My vote for clunky sounds is strut tops and end links. Have to say your "RiverRu" came out swell.
Note to the Subaru engineer who determined that there is enough room in the engine bay for the 2.5 DOHC: You're right, but you're also kind of a dick.
Drivers side valve cover gasket is done. I would have taken pictures of the process but they would have ended up blurry with rage.
Have you attempted changing spark plugs yet? You may think you have enough swivels and small enough hands..
In reply to Papabishop :
You don't have to pull them to change the valve cover gaskets, do you? I pulled them first without really thinking because I've had to on every other car I've ever done valve cover gaskets on. Only later I realized with how it all went together that I didn't have to. Without that I would have been far far far less angry. They look good by the way, I put them back.
Don’t believe so, might give lil more clearance to work but might not make difference. Thought the plugs were difficult to do on that, my DD is supposed 3-5hr job, damn v6 fwd..
Driving. Just driving. Like a mini bike. It's kind of ugly and it doesn't handle well or go fast, but dammit if it doesn't leave you with a smile. Creeping up on 2k miles since I put it back on the road. It was cold this morning and the luxury features were appreciated.
The AC belt was a little squealy on start up and I had to put more tension on it than I was comfortable with to stop it. I kind of liked the squeal, it fit with the car. Kids thought it was slightly embarrassing. Now it's quiet.
Could have left it to Mrs. Deuce. While I was at the Challenge she sends me this picture. Our 80 year old neighbor decided to replace the serpentine belt on his Corolla and about the time he got it off he called over to the house to ask if I could help him get it back on. Mrs. Deuce was the hero of the day. She's awesome.
I think your supposed to remove the battery, and the washer tank, before doing any work on the heads. Spark plugs, valve covers, valve adjustment, stuff like that, with the battery and the washer tank out it is much easier.
In reply to TED_fiestaHP :
You can get it apart with them in place, but I did have to remove them to get it back together. I look up torque specs, but fly blind on everything else. It's fun!
A few years ago I took the heads off of one of these, little clumsy getting the heads back on, since you have to put all the head bolts into the head then lower it into place. You can't install the bolts otherwise. But it is somewhat easier if you remove a couple things that are in the way, I think it was the batter and washer tank and the air filter box, then the access was actually fairly good. But still somewhat space limited....
Awesome to know she’s being good to you. Squeals and creaks give car character! I don’t know what I miss most bout those heated seats, the cold or sore back.
Last night was $0.50 corn dog night at Sonic and since we're without a kitchen sink it sounded brilliant. Nothing says corn dog run like a $500 Subaru so we all piled in. This was the first time Mrs. Deuce has been in the car since she peeked her head in when we brought it home. She agreed that it's pretty decent inside and seems to ride nice for what it is. She was as thoroughly impressed as one can be with a car of this stature. She still has no desire to drive it, but now I think she would if she had to.
There's something satisfying about driving a cheap but functional car. Somewhere along the line cars became expensive things that most people think you have to have new and fancy, even though old and simple ones work too. Driving something that's not pristine, comfortable, and beautiful keeps you humble in a way.
Changed the oil on the Forester. This is only significant because I've driven enough that I needed to change the oil. 3k miles so far. I'm a little concerned that the oil smelled a bit like gas, but I also noticed the PVC line was disconnected so I'm hoping that I'm getting normal amouts on gas in the oil (just a smidge) and I'm not pulling the fumes out. Otherwise I have a leaking injector or something.
Not particularily proud of this wiring, but it was worse before I got in there. Three speakers work and I can plug my phone in and listen to podcasts. The car is better. Mission accomplished.
It looks like they hacked up the factory harness instead of investing $12 in the necessary adaptor to keep it intact?
In reply to Slammo :
Yes. Proper me would have fixed the factory harness and bought the $12 adapter. I was not being proper me, but this car seems ok with that.
Over on the main board someone posted a spectacularly cheap bluetooth stereo at WalMart.com. It was $13 shipped to the store. I put it in today. Works great. My music/podcasts shut off when the ignition shuts off and come back on when I start the car. I did have to swap the pocket to the top position to get things to fit, but not a big deal. One of the better $13 I've spent on the car.
Still the kids favorite car. They love the heated seats, the working radio, and the back doors. Looking forward to teaching kid#2 how to drive in it shortly after the new year.
Actual conversation between kid#1 and kid#2
Kid#1: I want to take the Harlequin Lesbianmobile to college next year.
Kid#2: It's a Forester Tricolore and it's mine.
At which point kid#1 decided I can just find her a multi-colored Forester of her own and I had to explain that cars that are this bad and this good at the same time are hard to come by.
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