I know I haven't posted regularly this year, but it's been busy with work and school. Luckily this is my last semester (less than 2 months to go) and my projects at work are finally wrapping up! I'm getting excited to have actual free time again. Free time previously has been me neglecting doing something so I don't lose my mind. I actually got to snowboard this year! Snow has been awesome this winter.
Anyway, I've only gotten to do a little bit on the car since my last post. Previously I had started installing the front suspension and I had started the car for a few minutes only to have a very loud noise come from the power steering pump.
Well, after talking with Speed Direct, March Performance, Tuff Stuff, and Hydratech, the conclusion was that the power steering hoses were not fully bleed and there was a leak somewhere in the lines. Sure enough after letting it sit, I found a leak at the feed line from the reservoir. That being said, Tuff Stuff wanted me to get the pump replaced anyway because of the loud noise (March has a no hassle return policy with Tuff Stuff). All the other service reps said that there shouldn't be anything wrong with the components and that I should just flush and fix the leak.
Hydratech's service rep was very helpful. He said that I needed to check the pump because they're notorious for having too high of a flow rate. When I got my new pump I checked it for a 1/8" port (a 9/64" port was the max I could use safely), which it had. The other thing they said to do was to use a power steering additive to help the bleeding and performance of the system. Speed Direct said that would be fine with their rack and pinion system. So I now have the system all fixed up... I spent a good 30-45 minutes making sure the system was bled.
That's where the engine sits today... I haven't started it since I got the power steering system fixed up. I bought a new Lokar billet gas pedal that I'd like to get installed before starting it again. There's also too much oil in the engine currently. We had a hard time reading the dipstick with the new oil, but after it's sat for a while it looks like I'm about a quart over full.
Besides engine things, I've been working on my Shark Bite front suspension. I have successfully installed the upper aluminum control arms, spreader bar, lower tubular control arms, single adjustable coil over shocks, and a new sway bar. The only thing left to do there is to adjust the spring height and shock rate. Before I start the rear suspension I decided I'm going to have the rear bearing assemblies rebuilt (something I don't believe I'm able to do at this point because of tools and time).
I'll post pictures soon....
