After having my butt kicked last year…regularly, it’s time to get this thing in better shape. The car had not gotten any attention in months.
One of the main projects the car has needed to be completed since last year is changing out the manual transmission. Since I bought it, there has been a noise coming from the gearbox. Initially, I had hoped it was something that would go away…the car had been sitting for three years. Transmission bearings don’t heal up on their own. Being my daily driver, I would have to buy a spare and change it, as opposed to replacing gear parts.
The one I picked up at a salvage yard came out of a ‘91 that had been hit bad in the driver’s door. Wouldn’t have wanted to buy any interior parts - bad Karma from the stains. The gearbox looked pretty rough, but after two hours of degreaser, detergent, and scrubbing it looked better. Wirebrushing the outside got the case ready for a coat of engine enamel. It’s not a show car, but paint makes it much easier to keep it clean. Being under the car is much less annoying when you don’t get covered in grease and grime.
With the transmission out, this is a great time to install the rear transmission bushing stiffener. Getting at the bushing is a little difficult, but if I wasn’t up for a challenge, I wouldn’t be driving a 20 year-old car.
This stiffener is part of a kit, that has been sitting around since last year. Energy Suspension makes these and they fit in the voids of the factory rubber bushing. They interlock on both sides of the bushing and fit into the mounting bracket with just a little pursuasion. No more bucking when getting back on the gas!
