your experiences with a few jobs you may have done ?

[fatbloke-dim]

Just wondering ....

a few fairly common jobs that crop up on C4's , that I may have to look at some time in the not too distant future . Just looking to see about the degree of difficulty associated with these things , as I don't have the FSM's to hand yet - they're in shipping as I speak . Are there any short-cuts ,or time and trouble avoidance tips with these jobs , or are they all as-per manual? Some cars I've had , I've followed the book to the letter , only to find out I've done way more dismantling than was called for , to get to things . This C4 of mine is the most complex vehicle I will have worked on to-date , my daily is pretty much "no user-serviceable parts inside " !

These jobs in prospect being;-

Replacement of Opti-Spark , GM or aftermarket ? Seems a lot of aftermarket ones have caused some grief in the past . Easy or hard/awkward ?

Related to above ,water pump change-out . Big job ?

Front crank pulley seal . Do at same time as above , or not .Sump/oilpan dropped for this ?

If you can share your opinions on these , it may influence whether I'll get them done professionally or not . A big factor is that I depend on the weather to get anything done , I have no garage , and as years advance , I feel less inclined to roll around in the dirt and wet/cold anymore . Then again , if I do it myself , I'll know it's done right .

 

[boomdriver]

I can;t speak to your list except the water pump....very do-able but time consuming and low back ache as the end result...
(as with most vette underhood repairs)

But I CAN tell you that the FSM instructions are based on real needs and whats required as a GM tech would do it. I follow their directions to the letter and the work progresses well. When I skip or short cut, I end up wasting more time wrestling things and aggrevated.... Rack & pinion for example.
Book says drop the sway bar. Looking up at the rack it LOOKS like it will fall out with the sway bar in place.....WRONG. You beat up the new rack and bend tubing and fight it all the way. Pulling the 1/2 doz bolts for the sway bar takes 5 minutes and gives you twice the working room so nothing has to be abused to "make" it fit.

IMO, the FSM instructions are priceless and accurate. Among the best books that I have ever bought...seriously !

 

[fatbloke-dim]

Thought so....

Seems like the FSM's are way better than other manuals , Haynes in prticular have led me up the garden path in some very imaginative and creative ways in the past . I am aware that the crank pulley calls for dropping the rack , so that be goodbye to the recent super-accurate deluxe 4 wheel alignment job recently done , then . As it only drips about a couple of drips a week , I'll let it ride until next summer . The Opti may be more pressing , as the car had a slight top-end miss before the ECM died , which one tech suggested may be related to that part . The re-man ECM is now back in this country , awaiting customs clearance , they drag their feet at getting things processed ,but are quick-sharp when they want the money for import duties, tax , and anything else they think they can stiff you with . Thieves .

Still , I'll have a look thru' the FSM's , and formulate a plan . I t appears it may all be do-able at the same time , what with the belts and all being removed when doing the Opti and waterpump .

Thanks for your contribution,Boomdriver ,very prompt !!

 

[John Robinson]

Intake manifold gaskets. The manifold can be removed without taking off the fuel lines but the danger here is that you move the line on the rubber o rings and then they may fail later while driving the car. If they do fail you will spray gas all over the engine and most likely lose it to fire. Anytime you remove the fuel lines replace the o rings.. However if you remove the fuel rails then you can get to the bolt back by the firewall a lot easier. If you have to remove the egr you can do it without removing the fuel rails but it takes patience. Oh and if your 93 il like mine the bolts for the egr are 3/8 American standard not metric

 

[fatbloke-dim]

Yeah , I'd noticed a mix of A/F and metric....
Just like the way my head works with temperature , I tend to go in degrees F above freezing ,instantly knowing if it's a "barbeque" warm day , or not , or knowing the degree of freezing I'll have to endure whilst at work . But nuts an' bolts - well that's a bit perverse .Jus' like me , then !!