S-10 Clutch

Gallery link:

We replaced the clutch in the family S-10. If you remember, we already replaced the master cylinder, but that didn't solve the problem. The clutch gave out and we had to push it into the drive in order to work on it.

Bob, Dad and I took two days and replaced the clutch.

WITCH-GEAR:

• Craftsman sockets (broke a universal joint, lifetime warranty!)
  
• Universal 3/8" drive joints (tight spots around the transmission)
  
• 18mm allen (made out of a bolt, an 18mm wrench and tape)
  
• Jack
  
• Jack stands (bricks)
  
• Straps
• ratcheting come-along
  
• 3 cameras
  

SAWZALLS: 4.5

TIME: 8 hours the first day, 4 hours the second

WHAT I LEARNED:

Replacing the clutch in this truck is a lot of work. The tolerances around the transmission are tight so removing it and getting it back in is tricky.


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S-10/Hyundai Door Handles

S-10/Hyundai Door Handles

The past weekend, Kevin replaced the broken driver’s-side door latch on his truck and we took apart the left rear doordoor on Steph and I’s Hyundai to replace the broken outside handle.

Time: 1 hour/each

Cost: $25/each

Witch-gear: Craftsman socket set, screwdrivers

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)

What I Learned: Buy your replacement door handles on eBay. I’ve replaced an outside door handle on the Hyundai before, and paid $70 for it at the dealer. I got the same part on eBay for $25.

S-10 Clutch Master Cylinder

S-10 Clutch Master Cylinder

The S-10 was not going into gear. In fact we had to pull it out of the park spot to get it in to work on it because the clutch failed. We originally thought this was going to be a 3 sawzall project, but after finishing it, we realized it was much easier than expected. We replaced the master cylinder and bled the system. This may not solve to problem but it seems to work fine now.

Time: 4 hours

Cost: $55

Witch-gear: Craftsman socket set, wrenches, and pliers

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)

What I Learned: They have designed quick disconnects in this car, so if we need to replace the clutch hydraulic line we have to go to the dealer for the parts and replace the master and slave cylinder and hose all together.

Buick Tune-Up

Buick Photos

Kevin and I helped our friend Brian change the spark plugs, wires, oil, and air filter on his 1986 Buick Century (Custom!)

Time: 3 hours

Cost: ~$40 at Advanced Auto and Autozone.

Witch-gear: Standard mechanics tools set, additional extenders and universal joints, torque wrench, dielectric tune-up grease, graphite grease

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)

What We Learned: As a general rule, it is not worth the time and effort needed to change the internal fuel filter on a 1986 Buick Century Custom.

Chevy S-10 Dent Repair

Truck Dent Photos

I borrowed Kevin's truck to help a friend move this weekend, and accidentally scraped the front right corner against a fire hydrant while backing out of the parking space I'd "made" next to his apartment. It dented, and put some large scratches in, the metal bumper, as well as tearing the plastic guard and ripping part of it off of the truck. Rather than get angry, Kevin helped me repair the damage I'd caused....

Time: 1 hour

Cost: $12.89 (excluding NC sales tax) spent at Advanced Auto Parts

Witch-gear: TurtleWax Rubbing Compound, Permatex Permaoxy 1-Min. epoxy, Replacement Nylon Rivets, Duplicolor Scratch Fix Touch-Up Paint

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)

What We Learned: According to the touch-up paint catalog at Advanced Auto, the paint code on post-2000 GM vehicles is located on a sticker on the glove box door, proceeded by the letters "L" or "U." At least in our case, that was true. We called home, had mom go out to the truck and read off the letters/numbers on the sticker, and found the tube of paint that corresponded to the four-digit series after the "U." It was a perfect match.

Geo Prizm CV Axles

Geo Prizm CV Axles Photos

The 94' Geo Prizm has been shuttering under acceleration. We attempted to fix it by changing the drivers side wheel bearing. This did not work. We then tried the CV axles and it solved the shuttering issue!

Time: 5 hours

Cost: N/A

Equipment/Tools: Craftsman Mechanics Set, Craftsman "wonder bar", 30mm axle Socket, Torque wrench

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)

S-10 Truck Tune-Up

S-10 Truck Tune-Up - Photos

We found a pretty good deal on a 2001 Chevy S-10, so now it is part of the Witchger fleet! It has a good 110,000 miles on it. (just ripe for the Witchger fleet) Spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter were changed.

Time: 4 hours

Cost: N/A

Equipment/Tools: Craftsman Mechanics Tools set

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)

Whate I learned: The spark plugs were very corroded and worn. The wires on this truck are routed in a complex path to the coils located behind the passenger side wheel. The fuel filter was messy so no pictures of that.

Van Universal Joint

Van Universal Joint - Photos

After years of loading the van with music equipment, plywood, cement, and other building supplies; and after one exciting trip to Michigan to pick up thousands of pounds of lead type and a printing press, the universal joint on the 88' E-150 began to fail causing a heavy vibration at high speeds. We took a few hours to fix it.

Time: 4 hours

Cost: N/A

Equipment/Tools: Craftsman mechanics socket set, clamp, and vise.

Level of Difficulty: (What's with the saws?)