Mufflers

[GLet71]

Nice work David, I am hopefully going to be able to check things off the list as I go. Let's start with the 2" stainless steel exhaust. Is this an item I can order through any kind of auto parts store, or is it custom? Do I have to get a complete new exhaust manifold and everything, or can I start at the first flange/connection along the line? (obviously I haven't looked whether it is even a flange or what have you!) As I am a BC boy myself, your knowledge of where to go/buy will most assuredly come in handy... I am not a welder by any stretch, so I am hoping for stock bolt up and bends to make it easy to install myself (crawling around in my driveway, of course!).

[Lil Beast]

Any shop specialized in mufflers should be able to bend the pipe and install it for you! They do sell premade 2" pipe as catback system but very expensive and I don't think there is even one made for t4wd! Go around shops and ask for a quote if more than 250$ wich I think its expensive, he's a rip-off!
I know a guy here in Oliver that got a muffler shop and charges me around 150$ for a front to back set-up, takes about an hour! Need to bring in a Muffler tho!

[dlb]

Dlb there is one topic that kinda comes up often lately, the car dying and don't want to start! Just a thought! Could be a good add-on, as I read thru again and haven't seen anything on this subject!

excellent idea LB, i'll try to add that tonight. thanks!

Let's start with the 2" stainless steel exhaust. Is this an item I can order through any kind of auto parts store, or is it custom? Do I have to get a complete new exhaust manifold and everything, or can I start at the first flange/connection along the line? (obviously I haven't looked whether it is even a flange or what have you!) As I am a BC boy myself, your knowledge of where to go/buy will most assuredly come in handy... I am not a welder by any stretch, so I am hoping for stock bolt up and bends to make it easy to install myself (crawling around in my driveway, of course!).

i'm personally not into a larger exhaust so it's not something i've looked into but LB is right that any muffler shop should be able to do it, no problem. as a cheap jerk, i would wait until your current muffler needs replacing before moving up to the larger exhaust--maintenance is always my preferred time for upgrades. for example, if a 3A engine ever needed to be pulled for work, i would robably just swap a 4A in good condition in at that time but i wouldn't pull the engine just to do the swap. i'm too content with our cars in stock form, i guess.

[GLet71]

I completely agree, and the reason why I am asking is because it is only a matter of time before my muffler goes skidding into traffic! I will definitely ask at some of the muffler shops, but this is Nelson, and for some damn reason everything here is ridiculously inflated price wise

[GLet71]

Okay, so the good news is the muffler is the only thing needing replacement. Moving on to my next adventure, I changed my transmission oil. I have the grinding thing occurring when I change gears swiftly (not ridiculously), and am working on the process of elimination. I only managed about 3.5litres as opposed to the 4.1l recommended (85% full after the math), and still have the grinding going on. I bought the car with a brand new clutch installed, so I am wondering what is my next move as there are a host of potential front end issues that could be the problem. Hope my understanding of that is correct in #5 Mystery Clunk. Which front end component should I start with?

I just want to race through my gears a little bit, you know what I mean?

[ARCHINSTL]

Preceding posts moved from FAQ thread started by dlb.
Tom M.

[Lil Beast]

If you want to glide thru corners you want stiff but if you still want to go off-road I recommend not too stiff! Start to garb on your wheels and give some good shakes left to right and up and down, should not feel any freeplay, if you do it could be your clunk issue! Up down loose its the balljoint on bad susp tower seat! Left to right it's the direction tie rods most likely(you can slide your way thru under the front of the vehicle, ask someone to do the shaking for you and you can go and grab onto the moving part(s) and feel which one's got the freeplay, replace the loose part(I personally change part as a pair when it comes to suspension and steering)! Inspect the rubber bushings for dryness or cracks, if so replace(not that much unless you need them all)! In case of replacement you have couple option on the hardness! The harder the less road comfort, mine are all polyurethane the hardest but very rough in the dirt or snow, I don't mind, but your steering wheel will vibrate! The stock rubber one should be good enough! If you want harder you'll have too bring the old ones with you and have them matched! I don't think there is anything listed for the T4WD!
And yes Nelson can be more expensive! Oliver is not very better either! You got to know people!

[dlb]

Moving on to my next adventure, I changed my transmission oil. I have the grinding thing occurring when I change gears swiftly (not ridiculously), and am working on the process of elimination. I only managed about 3.5litres as opposed to the 4.1l recommended (85% full after the math), and still have the grinding going on.

i sent you a PM but i'll post it here as well for the benefit of anyone else who comes across this. i would definitely get the last .6 liters of gear oil in there. i honestly don't think it will make a difference but you need to do that to rule it out first. make sure you unscrew the rearmost drain plug 7-8 turns when filling the trans. if this does not solve the grinding, you might try adjusting the clutch cable. if that doesn't solve it and you know it's a new clutch, i think your trans is on its way out. i don't have much hope for rebuilding these things since there are no full rebuild kits available (to my knowledge, anyway) so i would start searching for a good one from a wrecker and swap it in when your current one gives up the ghost.

I bought the car with a brand new clutch installed, so I am wondering what is my next move as there are a host of potential front end issues that could be the problem. Hope my understanding of that is correct in #5 Mystery Clunk. Which front end component should I start with?

I just want to race through my gears a little bit, you know what I mean?

from what i've read, everyone has had different experiences with mystery clunk: mine went away when i replaced my sloppy old strut mounts; tom noticed a big improvement when he created a new engine shock absorber to replace the little old one that are ALWAYS worn out; petros found cracks in the frame up around the strut mount area, which a strut bar helped with...my suggestion for tracking it down is to check the tie rods for play while the wheels are on and to visually inspect the engine and trans mounts but not bother checking anything else without removing it. i've found nothing else can really be tested adequately without doing so. on reggie, the ball joints looked fine and had no play when tugging on the wheels but once i got them out of the steering hub, both were completely dead and fully sloppy. i find this to be especially true for the strut mounts.

all this being said, front end problems will cause clunks and rattles but not grinding when shifting gears. that sounds like a trans/clutch issue.

[GLet71]

Looks like I'm making more work for you Tom, as I have started a new thread exposing my up shifting issues! Sure love to get this one figured out, 'cause it's a PITA!

[Lil Beast]

For the ball joints the best way to do it, it's to put a bottle jack right under the ball joints and relief the weight off the wheel so it barely touches the ground fit a pry bar under and lift the wheel by prying while a helper gets a good grab where it's connected and feel if there's a play! That's how they do at the inspection! You'll feel something that way if something is wrong there, you can use that technique for the tie rods!
Clunk to me, sounds like metal to metal sound but a springy one so spring of strut or sway bar bushes! Just a guess! Hard to say like that written down!