JLarson's build thread

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by JLarson

All packages opened, parts inventoried, Z is packed and ready for Friday's trip!

You coming across the turnpike? If so. Get off at RT70, New Stanton. Take RT70 West to Toll43 at California. Take Toll43 South to Exit 26 Brownsville. Once through the exit. Make a left, and go straight. I'm 1.5 miles from the exit. You'll come down a small hill with a stop sign at the bottom. Go straight. You will pass by Hiller Fire Hall on your left. The next intersection down the hill. Make a right. Go 2 blocks and look for the motorhome on the right. Pull up in front of the garage door. My Z will be parked in front of the motorhome.

If you follow gps. It will take you the long way from the RT70, Toll43 California interchange. It will want to take you through some small towns. It will tell you to get off at the California exit. Ignore. Then it will tell you to get off at the Brownsville RT40 exit. Ignore. Then the exit for Low Hill before the bridge. Ignore. You want to go across the bridge and get off at the exit (26) JUST after the bridge.

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by Rusty

You coming across the turnpike? If so. Get off at RT70, New Stanton. Take RT70 West to Toll43 at California. Take Toll43 South to Exit 26 Brownsville. Once through the exit. Make a left, and go straight. I'm 1.5 miles from the exit. You'll come down a small hill with a stop sign at the bottom. Go straight. You will pass by Hiller Fire Hall on your left. The next intersection down the hill. Make a right. Go 2 blocks and look for the motorhome on the right. Pull up in front of the garage door. My Z will be parked in front of the motorhome.

If you follow gps. It will take you the long way from the RT70, Toll43 California interchange. It will want to take you through some small towns. It will tell you to get off at the California exit. Ignore. Then it will tell you to get off at the Brownsville RT40 exit. Ignore. Then the exit for Low Hill before the bridge. Ignore. You want to go across the bridge and get off at the exit (26) JUST after the bridge.

I got directions now. LOL

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Spooler

I got directions now. LOL

Come on up.

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Come on up.

I will be up that way shortly.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Spooler

I will be up that way shortly.

Let me know when. And I'll try to meet you there.

[onzedge]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Let me know when. And I'll try to meet you there.

[JLarson]

9/21/2018 - In Which Our Hero Arrives At Rusty's Garage

Left work early on Friday and drove from NE Philly out to the Pittsburgh area to meet up with Rusty, as planned. Drive is pretty easy, lots of long virtually empty highways, and even with a couple stops for coffee/food/fuel/toilet, I arrived at Rusty's Garage around 7:40.

Rusty and the missus were kind enough to have burgers and fresh corn waiting for me (excellent), and after a tour and jawing for a bit, we started working on the car.

I actually expected to only get the car in the air and drain the differential, but once we started knocking out tasks, we just kind of kept going.

Rough list of tasks:
-Drained the diff
-Removed rear portion of the exhaust
-Removed V-brace
-Removed rear swaybar
-Marked axles and driveshaft using metal stamp and paint marker
-Disconnected axles and driveshaft, using bungie cords to keep the axles suspended
-Disconnected the differential and lowered, using a jack (almost forgot about the breather hose, Rusty spotted it in time)
-Removed differential cover
-Removed OEM hardware from diff cover, and transferred key components to Z1 diff cover
-Checked internals of the differential. Rusty showed me how to check backlash. Mine was about .0027
-Prepped the mating surfaces of the differential cover and the differential, put the sealant on, and put the new cover in place.

We wrapped up a little after midnight. Everything went pretty smoothly, no hiccups.