Important

I pay a lot for my drill bits, more that I should, but I buy them at the corner hardward 2 miles from my house. The bits I buy have a lifetime replacement warranty against anything that will make them not cut. My latest replacement was my 1/2" bit that I brought back to them in three pieces.

and they cut real well too.
This sort of thing is why I do like my local Ace for a lot of things. I picked up a big die for cutting external threads (5/8" NC?) 5 years ago from the shelf. Not many hardware stores will stock that sort of thing any more.
 
I have a drill doctor and cheap drill bits

mac 'but got hammered last night' gyvr
 
Wait....

your supposed to get an alignment after changing the CA's







fawkit it drives straightish

I'm just worried about caster. He aligned it, I've beat on it for like a year and a half and it still goes straight when I let off the wheel, just doing it to get the caster right.
 
Well I have my cobalt bits from MAC that I use at work, along with my MAC tap 'n die kit with corresponding bits...

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever changed the bolt size on their diff? 5/16 seems small and the lip on the 8.8 seems like you could go all the way to 1/2 if you wanted... Just wondering...
 
I disagree about the transmissions being a problem in those vans though. I read many reviews where the transmissions had to be replaced. I know the intake manifold gasket was leaking on her van.
Not to be a dick, but what does "many reviews" mean? I mean, there are millions of 4T60-E/4T65 transmissions in everything from Cavaliers to Bonnevilles from 1990-2010. The worst I've seen about either is the final drive in the 65, which does not require entire transmission overhaul or replacement if done by a competent technician. I would venture a guess to say that the reviews may be in the thousands, which sounds like a lot, but when in comparison to millions of units, it's a small drop in the bucket. And poor reviews always go further than good reviews...
I know the intake manifold gasket was leaking on her van.
And this is a common problem. But the issue isn't with the engine, it was with the coolant. Which is why GM switched to a new style Dex-Cool. Since it seems the trickle of technician to engineer takes a little while, there are a lot of models out there with the janky Dex-Cool that has a higher acidity level.

Again, not trying to be a dick, just trying to educate you. Like I said, I've never seen a 4T60 get replaced and only a couple 65's. Usually when a 65 gets replaced, the internal failure could have been avoided with proper maintenance.
 
Totalled? I think so, and if so, going back to get the battery.

The windows are good, the only damage beside the drivers slider is front end.
2012-06-22_11-02-06_775.jpg

I don't know if the van is supposed to look like that or not.
2012-06-22_11-13-38_183.jpg


2012-06-22_11-13-46_544.jpg


If they fix it, at the min. it needs hood, fender, bumper, headlight, suspension work.
2012-06-22_11-13-58_225.jpg


Tire is not perpendicular to the ground.
2012-06-22_11-14-21_358.jpg


2000 Montana Ext. with around 111k.
 
Considering what those go for on CL, its almost guaranteed to be totaled.
 
That is what I am thinking, I am hoping somehow she can get this one van at a friends car lot. 2001 Ford Windstar with 81.5k miles. The miles is why I want it for her. The other nice things is that it has a dvd player in the back for the kids she watches for her friend.
 
That is what I am thinking, I am hoping somehow she can get this one van at a friends car lot. 2001 Ford Windstar with 81.5k miles. The miles is why I want it for her. The other nice things is that it has a dvd player in the back for the kids she watches for her friend.

Hopefully the push-rods don't bend in that 3.8L... Ask me how I know...
 
That is what I am thinking, I am hoping somehow she can get this one van at a friends car lot. 2001 Ford Windstar with 81.5k miles. The miles is why I want it for her. The other nice things is that it has a dvd player in the back for the kids she watches for her friend.


Expect to do the intake gaskets on that one too.

also make sure the recall's are done so your mom does not end up in a ditch because the rear axle broke in half or front sub frame fell apart.
 
All cars have issues.

A buddy's dad had a few winstars and aerostars, he put 300k+ on them...just did transmissions every 100k...

mac 'its all a bunch of junk' gyvr
 
I know of another local Windstar that the front subframe/engine/trans just fell the heck out while driving down the road. At least they circled the problem on the grille.

That being said, we got a Montana in a trade, drove it for a while and traded it in on a 02 Mazda MPV. Really nice (besides being a van), good mileage, etc. Uses a Ford 3.0 V6, but everything else is Mazda, including the 5 speed auto trans. Yes I realize Mazda is owned by Ford. If you're looking for reliability, go with a foreign van. Odyssey, MPV, Sienna, etc. Domestic vans are getting there, but Chrysler's transmissions are still junk, GM plastic falls apart and Ford is, well, Ford.

I tried to get Kim to go for an Astro van since they're basically a S10 Blazer with a different body, but she said no way. The Astro is pretty much the last decently made midsize van left.
 
We're considering a 2012 Town and Country with the Pentastar v6 because I can get a brand new one for the price of a 2010 Honda and the Chrysler comes with more options.

I like some things about the honda, but it's not worth another $10k for a 3 year old one.

Plus, it's halftime America :D

Ford doesn't even make a minivan anymore. Kind of hard to bag on them if they're not even in the market. I'm just not going to pay what the import car manufacturers want for what's basically the same vehicle with a media hyped reputation that was earned in the 80's.
 
All cars have issues.

A buddy's dad had a few winstars and aerostars, he put 300k+ on them...just did transmissions every 100k...

mac 'its all a bunch of junk' gyvr

When Lar moved in with me, she had a 1996 Aerostar.
It was butt ugly green and had stupid ass racing stripes on it.
She had put a $500.00 sound system in it.
But it was paid for and had 90,000 miles on it.
I got sick of looking it and she traded it in on the Expedition.
 
Back
Top