ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

[ntsqd]

Long gone car of my mother's was so awful about the filter that I took to driving a punch (or a screw-driver) thru the bottom of the filter body so that it was drained by the time I got to removing it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not specifically on a 7.3L, but it's my go to. I use Valvomax setups on my trucks. Worth every penny, but they are slower than just a plug. Filters are the pain in the **** on my stuff. I use foil on my 5.0L F-150 to help with that filter mess. My 6.7L is just big and cumbersome, so it inevitably makes a mess as I unthread it 20x while hot oil burns me.

This is what I contend with when I change oil maybe a 7" gap.

 

[Finallygotit]

Why couldn't the engineers have put the drain plug on the bottom of the pan?

 

[PugetDude]

Why couldn't the engineers have put the drain plug on the bottom of the pan?

Locating it on the side makes it easier for the kids at JiffyLube to crossthread the plug.

 

[swsman]

This is what I contend with when I change oil maybe a 7" gap.

My '05 F250 with 5.4 3v has something similar going on, it shoots out a massive amount of oil towards the driver side.

I have an elongated funnel I purchased just for this, align it with the drain location and direct it into my oil drain pan. Saves me from a huge oil spill mess that I had happen before.

One other thing, I lay down a tarp to catch any drips, cleanup is a breeze, brake cleaner and paper towel.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

This is what I contend with when I change oil maybe a 7" gap.

Not sure a drain plug valve would fit in there the way the plug is recessed, but it would be my first choice. My F-150 is like that with the sway bar right in the splash line.

 

[ntsqd]

What's that expensive looking rock finder in this one's splash zone?

Danged if you do and danged if you don't. That drain plug is protected from those rocks, but spews oil everywhere when draining.
On the bottom wouldn't be very protected from those rocks, but it won't make as big of a mess. I'd rather deal with the mess.

The drain on our 6BT is on the bottom. I worry about it every time we go off pavement. The truck came to us with a drain valve, that hung down even further. I ordered the replacement parts and threw away the valve.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What's that expensive looking rock finder in this one's splash zone?

Since the transmission is right there, I've always assumed it is an auxiliary transmission cooler... never really traced it down or don't remember if I did.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Locating it on the side makes it easier for the kids at JiffyLube to crossthread the plug.

Not on my truck.... anybody's truck I don't care.

 

[Finallygotit]

What's that expensive looking rock finder in this one's splash zone?

Danged if you do and danged if you don't. That drain plug is protected from those rocks, but spews oil everywhere when draining.
On the bottom wouldn't be very protected from those rocks, but it won't make as big of a mess. I'd rather deal with the mess.

The drain on our 6BT is on the bottom. I worry about it every time we go off pavement. The truck came to us with a drain valve, that hung down even further. I ordered the replacement parts and threw away the valve.

I think if you had a rock find its way up there, you would have bigger problems to deal with. IMHO

 

[ntsqd]

I occasionally drag the axle housing across a rock. That part isn't much higher. Judging by the pic only I'd have no trouble getting it into contact with a rock. A little off the Line in a place like Dedekera Cyn on Steele Pass Rd and it could happen:

 

[PugetDude]

I occasionally drag the axle housing across a rock. That part isn't much higher. Judging by the pic only I'd have no trouble getting it into contact with a rock. A little off the Line in a place like Dedekera Cyn on Steele Pass Rd and it could happen:

But the other 99.99% of the drivers in the US are never going to be driving here... Or more than a few feet off any paved or maintained road for that matter.

 

[ntsqd]

Sad, isn't it?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Sad, isn't it?

Yes and no. I learned long ago not to abuse the daily drivers. The toys are fair game.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike

Just be careful throwing Lithium charge at a LiFePO4 with any random charger. Double check that voltage on the charger before you do it.

Doing the volume we do we have a few battery chargers of different brands, they are all over the place at the lower price points, I ended up discarding them and bought a few of the new snap on chargers and those have been dead repeatable. Full clarity I am sure they are rebranded just like everything else but I have no idea who makes them.

Thanks for the info. Tim. I don't have any lithium batteries nor charge any, I was just confirming that they had that option.

Damn Mike, Form-A-Funnel.

Why didn't I think of that before ? The new truck (last year) makes a mess when changing engine oil. It comes out with force and makes a mess, hitting the trans cooler underneath. The large FAF should allow me to wrap it up around the cooler and become a shield to deflect it into the drain pan.


I never had this problem with the F250 with 6.2 and I guess it's an issue with the oil pan for the 7.3 engine.

Yeah Eric, the Form-A-Funnel gets a lot of use for those exact type of drains. Some of them definitely have me scratching my head wondering what they were thinking. Before I had the Form-A-Funnel, I used tinfoil as Ryan mentions as well as precisely cut pieces of cardboard to ward off messy oil drains. All worked as planned, but the Form-A-Funnel is just so damn convenient that it is the first thing I reach for these days. Plus, a quick cleaning in the solvent tank with a wipe down and it's clean and ready to put back in the cupboard until the next job.

 

[zmotorsports]

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. The weather along the Wasatch Front here was beautiful all weekend with blue skies, but cool temps. The snow from Thursday hasn't even melted yet.

Friday night after work I pulled the truck into the shop to perform a routine LOF service and tire rotation job. Worked until the wife arrived home then called it a day and closed up shop.

Truck racked and front suspension checked for play before the tires/wheels came off.


First task was getting the oil out of the engine whilst it was warm and flowing easily.


Replaced the drain plug gasket and torqued to spec. Like on the previous LOF service on my DIL's Acura RDX, I keep a supply of drain plug gaskets on hand and I always recommend changing them with new and torquing to proper specification. This will save a lot of headaches in the long run. I suggest buying in bulk for your personal vehicles as the prices are much more reasonable compared to buying one at a time.


While the truck on in the air, I figured I would give the axle shafts a once over to make sure they were still dry from the seal replacement I did last summer. Passenger side looks good.


As does the driver's side.


I haven't pulled the driveshaft and greased the splines in a while and on these GMT800 chassis, they have a tendency to develop a slight clunk or almost like a detent feel upon rolling away from a stop and applying a bit of acceleration. I generally pull the driveshaft and grease the splines every other oil change, so about every 10k miles. It's a pretty simple task and I just remember to do it when I replace my fuel filters, I add it to the same service routine.



After removing the strap bolts, simple pry at the ear and it should pop right out.


Out and ready for greasing.


I simply smear a small amount of moly fortified grease into the splined end and reinstall.


Next up was to removed both FASS fuel filters from the Platinum pump manifold body under the bed.


More to follow...

 

[zmotorsports]

Continuing on with the routine service.

This brings me to Saturday morning, so with coffee in hand I headed out to the shop to pick up where I left off the night before.


First task Saturday morning was removing the FASS 3001 and 3002 filters, I cleaned the mounting surface and prepped for installation of the new filters, starting with the new rubber gasket on the spigot.


With the new FASS fuel filters installed, I turned my attention to the third filter in the system, the OEM mounted one in the engine bay. After removal, I removed the plug to transfer to the new filter.


I grabbed the last Duramax oil filter out of the cupboard. Time to restock this one.


Unfortunately, this is my last Mann/Hummel NAPA Gold filter so I'll have to source these elsewhere going forward.


New Racor/Parker filter being prepped for installation.


Prepped and ready to install.


With new filter installed, oil in the engine and wiped down, everything under the hood is complete.


Time to turn my attention to some cosmetic maintenance. I stopped and washed the truck on the way home from work Friday afternoon, but the wheels were looking atrocious.


A little cleaning and they looked a bit better.





Stay tuned for more pictures....

 

[zmotorsports]

Continuing on.

With the preliminary cleaning done, it was time to go over them with some Busch's Chrome Polish and add a bit of protection and a final polish.


Same with the stainless steel exhaust tip. It was cleaned with some 0000 steel wool, then followed up with an application of Busch's Chrome and Stainless Steel Polish.


Buffed to a nice luster.


Same treatment went for the front and rear bumpers, an application of chrome polish.


Then buffed off with a microfiber to a high shine.


At this point it is ready for reassembly.


Prior to final assembly I went over my notes again to make sure I didn't miss anything from my checklist. This was only a minor PM, but I still use my checklist to avoid missing something and to keep everything documented.


Tires/wheels being installed. I love using my old school speeder for installing lugnuts. Gives me a good hand feel for them as I refuse to employ power tools for wheel installations. Following getting them to take set, I torque them to spec.


After double checking the fluids and before closing the hood, I run around the perimeter with some Meguiar's Final Inspection to detail the fender edges.


Then she's ready for a test drive.



Stay tuned for more...

 

[zmotorsports]

Final pics from the truck's service.

Backed out in the sun for a test drive.




Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how she looks and runs for nearly a 20-year old truck. She should hold out for the rest of my years and then can be handed down to the next generation, hopefully looking and running just as good.



After the test drive it was time to give the shop a thorough cleaning. Detailed the workbenches, behind the equipment and then a good sweeping of the floor.













And that was it for the weekend. Nothing too exciting.

Thanks for looking.

 

[SilverJimmy]

Good job once again, truck looks great! I always enjoy your simple yet highly detailed service posts. For your drain plug washers, do you use OEM or aftermarket from Dorman or others? I also like your maintenance checklist sheet, is that something you wrote up and print or is available commercially?
I like that Lisle funnel drain, I might have to get one as it came out after I retired. I currently have a couple Funnel Buddy’s in my shop, you ever seen them?

This one is mounted on the wall by my rollup doors for adding fluids out on the driveway, and another is stuck on my lift with magnetic strips. What I like about them is that they drain the funnel and also store the funnel so that the funnel stays clean inside. I just have to empty the drain bottle about once a year, and the funnel is always clean and ready to use!

 

[zmotorsports]

Good job once again, truck looks great! I always enjoy your simple yet highly detailed service posts. For your drain plug washers, do you use OEM or aftermarket from Dorman or others? I also like your maintenance checklist sheet, is that something you wrote up and print or is available commercially?
I like that Lisle funnel drain, I might have to get one as it came out after I retired. I currently have a couple Funnel Buddy’s in my shop, you ever seen them?

This one is mounted on the wall by my rollup doors for adding fluids out on the driveway, and another is stuck on my lift with magnetic strips. What I like about them is that they drain the funnel and also store the funnel so that the funnel stays clean inside. I just have to empty the drain bottle about once a year, and the funnel is always clean and ready to use!

Thanks Sterling. The drain gaskets/washers are just whatever I can find in bulk that doesn't break the bank. I've purchased some OEM and some aftermarket as I've found them, same with our other daily drivers, just whatever I find for the right price. When I start getting low, down to a few remaining, I will start looking at what's available and for what price. By not waiting until I'm completely out, it gives me some time to find the right deal.

I've seen those funnel buddies, but if I'm being honest, I never really gave them any thought. I saw one on here a while back consisting of a bunch of PVC tubing and although it was well thought out and seemed to work well, it was just too cumbersome for my liking. When I saw the Lisle one a few weeks ago, it was in fact an impulse buy and I liked it right off the bat. With it being lightweight and using magnets, I figured it would work perfectly on the side of my cupboard that houses the funnels and right alongside the solvent tank.

As for the checklist, that is just a shop-made one that I have alterered or tweaked over the years to include items I generally check on vehicles while they're in my shop. I started it about 25 years ago for my own vehicles and client's vehicles and have just adjusted it on occasion as needed. It's nothing special and I'm sure there are better ones available online.

 

[ntsqd]

Yes and no. I learned long ago not to abuse the daily drivers. The toys are fair game.

I was driving one of my semi-DD's when I took that picture. There's use, and then there's abuse.

 

[PugetDude]

I was driving one of my semi-DD's when I took that picture.

In that case you need to speak to your county commissioners about fixing that road.

 

[ntsqd]

You'll have to talk to DVNP about that. I happen to like it the way that it is.

My point was that whatever that part is, it's located in a really, really bad spot. Even road debris could damage it.

 

[zmotorsports]

There's use, and then there's abuse.

Agreed. We have friends and family members that don't understand us traveling all over just to take our Jeep off-road to the places we do and over the terrain that we do. I try to explain that I built it to use and I don't abuse my vehicles, but to some people, they don't understand the difference. They think anything off the interstate of secondary roads is abuse. Hell, I think some of the highways and byways are rougher than where we take it off-road.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My point was that whatever that part is, it's located in a really, really bad spot. Even road debris could damage it.

I had those same thoughts when I climbed under the truck for the first time.

I stay away from the off road stuff like you pictured and prefer to do drag racing instead. My old '85 Ranger with a 302, 4.10's and 31's saw it's share of mud....I tried to be careful as it was the DD, nor did I make a lot of money back then.



Mike, you need some pallet racking in the shop right above the welders. It'll fain you a bunch of storage area with virtually no loss of floor space.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, you need some pallet racking in the shop right above the welders. It'll fain you a bunch of storage area with virtually no loss of floor space.

Thanks Eric, you're not the first person to suggest that. Unfortunately, I work around pallet racking all day long and I am NOT a fan of it. Don't like the looks and it will remind me too much of work. I want to enjoy walking into my shop and seeing that would push me over the edge.

 

[Finallygotit]

Thanks Eric, you're not the first person to suggest that. Unfortunately, I work around pallet racking all day long and I am NOT a fan of it. Don't like the looks and it will remind me too much of work. I want to enjoy walking into my shop and seeing that would push me over the edge.

There's a small part of me (a very small part) that wonders what that would look like.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's a small part of me (a very small part) that wonders what that would look like.

In general or in Mike's shop ?

I fully get why Mike doesn't want to be reminded of work. On the flip side, I like mine and it has allowed me way more storage than typical square footage allows.

 

[zmotorsports]

In general or in Mike's shop ?

I fully get why Mike doesn't want to be reminded of work. On the flip side, I like mine and it has allowed me way more storage than typical square footage allows.

Don't get me wrong Eric, I more than understand the usefulness pallet racking and going vertical for storage vs. outward. I installed overhead shelving, hanging from the ceiling, in my last shop and swore if I ever got that point in this shop it would be time to thin the projects.

 

[olsenmotorsports]

Good job once again, truck looks great! I always enjoy your simple yet highly detailed service posts. For your drain plug washers, do you use OEM or aftermarket from Dorman or others? I also like your maintenance checklist sheet, is that something you wrote up and print or is available commercially?
I like that Lisle funnel drain, I might have to get one as it came out after I retired. I currently have a couple Funnel Buddy’s in my shop, you ever seen them?

This one is mounted on the wall by my rollup doors for adding fluids out on the driveway, and another is stuck on my lift with magnetic strips. What I like about them is that they drain the funnel and also store the funnel so that the funnel stays clean inside. I just have to empty the drain bottle about once a year, and the funnel is always clean and ready to use!

These are what I use. Mounted in every lift. Work awesome.

 

[rd65]

Yeah Eric, the Form-A-Funnel gets a lot of use for those exact type of drains. Some of them definitely have me scratching my head wondering what they were thinking. Before I had the Form-A-Funnel, I used tinfoil as Ryan mentions as well as precisely cut pieces of cardboard to ward off messy oil drains. All worked as planned, but the Form-A-Funnel is just so damn convenient that it is the first thing I reach for these days. Plus, a quick cleaning in the solvent tank with a wipe down and it's clean and ready to put back in the cupboard until the next job.

Something I have added to my Amazon list. Any information about the off brand versions of this or is this a name brand is best type thing?

 

[zmotorsports]

Something I have added to my Amazon list. Any information about the off brand versions of this or is this a name brand is best type thing?

Sorry, I don't have any personal experience with any of the off-brands. I just grabbed the Lisle as it was an impulse buy. WOW, I really hate even saying that as I feel like I am not in control when I say things like that. I try to pride myself on being deliberate with my money and not caving to impulse buys, but it happened.

 

[PugetDude]

Sorry, I don't have any personal experience with any of the off-brands. I just grabbed the Lisle as it was an impulse buy. WOW, I really hate even saying that as I feel like I am not in control when I say things like that. I try to pride myself on being deliberate with my money and not caving to impulse buys, but it happened.

F*ck.
He's human.
Sorry, guys.

 

[zmotorsports]

F*ck.
He's human.
Sorry, guys.

Shhhh. Don't tell anyone Scott.

 

[zkdiesel]

Spent 3 hours today on an 08 dmax today and felt like eternity got a turn signal issue
Left side flashes fast, all lights work though. All bulbs correct front and back, has mirror led. No bcm codes
Is a bcm output for amperage alert for bulb draw as warning system All bcm circuits ohm same as matched pair
Switched pins at rear bcm output, stayed same
Switched pins for front bcm output. Now it flashed fast on right signal and left side was blinking. Confirms my bcm is fine. Front output goes to Underhood fuse box as a junction box between different body harness, so switch wire pins there. Still stays at left side flashing fast so confirms fuse box and front harness wiring. So door harness splits off before Underhood box but has led factory turn signals. Trucks can be speced with or without them and have same bcm flash number, so why oh why would a working low amp draw led light screw me? Screw it, take door apart. Harness shoved behind a door panel bolt stabbing wire and cross shorting it to window motor lead.
I was about to send this to you to fix! 3 hours entirely pisses me off for a turn signal issue, but it was at a good independent place and dealer and was diagnosed bad bcm by them.

 

[zmotorsports]

Spent 3 hours today on an 08 dmax today and felt like eternity got a turn signal issue
Left side flashes fast, all lights work though. All bulbs correct front and back, has mirror led. No bcm codes
Is a bcm output for amperage alert for bulb draw as warning system All bcm circuits ohm same as matched pair
Switched pins at rear bcm output, stayed same
Switched pins for front bcm output. Now it flashed fast on right signal and left side was blinking. Confirms my bcm is fine. Front output goes to Underhood fuse box as a junction box between different body harness, so switch wire pins there. Still stays at left side flashing fast so confirms fuse box and front harness wiring. So door harness splits off before Underhood box but has led factory turn signals. Trucks can be speced with or without them and have same bcm flash number, so why oh why would a working low amp draw led light screw me? Screw it, take door apart. Harness shoved behind a door panel bolt stabbing wire and cross shorting it to window motor lead.
I was about to send this to you to fix! 3 hours entirely pisses me off for a turn signal issue, but it was at a good independent place and dealer and was diagnosed bad bcm by them.

Good find Zack. Unfortunately, sometimes the OEM puts these time based repairs in there to keep us on our toes.

 

[zkdiesel]

Good find Zack. Unfortunately, sometimes the OEM puts these time based repairs in there to keep us on our toes.

Oh this defiantly not a 1 hour diagnosis charge to customer. It costs what it costs on this to pay for my time.

 

[zmotorsports]

Oh this defiantly not a 1 hour diagnosis charge to customer. It costs what it costs on this to pay for my time.

Sorry Zack, I must have not communicated that properly. I didn't mean time by what the book time is, I meant time based meaning it took some time to show up and wasn't immediately due to a recent repair. I hate those as it takes a while and often many miles to get the wire to rub through and become shorted so it makes it even more difficult to diagnose because you're not looking for a recently moved fastener or component. When someone had a recent repair or work done that is often the first place to look, but these rub through's over time are difficult to figure out.

Maybe I should have said "time-delayed" failure. That would be a more accurate description.

 

[Wiz02]

Mike, I know that I am only a DIY guy, but lubing a driveshaft as part of a normal LOF on a truck that's newer than a 1930's model is a new one for me.

I was surprised how easy it was for you to remove the driveshaft. It would have taken me all day and it's more than likely that I would have broken something.