This past weekend I resolved the car’s biggest issue, a violent shaking when stationary, enough so that it was too loud to talk over, and I had to remove the change from my ashtray becuase it was constantly shaking
First obviously, I jacked up the car. I ADORE my new jack. Lifted from the middle (front and rear) and slid a jack stand in both sides at the same time, and got easily 6inches higher in a single step than my old jack could achieve in multiple steps.
and drained out the old coolant. I had a little burp of coolant come out during an esspecially cold day recently, so with one of the engine mounts being directly below the radiator it seemed a good time to fully remove it, confirm any interior rust, flush the system, and throw a new thermostat at it
then with the engine supported (thanks again wonder-jack) we cleared out things in the way (air box, washer fluid resoirvoir, etc.) and just unbolt the old and bolt in the new (one at time). And I think we can see why the car was shaking so badly.
Just general age. There are 4 mounts, but as the rear mount requires removing the intake to change we just did the two side ones and the one under the radiator. The change in the car is DRAMATIC! it’s whisper quiet in there now. Not a rattle to be heard.
of course, I shot myself in the foot. The car came from the east coast, and has light rusting, the body is mostly fine, and the structure is actually in excellent shape, but bolts were easily broken. And I busted one of the two bolts that holds in the top of the radiator.
but wait... it gets worse. I drilled it out, then tried my easy out and no success. So I hit it with a bigger drill so I could use a larger easy out reverse thread doohicky... and... drilled too far. Directly below the bolt is the A/C condenser. SONNOFFAA B! wouldn’t ya know it, all the magic A/C gas escaped.
oh, and then when trying to use the larger easy out tool I broke the cheap T-handle.
This pic though is a good example of the issue, every bolt and screw has rust, but the car itself and all the brackets are in good condition.
So with some minor added costs for this maintenance, where are we now?
Looks like a new A/C condenser is going to be $50-80, and I’ll have to pay someone to re-gas the system. So that’s an unfortunate additional expense, but nothing detrimental.
Pupper tax. This genius somehow wrangled this stick through her tiny doggie door. Miraculous.
