Update on my Gas-guzzling Metal Head💨🤦

Yeah, so in my previous post on my old new vehicle, I talked about some of the troubles I had with the vehicle.

Here now, it's given me more trouble in past week😅.
Been fixing and fixing stuff endlessly.

The steering rack at fixing some weeks back

After I'd fixed the steering rack a few weeks back, I decided to fix the ever-leaking oil underneath the vehicle. Ever since I bought the vehicle, I've been trying to find out what might cause the leaks. I've changed seals, added engine oil treatment, but to no avail.

So my mechanic did a thorough look through to be sure where exactly the oil was leaking from. We later found out it was from the coupling point of the engine and the gear system. In fact the oil leak was predominantly gear oil. The seal system was compromised. Phew! That's a lot of work, cos the engine had to be uncounted and brought down for that, while the seal components were checked and then recoupling is done - that was more than a day's job🥲.
I had to leave the vehicle in the mechanic's workshop for the repair.
While doing that, I told them to do a good check of the vehicle, so I could fix every other thing also wrong with the vehicle.

They gave me a list of stuff to fix, and all I could do was sigh. But I needed to fix it. If I didn't fix them now, I'll be running a race against inflation when spare parts skyrocket in few months.

So I highlighted some of my biggest concerns for the mechanic:

• Needed brighter led lights, cos I drive a lot in the night.
• Also need to fix the brake lights as only the oarking lights were working.
• Needed to optimize the engine's work to save fuel (of course I have to explore every means to save fuel in a gas guzzling😅 tank like mine)

So they listed what parts I was going to buy including:

• Wheel Nuts(4), as my tyre nuts were incomplete
• Silencer Rubber
• Radiator Hose
• Clips(6)
• Manifold Repair
• Chassis Repair
• Black Paint
• Wires
• Axle Seal
• Converter Seal
• Flywheel Seal
• Propeller Seal
• Pulley Seal
• Sump Gear Parking
• Engine Oil (6ltrs)
• Oil filter
• Transmission oil (10 litres)
• Silencer Parking (F&B)
• Windscreen Bulbs (6)
• Brake Lights &Socket (2)
• White Bulbs (Front)
• Fog Lights (Front)
• Oxygen Sensors (4)
• Coolant Reservoir, the the current one was broken

Now this was just a summary sneak peek into everything we bought and used to fix the vehicle.

And so, the dismantling began🥲

The hood was first removed, and a crane was used to lift the engine after disconnecting all the connecting parts and the gear. It was a team work

It was lifted and placed separately to check all the seals

The headlamp lights and fog lights were also fixed

All the seals were inspected and parts needing changing were changed

The Windscreen brake lights were also changed

Fortunately and unfortunately, broken parts were found in the gear Sump. I still don't know how those broken parts got there. So we had to do a clean up of the sump and put fresh gear oil after coupling

The Manifold which had cracks was also taken to be welded

I figure by now you'll probably just advise me to sell off this car for scrap😂.
I mean why manage such old parts??
I guess you might be right. But as it stands, this is what I can afford at the moment. Perhaps I'll still sell it off at some point.

One of the tension adjusters was also bent. We didn't plan for this. Had to buy another complete one

3.5 litres of coolant was added to the radiator

After all the fixes, the car was washed and ready for me to pick.

One would think after spending so much on these fixes I would get some rest.
Only for one of the mechanic apprentices to break the key in the keyhole of the vehicle door while trying to open one of the front doors. The key was slightly bent already though. He probably turned the key forcefully or something and snap it went!

So we had to get new cuts for a key. Had to bring down the spare key for finishing touches, while a new key was being forged.

I did a drive around with the vehicle and it felt pretty good. But again, one more thing came up😮‍💨. The temperature gauge on the dashboard wasn't reading.

What on earth have these guys done to the car again??🤧

And so I'm back at the workshop for another fix😏
When will the fixing end??

Well, for now, let me face other priorities of life😔

What do you think?