saturn. same with the came caps

 

[TanisHalfElven]

well. if doing an engine swap is easier than what I have been doing, then I am excited to swap out in the future!
I just do a lot of research before I attempt anything. And then when I do do it, I try and take my time.
And honest to goodness, total car noob. The only thing I've ever really wrenched on before was a fridge door! Hell, a few weeks ago before I started working on this car I had no idea what a sway bar, strut, mass air flow meter, or what an O2 Sensor was. I had almost no idea how a basic combustion engine worked... and Im still learning - and am enjoying every minute. There have a been a few let downs (having to park the car till I can get it fixed and inspected again, the nutty amount of rust that was hidden from view when I purchased, the crazy oil leaks that were also not visible before purchase), but Im taking each thing on as a new challenge and new learning experience.

After looking over things in the interior, I think I can actually start reassembly on it. There are only a few minor things that Ill leave out to be fixed (door panels need some leatherwork which looks simple, need new shift knob and boot, new stereo surround piece is required). I was going to paint all the interior plastics, but after cleaning them, I dont think it will be necessary. Ill do another coat of bed liner on the floor pans and maybe start putting it all back together. - or not, cuz driving around with bare metal is fun!

your an inspiration, and just plain awesome.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Ya, I need to measure down to 4 ft-lbs. Thats damn low and if that is all the bolts can handle then I better be damn sure not to go over.
Bought this today with some birthday cash I collected. The reviews are more positive than the craftsman wrench. The craftsman I was looking at was getting poor review due to bad durability and short warranty time period. This one has higher quality ratings. See what happens. Stupid expensive for one tool if you ask me - but probably cheaper than ruining and replacing an engine.
http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-850...953708&sr=1-17

 

[Zargon]

heh gear wrench I think is made at the same place as craftsman, just like snap on and mac and a few others

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

As I wait upon parts and tools to be delivered I looked for something else to do on the car. I looked at the front Quarter panels and know that some body work is required because the paint job was fairly poor and there are a few rust spots.
Having no experience with this at all I was a little hesitant on even starting… but the whole point is to learn these things… so away we go!

I bought a grinder brush specific for paint and bondo removal and started grinding down the front right Q-panel. And this is what came out

There was about ¼ inch of bondo on it in places – all of which will have to be (and needed to be) redone properly. I’m actually looking forward to that part.

I outlined and measured the areas that should be repaired. Then I made a paper cut out of the pieces needed, just to see if my measurements were ok and if the repair was even possible. I figured that I would need to do the repair in three separate pieces and weld them all on one piece at a time. I started with the upper most piece as seen below.

A little experimentation: In order to make smooth bends and folds I took my pneumatic grinder and scored the line where I wanted to make a fold. Then I tapped lightly along that score with a rubber mallet to make it bend, and sure enough, it folded right where I wanted it to.

The Cut

And the patch

In order to make the piece fit right I had to make small cuts along the edge that all needed to be welded back together. I also spot welded along the scores just to make sure that it strong (probably unnecessary but wont hurt).

It looks sloppy right now, but once I grind down the welds it will look a lot better, and the bondo will cure everything else (hopefully – I mean, I’ve seen some miracles happen with bondo on youtube, so I’ve got my hopes up).

Tonight Ill try and get this piece fit onto the bottom.

Today I also got a shipment in from Jlee with all new bushings for the suspension. Booya! Thanks jlee.

If anyone has tips or ideas about what Im doing wrong - please do tell, Im all ears at this point.

 

[exdeath]

Either you're a psycho, or you're trolling us hard with the n00b bit