Was there something wrong with the existing pistons?

I dunno, haven't taken them out yet. If not, there's at least three other Gen 1 4 cylinders sitting around here that I'll have them ready for, just in case. They're cheap and coming from the same warehouse I needed other parts from, so no real increase in freight. The pistons have to come out to replace the piston seal, anyway, so if they're pitted I will have the replacements. If not, I'll probably reuse them.

John B.

The driver's side disc brake piston, at least, needed to be replaced, since it had a spot of scarring on it. Glad I got the new ones.

I have the driver's side put back together, with the exception of the caliper and the manual locking hub, so I have started in on the passenger side. I took out the lower arm yesterday and got as far as getting the front bushing out of the arm, and in the process, I broke my carriage bolt I was using to force the bushing out. Obviously I'll need to pick up a new one of those. Since I'm up to speed on what I'm doing, the second side should go quickly and I anticipate I'll get it done by this weekend.

Tried topping up the R-12 charge in Jorge's '89 yesterday. First, we put in a small can of oil charge, with 2 oz of R-12 and 2 oz of ester oil. That went in fine. Then, I added a can of (real) R-12 and his a/c got cold again, but when I undid the fill hose from the low side fitting, the valve stuck open and every single bit of refrigerant sprayed out. This was a major disappointment, to say the least. Now we'll have to vacuum out his system, empty out the compressor oil and convert it to R-134a. That sucks.

John B.

JB, if you need real R-12, it's available for $30 per can.
Just let me know.
BTW, you're refrigerator must be completly covered with Rock auto magnets by now! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

$30 a can seems to be the going rate everywhere for R-12. That's what we got it for off Ebay.

It seems prudent at this point to convert an empty system to R-134a, since I can get 25lb bottles for something like $60. I have a couple of sets of conversion fittings, PAG oil and proper o-rings, my brother has a venturi-type vacuum and gauges and system components like fill valve cores, expansion valves and receiver/driers are cheap through Rock Auto. I can also get my hands on a charge scale to add the correct amount of R-134a (use 80% of specified R-12) by weight.

Speaking of Rock Auto, the magnets go on the back side of the front door. I have 39 right now, not counting a few duplicates.

John B.

JB, just be careful of the R-12 produced in Mexico.
"Is that real R-12, or Mexican R-12" (paraphrasing Frank Zappa)
I have 3 vehicles that still have a working R-12 system!

It's real 'Merican R-12.

John B.

This '86 has been fighting me every inch of the way, but I'm getting the upper hand. I ended up getting rebuilt calipers, since the passenger side was all corroded inside and Jorge's truck needs one on the passenger side of his '83, so he can have my rebuilt one.

The nuts for the pass side upper a-arm shaft were a b!tch to re-install. the forward facing nut had to be torqued in with a breaker bar while I held down the control arm with a 4' pry bar, they were that tight threading into the arm. The shaft moves well, though.

I shredded another lower a-arm bushing, this time on the passenger side, and I even kind of messed up the replacement, but it's in and it'll have to do for now. Reassembly has begun and I hope to drive it, finally, within a day or two. I just have to get the passenger side stuff in (the steering stuff is already hanging there and done) and put on the rebuilt calipers on both sides.

So, when it's done, I'll have all new steering parts (everything), all new suspension bushings, except the lower rear bushings, all new ball joints, new brake rotors, pads and rebuilt calipers with new soft lines, new bearings, races and seals, new CV boots on replacement (not rebuilt) half shafts and new sway bar end links.

It better drive better than when I took it apart or I will be P!SSED! It's taken way too long, but the next one, Jorge's '89, will go much faster since we're all warmed up on the procedures. He's already ordered most of his parts...

John B.

Can't wait to see that truck back on the road man. It's gonna be bad ass.

Finally got this vehicle back on the road. I eye-ligned the front end and took it to Crown King this past weekend without major issues. Found out that I have a 25% under-reporting speedometer now, due to the KM-148 swap, 33" tires and the old 3.9 gears. An indicated 60 mph means I'm really doing 75! And at 72 mph, I'm only turning 2750 RPM. I'll have to address this eventually, and I have a set of gears laying around here somewhere.

At some point on the way back, the shift linkage came unbolted and something flew away (haven't looked at it yet), so it sits in drive outside. The oil pan leaks pretty regularly, and I have a transmission leak from somewhere. The a/c isn't hooked up. But it tracks really nicely, the brakes are smooth and every thing we put in seems to have tightened it up well.

One pretty much down, more to go.

John B.