Routed the Openport 2.0 cables through the dash to the glovebox. It's a lot cleaner now with the USB cable coming out the glove box straight into the netbook when road tuning.
http://i.imgur.com/Dkv9TVM.jpg

Changed tranny, transfer case and rear diff fluid.
http://i.imgur.com/9JMYzC4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hmXTHcF.jpg

This past weekend was relatively productive on the vehicle front, but it started with the garage. Years ago I replaced all the 100w bulb fixtures with fluorescent lights, but the shop was always dark near the door. With my normal work setup it's not a problem, but shuffling the cars last week meant the '58 was in the darkest part of the garage. Finally got around to popping two more fixtures up on the ceiling and now the garage feels like I need sunglasses on at all times. Why didn't I do this years ago?

The Audi has hit the "you must go back to go forwards" part of the turbo swap. out came the rad and the headlights, and I started crossing off minor items off the list. Vacuum & boost lines, auxiliary water pump mount, idle-stabilizing valve mount (and plumbing), dipstick support, radiator mounts, and the list goes on. Then the rad and headlight go back into the car so I can sort out the intake piping. The original plan was kind of hokey, so now I'm tearing apart the front end (again) so I can trim back the intercooler outlet and run the piping in a much cleaner fashion. I just want this damned car done and out of the shop!
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8615/...c674069abc.jpg

The '58 has sat for almost two weeks now, as I was off in the east-coast. The time away has been quite helpful, as the trail of brake fluid confirms I have a part issue and not a "Dave can't bleed the brakes correctly" issue. The original unobtanium brake fluid reservoir appears to be the culprit, so I removed the fuel tank in preparation for redoing everything to the master.

The rally bug has been sitting, neglected, for most of the winter. It got a quick clean and vacuum after Totem Rally, but with warm weather it was time to take care of it properly. Hmm, this is after the second pass with the steam cleaner on the carpets. They *look* clean and black, but I'm still pulling 3+ years of rally dirt out of them. Removed them fully from the car (glued in) and did a full wash and clean. I think it might be time to just buy a new set :P
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/...76db03ffc3.jpg

Looks like all my usual brake-bleeding assistants are going to be away this week, so I finally bought a Motive Power Bleeder from Frank. I think I might miss the nostalgic "up." "down." "up." "down." "Up....pump it up." which was so much a part of my childhood (helping dad).
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/...75fe729610.jpg

Not sure why I'm on the computer posting, the engine has to be pulled from the Escort tonight, and I have dinner plans. Might be a late night...

-Dave

I think I always see you cruising from Vancouver to Surrey hwy1 coming home from work?

Yup! I commute from Surrey to North Van everyday

Thats a long commute lol you must be racking up that treo bill.

See ya on the highway :)

http://photos-g.ak.instagram.com/hph...10613793_n.jpg

Took us an hour and a half the other night, but 35min of that was shuffling beetles at 11:30pm without starting the rally bug and waking the neighbours. Dropped it off at RWM&Co yesterday for it's conversion from Turbo motor to Naturally aspirated screamer with full dry sump setup. Not sure if it's getting carbs or ITB's yet, but don't need to make that decision before all the machine work is done.

-Dave

ugh.....that Mk1 Escort. :sweetjesus: Gotta be my favorite car right now.

installed a oem front strut bar and reinforcement plates because bmw can't design strut towers that doesn't crack.

What did you do to your vehicle today?
 

Pulled the stock coilpacks and replaced them with red ones from the Audi R8. Just getting ready for the upcoming tune.
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0coilpacks.jpg

dat shifter doe

Picked up my neuspeed turbo discharge pipe from PR this morning and spent some quality time in the garage today.
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...G_00002601.jpg

Well, after bleeding the brakes (again) on the '58 last night, I woke up this morning to find the pedal to the floor and no leaks. Guess that new master cylinder is bad, which I've certainly experienced before. One problem with classics is getting quality reproduction parts. Sigh. It also took 2.5 hours to fit the front bumper, I came this -><- close to just welding up a whole new set of bumper brackets to get it to fit right. Not sure whether to blame the bumper, the brackets, the reproduction front apron replacement, or the PO who did the work. Either way, it's straight. It's level. And just the top bar is "off", repro-factory bent the shape wrong. Ah well.

Seeing as I was ready to throw heavy tools at the car while swearing terrible things to the people who make ill-fitting parts, I drove it out of the garage on a milk crate...and pulled the rally bug in. I have a long list of things I want to do to prep it for the summer, but just haven't had the space in the garage.

First up, I dropped the motor. Takes less then 30min in the '58, and 1.5 hours in the rally bug...even with the fluid-break fittings. Tore out the rear suspension and replaced both the broken left shock, and the right shock since I figured a new matched set would be nice to have. I'll send the right one back to QA1 for a rebuild and a spare, but it feels the same as the new ones. Next on the list was replacing a leaking oil cooler thermostat. That snowballed pretty quickly. The oil cooler fan switch was flaky, and I found the problem...so off to Radio Shack for some thermopaste to rebuild it. Then the new thermostat had the NPT threads cut not as deep as the old one, which made my assembly wider. Had to make two new oil lines for the car to get it to fit back into place. Finally finished that up, and realized it was a good time to stop for dinner.

Will tear the engine down tonight for it's pre-summer check and hopefully get it built back up for installation tomorrow. Its certainly suffered cosmetically from winter racing and fun, but I'm not sure I want to spend the time repainting stuff this early in the season. Could still end up playing in the snow and salt if we get a last-wind of winter.

Photos off my phone later...

-Dave

rear pads/rotors
probably the first time I worked on the car without my back aching afterwards...finally something that's so accessible without needing to throw out my back
didn't have the right tool for the caliper piston...had better luck with a fat flathead screwdriver than a channellock that the DIY video suggested.

drove it

saw a great view from west van

heard stock vtec in the cassiar

made it home for a movie

10/10 day.

Found some paint that matched pretty well for my moldings and side skirts. . Finally! If anyone wants something cheap and really close to VSM, get Rustoleum metallic silver. I used 2 cans for both moldings and skirts
http://i57.tinypic.com/2cdyaaf.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/jsh9qr.jpg

Depending on the type of caliper you can sometimes get an open end wrench on there going points-in, and then clamping vice grips on perpendicular to it. Hard to explain without a picture but it worked great on my RX7 which has two V shaped groves cut into the face of the piston.

Large, needle-nose pliers while grasping a 6mm bolt. Leaves the end open enough to catch the notches on the piston.

And I got a fresh oil change, filter service and a quick wax done thanks to my cousin.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2hd5g8h.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/n5oisz.jpg

mine was a large '+' kinda like phillips
can't hard to visualize what you're suggesting but the channel lock/crowbar thingee didn't work because it only turned the piston in circles for me and didn't allow me to actually push it into the caliper cylinder.

Putting the RPF1's back on today. Pick up from dales at 1:30 :))))

This pic is for an RX8 but hopefully it'll help explain things. I find an open end wrench that fits into the grooves coming straight in from the side of the car, then clamp vice grips onto the shaft of the wrench at a 90* angle. Then you can push inwards on the closed end of the wrench with one hand and turn the vice grips with the other. I've tried the needle nose pliers method but that gave a lot less leverage and beat up my hands pretty bad every time they slipped off.

http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/p...Y/SDC11357.jpg

While it might cost you $40...sooooo much easier to own one of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...mage_21567.jpg

Disc Brake Pad and Caliper Service Tool Kit 18 Pc

http://www.amazon.ca/Neiko-20733A-Br.../dp/B000IB40L6

Totally worth the money, once you use it on one job.

-Dave

Pulled the AC from the Datsun as it was out of refrigerant and takes up a lot of room in the engine bay. Not to mention the system is probably 50-60lbs

Ordering the carb rebuild kits here shortly. Should be a learning experience.

Most important part is setting the floats correctly, and ensuring they're all exactly the same. The rest is basically just swapping gaskets.

-Dave

^ That's what they say! Float height is probably the most difficult thing as well. I have a handy dandy DVD from the Z SU Carb Guru himself. It should be able to get me through without messing up too badly.