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Hey guys. I'm worn out. Shot. All I do in my free time is wrench on old cars. I'm not having fun like you folks who keep on top of your bricks so they're always in top shape. I can't keep up with my two old cars ('91 Toyota Truck & '91 Volvo 740T wagon). I always feel like I'm behind the curve and just when I feel I'm gaining ground something else needs to be addressed on one of them. This isn't a hobby for me as much as plain survival (we'd be screwed without one of them). But I guess the fact I can have two 17-year-old daily drivers and no car payments says a lot about these cars. (although you end up spending more on parts every month than a cheap lease)
Anyway I need some help prioritizing. I have only three weeks of wrench time left before I have to call it quits until Oct. That leaves 1.5 weekends for the Volvo. Subtract wife time and that leaves about a total of 16 hours. Keep in mind it takes me a LONG time to do just a simple job.
I don't want to subject the better half to another summer without air conditioning so I've been amassing parts for an AC overhaul. I just got the new blower and resister in. I have a new condenser and the muffler adapter piece from FCP where I think the system was leaking (we bought the car with the AC shot, when I tried to recharge it it hissed out by the front pass bumper).
Can anyone tell me what color/size I need for o-rings to complete this job (it'll run the new 134a). I just need a good ballpark amount so I don't waste time running out or not having the right kind/size. I'll use one of those recharge/retro fit kits to charge the system.
I still have to:
1. Tranny mount
2. Tranny flush (there's a 3rd-4th hard auto shift when cold)
3. Parking Brake is shot (broken at console and rusted to rear rotors)--I don't care at the moment, we never use it, and everything is flat here. Also rear lug studs are stripped so I don't want take off the wheels again and cant change them anyway because the freakin' parking brake is rusted to the back of the rotor.
4.The car will cross the 200k mark soon and I'd like to reward it with an abbreviated tune up. Any suggestions. It's already had a coolant and oil change. Maybe a Sea Foam treatment?
5. I don't think the suspension system has been touched in 80-100k. Probably could use new ball joints, struts ect. ect.
6. Timing belt is 60k old. I think it can wait another 20-30k. It looked perfect the last I saw it.
7. Oil pan leaks at the plug. I think its that copper washer.
I'm down to my last $100 for parts/supplies. And it has to pass inspection come April.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, as would your sympathy. Does anyone really ever catch up with these cars.
--Evan
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