FI Spyder's weblog

Well winter has come and gone and no time for Spidey. Pulled the alternator from Integra (after pulling axle to get it out) painted calipers for new (old) OEM mags and tires. Replaced shocks in Tercel 4x4 wagon along with brake pads, discs, brake lines and POR-15'd it all. Spent two weeks on customers 86 Celica now it's time for the TR7. Pulled the heater to change foam.

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Drained the coolant, took out thermostat to flush system. Broke one stud off (there's always one) it felt like it was coming out but it was just breaking off. Still trying to get it out. If it doesn't come out by the time it has to go on I'll try heat. Took out heater and dismantled, flushed old dry petroleum grease off and applied white lithium grease. Levers operate nice and free now. I used thin high density foam for the doors and some Selectric typewriter foam for edging around vents. For the fire wall seal I used a double thickness of Selectric base foam with a tough vinyl for the side facing the engine and glued it with 3M 77. For the insulation around the AC drain I used double layer of pipe insulation with same vinyl on the exposed down side. POR-15 on the water hoses and put it back in.

While I had it out I cleaned up the engine compartment as best I could but any major clean will wait till I have to pull the engine for a clutch change. I have cleaned all the interior contacts with contact cleaner and touched them up with dielectric grease. They were all good but it was a Sacramento car and it's pretty damp here in the Pacific Northwest (Think England). I POR-15'd the reservoir tank and will paint it to bring it closer to the Spider black. Time to start putting the dash back together.