Ex-paddock Basher Ke70 Problems.

[gmack]

A short history on the car..

 

I got a 1982 KE70 4k Sedan as payment for a debt owed. It is a total POS.

 

I took it out 'rallying' and ended up loving it. So I've decided that I'll make this car a project and fix it up.

 

I started doing a full service on it which went well until I got to the brakes...

 

I went to take the front wheels off, they're totally stuck (tried all the usual tricks.) So I decided that I'd disassemble all the front suspension as I have AE86 gear to go in anyway. So I slowly took everything apart on both sides...

 

Both brake lines were totally frozen, so I ended up resorting to cutting the smallest lines of the two in each arch (will replace them with new items later.) I got the wheels off with the hubs still frozen inside along with the brake caliper and rotor attached. But everything else came apart perfectly fine.

 

When I had everything apart, I noticed the struts had bad wheel rubbing marks. Checked the wheels and the tires had worn down. Obviously the wheel offset is wrong, and the eccentric ring seems too small for the hubs, which explains why the wheels are stuck.

 

I also have a problem of the spark plugs pissing oil out everywhere. The gaskets are fine and I'm not losing oil from anywhere else (surprisingly.)

 

So I'm left with a few problems that I really need help with.

 

- Front wheels won't come off the hubs/rotors/discs.

- The struts are totally off but I need to disassemble them. But when I compress the springs and try to undo the top nut, the shock arm spins inside the strut.

- Can a purchase new brake lines for the car or is there an easy tool/trick that helps when working with KE70 brake lines.

- How can I stop the spark plugs leaking oil.

 

Forgive my stupidity, I come from a late model rotary background. This KE70 is the oldest car I've ever worked on and it's doing my head in.

Edited August 23, 2010 by gmack

[Evan G]

A short history on the car..

 

I got a 1982 KE70 4k Sedan as payment for a debt owed. It is a total POS.

 

I took it out 'rallying' and ended up loving it. So I've decided that I'll make this car a project and fix it up.

 

I started doing a full service on it which went well until I got to the brakes...

 

I went to take the front wheels off, they're totally stuck (tried all the usual tricks.) So I decided that I'd disassemble all the front suspension as I have AE86 gear to go in anyway. So I slowly took everything apart on both sides...

 

Both brake lines were totally frozen, so I ended up resorting to cutting the smallest lines of the two in each arch (will replace them with new items later.) I got the wheels off with the hubs still frozen inside along with the brake caliper and rotor attached. But everything else came apart perfectly fine.

 

When I had everything apart, I noticed the struts had bad wheel rubbing marks. Checked the wheels and the tires had worn down. Obviously the wheel offset is wrong, and the eccentric ring seems too small for the hubs, which explains why the wheels are stuck.

 

I also have a problem of the spark plugs pissing oil out everywhere. The gaskets are fine and I'm not losing oil from anywhere else (surprisingly.)

 

So I'm left with a few problems that I really need help with.

 

- Front wheels won't come off the hubs/rotors/discs. Redwarf trick is to throw the spare wheel at it!

- The struts are totally off but I need to disassemble them. But when I compress the springs and try to undo the top nut, the shock arm spins inside the strut. use a rattle gun or leave the spring not compressed, put your spanner on it and give it a good wack, once it moves then compress the springs

- Can a purchase new brake lines for the car or easy there a tool/trick that helps when working with KE70 brake lines.

- How can I stop the spark plugs leaking oil. get new spark plug o rings

 

Forgive my stupidity, I come from a late model rotary background. This KE70 is the oldest car I've ever worked on and it's doing my head in.

[gmack]

At least the plugs are an easy fix.

 

I tried a rattle gun and leaving the spring un-compressed, didn't work. I'm thinking about a small plumbers pipe clamp to hold the shock arm while I gently undo it, but I don't want to damage the shock.

 

I have NFI what your talking about with the seized wheels/hubs.

[Evan G]

the wheels wont come off correct? undo the wheel nuts and throw a spare wheel at it (when its on jack stands!)

 

i think theres a slot where you can hold it with a shifter, if you use a plumbers vice it will damage the shocker

 

maybe try a better rattle gun :jamie:

[gmack]

I'll check out the struts again tomorrow and give it another go.

 

The front wheels are already off the car, with the hubs/rotors/calipers still stuck to them. I'm going to get a oxy torch to them tomorrow and hope the alloy wheel expands more/faster than the steel hub.

[Evan G]

bad idea! it might distort them. try putting a the wheel nuts on a couple of threads and hammer it?

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Can you brace the wheel on either side with the hub towards the ground and smash just the hub...???? WD40 hard out tonight and try tomorrow.

[gmack]

bad idea! it might distort them. try putting a the wheel nuts on a couple of threads and hammer it?

 

Tried that, now the wheel studs are loose :-P I don't care about the hub, but I want the calipers and wheels.

 

I've covered them in RP7 which I'm leaving on over night. I'm going to cover them in rust remover tomorrow before work and see if I can get them off tomorrow night.

 

If all else fails, I'll whip out the oxy and go to town. I want to save the wheels but I might not be able to.

[Grand Master of Awesome]

you mentioned you have ae86 stuff to go in, and that the wheels had be scrubbing due to crappy offset

bin them both and save yourself the hassle.

[gmack]

MAP gas torch solved the wheel/hub problem. They're being re-barreled as we speak. Hubs are totally f@$ked.

 

Managed to dismantle the struts with a rattle gun and some vice grips without damaging anything.

 

86 gear is in, waiting for the wheels to come back :-)

 

Off to the wreckers tomorrow to get some new panels and brake lines.

[gmack]

I've discovered a new problem...

 

After servicing and flushing the cooling system, the car now stays too cold and won't run properly unless on choke...

 

Strange... I'm going to pick up a new thermostat and radiator cap tomorrow. Is this a common problem with 4Ks?

 

It ran perfectly fine with next to no water in the system.

 

---

 

Another problem that has just occurred is that the fuel gauge has randomly stopped working. I'm about to fit a tacho dash cluster and I'd like to fix this problem at the same time.

 

Also, do I need to run a wire to the coil to power the Tacho cluster or does the KE70 wiring loom already have the facility?

Edited August 24, 2010 by gmack

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Fuel gauge problem is probably just the sender unit. Mine is pretty spastic, but works under 1/4 of a tank so I haven't bothered replacing it..

[Grand Master of Awesome]

tacho dash will bolt straight into your current loom.

[gmack]

Thanks guys, you've been very helpful.

 

I'm sure I'll have more questions soon haha.