Bruce SP2

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Joined
Oct 12, 2005
Threads
33
Messages
258
Here's an update for all you folks wanting to know what's been up with Bruce after the failed SI:

Here are the items that caused the SI failure (and my solutions):
- Bad rear wheel oil seal
(Replaced the seals and bearings with a new kit from SOR - also replaced the rear differential cover since my old one had fused solid to the oil plug - while in there I added a new Aussie Locker)

- The bad oils seal had fudged up the brakes
(Rebuilt the driver's side brake - nothing exciting here)

- Bad Driver's side rear shock
(Replaced both rear shocks with cheapie units from Napa - made a huge difference!)

- Rusty-sharp metal bits sticking out from the bumpers
(Removed all of the scrap from the bumpers and the lone remaining bumper cover)

- Hole in passenger side rear fender
(This was fun - I patched and bondo'd it - it's not the greatest body work job in the world, but there's no hole in the finder now. While I was at that I decided to give the Curiser a two-toned paint job, cleaning up the rust from the rear hatch, the front bull-guard, and the driver's side doors - after masking everything off I painted it all flat black - it actually looks really good - I'm still going to paint the bumpers since I've been in a big de-chroming mode.)

- Bad exhaust hangers
(New exhaust from Marty's welding - kept the original down pipes, but cleaned up the cross over and tucked it right up by the frame - new single, high flow cat, and a flowmaster muffler. Sounds pretty good, and definately feels better on the road - it finally feels like it's not completely strangled above 3500 rpm)

Verdict: big thumbs up for everything so far - I need to adjust the valves and I want to figure out if i can reduce the valve tick that Bruce has always had. I also want to figure out if i can remove the air pump with out negatively affecting anything else.
 
Well the paint job looks pretty good, and the "body work" looks amateurish at best - really it's a stop gap measure until I get brave enough to lop off the rear quarters and convince someone to help me weld in new metal. I found the bondo harder to work with than I was expecting.

As for the exhaust, I'm pretty pleased with that.
 
Picture:

Bruce2_3.jpg
 
So where is the soa and 35's?

just kidding looking good!
 
Well i need a "volunteer" to help me with the welding and fabricating to make THAT happen...

Thanks, this is the best Bruce has looked I think...
 
We will talk !

I have a few irons in the fire right now but not forever.
 
LOL thanks! Actually I was thinking it would look good with a set of 33s on it...
 
Your right!!!

Baby steps!
 
So the big question is do I trust a newb's welding skills?
 
Hmmm i think that's my answer then :)

On other news, Bruce is stickered up and legal now! He passed the SI with no additional issues (i thought they might be prickish about the bumpers, but they didn't mention them). And the new exhaust seems to have made a difference... I'm now up to a whopping 12.5 MPG (hooray!).

However there is noticeably more power on the highway - I still think that it needs a valve adjustment/job but i'm pretty pleased.
 
It's my local garage however I think they don't like that I never do any of the work up there.

Actually I don't have a problem with the true safety stuff (like the bad oil seal in the rear) but the more namby-pamby stuff IS annoying.

Anywho, it did prompt me to do a bunch of stuff, so at least THAT's good...
 
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