ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0
- Thread starter zmotorsports
- Start date
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Merry Christmas Mike! I can only imagine the joy that you and your wife will experience with your grandson this year for Christmas. I barely remember those early Christmas times but they were truly magical. Merry Christmas!
CGarage
Well-known member
Merry Christmas, Mike. Thank you for your detailed posts and sharing your knowledge.
ntsqd
Well-known member
My experience with POR products has been that even if the prep is perfect to their instructions and you didn't hold your mouth just exactly right when applying it then you won't get the desired results.
OTOH, MISF uses their products extensively and gets good results with it. He hasn't always, if there's a way to screw it up he's likely done it.
Red-Kote is a new one to me, so I looked it up. From: https://www.damonq.com/TechSheets/Red-Kote.pdf-
"It has limited applications with aviation gasoline, diesel fuel, and some racing fuels. Bio-diesel, racing fuels and methanol-containing
fuels/fuel additives should be tested prior to use as they may attack Red-Kote."
Rare that our fuel doesn't have some alcohol content, so for my use I'm thinking it's not an option w/o some extensive testing.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
MIike, I hope you and your family have a great Christmas! Thanks for all you do here on the GJ.
steves_001
Well-known member
Merry Christmas! Hope Santa is good to the little guy!
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
Merry Christmas Mike! I look forward to seeing what you hooked your Grandson up with this year.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It's 11:15 PM here on the east coast and you are two hours behind us. I know I'll forget when I wake up tomorrow so I'm sending this a few hours early:
Happy Birthday Mike!
Happy Birthday Mike!
)bugnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hey Mike, Happy Birthday!
PS @Bob Heine thanks for keeping the annual birthday calendar for the team!
PS @Bob Heine thanks for keeping the annual birthday calendar for the team!
RickP
Well-known member
Hope you have a great birthday Mike!
Swanny1953
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Happy Birthday, Mike! Take some time off and enjoy it with your tribe. I bet Saturday morning breakfast with your boys will be a little more special this morning!!
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Congratulations on another trip around the sun, Mike.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Happy birthday Mike!
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Happy birthday, Mike! Hope you got a dude's breakfast with your son/grandson!
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Happy birthday, dude! I think in your honour I will go move some stuff around in the shop.
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
madison069
Well-known member
Happy Birthday! Hope today was a good day!
steves_001
Well-known member
Happy birthday!
Benzlover
Well-known member
Happy belated birthday, Mike!
signcrafter
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 9, 2012
- Messages
- 12,367
Hope you had a good birthday Mike. Breakfast with the boys?
Johnno
Well-known member
Happy Birthday Mike
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
WOW!
Thank you everyone. I am overwhelmed with all of the B-Day wishes and comments.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas with loved ones.
The wife and I had a great Christmas Eve as she made a fabulous dinner for our little family and afterwards we watched our grandson and kids open gifts. Then Christmas Day we were invited to our kid's house for breakfast and to watch our grandson open his gifts from his parents and Santa.
I could tell something was off with my wife when I got home from work on Christmas Eve as she didn't act normal, but she wouldn't say anything as I helped her cook dinner for the kids. She didn't sleep well that night and then late morning on Christmas day she passed a kidney stone. I'm sure that was not the most comfortable, but she never complained and just pushed through. I am in awe of my lovely bride each and every day how she puts others before herself and doesn't complain. Makes me feel bad though, but at the same time, I was glad it wasn't something I had done.
On Saturday I met our kids and grandson for breakfast. It was nice, but I think my grandson would have rather stayed home and played with his toys. Then after breakfast we worked on my son's WJ for a bit before closing up the shop for the weekend. I was able to get a couple items marked off my "to do" list over the holiday weekend though, which was nice.
I was able to hang up the new calendar that the kids got us for Christmas as well as a wood shop project that my son had made in Jr. High School that the wife found while starting to put away Christmas decorations so I hung both up in the shop.
Stay tuned for some pictures.
Thank you everyone. I am overwhelmed with all of the B-Day wishes and comments.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas with loved ones.
The wife and I had a great Christmas Eve as she made a fabulous dinner for our little family and afterwards we watched our grandson and kids open gifts. Then Christmas Day we were invited to our kid's house for breakfast and to watch our grandson open his gifts from his parents and Santa.
I could tell something was off with my wife when I got home from work on Christmas Eve as she didn't act normal, but she wouldn't say anything as I helped her cook dinner for the kids. She didn't sleep well that night and then late morning on Christmas day she passed a kidney stone. I'm sure that was not the most comfortable, but she never complained and just pushed through. I am in awe of my lovely bride each and every day how she puts others before herself and doesn't complain. Makes me feel bad though, but at the same time, I was glad it wasn't something I had done.
On Saturday I met our kids and grandson for breakfast. It was nice, but I think my grandson would have rather stayed home and played with his toys.
Then after breakfast we worked on my son's WJ for a bit before closing up the shop for the weekend. I was able to get a couple items marked off my "to do" list over the holiday weekend though, which was nice.I was able to hang up the new calendar that the kids got us for Christmas as well as a wood shop project that my son had made in Jr. High School that the wife found while starting to put away Christmas decorations so I hung both up in the shop.
Stay tuned for some pictures.
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OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A few months ago the wife informed me that she had a small tear in the passenger's front bottom seat cushion of her car. Upon investigation I found that the leather had gotten hard and was cracking quite severely. During some investigation I learned that this was quite common on this vintage of Acura's so I went looking for some new upholstery and reading a multitude of reviews from the very few suppliers I could find that supported the Fourth Gen TL's. I did find much more support for the Third Gen actually.
I mentioned that I was searching for some replacement upholstery even though the wife said she could live with it. I don't like that she would be willing to "live with it", so I ended up purchasing some replacement upholstery for the front two seats a couple of months ago in hopes I could get her car away from her over the holidays. I know she didn't want me to do anything about it, but I can't let her car go like that as I want her to drive something not only reliable, but something in good condition that she doesn't have to feel like she's "settling for".
I was able to get the car away from her when I got home on Christmas Eve long enough to run and get the emissions done for another year and then I told her I was pulling it in the shop to do a full service and tire rotation before she went back to work this week.
After performing the oil service and tire rotation, I backed it off the lift and began getting things ready for the front seat removal.
Hog rings and pliers at the ready.
Original seats. While they're not terrible for having over 200k, I am a little disappointed in Acura's leather and from my reading I found this a very common issue on vehicles with much less than 200k miles. I have used some Leather Honey on the seats over the years that we've owned it, but I admit that I probably haven't used it as regularly or as diligently as I should have.
The leather was quite brittle and would crack with little focused pressure on the bottom cushion. I think the large windshield also plays a role as the wife doesn't always put her windshield protection screen in place when she's at work.
Removing the trim pieces to gain access to the rear bolts.
Seat belt anchor point exposed and seat belt removed.
Front bolts removed, seat tilted back and electrical connectors disconnected.
Then the seat could be lifted out.
And ready for disassembly.
With the seat back removed I was able to gain access to the headrest mounting points for removal. They squeeze at the underside and can be pushed up and out.
Stay tuned for many more pictures.
I mentioned that I was searching for some replacement upholstery even though the wife said she could live with it. I don't like that she would be willing to "live with it", so I ended up purchasing some replacement upholstery for the front two seats a couple of months ago in hopes I could get her car away from her over the holidays. I know she didn't want me to do anything about it, but I can't let her car go like that as I want her to drive something not only reliable, but something in good condition that she doesn't have to feel like she's "settling for".
I was able to get the car away from her when I got home on Christmas Eve long enough to run and get the emissions done for another year and then I told her I was pulling it in the shop to do a full service and tire rotation before she went back to work this week.
After performing the oil service and tire rotation, I backed it off the lift and began getting things ready for the front seat removal.
Hog rings and pliers at the ready.
Original seats. While they're not terrible for having over 200k, I am a little disappointed in Acura's leather and from my reading I found this a very common issue on vehicles with much less than 200k miles. I have used some Leather Honey on the seats over the years that we've owned it, but I admit that I probably haven't used it as regularly or as diligently as I should have.
The leather was quite brittle and would crack with little focused pressure on the bottom cushion. I think the large windshield also plays a role as the wife doesn't always put her windshield protection screen in place when she's at work.
Removing the trim pieces to gain access to the rear bolts.
Seat belt anchor point exposed and seat belt removed.
Front bolts removed, seat tilted back and electrical connectors disconnected.
Then the seat could be lifted out.
And ready for disassembly.
With the seat back removed I was able to gain access to the headrest mounting points for removal. They squeeze at the underside and can be pushed up and out.
Stay tuned for many more pictures.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Continuing on.
The bottom seat cushion comes off relatively easy by using a cotter pin tool to hook and pull the J-channel away from the seat frame, then lift the cushion and upholstery off as one.
With the bottom removed, I turned my attention to the seat back. I saw a video where they disassembled the seat frame by removing the pivot point fasteners and completely separating the back from the bottom, but once I got it apart, I really didn't think that was necessary, so I left the seatback intact and moved forward with the material replacement.
I turned my attention to the bottom cushion and started removing the material from the padding by disconnecting the hog rings one by one, outside working my way inward and folding the material back on itself.
Easily pulling the material off of the foam to ensure no damage came to the seat heaters, which were still functioning perfectly.
With the old material removed it was time to test fit the new material and then start securing to the foam using new hog rings.
Pushing the welding down into the foam and grabbing the lower steel rod with the hog rings. This is much harder on one's hands and fingers than I remember. I felt it in my hands and fingers the next day.
The hog rings all secured in the same locations as the original with the material ready to stretch around the frame and attach. For the most part the material was a nice fitment. I had seen so many that were not exactly the same size as the original which resulted in a lot of bunching up and folds in the new material, but these fit relatively nice and tight. The only issues are some creases from where the material was vacuum packed for shipping which should slowly release and come out as the material warms and gets some use.
Next was time to tackle the seat back and remove the connectors around the side air bag.
Systematically removing the material from outside to inside same as the bottom.
Seat back material fully removed.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
The bottom seat cushion comes off relatively easy by using a cotter pin tool to hook and pull the J-channel away from the seat frame, then lift the cushion and upholstery off as one.
With the bottom removed, I turned my attention to the seat back. I saw a video where they disassembled the seat frame by removing the pivot point fasteners and completely separating the back from the bottom, but once I got it apart, I really didn't think that was necessary, so I left the seatback intact and moved forward with the material replacement.
I turned my attention to the bottom cushion and started removing the material from the padding by disconnecting the hog rings one by one, outside working my way inward and folding the material back on itself.
Easily pulling the material off of the foam to ensure no damage came to the seat heaters, which were still functioning perfectly.
With the old material removed it was time to test fit the new material and then start securing to the foam using new hog rings.
Pushing the welding down into the foam and grabbing the lower steel rod with the hog rings. This is much harder on one's hands and fingers than I remember. I felt it in my hands and fingers the next day.
The hog rings all secured in the same locations as the original with the material ready to stretch around the frame and attach. For the most part the material was a nice fitment. I had seen so many that were not exactly the same size as the original which resulted in a lot of bunching up and folds in the new material, but these fit relatively nice and tight. The only issues are some creases from where the material was vacuum packed for shipping which should slowly release and come out as the material warms and gets some use.
Next was time to tackle the seat back and remove the connectors around the side air bag.
Systematically removing the material from outside to inside same as the bottom.
Seat back material fully removed.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Continuing on.
As I was working on the passenger's seat assembly, my son, DIL and grandson stopped by for a visit and my grandson asked to sit on our tractor. Who am I to say no to him? The little stink is already figuring out where switches and levers are and playing with them and it isn't even running yet......
After a short visit, I got back on the upholstery job and completed the passenger's seat.
Seat back snapped back into place after the head rest retainers were installed.
Bolted back in place and tested the controls.
Time to move on to the driver's side seat. Removed and on the table for the same treatment. The driver's seat although the material was hard, was not displaying any actual damage.
Driver's seat disassembled and material replaced in same fashion.
Driver's seat completed and ready for installation into the car. I was pretty pleased with the overall fitment and how tight it seemed to fit, especially for the cost of the materials. The creased and depressions should relent once the material warms and gets some use and it conforms a bit more to the foam, but at least it fits and there are no large bunches or wrinkling of the material due to poor sizing and fitment.
Trim panels installed.
And back in the car.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
As I was working on the passenger's seat assembly, my son, DIL and grandson stopped by for a visit and my grandson asked to sit on our tractor. Who am I to say no to him?
The little stink is already figuring out where switches and levers are and playing with them and it isn't even running yet......After a short visit, I got back on the upholstery job and completed the passenger's seat.
Seat back snapped back into place after the head rest retainers were installed.
Bolted back in place and tested the controls.
Time to move on to the driver's side seat. Removed and on the table for the same treatment. The driver's seat although the material was hard, was not displaying any actual damage.
Driver's seat disassembled and material replaced in same fashion.
Driver's seat completed and ready for installation into the car. I was pretty pleased with the overall fitment and how tight it seemed to fit, especially for the cost of the materials. The creased and depressions should relent once the material warms and gets some use and it conforms a bit more to the foam, but at least it fits and there are no large bunches or wrinkling of the material due to poor sizing and fitment.
Trim panels installed.
And back in the car.
Stay tuned for more pictures.
Okay, I'm just going to say that the carpet you showed under the front pass. seat is crazy CLEAN!
I’m so impressed.
Ive removed dozens of customer seats when I workEd in the dealership and no one’s was ever that clean let alone a vehicle with 200K miles on it.
Once I even found a used diaper, (#1 thankfully).
I’m so impressed.
Ive removed dozens of customer seats when I workEd in the dealership and no one’s was ever that clean let alone a vehicle with 200K miles on it.
Once I even found a used diaper, (#1 thankfully).
Last edited:
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Continuing on.
With garbage pickup being delayed a day, it gave me time to get as much into the cans as possible, so all of the old materials were discards as well as parts from the air system work on the coach so I could do a bit of cleaning and organizing in the shop before closing up for the day. I actually wasn't sure I would get both seats completed in one day, but the process went a bit faster than I originally anticipated.
The material is very delicate and brittle with it easily breaking apart so it was definitely time for replacement.
Still not wanting the wife to see it, I moved the car over to the side bay so it could sit in a warm shop overnight and I could clean as well as make room for the my son's Jeep on Saturday morning.
The seats do fit quite well overall.
I have used Leather Honey for a few years, but to be honest, it doesn't go on all that consistent nor smooth so I did some research and had read many good things about this one so I decided to give it a try. It goes on much nicer and easier to be consistent as it is a "creamier" consistency.
Seats treated and allowed to soak in.
At that point, Saturday afternoon I pulled it back into the attached garage and showed the wife her new seats.
Thanks for looking.
With garbage pickup being delayed a day, it gave me time to get as much into the cans as possible, so all of the old materials were discards as well as parts from the air system work on the coach so I could do a bit of cleaning and organizing in the shop before closing up for the day. I actually wasn't sure I would get both seats completed in one day, but the process went a bit faster than I originally anticipated.
The material is very delicate and brittle with it easily breaking apart so it was definitely time for replacement.
Still not wanting the wife to see it, I moved the car over to the side bay so it could sit in a warm shop overnight and I could clean as well as make room for the my son's Jeep on Saturday morning.
The seats do fit quite well overall.
I have used Leather Honey for a few years, but to be honest, it doesn't go on all that consistent nor smooth so I did some research and had read many good things about this one so I decided to give it a try. It goes on much nicer and easier to be consistent as it is a "creamier" consistency.
Seats treated and allowed to soak in.
At that point, Saturday afternoon I pulled it back into the attached garage and showed the wife her new seats.
Thanks for looking.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thank you. My wife does a pretty good job of at least following my "suggestion" of no eating in our vehicles so that helps. I also try to keep her car clean and detailed for her as she spends an hour and a half to two hours a day in it and I want her to enjoy that time without feeling like she's in **** hole.
With the car just over 200k miles I would like to keep it as nice as possible for the next few years and then upgrade it for her as we retire and she will no longer need a commuter car.
ScepterToad
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2023
- Messages
- 335
Happy belated birthday Mike!
Nice job on those seats!
Nice job on those seats!
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
After breakfast with my son and his family on Saturday, he brought his Jeep over to address a small issue he noticed a few weeks ago, a leaking from pinion seal.
Son's WJ racked and he removed the front driveshaft from the pinion flange.
Checking the rotating torque prior to disassembly.
Pinion nut removed and ready to remove the drive flange from the pinion.
Seal being removed.
New seal installed and ready to reinstall the drive flange.
Yoke splines with some RTV applied to seal and nut reinstalled with red thread sealant and then the old markings removed and new paint marks applied once the correct rotating torque was set.
Driveshaft reinstalled and fasteners marked.
Lastly, UPS delivered my new tool on Saturday thanks to Cam, aka @LXCam for the suggestion. I hadn't seen this Rivnut installation tool before he showed it and I did a little research and kind of liked the design, so I ordered one.
Thanks for looking.
Son's WJ racked and he removed the front driveshaft from the pinion flange.
Checking the rotating torque prior to disassembly.
Pinion nut removed and ready to remove the drive flange from the pinion.
Seal being removed.
New seal installed and ready to reinstall the drive flange.
Yoke splines with some RTV applied to seal and nut reinstalled with red thread sealant and then the old markings removed and new paint marks applied once the correct rotating torque was set.
Driveshaft reinstalled and fasteners marked.
Lastly, UPS delivered my new tool on Saturday thanks to Cam, aka @LXCam for the suggestion. I hadn't seen this Rivnut installation tool before he showed it and I did a little research and kind of liked the design, so I ordered one.
Thanks for looking.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks Keith.
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Mike, I've been using the same CG Leather Conditioner for 4-5 years with good results.
I still use Meguires Gold Series cleaner when necessary, but the CG Leather Conditioner has kept the seats in the Suburban, Tundra, and Wife's Tacoma soft and pliable. I hit them with it 3-4 times a year.
I still use Meguires Gold Series cleaner when necessary, but the CG Leather Conditioner has kept the seats in the Suburban, Tundra, and Wife's Tacoma soft and pliable. I hit them with it 3-4 times a year.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks for the feedback Marc. I definitely need to do it more than the once a year I was treating it in the past and with the CG's going on much smoother and easier, I don't think I'll dread it as much and therefore will be more consistent in the application.
Well dang Mike, I feel remiss I missed your’a birthday. So happy belated 
You’re going to like that tool for the larger sized nutserts. I haven’t tried anything smaller than 1/4” yet with mine so it’ll be interesting to see if it plays nice with #8’s and 10’s or if it to unruly.
You’re going to like that tool for the larger sized nutserts. I haven’t tried anything smaller than 1/4” yet with mine so it’ll be interesting to see if it plays nice with #8’s and 10’s or if it to unruly.
Graham08
Well-known member
Nice work on recovering those seats, Mike! Upholstery is something I’ve never messed with to that degree.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks Graham. Upholstery is something I despise and would rather leave to the experts. However, my son and I replaced the material on his 2002 Duramax last year and it was surprisingly not as bad as I initially thought it would be, so I opted to tackle another one rather than pay someone else. This one also turned out not to be bad at all.