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Hi all
I am looking to drive my 740T about 10,000km+ in three weeks, across Australia from Sydney to Perth, and then back. This is scheduled to take place when it's Summer here.
It's been a good learning experience so far in fixing this car. I bought the car cheap last year with 195K kms on the odometer, and it was a leaky 'staller'. Traced that to a bad Hall sensor and fixed the problem with a new distributor.
Been working on odds and ends slowly:
1. All new coolant hoses + thermostat (two more hoses to go at the rear + heater valve)
2. New waterpump,
3. New belts and seals - no more oil leaks!
4. New spark plugs/distributor cap/rotor,
5. Rebuilt the brakes with all new brake rotors + pads + unjammed some pistons and put in new boots. New parking brake shoes.
6. Sloppy auto-shift fixed with new bushes,
7. Fixed OD relay,
8. New breather apparatus,
9. New turbo and intercooler hoses
10. Flushed ATF.
11. Assorted new relays including Fuel Pump and radio interference.
12. New catalytic converter (because I had thought the stalling was due to a plugged up cat).
13. Axle oil changed to synthetic.
14. All the turbo and most of the visible engine hoses have been replaced with new rubber or sillicone ones.
15. Modified the airbox to reduce flow restrictions and capped off the warm air intake (it doesn't get that cold in Sydney).
16. New tyres
17. New ignition module.
A new fuel filter, and an O2 sensor are about to go in, and probably the alternator regulator, and I need to trace a vacuum leak causing the air vents to close at boost, and that's about it for the 'major' stuff.
The engine has had the Seafoam treatment (made a big difference), I have run a fair bit of fuel injector cleaner via the fuel tank, and is currently still on the first leg of an Auto-Rx treatment (as is the transmission) - both the engine and trans are getting smoother by the day. I'll switch to a semi-synthetic blend of engine oil before the trip, and fill the trans with synthetic.
The suspension is not great but works. (Car dives if I brake hard from speed) There's a fair bit of lean when taking curves at high speeds but otherwise tolerable if I drive sensibly. No major clunks so I guess the ball joints and suspension bushings are still serviceable. A full suspension job with new shocks and springs and bushes and ball-joints included is out of the question (unfortunately) at this time due to cost.
Right now, the car is nice to drive and the turbo spins up very easily. It's too easy to find myself going past speed limits since the pickup is deceptively quick because the engine really doesn't feel that powerful and the road feel is plain numb.
Concerns:
1. Should I get all the wheel bearings relubed and repacked before the trip? (I keep thinking about that NYT travel journo's bad luck with his 240's wheel bearings - http://travel.nytimes.com/map/travel/frugal-traveler/2007/overview.html)
2. There's a strange rubbing-like sound coming from the rear of the car but only in reverse. I can't make out if it's from the wheels or the axle.
3. Should I worry about the fuel pumps? I have been thinking of replacing both pumps with a single in-tank high pressure Walbro pump.
4. Is there a need to renew the engine temp sensor (and the water temp sensor and maybe even the knock sensor whilst I am it)?
What else would you suggest I look into before the trip?
Thanks in advance.
Lucast
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