The All New, New "What have you done to your Bay today" thread.

Fitted a big foot

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Welds golore and I can't remember doing any but you're right , it's seen some action over the years and served me well ...
@mikedjames , it's got your name on it if you want (another) project

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Removed rear tins and exhaust, reminded myself which one is stripping by tightening it...or not because it spins.
Off with the heat exchanger, double nut the stud and here it is.

And this is why I was moaning about cheapo exhaust gaskets. The stuffing cracks and bits of it fall out, the joint becomes loose and leaks. You can't tighten it successfully because the stuffing doesn't all fall out.


I'll try and work out how to keep the helicoil tap in line with the hole now. I don't think it'll fit through the exhaust stub fixing hole or I'd do that for a guide to at least start it. Maybe I'll look again at that.

 

That’s way worse than mine that my mate welded up for me….

 

Not good but at least it's in one piece and yours cracked around the central pivot - far weaker .
Bit surprised really as 6 months ago all seemed well , shows you why it's a good idea to have a dig around ...

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Is there a decent gasket material that you could cut your own from Steve?

 

IDK, I forked out for vintage speed ones in the end. Thought it had started popping on overrun and the oxygen sensor close by is now kaput though not sure if the two are connected. If they are it's a salutary lesson - fit good stuff.

 

The O2 sensors dont like smoky startups but I did find a £27 Chinese LSU4.2 5 wire job worked provided I worked out which wire was which on the original wiring..just as well because I smashed the first one hauling the engine back into the tow bar..

 

Tricky job if anyone has tried. The M8 helicoil tap is quite large and just shoving it at the small existing hole and trying to direct it wasn't going to work. As any fule know, if you go wrong with a tap like this, not following the hole, eventually the tap is digging into one side so much it will come to a halt and by then it's too late. I lost the 8.3mm helicoil drill eons ago. I thought 8.5 might not be best in a hand held drill. Then I tried exhaust on with a thought of tapping through it's stubs but the pipes are in the way. I really couldn't be messing this up, a new suitable pair from the States is almost $2,000 + shipping and import taxes so I'm taking my time. lol

I checked through my taps and found a 1st and a second M9 tap. M9 is just a tad smaller than the helicoil tap and the 1st tap is made (ish) to follow the hole so I used that, then the M9 2nd, then the helicoil tap. Stud in, heat exchanger tried for fit and... it fits so I chucked everything in the back and gave up for the day. I'll reassemble tomorrow.

In the end I picked the ali out of the rare as hen's teeth stud and reused it. It was 1mm longer and a bit better condition than the one in my spares, so I still have a spare.

 

4.9 in mine, but yes I just buy £30 ones. The previous one outlasted Bosch by a large factor and the readings were the same as the broken one. You have to calibrate it, but it's just a matter of running it in free air and pressing a button or two. I think AEM pre calibrate them (or Bosch do it for them) with a permanent resistance so their kit works straight out of the box (good for sales) and it probably saves 1001 phone calls from people asking how they can tell if they calibrated it correctly!

 

No thanks, I have a spare that is better than that although patched up .

 

The prep and weld is strong, though.

 

Tongue was firmly in cheek Mike - it`s trashed ....

 

Could be used as the base for a narrowed beam for anyone so inclined.

 

Fitted a shiny new antenna after a passing tree snapped the old one off.

 

I thought that welding any steering or suspension part was a no no .
The MoT rules mentions stressed parts, which I suppose a beam isn’t, but I understand that a subframe holding steering or suspension parts ( which a beam certainly is) cannot be welded, as if welded, it’s unable to be sure original strength is matched.

 

It's a fine line and could be argued til the cows come home but let's just say I have friends in the trade . They obviously wouldn't pass anything going to fall in two but were old school and liked a shandy after work .
Happy days ....


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Cut and twist beams always seemed to be fine in Mot’s…

 

Reminds me when my rear torsion arm snapped two days before spending 3 weeks in the South of France

 

I’d love to remove mine, but the awful whistling noise doesn’t justify the expense of welding up holes and respraying front.