Bad news bolt!

[Guest]

History Commands

[August 15, 2010, 06:54:01 AM] marko: how do you remove the brake light assembly 1977 bus?

[August 15, 2010, 07:01:52 AM] marko: after removing the lense, there are 4 hex shaped holes, but isnt designed to rotate. do I simply pull the housing from the bu

[August 15, 2010, 10:38:20 AM] marko: I got it, a flashlight and mirror revieled nuts, damn nuts. Thanks anyway.

[August 16, 2010, 08:09:00 AM] Dreads: Beetle got a good deal on it! guy has lots of '66 parts cheap, anyone lookin shout at me.

[August 17, 2010, 06:10:21 PM] kittykerri: I make cool van shirts!

[August 24, 2010, 06:23:47 AM] Le: Hi all no camper yet but looking

[August 25, 2010, 01:26:41 PM] Terry Stricklin: anyone know a good independent mechanic in the Toledo Ohio area?

[August 25, 2010, 03:52:57 PM] fernandob23: bus door wont close

[August 26, 2010, 06:25:39 PM] floridavwrentals: vintage vw bus rentals in Florida!!!  WWW.FLORIDAVWRENTALS.COM

[September 04, 2010, 10:38:27 AM] nursgon: bus heater boost fan?

[September 05, 2010, 12:17:00 PM] kokamo618: I'm putting in the headliner in my 73' bus. What's a good adhesive to use. Or know of any good tuturials on the installati

[Today at 02:38:38 AM] ryncole: bus depot has awesome people that help!

[That_One_Guy]

I replaced my whole exhaust system for about and around 100 bucks... When i get a second chance to do it again Im buying all chrome... when I purchased my muffler and extractor I thought I was gettting a grrreattt deal until one week later and it turned all rusty so I sanded it down and shot 2 coats of Heat resistant primer and 2 coats of the black heat stuff...It worked great... I had to grind all of my bolts off and went up to Lowes and bought new bolts.. Nuts and bolts only costed me under 5 bucks... Take my words of advise, take your time and do it right, dont patch anything unless your just trying to make it home... Make sure all 3 fluids are topped off...ha 3 fluids...2 yrs ago I went on a road trip to New Orleans before Katrina hit and Im about to leave my house here in St. Louis and my mom walks out and hands me 2 gallons of water.. I was like what is this for and my mom says " Its for your radiator " hehe... man I didnt say crap but I said thanks mom then I poured it out... lame story but I thought this story had nothing to do with this subject and thanks for all the peeps that made it this far....peace out

TOG

[VWBUSRAT]

I replaced my whole exhaust system for about and around 100 bucks... When i get a second chance to do it again Im buying all chrome... when I purchased my muffler and extractor I thought I was gettting a grrreattt deal until one week later and it turned all rusty so I sanded it down and shot 2 coats of Heat resistant primer and 2 coats of the black heat stuff...It worked great... I had to grind all of my bolts off and went up to Lowes and bought new bolts.. Nuts and bolts only costed me under 5 bucks... Take my words of advise, take your time and do it right, dont patch anything unless your just trying to make it home... Make sure all 3 fluids are topped off...ha 3 fluids...2 yrs ago I went on a road trip to New Orleans before Katrina hit and Im about to leave my house here in St. Louis and my mom walks out and hands me 2 gallons of water.. I was like what is this for and my mom says " Its for your radiator " hehe... man I didnt say crap but I said thanks mom then I poured it out... lame story but I thought this story had nothing to do with this subject and thanks for all the peeps that made it this far....peace out

TOG

   on the ex exhaust leak...vwbr

[Dj:Eep]

Chrome is crap, it'll just rust out under it.  Either get a good stock exhaust and paint it right, or get the cheapest EMPI you can, since any similar one will rust up just as fast, but cost more.

[Happy]

DON'T GET SORE!!!!  I think what I am about to type will make you all sore at me!  I've been reading threads on thesamba and others and I am not a torch man.   I don't do well with wax...,  I have amateur tools AND I HATE TIGHT SPACES!!!! 
     Here's what will make you guys sore:  I've made an appointment for tomorrow at Midas .  I told the manager already "If ONE stud breaks, we call it off."  The Midas is like four miles from home and I believe it is worth a shot.  They will likely raise betty up and have the j-tubes on in an hour.  Worst case:  I take it to the real VW guy and have some other trouble spots smoothed out whiles shes there.

If you're not too sore...what do you guys think of my plan?   Really though.  I KNOW most of you HATE places like midas...jiffy lube... ect. and I am proud of myself for getting this far WITHOUT the help of anyone but  thumb2YOU ALL .  Is it THAT bad to let Midas look at my Betty???  IT's JUST THE J-TUBES!!!!

[GostaBerling]

the problems you run into on chain shops is that they hire people without caring about their credentials. If they lose a few customers due to a crappy mech. then that's okay they have more. Whereas, a local vw guy has a small clientèle of picky people, if he messes up it could cost him his lively hood.

Plus, midas guys don't work on many air cooled vw's, so they don't understand the delicacies of the engines. Just my .02 cents, but I would take it to a vw mech if I couldn't do it. Or, look for a local club and hit up some people in it too help, check the AIRS list for your state, somebody will help you.

[Happy]

Your right.  I'm so wishy-washy on this one.  The Midas near me bragged about the old porsche they just finished and the old firebird...made me feel a bit better.  The nearest VW guy is 45 min. away in this TN heat without window scrapers on the driver or pass doors (on order though...that will be my next post: HOW TO INSTALL!  Theres nothing in my books!) a Tennessee thunderstorm will dump four inches of water in my doors I just know it.  The last time I dropped her off for three days and all he did was "drive it around".  GEEEEE!!!!!!!  I love it though.  I needed some more excitement in my life.  I'm gonna watch from a distance like a hawk tomorrow! 

[GostaBerling]

I've only had one run in with Midas, they quoted a friend of my wifes $266 to due the front brakes on here Mistu. I did it for her for $66. Forking rip off artist.

[Dj:Eep]

 

[Happy]

     Alright   I won't do it.  My Bus Depot parts should be in soon and I will bring Betty to the VW guy and drop her off 'till the job is done.  I WILL however SOAK PB blaster into those bolts this weekend and giv'em another try myself.  Might call on you all for some non-wax...non-heat tips though.  I think I could use some better wrenches to get into that tight spot. 

[Dj:Eep]

It's tight, but it's not too hard.  Me n' had to pull his heaterbox with the engine in not all that long ago, that's a pain, Jtubes should be easier.

[VWBUSRAT]

Not SORE Just concerned    WHEW!!!!! I'll bet Betty is glad she's NOT going to get " the Midas touch" ...vwbr

[Happy]

     Yea.  That's a load off my mind too.  I had dreams of $450.00 bills for the job and that got me a-scared. 

Any recommendations on tools?  All I have is my 13mm (I think it's 13) little wrench.  Ive heard of "thin wall sockets" but I don't believe the wrench part will clear the pipe!  I NEED LEVERAGE more than ever and I have NONE. 

Well!  I won't beat this topic to death anymore.  Thanks for helping me with all this and talking me out of Midas.  I will use your advice this weekend as I hope to at least be sucsessful with ONE J-tube.
 

[Dj:Eep]

Quit worrying about bugging us, this is why we're here.

Most likely the nut on stud is 12mm, but it could be 13mm.  Get a long handled open ended wrench for the job.

[GostaBerling]

 you can use another wrench to extend the leverage.

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[Happy]

Four hours of PB blasting and trying the first nut proved unsuccessful.  This has been a very frustrating night.  I did my best.  I will call the VW guy next week and plan on a drop off.  I think only superman or batman could budge these nuts.

Question:  Can I enjoy driving Betty this weekend IF I keep backfiring to a minimum???  I can eliminate backfiring by EASING the gas back between shifts or is the leak itself right at the engine/exhaust connection the risk in burning a valve???  The gasket is blown on both sides.