Red Ring Tupperware Party, Autumnal Equinoctal Edition (24)

Melody, do you ever have those jobs you knew you should have turned away but went against your gut?

1973 Volkswagen Transporter, rebuilding the automatic (not the auto stick) transmission. Parts no longer exist for this... what a nightmare.

Traci_Ann wrote in post #17163466
Melody, do you ever have those jobs you knew you should have turned away but went against your gut?

1973 Volkswagen Transporter, rebuilding the automatic (not the auto stick) transmission. Parts no longer exist for this... what a nightmare.

Yup, I have had them. You just know it's not going to go easy and it never does. Never do lower control arm bushings on a Neon!! (hint: if you ever do, the bolts are no longer available through Chrysler, but they are the same bolts as a Ford Sport Trac's lower control arm and they are still available)

That sounds like a horror story.

Traci_Ann wrote in post #17163466
Melody, do you ever have those jobs you knew you should have turned away but went against your gut?

1973 Volkswagen Transporter, rebuilding the automatic (not the auto stick) transmission. Parts no longer exist for this... what a nightmare.

Have you tries poking around the web? I found this site with lots of parts. This filtered for transmission. Many others as well.

http://www.partsgeek.c​om …ort=pop&scat=tr​ansmission

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #17163582
Yup, I have had them. You just know it's not going to go easy and it never does. Never do lower control arm bushings on a Neon!! (hint: if you ever do, the bolts are no longer available through Chrysler, but they are the same bolts as a Ford Sport Trac's lower control arm and they are still available)

That sounds like a horror story.

I worked at a VW/Dodge/Mitsubishi dealer in Kansas when the Neon came out. I was the VW tech but we had so many Neon head gasket failures that I did a lot of them. So happy I haven't worked on one in several years now.

While I was working at the independent shop this summer, of the few vehicles we worked on, most of them were Chryslers and I had two Neons/SX 2.0 that both needed new cam position sensors. Seems like a rare kind of part to go bad, but apparently it's rather common with them. I would have to be rather desperate to go work at Chrysler, especially at the two local dealerships (bad reputations).

I do enjoy replacing water pumps on Dakota's, Ram's, and Liberty's. They are easy and pay well. If the Dakota needs a new rad, it's even better. Especially since once you have them all taken apart it looks like a bomb blew up in the engine compartment.

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #17163785
While I was working at the independent shop this summer, of the few vehicles we worked on, most of them were Chryslers and I had two Neons/SX 2.0 that both needed new cam position sensors. Seems like a rare kind of part to go bad, but apparently it's rather common with them. I would have to be rather desperate to go work at Chrysler, especially at the two local dealerships (bad reputations).

I do enjoy replacing water pumps on Dakota's, Ram's, and Liberty's. They are easy and pay well. If the Dakota needs a new rad, it's even better. Especially since once you have them all taken apart it looks like a bomb blew up in the engine compartment.

How are you with Dakota shocks? Mine needs new ones...

When the Neon first came out, I rented one in Colorado in the winter. The anti-lock brakes worked great on the snow, but the thing I hated the most was the trunk. I opened the trunk one day, leaned over to get something out and creased my forehead on the trunk lid. It had hit the top of the travel and bounced back, just enough for me to whack my head on it. Never drove one again...

JWright wrote in post #17164140
How are you with Dakota shocks? Mine needs new ones...

Never done them on a Dakota. Rear ones would be easy.

I went to IKEA in Michigan with a couple of friends on Wednesday. When we got back to the border I had an absolutely horrible time trying to keep a straight face while talking to the CBSA officer. The officer's name badge caught my eye... GROOT. And the guy kinda looked like Vin Diesel.

(anyone who's watched Guardians of the Galaxy will understand)

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #17165696
I went to IKEA in Michigan with a couple of friends on Wednesday. When we got back to the border I had an absolutely horrible time trying to keep a straight face while talking to the CBSA officer. The officer's name badge caught my eye... GROOT. And the guy kinda looked like Vin Diesel.

(anyone who's watched Guardians of the Galaxy will understand)

Nice. It's one of the only movies I ever went and saw twice at the theater. Though I may have seen Deuce Bigalow twice.

I don't think I've ever seen a movie twice in theaters, but there are a few that I definitely would have seen twice. Guardians is one that I will be sure to buy. The story and action are great, but the sound track really hits it home.

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #17165696
I went to IKEA in Michigan with a couple of friends on Wednesday. When we got back to the border I had an absolutely horrible time trying to keep a straight face while talking to the CBSA officer. The officer's name badge caught my eye... GROOT. And the guy kinda looked like Vin Diesel.

(anyone who's watched Guardians of the Galaxy will understand)

Groot use to be our garbage service.

Before the movie it was just another odd name. I'm sure the border guard hears all kinds of comments about his name. It was so hard to not break out laughing.

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #17165696
I went to IKEA in Michigan with a couple of friends on Wednesday. When we got back to the border I had an absolutely horrible time trying to keep a straight face while talking to the CBSA officer. The officer's name badge caught my eye... GROOT. And the guy kinda looked like Vin Diesel.

(anyone who's watched Guardians of the Galaxy will understand)

Seriously?

JWright wrote in post #17166076
Seriously?

Oh yeah. I've seen him before, but that was long before the movie came out. As soon as he let us go I cracked up. My friends hadn't been able to see his name badge but had a look at him. We all had a good laugh.

New addition to the family. It's a sweet ride.
We went up to Mt. Charleston today, just north of the valley; 30 degrees cooler than at the house, and some pretty fall colors.

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