Man, do I feel old! Stiffer than the Lord ever intended for me to be!

[OR VietVet]

Many here know I recently bought more tools do be able to do most of my own work and to maybe make a bit of money on the side. My best friend at my American Legion post has a Honda Civic si, 2.4 L engine and 6 speed manual trans. First red flag was the transverse engine. Anyway, he needed a clutch put in. Bear in mind I am 6'4" tall and 320 pounds and 67 years old. Two days late I finished it and the problem was solved. My body paid the price. Laying on my back on concrete was a PITA and my back. Getting up and down on that concrete and sliding around under the rig was absolutely "NO ******* FUN". By the time I got it all apart and changed out the flywheel and clutch disc and pressure plate and pilot bearing and the throwout bearing, my energy was zapped. Finished it up the next day. Both days, after we were done he took me out for my favorite, a 16 ounce sirloin steak, loaded baked potato and 2 20 ounce Blue Moon mugs of ice cold beer. Throw in a mini chef salad and I ate like a king. I did come to the realization that crawl around on that ground for such a long period of time is not something I want to do again. I am gonna be very picky about what I repair from now on. He also put $420 in my pocket. The guy is a certified Sous Chef and cooks like a dream. I have many meals ahead of me in thanks from him.

Keep in mind as you get older: You are freakin' older dammit, start acting like it!

 

[Dantheman1540]

That had me laughing pretty good! Boy oh boy do I hate working on FWD stuff.

You might be sore but it shows you still got what it takes to get the job done!

 

[George B]

@PNW VietVet Some large pieces of cardboard make laying on the ground so much better. I always hated using a creeper so cardboard was my go to.

 

[Tonyrodz]

@PNW VietVet Some large pieces of cardboard make laying on the ground so much better. I always hated using a creeper so cardboard was my go to.

Good idea on the cardboard. Sometimes I put a moving blanket down, or on top of that--if I don't have to slide around too much. I've never had or used a creeper that cooperates. Friggin wheels have always sucked. Seems like your brain age doesn't match your body age--in my case anyway!

 

[wjburken]

@PNW VietVet Some large pieces of cardboard make laying on the ground so much better. I always hated using a creeper so cardboard was my go to.

I have the box that my large air compressor came in folded flat and it works great for laying down on the driveway or garage floor.

 

[PG01]

i have both.... a creeper and cardboard diff situations call for different tools.... lol best creep i ever bought

just saw this the other day...

 

[OR VietVet]

I have something like the "Magic Creeper" but it is not perfect. I also have a regular Pro-Lift creeper that also folds to a roll around stool. Came on great large poly wheels and rolls easily. I don't like to use a creeper unless I have to. I would be under a vehicle and trying to tighten a screw or bolt and the creeper will move me while tightening and just pisses me off. I will use a creeper if I have to but my stiffness is so much more related to the act of getting up and down all day. So like @Dantheman1540 said, I also never give up and finished it and yes, I do know what I was doing and the actual work knowledge was there, it is my physical size that cost me. That would have been a 1 day job with a lift involved and way easier on me.

 

[Tonyrodz]

i have both.... a creeper and cardboard diff situations call for different tools.... lol best creep i ever boughtView attachment 248629

just saw this the other day...

Idk if I'm completely sold on that. It's a great idea tho. The reviews on it--https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Creeper-51631-Automotive-Household/product-reviews/B00EZV05OQ

 

[OR VietVet]

You lay that thing down and climb on it outside the perimeter of the vehicle and by the time you roll 3-4 feet under that vehicle the thing gets too short and you are left with your ass on the creeper and your shoulders on the concrete. I am gonna get some cardboard but also am gonna price ANY job I may take on that requires going under the rig, accordingly. I did do an oil change while under there for my friend but I don't even take on oil changes here. My friend took the old oil and filter and will dispose of them.

 

[Dantheman1540]

How many miles did it have? Honda clutches usually last a while. I really wish they made something with that K2.4 in RWD I'd likely buy it if i fit.

 

[OR VietVet]

It had plenty of leg room for me to even drive it but the seat was a bit cramped. It has only about 70k miles on it and ran great but the clutch that was in it was a competition clutch. It was not a stock set up and had started to come apart and the noises that came from it when released the clutch was getting worse. He is going to sell it. The person that was in there for the comp clutch had poor work ethic. The flywheel bolts are 12 point and had several rounded edges and metal in there. I put new bolts at the flywheel and torqued to 91 foot lbs. That is the torque called for with the 6 speed trans. Shields were bolted back in place with just 1 instead of 2 bolts. One bell housing bolt missing. Personally I hate that car, after working on it, and hope it is gone soon.

 

[Dantheman1540]

It had plenty of leg room for me to even drive it but the seat was a bit cramped. It has only about 70k miles on it and ran great but the clutch that was in it was a competition clutch. It was not a stock set up and had started to come apart and the noises that came from it when released the clutch was getting worse. He is going to sell it. The person that was in there for the comp clutch had poor work ethic. The flywheel bolts are 12 point and had several rounded edges and metal in there. I put new bolts at the flywheel and torqued to 91 foot lbs. That is the torque called for with the 6 speed trans. Shields were bolted back in place with just 1 instead of 2 bolts. One bell housing bolt missing. Personally I hate that car, after working on it, and hope it is gone soon.

Gotta love fixing other peoples mistakes.

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, I had told my friend to order up from RA what I wanted here, in a worse case scenario. We are sending back the clutch master and slave. They are still working great and no leaks. I replaced the rest.

 

[GreyStone]

When I saw this threads title I thought it was going to be about ******!

 

[Tonyrodz]

When I saw this threads title I thought it was going to be about ******!

Lol

 

[GreyStone]

Lol

Malo Diablo!!.....Malo!

 

[OR VietVet]

Fortunately the 2 ladies I am seeing at the moment tell me I have no problems in that area. I did have one of them try kidding with me and said, "Give me 9" and make it hurt". So I screwed her 3 times and slugged her in the mouth. She seemed happy enough for a swollen lip.

 

[GreyStone]

Fortunately the 2 ladies I am seeing at the moment tell me I have no problems in that area. I did have one of them try kidding with me and said, "Give me 9" and make it hurt". So I screwed her 3 times and slugged her in the mouth. She seemed happy enough for a swollen lip.

OMG!!...you're worse than Tony!

 

[wjburken]

OMG!!...you're worse than Tony!

I just hear Ron singing these words from Toby Keith's song:

I said girls,
I ain't as good as I once was,
I got a few years on me now,
But there was a time,
Back in my prime,
When I could really lay it down,
If you need some love tonight,
Then I might have just enough,
I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once, as I ever was.​

 

[OR VietVet]

I just hear Ron singing these words from Toby Keith's song:

I said girls,
I ain't as good as I once was,
I got a few years on me now,
But there was a time,
Back in my prime,
When I could really lay it down,
If you need some love tonight,
Then I might have just enough,
I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once, as I ever was.​

Exactly right Wade! Otherwise I would have more girlfriends. There is something appealing to women about guys that can fix vehicles. Their eyes light up. Lots of women out there would love to be married to their own technician. I was running one of my shops one day when a boy about 10 years old came out to the shop from the waiting room and he said, "My mom wants to know if you are married." I said, "Why?" "He said that he thinks it's about me knowing about vehicles". I wasn't married but there was no way I was falling for all that.