Aww Fawk broke the Radiator

[Romer]

Baselined all the fluids and did a fluid exchange on the Tranny. I then decided to change the plugs. That last one is a bitch. I had to climb up on the engine to get to it. Put weight on the little plastic nozzel on the top and snap. Took it to a place close by to have them swap the radiator with a steele one.

Not only don't have the Lexus for a few days have to listen to the wife about working on it myself.

 

[valentine]

bwaahaaa.....

You can't even use the ole "but think of all the money we are saving by me doing the work by myself"


But on the bright side, you have a brand new rad.

You should take the old one home and cut it open to see if it has any mystery sludge in it...


Nick

 

[Doc]

Might as well get the block flushed while it's out.

 

[Romer]

I just had it flushed a few hours before this.

Yeah, my wife said, "How much money are you saving?"

I think I better not work on the 40 for a few days.

 

[TX_TLC]

I recently replaced my spark plugs and yes the last one is way back there, but I employed the following and made it very easy. I placed some non-skid rubber material on both fenders, then placed a 2"x12" across the engine bay resting both ends on the two fenders. Then using a step stool I was able to get up onto the 2"x12" and easily was able to get to #5 and #6 plugs! Oh...and look out for the radiator.

 

[Romer]

I thought about not posting this. Kinda like posting, "hey I'm a dumb sh&t." But I thought if just one person can avoid the same mistake by reading this, then itvwould be worth it.

Careful of the plastic fittings on the plastic radiator. You break one and your screwed. There is one right on the top. If you climb up to work on something, it's easily borken. That is if you are a dumb s^&t like me.

 

[nakman]

Thanks, Romer.. you just helped me. I put a little more weight on the radiator than I should have a couple times while removing/installing the TB- nothing detrimental though. I've got new plugs & wires in a box here in the garage and hope to get them in one of these days, but haven't wanted to deal with the ones way back there. So I'm going to try the 2x12 trick, wish I'd have thought of that when I did the throttle body... thanks to you too TX

 

[flintknapper]

I just had it flushed a few hours before this.

Yeah, my wife said, "How much money are you saving?"

I think I better not work on the 40 for a few days.

Yeah, wives can be heartless about that kind of stuff. Nevermind that you have fixed countless items on your cars and trucks and stuff around the house in the past.
Just screw up one time and they are on you like a Doberman.
I changed the diff. fluids and greased the prop. shafts on my wifes 80 recently, about a week later I had an 02 sensor fail. Want to know whose fault that was? I didn't even screw up....but in her mind, I had worked on it, and then it had a problem (completely unrelated)..... but it made some kind of twisted sense to her! Jeeeeeez.

 

[madams557]

Yeah, I used to be hesitant about working on my 80. NOW I am just down right AFRAID to work on it because of the total guilt trip that my wife can supply. It all started when I did my own lift kit and broke a bolt on the rear shock mount. Really, there isn't much you can do to prevent that. Well, a 4-6 hour job turned into two days.

Then just this summer (for those that remember my ranting on the subject) I thought it would be a nice gift to my wife if I fix the antenna mast on her 100 series. The replacing of the mast went brilliantly, but the battery had died on the table, unbeknownst to me.

So after I finished the antenna mast install with 1 hour to spare before our romantic dinner date, I found myself with a dead truck and no idea why.

Needless to say we didn't make our dinner reservation and I had to swear never to tool on her truck again if I wanted to see daylight outside of the dog house anytime soon.

Anyway, so now I try to tool on her truck when she is out of town for a weekend. That is why I wasn't able to make one of the Lals 80 series trips up to the mountains back in August. My wife was out of town and I turned a wrench on her truck.

So, while I hate to cause further damage on my own, I absolutely lothe the spousel guilt. Good luck.

 

[NovaFZJ80]

luckily i had the use of a step stool to do the spark plugs...did it from the passener side and the first few in front, did from the front...being 6'0 helped, but stool better aid.....

 

[TX_TLC]

Nova makes a good point...being 6'2" helps out too.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Question on the 2x12 tool - does it rest on top of the fender or the inter lip? 200+lbs on top of the fender?

The wife issue - On her car I do not touch it; bought the 100k warranty. If it makes a noise or needs oil change take it to the dealer. Plus its a Ford, I don’t want to work on a Ford.

I tell her some guys like to play golf, some watch football, and some go to the bar. I work on my Cruisers that what I want to spend my time on.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Romer on another note. Some have had good luck with the all metal radiators, but we had a couple leak prematurely. I would to a 3 row 93/94 oem Toyota radiator.

 

[whodat]

I keep own 2 vehicles(i'm single) because of my inate ability to screw things up. One of them is usually in working condition. Even so, I rarely attempt a 3 job.

 

[valentine]

I thought about not posting this. Kinda like posting, "hey I'm a dumb sh&t." But I thought if just one person can avoid the same mistake by reading this, then itvwould be worth it.QUOTE]


That's what this forum is all about, isn't it?

If I posted all the dumb crap I have done, my post count would far exceed yours!!

I tell her some guys like to play golf, some watch football, and some go to the bar. I work on my Cruisers that what I want to spend my time on.QUOTE]

I tell my wife the same thing, at least I'm around home.

Sometimes I'll call the dealership to get a quote on the job, let her know what it would have cost if she didn't have a mechanical genious for a husband....that usually quiets her down...till the next time.


Nick

 

[Rookie2]

I'm to tight, to stubborn, and maybe sometimes to stupid to take to the stealer for work. My wife just lays in wait, for me to F something up.

However, she has to listen to me when she takes her car to the dealer for a $30 oil change, and then she has to take it back because oil is leaking from the drain plug or oil filter .

In case you haven't figured it out yet... pretty much if they don't have something to b!tch about, they aren't happy.


Rookie2

 

[TX_TLC]

About the 2"x12" it was just a scrap I had and it spanned the top of each fender...I didn't cut it to fit on the inner lip...and I am 6'2" 240lbs...and no problems. And no wise ass comments... or is that wide ass comments?

 

[Eduardo96FZJ80]

The time I took it in to the stealer for a service (didn't have time to do myself @ the time)
they broke the plastic bypass port on the radiator. They took it out and sent it in for repairs, about a year later it started to leak. They were going to take it out and send it in for repairs, but I opted to have them install a new one from C-dan instead.

 

[Romer]

Ther OEM Radiator for a 97 was $681. I was going to have them install and after market steele one for $471. Christo (thanks Christo) advized me to use on from a 94 because the steele ones leaked. C-Dan (Thanks C-Dan) gave me the right part number and confirmed that they fit right into a 97. So I bought a new OEM Radiator for a 94 80 for $400 (List $550) C-Dans price was better, but I needed it today.

Thought this would be useful for anyone who may need a radiator in the future.