Wafty Yank Barge of Dreams Collection Right Said Fred

[RobT]

That's what I thought. If the system works properly then the light illuminates for a bit then goes out.

 

I did contemplate removing the bulb and just see if I got lucky, but I couldn't see how to move it from here without destroying the long plastic strip...

 

 

I've texted my mechanic the fail sheet and fingers crossed he's up for it. He's been battling T3 camper ball joints this week so he won't thank me for that one.

[wuvvum]

Drag link is basically the equivalent of a TRE isn't it?  Probably easiest to replace the whole thing if so.

[wuvvum]

That's what I thought. If the system works properly then the light illuminates for a bit then goes out.

 

I did contemplate removing the bulb and just see if I got lucky, but I couldn't see how to move it from here without destroying the long plastic strip...

 

20190320_174300.jpg

 

 

There's also no light in that panel which goes off when the engine is started (apart from the "change oil soon" light which takes about 2 minutes to extinguish so is no use anyway).  The oil pressure / battery charge etc. lights are all in the instrument cluster.

[Frogchod]

My Park Avenue has the 85mph Speedo. It's comical to watch it sweep up the dial so quickly

Bizzarly it's also marked up in kph, l never expected that in an Amercan car.

It'll help getting it registered in Frogshire though.

[sutty2006]

My Park Avenue has the 85mph Speedo. It's comical to watch it sweep up the dial so quickly

Bizzarly it's also marked up in kph, l never expected that in an Amercan car.

It'll help getting it registered in Frogshire though.

Aren’t the Canadians in KM/H? My mates old Dodge Ram 6bt was in KM/H

[Schaefft]

Canada has km/h but their own gauges. Almost all American US-market cars I have seen had Mph and km/h in smaller numbers though.

[Sealtainn]

So Robs mechanic has accepted the challenge

Got a couple of parts to source and we are aiming to get it done within the 10-day retest period so watch this space

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[wuvvum]

Is this any good?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Outer-Track-Rod-End-for-Buick-Park-Avenue-1991-1996-1992-1993-1994-1995/163494068574?hash=item261101815e:g:xoYAAOSw9V1acdAr

[RobT]

^^Potentially yes, but I'm trying to buy a UK part so I can get delivery by Monday.  That's when my mechanic will be starting work.  I'll book a re-test for next Friday but warn the garage I may have to cancel, in case the ABS issue runs on.

 

Here's a UK TRE.  Just need to nip out and visually check the one on the car this evening before buying.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OUTER-TIE-ROD-END-BUICK-ELECTRA-1985-90-LESABRE-1986-99-PARK-AVENUE-1991-96/252485806594?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

I've also emailed the seller asking about a radiator support panel, as Sealtainn wants me to source one if possible which makes sense (it came up as an advisory).  Same as the battery tray, there isn't much left of it so the rad is sitting somewhat precariously at the moment!

[wuvvum]

Ah, I didn't try searching for "tie rod end".  I fail at eBay.

 

Surprised to find one for sale in the UK mind.

[egg]

What radiator panel is it? One listed here 25635189? (part 2)

 

http://www.catcar.info/usa_oem/?lang=en&l=eWVhcj09MTk5MXx8bWFrZV9uYW1lPT1CdWlja3x8c3Q9PTUwfHxzdHM9PXsiMTAiOiJNYW51ZmFjdHVyZXIiLCIyMCI6IjE5OTEgQnVpY2siLCIzMCI6IlBhcmsgQXZlbnVlIiwiNDAiOiIobm9uZSkiLCI1MCI6IkNPT0xJTkcifXx8bWRsX25hbWU9PVBhcmsgQXZlbnVlfHxtb2RpZl9uYW1lPT0obm9uZSl8fHNlcnZpY2VfY29kZT09NTQ5MHx8ZGF0YUlkPT0xMHx8Z3JvdXBJZD09OTYxOXx8ZnJvbVllYXI9PTE5OTF8fHRvWWVhcj09MTk5Ng%3D%3D

 

[DSdriver]

Canada has km/h but their own gauges. Almost all American US-market cars I have seen had Mph and km/h in smaller numbers though.

I thought the yanks only used metric for drugs and without the importation of cocaine would have no concept of the metric system?

[RobT]

Ah, I didn't try searching for "tie rod end". I fail at eBay.

 

Surprised to find one for sale in the UK mind.

Not at all old fruit. The one you found looks correct, and even has the grease nipple at the top. The one I found might be in the UK, but doesn't look right. I've found a yank parts supply company in Redhill that responds quickly to emails, so I'll contact them and send this pic of the one on the car.

 

[RobT]

What radiator panel is it? One listed here 25635189? (part 2)

 

http://www.catcar.info/usa_oem/?lang=en&l=eWVhcj09MTk5MXx8bWFrZV9uYW1lPT1CdWlja3x8c3Q9PTUwfHxzdHM9PXsiMTAiOiJNYW51ZmFjdHVyZXIiLCIyMCI6IjE5OTEgQnVpY2siLCIzMCI6IlBhcmsgQXZlbnVlIiwiNDAiOiIobm9uZSkiLCI1MCI6IkNPT0xJTkcifXx8bWRsX25hbWU9PVBhcmsgQXZlbnVlfHxtb2RpZl9uYW1lPT0obm9uZSl8fHNlcnZpY2VfY29kZT09NTQ5MHx8ZGF0YUlkPT0xMHx8Z3JvdXBJZD09OTYxOXx8ZnJvbVllYXI9PTE5OTF8fHRvWWVhcj09MTk5Ng%3D%3D

 

 

 

It's at the bottom where the rad sits, and I think it bolts on to the cross member/sub-frame.  I need to get under there again just to see what's what, and take pics.  In the meantime I've emailed another place to see if they have anything in UK stock.

[RobT]

Bingo, just bought a TRE.  Listed for a Cadillac Deville it says it's compatible (and looks it from the eBay photo), and despite being in Poland should be here by Tuesday.

[Schaefft]

For the future, if you are unsure which parts are shared with which vehicle, check out rockauto and click on the part number of the part you are looking for, it'll give you a list of all vehicles with the identical components used from factory. This is pretty much invaluable for cross-referencing.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1991,park+avenue,3.8l+v6,1019731,steering,tie+rod+end,7428

[RobT]

Oh yes I should have used RockAuto, thanks. Joey Spud also uses that site for his tat fettling exploits, which is where I've seen it before.

 

Just had a look and the cross-reference on RockAuto shows I've bought the correct part, which is good. The eBay parts compatible guide can be shite so I don't always trust it, hence doing a visual of what's on the car already if possible.

[egg]

It's at the bottom where the rad sits, and I think it bolts on to the cross member/sub-frame. I need to get under there again just to see what's what, and take pics. In the meantime I've emailed another place to see if they have anything in UK stock.

Cool, possibly this thing?

 

https://www.gmpartsgiant.com/parts/gm-bar-f-end-25630889.html

[sutty2006]

Rock auto is good at getting parts to the UK quickly. Just be careful regards postage, as stuff comes from different warehouses so you can end up paying more than the price of parts for postage.

[bangernomics]

Tonight's update.

 

I've managed to fix the hazards. Or rather work out how to use the switch. It wasn't actually broken, but you have to push the centre in firmly then pull the outer sleeve away from the steering column, using more force than you'd like on 30 year old cheap, brittle yank plastics. So crisis averted there then. Here's the knob in question.

 

20190319_181429.jpg

 

I've left a note for the MoT man.

 

20190319_205348.jpg

 

Sorry Sealtainn, I've been too tired to tackle the battery situation this evening. I'm working from home tomorrow so will have a go first thing. Instead I took it to get some fast food slop earlier, and have spent the rest of the evening getting drunk.

 

20190319_211125.jpg

Very sopranos

[DSdriver]

Only the Yanks would put a gunsight on a bonnet.

There is a motor manufacturer in a country much nearer which has previous form for warmongering which also has a bonnet emblem that is as near as fucking is to swearing a gunsight.

[Skut]

There is a motor manufacturer in a country much nearer which has previous form for warmongering which also has a bonnet emblem that is as near as fucking is to swearing a gunsight.

Merc? I thought it was supposed to be a star. Gunsight based bonnet ornaments and grilles are questionable though.

[Sir Snipes]

BMW?

[DSdriver]

Mercedes and my point of reference is the circular gunsights of ack-ack guns etc. which may not just have three cross-hairs.

Three pointed star? just their way of pretending its not what it really is

[anonymous user]

Merc? I thought it was supposed to be a star. Gunsight based bonnet ornaments and grilles are questionable though.

And there was me thinking it was a hippy peace symbol

[RobT]

Cool, possibly this thing?https://www.gmpartsgiant.com/parts/gm-bar-f-end-25630889.html

That looks promising. Being sold by GMpartsgiant.com. Sounds like a good place!

[RobT]

Dropped this off at my mechanics today and we've already hit a problem.  The hubcap nut removal tool is missing.  I'm searching for the part, but another option is to use those bolt removal things like this:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-PRO-11pc-Bolt-Extractors-Socket-Lock-Nut-Remover-Extractor-2656/152809009402?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26algo%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180409081753%26meid%3D081bd8b3057649bfa07c6b4f2008278b%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D264147088358%26itm%3D152809009402&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

 

Trouble is the ones I've searched for only go up to 19mm, and the 'nut' is 25mm-ish.

 

Any ideas folks?  My mechanic said one option is to do the hammer a socket over it method, but is reluctant to do so (which is fair enough) and it looks like this so isn't a guaranteed method anyway.  They're not hand tight either, not that you can get much purchase without lacerating your fingers on sharp trimz metal.

 

 

From the handbook.

 

 

 

I've contacted a parts place and these retaining nuts came in different colours (yellow, red,green, black and silver) with the removal tools being obsolete in some cases.  The nut looks green to me.

 

Frustrating and also a little bit stressful, as the re-test clock is ticking away...!

[egg]

Could these guys help - association of UK American car clubs?

 

http://www.motorvatinusa.org.uk/intro.html

[RobT]

Hammer and chisel?    Bit destructive though

 

EDIT: Or one of those shit gator grip things that has never worked on any socket ever? 

This one goes up to 11  32mm https://www.saverpoint.com/gator-grip-11-32mm-large-multi-function-hand-tool-59858-p.asp

That looks good. Has anyone ever had success with one? In theory can't see these nuts being mega tight as they're just holding the trim on, although saying that they're bound to be.

[Frogchod]

Oh bugger, I'd better check if I've got the tool for that. Owners manual says it's in with Jack.

On another subject, next time you open the drivers door could you please note the GVWR weight?

Mine's unreadable and I need the number for rego

TIA