Rebuild of my 1980 Euro S
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 359
From: Holden Beach, NC
Brake clean is a very good cleaner for getting rid of grease. I did a stupid thing. I was looking for the source of an oil leak. The car was on the rack and the engine running. I had cleaned everything with brake clean - but the engine was warm. The garage door was open but obviously there was not enough ventilation. I did find the leak - front seal - aways do one with a timing belt.
So it was only one time. I used maybe a quarter of a can. It might have been the combination of the warm engine and the brake clean the the garage. My nose clogged that evening and never cleared again. I was later diagonised with nose ployps which the ENT tried to shrink with Veramist. The first application worked. Then they came back. Worse the Veramist precipiated asthma. This was treated with Provential (Abrutrol) which made me sicker. The ENT wanted to operate for the polyps but research showed that such operations are both dangerous and often are only effective for about six months. As one ENT told me polyps always come back.
I tried Homopathic treatments as well - none had a lasting impact. Finally I left the Homeopath and did my own research. The first treatment was Stanum 200C - it almost instantly cleared up the asthma. It got me off the Abuterol for a while but I developed a chronic cough - four or five attacks a day. Any activity triggered a coughing fit. Finally I went to a plumologist who put me on Advair which cured the cough. It was like instant. But the polyps remained. Those I finally treated with homeopathic Teucrium
I started with 6C three times a day for a week - the polyps went away for a couple weeks. A month later I followed up with 30 C once a day for three days. The polyps clearned up again and lasted for about three months. When they came back they were less severe. This was followed by 200C two days in a row. This cleared them for good. My nose is now clear and better than it ever was. I always had some sinus problems - now no more. Good or bad I now have a sense of smell - sometimes very intense. I have never had much a sense of smell.
The asthma was reoccurring and I used the ADVAIR off and on. That I finally cleared up with another try at the Stanum 200c two days in a row. Today my lungs and nose are clear. Of course after all that I got really sick and was out of service for another year - but that had nothing to do with the brake clean incident , but at least I could breathe.
I say stay away from brake clean. Today I pay people to do my cleaning and force them to wear a mask. No more chemicals for this old hacker.
So it was only one time. I used maybe a quarter of a can. It might have been the combination of the warm engine and the brake clean the the garage. My nose clogged that evening and never cleared again. I was later diagonised with nose ployps which the ENT tried to shrink with Veramist. The first application worked. Then they came back. Worse the Veramist precipiated asthma. This was treated with Provential (Abrutrol) which made me sicker. The ENT wanted to operate for the polyps but research showed that such operations are both dangerous and often are only effective for about six months. As one ENT told me polyps always come back.
I tried Homopathic treatments as well - none had a lasting impact. Finally I left the Homeopath and did my own research. The first treatment was Stanum 200C - it almost instantly cleared up the asthma. It got me off the Abuterol for a while but I developed a chronic cough - four or five attacks a day. Any activity triggered a coughing fit. Finally I went to a plumologist who put me on Advair which cured the cough. It was like instant. But the polyps remained. Those I finally treated with homeopathic Teucrium
I started with 6C three times a day for a week - the polyps went away for a couple weeks. A month later I followed up with 30 C once a day for three days. The polyps clearned up again and lasted for about three months. When they came back they were less severe. This was followed by 200C two days in a row. This cleared them for good. My nose is now clear and better than it ever was. I always had some sinus problems - now no more. Good or bad I now have a sense of smell - sometimes very intense. I have never had much a sense of smell.
The asthma was reoccurring and I used the ADVAIR off and on. That I finally cleared up with another try at the Stanum 200c two days in a row. Today my lungs and nose are clear. Of course after all that I got really sick and was out of service for another year - but that had nothing to do with the brake clean incident , but at least I could breathe.
I say stay away from brake clean. Today I pay people to do my cleaning and force them to wear a mask. No more chemicals for this old hacker.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 3
From: SW Ontario, Canada
For me the effect only lasted a few hours, mainly the tightness in my chest, and it slowly went away. No problems since that first time, andI have used the brake clean since then, but carefully with more ventilation and less spraying.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 3
From: SW Ontario, Canada
OK, assembly progress is rolling now! Last week got the brake lines cleaned and reinstalled, plus the battery cable back in place. I fixed some small tears in the firewall heat-reflective foil with aluminum tape, so looks better now. Also got the LH front wire harness back into place, and gave some thought to the RH engine bay harness, but ran out of steam.
Also rebuilt the TT with Constantine's Super Bearings, and glad I did. The 2 old bearings were rough, and had leaked their grease, so it was definately time to replace them. I figured this is the deepest point in the drivetrain, and wouldn't want to go back in there, so made sure these would never be a problem for me. While hammering on the broomstick end to push the driveshaft out of the original bearings, I was frustrated by the broomstick falling off the end of the driveshaft. Being a 1 man operation, I innovated (at least in my little shop it was a new idea)! I used a 6" piece of foam plumbing insulation to make an alignment sleeve. It slips over the driveshaft end by 3", and the broomstick end goes in the other end. This keeps the broomstick aligned while hammering out the shaft, but can't hurt the shaft. I had to wrap the foam sleeve with duct tape to keep it all together, but worked a treat after that. Last of that day was to paint the TT - a total of 3 hours from start to finish for the rebuild, working alone.
Today was spent reassembling the transmission exterior parts, adding the TT and front bellhousing to the assembly, and cleaning and mounting the vacume line and kickdown cable. With a little luck, I can have the trans/TT back in this week, and get moving on the suspension install.
Also rebuilt the TT with Constantine's Super Bearings, and glad I did. The 2 old bearings were rough, and had leaked their grease, so it was definately time to replace them. I figured this is the deepest point in the drivetrain, and wouldn't want to go back in there, so made sure these would never be a problem for me. While hammering on the broomstick end to push the driveshaft out of the original bearings, I was frustrated by the broomstick falling off the end of the driveshaft. Being a 1 man operation, I innovated (at least in my little shop it was a new idea)! I used a 6" piece of foam plumbing insulation to make an alignment sleeve. It slips over the driveshaft end by 3", and the broomstick end goes in the other end. This keeps the broomstick aligned while hammering out the shaft, but can't hurt the shaft. I had to wrap the foam sleeve with duct tape to keep it all together, but worked a treat after that. Last of that day was to paint the TT - a total of 3 hours from start to finish for the rebuild, working alone.
Today was spent reassembling the transmission exterior parts, adding the TT and front bellhousing to the assembly, and cleaning and mounting the vacume line and kickdown cable. With a little luck, I can have the trans/TT back in this week, and get moving on the suspension install.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 2
Allan,
Nice job so far! Glad you liked working with the Super Bearings and am surprised you only had two original bearing units inside the TT. Early models with the 25mm drive shaft had three. Sounds like this TT has been replaced before.
I would also second Dan's suggestions about the TC bearings and the main transmission pump large o-ring which lives behind the TC.
Cheers,
Nice job so far! Glad you liked working with the Super Bearings and am surprised you only had two original bearing units inside the TT. Early models with the 25mm drive shaft had three. Sounds like this TT has been replaced before.
I would also second Dan's suggestions about the TC bearings and the main transmission pump large o-ring which lives behind the TC.
Cheers,
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 3
From: SW Ontario, Canada
Yep,
TC bearings and the main pump o-ring and shaft seal were all done too. The TT only had 2 bearings and no dampener, but no signs that it had been apart before - at least that I could see.
TC bearings and the main pump o-ring and shaft seal were all done too. The TT only had 2 bearings and no dampener, but no signs that it had been apart before - at least that I could see.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 3
From: SW Ontario, Canada
Big step forward today with getting the trans/TT back in the car, and even added some front parts for inspiration.... With help from Carolyn's Dad, installing the trans went pretty easy, so big "thank you" to him. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 3
From: SW Ontario, Canada
Thanks! Yes, it is color matched paint put in a spray can because I don't have a compressor or the power to run one in my shed. I'm only painting the areas that would be hard to spray when everything is assembled. Next winter when the bodywork gets resprayed, it will be much easier to just mask off the areas already done.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 3
From: SW Ontario, Canada
Got about half of the rear suspension installed, still need to finish rebuilding the axles, and strip and rebuild the calipers. The front spindles were mocking me - the brake rotor was so corroded to the hub, I couldn't see how it was going to come off! I tried a 20T press, no go.... so, reversed the thinking and got a BIG hammer! With the rotor supported, and a nice fit sleeve on the center hub, started pounding, and it worked! I can't imagine how these could be removed with the spindle on the car - would be a bad scene!
Also got the front A-arms upper ball joints rebuilt with the 928MS kit. Good thing too as one of the original plastic cups was broken. I'll need to get the correct boots as the ones in the kit don't sit properly, and I want to use the original circlip ring to make sure the boot is sealed for longevity. I started installing the inner bushings, but forgot the heavy washer that goes inboard on the pivot shaft, so I'll get these finished next time in the shop.
Also got the front A-arms upper ball joints rebuilt with the 928MS kit. Good thing too as one of the original plastic cups was broken. I'll need to get the correct boots as the ones in the kit don't sit properly, and I want to use the original circlip ring to make sure the boot is sealed for longevity. I started installing the inner bushings, but forgot the heavy washer that goes inboard on the pivot shaft, so I'll get these finished next time in the shop.
