auzivision

I don't know where these things are hidding, but I misplaced mine and now can't find the one lent to me. For sure I need one, preferrable two. If you have any you are willing to sell, please let me know.

Thanks

jpitman2

Why did it not live in the tool tray? Drop into your nearest engineering workshop and ask them to make you up one in steel - might last longer than the cast cr@p supplied - very fragile if not pulled straight in line. The thread in your case is 20mm Knuckle - 8tpi. Early cars are 15mm x 8tpi.
jp 83 EuroS AT 52k

jcorenman

Tow eye: 928.722.101.05 (I may be wrong but I think it is forged).

Rubber plug for the front tow eye socket, after you drill out the corroded aluminum plug and clean out the threads: 928.722.107.01

Sponsors of the event that you recently attended, who sell these things: http://www.928gt.com

Something else to consider: http://www.aaa.com (Poke around and find "AAA plus").

Think of these as spare parts: If you have them, you probably won't need them.

Cheers,

jpitman2

If they are forged, they break VERY easily....
jp

auzivision

The eye doesn’t live in tool tray because the tool tray is no longer easily accessible due to the amp rack:



Mine used to reside in my tool ‘bag’ (also in picture) along with a tow strap. The strap was still in there, but the hook was missing so I borrowed one at SITM. I finally cleaned out my car this week and now both are MIA.


I know Carl at 928 Motorsports makes a nice custom one:
http://www.928motorsports.com/parts/...g_tow_hook.php

and new ones are readily available easy enough... I’m just hoping maybe someone around here might have a spare they would be willing to sell before I call one of the vendors.

BTW, I had to look up Friday Harbour; that’s way up there. I’ll be passing by close to there tomorrow night on the MS Rotterdam. That is one heck of a drive to Banner Elk and back.

AO

You forgot the bottle of "Chill Pills!"

BTW, drilling out the front plug is a real PITA! Good luck with that one.

auzivision

So what is the secret to getting one of those covers out? Mine is sitting on stands for the next few weeks so I might as well take a stab at it. Kroil, heat, hammer, impact driver... all of the above and then some?

jcorenman

None of that will likely help, the old aluminum plug threads in about 3/4" and the threads are thoroughly corroded.

There's two bits of good news: the corrosion damage is mostly to the aluminum, not the steel; and the hex socket-- IF you haven't broken off a bit in there-- makes a good pilot hole. And that's the risk of trying to unscrew it: If you break off the hex-bit then drilling it out is MUCH harder. (Ask me how I know...).

Grab a large, low-speed drill motor and a set of bits and start drilling through with successively larger sizes. Try to keep the drill lined up with the angle of the socket, but the steel will help keep the drill centered when you get close. I think 5/8" is as large as you can go without damaging the steel threads, stop drilling when the threads just become exposed in the hole.

At that point there are still aluminum threads lining the steel socket. Then get in there with a right-angle pick (the one I have is part# 3842A25 from McMaster) and dig out the threads. Clean it up with a small wire brush, check the threads with a tow hook, grease it to prevent further corrosion and stick in the rubber plug.

In your previous post you said:
I guess I was too subtle: When your pump failed, a bunch of us tried to help get the car going. You jumpered the pump, changed the relay, borrowed a spare MAF and LH, none of that helped. You borrowed a tow hook (for the rear), now apparently lost, and had the car towed to Dave and Jeannie's house, and used their shop (with more help from Earl) on Sunday to fix it.

Stuff happens, we've all been there and that's not the issue. And when stuff happens, this community-- including its sponsors-- is always ready to jump in and help. That's one of the great things about "communities".

And in order to keep that spirit going, you need to do some repayment: If you borrowed parts, return them quickly. If you lost something then replace it with a shiny new one, not a rusty part that you found cheap. And if you accepted Dave's generous loan of his shop, tools and lift, then at least give him the order for the parts you need!!!

dr bob

Impact driver managed to break off the high-strength Allen driver bit in the head of the front plug (!!!!) The solution is time and a diamond burr in the die grinder or Dremel. Bill Ball has posted on the tools and method in the past. Mine liooks like it might be a whole lot easier to access if the bumper cover is off. Looks like so much fun I don't know why I haven't tackled this one yet...

dr bob

See, I should have taken Jim's advice before breaking the bit off in there... ;


If you decide to drill, consider finding a set of left-hand drills. At least that way the counterclockwise drilling will work to get the plug out rather than in tighter.