During a rebuild of the trans I broke a bolt. I've tried extraction and ended up drilling into the threads.

It's one bolt near the forward clutch assm.

can I just be a loser and let it be? Add some gasket goop or rtv?

 

helicoil?

 

I drilled it out. Retapped it.

I didnt want to take it all apart again and have to get new gaskets and wait even longer.

Not sure if it would have leaked missing one bolt..

 

Good to hear it.

 

No leaks! Car is running. CVT transmissions are seemingly easier to work on than I expected.

And you only need a few special inexpensive tools.

 

Congrats!!! What do you charge? My '03 has been sitting in the driveway for a few months because either the CVT has grenaded, or the flywheel drive spline is stripped. Haven't bothered to figure out which...

 

Once I figured out a few things the drop of the trans was the simplest part.

Getting the original 32mm axle nuts off

disconnecting the 17 year old rusted up exhaust.. And figuring out how to install it later

ball joints were both dead. And I had to get the moog problem solvers as they were swapped before me

learned to pb blaster everything

Supporting the engine and trans with home made 4x4 brace chain, boat trailer hoist and threaded eye bolt.

One tie rod end.

6 Quarts of fluid

ATF filter and 3/8 hose.

6 cans of brake cleaner and degreaser.

3 arm puller

Rust converter for the underside.

Serp belt

Two radiator fan motors. ( both dead. Prob contributing to the transmission failure)

Oil

Oil filter

Air filter

Cabin filter

 

Sounds like quite a journey to resurrect an old beast.

 

its May and its still fluid leak free!

IMA got a home made re-gen, and was good for about 3 months, but the CEL came on for P!449 again. i don't care. its still gets high 40s on the highway. After clearing the CEL,i can go about 20 miles of stop and go before it comes back on.

and it means, it'll pass inspection if i arrive with the CEL on , and then reset just before going in.