2024 - What did you do to your wagon this week?

Got all the springs pulled out so I can finally install the air bags.

finished the roof rack reinstall.

On Thursday night I rebuilt the right rear brakes. Had a blown wheel cylinder and made a huge mess of the brakes. Replaced the wheel cylinder, shoes and most of the springs. The white spring in the kit was too short so I reused the one that was in there.

We just got back from a 400 mile road trip for a car show, the wagon got plenty of attention. Brakes seem to be working well.

I will be replacing the other wheel cylinder and probably the shoes as well, just didn't have the time before the trip...

I've been doing little things at a time. I ran the Starship with the virtual dashboard on my computer. I found that my sender for my temp gauge is either not calibrated for the location, or it is faulty. The temp is steady 175-180 on the virtual dashboard. Since I have a steady temp, I hooked up the AC, and am now driving in comfort. I had to move the catch can because I installed a different coolant tank. Everything I do requires me to do some other little adjustment to make it work. I had to drill a new hole in the can mount, cut the bottom of the mount, and make 2 holes in the wheelhouse with rivnuts to mount it. Then I had to cut an inch and a half off of the hose from the vent in the valve cover to the can. The car makes sure I do as much extra as possible...The fitting for the hose came loose when removing the hose, so that is another trip to the tool box for a wrench.

The White Elephant had some more issues. I had people help me with the car, and I found 3 plug wires off of the plugs, and #6 wire end at the distributor was not properly installed, and it did not clip on the post. I finally can time the car correctly, and then reinstall the blower motor and squirrel cage. It should be running (with AC) in the next few days. The proportioning valve is acting up again. I let the brake fluid run a little low, and it may have air in the front cylinder. I have one more good valve, so I will be installing it, and trying to recenter the shuttle in the one that is acting up. I may even install an aftermarket adjustable valve to eliminate the OEM unit entirely.

Update, always more complicated than expected. I was told that the computer would compensate for the AC compressor... not so, young rabbit, you must set up AC Kick and wire it to the computer. Then you can have idle with AC.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

Update, always more complicated than expected. I was told that the computer would compensate for the AC compressor... not so, young rabbit, you must set up AC Kick and wire it to the computer. Then you can have idle with AC.

They were correct, it will compensate for the a/c load. Just left out the part about wiring it in to work that way!

Not only did they leave out the part about wiring it to work that way, they made it sound like it did not need to do anything, and it would do it automatically.

Installed a resealed steering gear. I did not get the pitman shaft clip ring properly seated, and the seals blew out. It put about a quart of PS fluid on the ground. Managed to push everything back in, and got the clip ring seated. No leaks.

New front rotors and pads and repacked the wheel bearings.

I was also going to change the calipers but the calipers I have are for the thicker pads which I did not know until I had the first one mounted and there was a 1/2" of play! I couldn't find the thick pads in stock locally. So, I put the old caliper back in... I'll order a set of pads and swap them later on.

I had ordered the calipers a while back, they are listed for the wagon, but I found out they are the 'heavy' duty ones.
ACDELCO 18FR1139 ACDELCO 18FR1140

I found out that the Hydroboost was also leaking and replaced it. The "universal fit" unit has a threaded shaft, and a larger diameter master cylinder end that will fit the OEM master cylinder. The adapter for the break pedal required thinned and the hole drilled to fit the post on the pedal.

Wife said if it isn't out of her garage by the end of the month she will have a tow company remove it, lol. Yes, Ma'am. Spent a couple hours this evening tearing out all the wiring for audio, air ride, etc. It's now ready to have the interior put back in. Ordered the cheapest front and rear coil springs that Rock Auto had for it. Need to swap a few parts from it to it's replacement and it will be ready.

Just got home from a 950ish mile road trip to Hershey, Pa for the AACA car show and swap meet. Had awesome weather and saw a lot of neat stuff in the swap meet and amazing cars in the show! Along with the wife's wagon we saw a '96 Buick wagon, two Impala SS and a couple sedans on the show field.

For the first time in nearly 2 years she has a complete dash installed. It's 3 different colors and the dash pad is cracked in multiple places but still. The Grey lower dash that was in the back of the B4U is only one broken tab away from being perfect though. I also accepted an offer yesterday and took a down payment today.

I recentered the steering column, and put a new radiator cap in place of the leaking one.

I found that my cancel cam has the hook for the horn connector broken.

Got the suspension all back together and the car off the jack stands. Drive it out of the garage and got the interior all back together. Multiple colors but it’s all there minus the 3rd row seat. Still have a few parts to swap out with the sedan.

Cancel cam installed and had to adjust the steering wheel one spline.

I was looking for the A/C idle bump wire path and found my #5 injector connector was not plugged in. It is amazing how much more power I have when running on all 8 cylinders.

Need to adjust the camber on the right side, and the caster on the left.

Moved 3/32 shim from the rear to the front on left side, and that got rid of the slight pull to the right.

Installed the transmission crossmember and trans oil pan. Now to get to the engine bag and start putting things together.

BAD_WAG wrote:

Installed the transmission crossmember and trans oil pan.  Now to get to the engine bag and start putting things together.

What trans is that?

TH400

Why not a 4L80e? It is a TH400 with overdrive.

When I bought the engine w/tunnel ram the transmission was part of the deal. So didn't want/need to spend the money on another transmission.

Halloween car show.

Changed the proportioning valve and master cylinder on the White Elephant. Now I need to bleed the brakes.

Found the source of my 454's idle issues. The throttle body secondaries were adjusted to not completely close at idle. Made the adjustment to allow them to close and now it idles correctly, and the AIC is in its correct range.

I had a battery go south yesterday, and in the process of swapping it, I forgot to turn the HVAC off, because the fuel injection had a problem holding idle when stopped. Well, I was surprised when it made a little stumble, and the idle returned to the correct speed. I want to drive it again with the HVAC on to verify that it is working correctly before I consider it good. If it keeps working, I can stop worrying about finding the blue and white wire for the AC kick in the computer.

Noticed coolant leak around thermostat housing. Installed new one and sealed theads of studs. Fixed. Still trying to get to the bottom of my fast idle (1300 RPM). Changed last sensor (MAP) and reamed holes on TPI to "fool" computer into thinking it needs less gas. Didn't work. Ordered a throttle body rebuild kit and hope fuel pressure regulator gasket and good cleaning will resolve. I'll also inspect for cracks around IAC seat.

Made my last drive in it. Took it to work and the keys/title to the new owner. Totally clueless feller that has never owned a B Body before. Went back and forth so many times over the years that I never expected this to actually happen, lol. Just didn't want it and truthfully only bought it to have one to take to wagonfest in 2017.

I got my intermediate steering shaft partially rebuilt. I bought a universal joint for each end, but the one for the steering box end did not fit. PITA.

My 96 RMW is sitting in the garage laughing at me and our 07 one ton Express van as I attempt to modify the van to get more caster on it, so I can get more directional stability. The Buick updates were done 2-4 years ago and have left it as a reliable and fun driver for the non salt months in Minnesota that is now an observer of the chaos in my shop.

The van is also a class B RV with all the amenities stuffed inside it and weighs nearly 10K pounds.  We may drive 800 miles per day sometimes so handling ease counts a lot.

Everything on this van weighs at least twice as much as on the also heavy Buick, so makes me appreciate what truck mechanics like Woody go through every day.

I am moving the lower control arm mounting points, so not a project for the faint of heart, and mid project I destroyed another bicep muscle so even worse for me.  Maybe it is time to slightly back off on the heavy stuff at age 75.5 years?