More than two years later....LMAO
Life comes at you fast.
Last two years have been chock full of times where I seem to be jumping from fix to fix, instead of working things that were 'planned' projects.
Spent a good six months going through things I've collected over the years. I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about.
"I'll be glad I kept that if I ever need one."
OEM radios. Intake manifolds - for engine types I don't even run / own anymore. Crate after crate of stuff I collected turning (3) 90s Broncos into one, which was sold a good while back.
Between Facebook Marketplace and Ebay, I clawed back some room in my shop and garage.
And JUST when I'd catch up on things that NEED to be done and try to get to some things I want to do?
The '03 Mustang my son drives had been plugging along just fine. The one day he calls me. "Car won't move. Engine is running fine, no weird noises. Pulled out onto the main road, and then it just stopped pulling. Nothing. No Reverse, No low, No Drive. It's an automatic... 4R70W.
Get it back to the shop. It has fluid in it, that doesn't look burnt or bad. No weird noises. Drop the pan. Filter is in the pan. Fairly common issue. Call my buddy I grew up with who knows these transmissions. I describe everything going on. I ask him:
"No gears at all. It's gotta be the pump or the converter. Right?"
He tells me that's about it - but if it was the converter the fluid wouldn't be so clean. Likely the pump. Pressure test would confirm. So I put a new filter (already had it) back in it, put the pan on it, filled it with fluid. I think my son and I were both hoping it was just that filter issue - though I knew that wasn't likely the case. Nothing. No gears.
It's gotta be the pump. Right? Nope. Pressure test is fine. Okay - something internal has left the chat, transmission has to come out regardless. So we get to it.
160k+ - looks to have never been out. Fluid / pan was not bad at all. No major metal shavings. Guys I know:
"Just get a good used transmission, those things are a dime a dozen!"
True - literally millions of 4R70W transmissions produced - but the VAST majority of those lived behind 4.6 engines. Different bolt pattern from the same trans here used behind the 3.8. But guess what does share that 3.8 bolt pattern? The traditional Ford Small Block. Want to swap an overdrive in your 289, 302, 351 car without a lot of drama? Find a 3.8 Mustang version or a 5.0 Explorer version. My buddy says some places want $350 just for a buildable core.
I'm a three pedal guy myself. Always have been. Talked to several local guys that came recommended. Take out price for a STOCK rebuild? $650-1200. Helluva range. Of course no 'real' warranty. That I understand, since they aren't installing - they can't be sure the customer is installing a new converter and flushing the trans cooler - if they don't all that lovely clutch material goes right into the rebuilt trans.
Fine - I'll take it apart and fix it. Not a lot of sensors, just lots of seals, bushings and clutch packs. At worst rebuild / replace the pump. Maybe a screwy valve body. Worst case? Rebuilt converter and replacing all the parts is still way cheaper than the cheapest 'rebuild' (which usually just replaces seals / bad bushings and the burnt clutches etc).
Never even had to remove the pan again. Get it out - of course the last owner stripped two exhaust studs, so I have to replace those, but that's par for the course. And of course the ADULT, previous owner, decided to install a OEM Mustang GT exhaust. "For the sound." It was "custom" installed by an exhaust shop. I'm tempted to message the guy to tell me which shop so I can make sure that no one I like ever goes there.
Pull the converter. Doesn't smell burnt. Fluid inside looks okay. I had already ordered a rebuilt converter from Summit - worse case I'd be replacing it when I rebuilt it. Waited to order internal rebuild parts until I knew what hard parts were bad. Good thing. Looking at the new converter versus old? The splines literally 'spun' inside the old converter. I thought had pictures. Guess not. Input shaft was fine. Installed the new converter. Fought the new converter to actual seat ALL the way on the shaft - old converter was really sloppy compared to new. Got it seated. Fixed exhaust, installed everything, new fluid.
All gears working. I'll take the small wins. It's been fine for quite a while now.
Then late last year, when it was ridiculously cold for VA - I had a water leak in the crawl space.
The house was custom built 20+ years ago (not by me) and well done, overbuilt really, for the most part. On land, well water. BUT the plumber decided to use PEX (fine) but randomly used some STEEL unions on certain runs. (Not fine). I've replaced them as I've run across them over the years with various leaks sprung - I'd re run that section.
This time a plastic 90 cracked.
But this leak? It's almost inaccessible. When the house was built (2 story Colonial) only ONE heat pump / AC was installed. They installed a second later. So of course the second air handler was installed in the crawl space - AFTER plumbing had already existed.
That's the ducting for the retrofitted air handler (again before we owned it). Good luck getting my PEX tool in there.
This happened at night. Just after work. Dark. Single digit temps. Was able to get a temp repair in (that barely leaked) to get by until the next morning, where I sucked up all the water with a shop vac and laid in the WET while fixing it. It was a balmy 22 degrees or so.
Around that time (it all blends in) the hot water heater sprung a leak. I had replaced the original heater ('99 when house was built) back in @ 2019. First one (likely never flushed) lasted 20 years, I'll go the same route.
This one lasted 6+ years. The tank sprung a leak. At least they honored their warranty. SC based company. Actually got a native SC person on the phone when I called. (I grew up there - you can't disguise that accent). Sent her pictures of the tank failure. She sent me all the info, go to Lowe's with old heater - get replacement. Simple right??
Show up to lowe's with old heater. Have the email / info from manufacturer for warranty. Apparently Lowe's updated their system. Manager gets involved, he's filling out all the prompts for info his system wants, submitting it - it keeps throwing him in a loop. Over and over. He gets frustrated. I get frustrated. Finally he looks at me.
"Do we have that same model in stock?"
Me: "Yes, I already checked."
Him: "Just go get the new one."
NOTE: The warranty is full replacement from manufacturer BUT the difference in price is on me. It was @ $70 more expensive for same heater. I get it back to the return desk, he does this thing, hands me a receipt and says "have a good day, sorry about the trouble."
Saved me $70. A hot water tank failing in 6 years is another issue - but hey - like I've said take the small wins.
Get it to the house, get it installed. It leaks a bit - from the HEATER itself at the top of the tank where the factory inlet / outlet is located. Turn out they weren't tightened enough from the factory. I fix that. No leaks.
Note - I did not turn on the heater's breaker until the tank is FILLED - not my first rodeo unfortunately. It heats up - takes forever to give hot water and it's not really "hot". Check settings. This thing was definitely UNOPENED since leaving factory - let me be clear about that. Called their warranty support. Get another SC local. Who then proceeds to tell me I need a certified plumber to look at it. IF it's bad - they'll pay $500 towards the cost. Do they realize what plumbers would charge to show up (not to mention how long that would take) and remove old heater to go get ANOTHER Warranty replacement? The cost would literally be MORE than be going and just buying a totally new heater at the store myself.
Tell the guy about the factory installed connections that leaked - that I fixed. He literally lectured me "I know every inch of those heaters and how they're built....." I hung up. I decided to pull the elements (dual element heater). Again this was a BRAND NEW, UNOPENED heater from Lowe's.
Here's one of the elements I pulled out of said brand new heater:
Installed new elements. Flushed it -no sediment AT ALL. Let tank fill. Turned on breaker. Hot water - fast and plentiful.
The joys of being a homeowner. I live on 5 acres. And I can shoot / hunt on my property. And I like the one neighbor I can SEE from my property. So yeah - still worth it to me.
www.spraymax.com
www.autorust.com
story of my life right there