Wow! You definitely did your research, good job. I just finished replacing the Clutch and Clutch master cylinder on my sisters 04 Ford Focus. Talk about a pain, you pretty much need to completely take the car apart. But ones you get it all back together and back on the road you really fell like you’ve accomplished something. Ones you get this job finish and realize how much money you saved I bet you’ll be doing all your repairs your sell from now on.
Yeah, well, that's what I am hoping for!!!
I just got off the phone with Merlin. I tell ya, he is one seriously indispensible resource to ALL of us out there who still love our ZuZus.
Cheers to Merlin!
Anyway, he answered a bunch of questions I had, but we sat on the phone together for a while and he could not find the torque specs for the 3 bolts in question either. However, he pretty much assured me that I can just crank these down good and tight and I should be ok. So, I am going to trust him, as I have before and move forward tonight.
In the meantime, if anyone can magically source the specs on the below bolts on the auto tensioner (serpentine belt tensioner pulley and housing) that would be spectacular!.
Bart
Bart,
I can't help you out with torque specs, but I have to say that you are one brave dude for taking this on. I know that I should be doing the timing belt/ water pump swap soon as Vicki is about to hit 83K on the odo (but it's much more due to tire size). I was all proud of myself for installing a CB without frying the whole car, but this little project of yours if way above and beyond.
I'm not too bad at following directions, so I will anxiously await your write up and then tackle this job after Moab.
Speaking of which; you aren't going to make it to Moab this year, are you? I only ask because Merlin and his wife are coming out to join us for a few days this year, and you could thank him in person for all of his help.
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."
-Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless
Hey Mark, I was actually going to comment on your thread soon and check things out, because I would really like to have a permanently mounted CB in my VX as well.
In all honesty, the timing belt was not that bad (of course I am saying this and I am still not done). You really just need to stay focused, take your time, concentrate on what you are doing, and most importantly, stay organized. There are so many pieces that you need to take out. I bought a box of sandwich baggies and some masking tape. Every time I took off a part, I put the bolts and the part (if it fit) into the baggie and taped it shut with some masking tape. On the tape I wrote exactly what part the bolts are for. I also kept notes along the way for every step, to ensure that when I am done I can just go backwards and put everything in correctly. Also, the notes will help me when I go to do my write-up. I also have 150 photos of the process so far. I am going to try and finish up tonight, and if everything works (oh man, I hope so) then I can honestly say that the job is not so hard. And with the instructions I plan to write, anyone with moderate mechanical skills and the right tools can do this job in HALF the time it took me.
I would love to, but this year I am most likely not going to have the time or the money to go much of anywhere. I just finished pouring a patio in my back yard (that job, I left to the professionals) and that set me back A LOT. I haven't been this broke in YEARS. I am kinda stressing this week to be honest. Also, I am trying to get my garage fully outfitted with a shop, and that is going to eat up a lot of spare cash over the summer. And all that is in preparation for my next big vehicle project which is on it's way over from Australia right now.
In addition to all of this nonsense, I am serious about picking up a 1st gen Trooper to replace my VX so the VX can "rest" and be more pampered while I beat the hell outta the Trooper daily.
So, 2009 is completely stuffed for me already, but it's all good!
Bart
Didnt know you were working on it this weekend. I havent been on this thread really.
I put a new power steering line on Cari's Jeep and lifted it on saturday.