Mazdamitch's new project truck

JoeFountain

JoeFountain I've replaced the bumper, all front suspension and steering, brakes, and now have to do the timing, valve seals, hydraulic lifters, and front main seal(dumps oil about 1 qt per 100 miles). 220k miles on the clock and still running strong on everything completely stock...except the huge cloud of blue smoke when it's cold-started. Either way, for me being 6'4" tall and it being a regular cab. It's so fun to drive and easy to work on. It's my go-cart.

Red91EFI

MazdaMitch

You've got a great shop that you built to work on your projects.

Red91EFI

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Doesn't your B2600i have a 120hp engine .

MazdaMitch

JoeFountain I only wish I had a concrete floor or even a garage, as all my work is done laying in gravel out in the weather.

It wasn't always like this with the nice shop.
I too have laid in the dirt and worked in the elements.

Mrcrowley

MazdaMitch I like your crane

Cusser

Great shop, Mitch !!!

I have enclosed garages at both my places. But on days like today, I'll be working on Mrs. Cusser's horse trailer ("dressing room" door re-alignment - trouble closing and latching/locking, and re-installing the trailer wheel fender) in the street, but both are on the right/sidewalk side.

MazdaMitch

I actually enjoy working on the outside.
I have good lighting, but I love good outdoor lighting when I'm working.

Cusser

MazdaMitch I actually enjoy working on the outside.
I have good lighting, but I love good outdoor lighting when I'm working.

I like the outdoor lighting too, as I get older.....however, here in Arizona there are way too many months that are just way too hot to work on a vehicle outside. If you think where you live in the southeast is hot - try spending a summer in Phoenix AZ, where the summer nights can cool off to 97F by 4am !!!!

MazdaMitch

Cusser you forget I have family there, I know about the heat.

Me biking in it.

Cusser

Braver and younger than I !!!!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Hot temperature changes to a whole different kind of hot, when you add 80-90% humidity!

Unfortunately, I am currently sitting mostly indoors for over a month as I am having to apply Fluorouracil 5% cream to my face, ears, scalp, neck, and shoulders. I am up to 2 weeks of twice-a-day applications, and it is miserable! My skin is peeling off, and sores are developing......and the Dermatologist wants me to do this for 2 more weeks......I won't make it that long! If I can get to 3 weeks total, I will stop applying and try to heal up.

All those years in the Florida sun, working construction, and surfing at the beach every weekend when I was younger, has caught up to me......all I can say is......wear your sunscreen people! I am going stir crazy as I can't get in the sun (having to stay indoors) while I'm applying (and healing) this "chemotherapy" treatment.

MazdaMitch

Axel-Breaker-Earl I hate to hear that.
I have had several cancerous spots removed from my back so these days I try to wear those Sun shirts even though I love the Sun.

It only gets worse as we age because our skin loses its ability to protect us, coupled with the long-term damage exposure we did when we were younger.

Axel-Breaker-Earl

MazdaMitch I have had several cancerous spots removed from my back so these days I try to wear those Sun shirts even though I love the Sun.

Thanks Mitch.

Me to......I know all about MOHS surgery.......having been through those dozens of times. This is the first time that I have done the "skin peel" medication......and I don't think I will ever do it again, on my face anyway. It is way too torturous to me!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Mitch.......I finally installed the B2000 engine in my friends 1989 B2200 auto trans truck today. I had to run to the hardware store and get a new O-ring for the Input Shaft on the transmission......it is located near the outer end of the input shaft, and in the Workshop Manual is states to Replace it. I tried to order one through the local Mazda dealership, but they couldn't guarantee me that the one they found in GA would show up on Monday. So I just matched it up with an O-ring from Ace Hardware. It is 7/8" outside diameter and 3/4" inside diameter and it is 1/16" in thickness........it worked fine for me.

MazdaMitch

Axel-Breaker-Earl
I may have ordered the last one...but first....

I have several o ring kits and I measured and came to a decision on one, and I think this was it.

From this SAE kit from Harbor Freight... I went with the 116 I think.

It fits good.

The original had a nick cut out of it, and looked "flat" so since I was ordering a few things and tried to order a new dipstick, I ordered the proper O-Ring.

Axel-Breaker-Earl

MazdaMitch I ordered the proper O-Ring.

Good!! You would have never gotten the torque converter all the way in with that thicker O-ring!! The 1/16" O-ring worked good for me, but it was still tough to slide the TC over all the way.

Funny thing......I put my friend's B2000 engine in this 1989 B2200 truck with the auto trans in it.......and the B2000 block doesn't have the smaller upper two 10mm x 1.25mm threaded holes in it so that the two uppermost auto trans-to-block fasteners can be installed! I never noticed until I went to install those two bolts yesterday! Here is a pic of the back of the B2000 engine.......it has the 4 upper threaded holes for the 14mm trans-to-block bolts that the manual trans uses.......but not the two smaller 10mm threaded holes. We're riding without them baby!!

Apparently there was a small oil leak on this engine that I noticed, on the left rear corner of the pan.......so I removed the oil pan and resealed it for my friend before we dropped it in the truck yesterday......wasn't planning on doing that, but I don't like oil leaks!

Another friend Frank......learning Mechanics 101......he helps me a lot, and loves to work on pretty much anything......good company also!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

When trying to install the TC into the trans, with the new O-ring installed on the input shaft.......I was having a hard time getting the TC to slip in all of the way. The new O-ring seemed too hard to overcome. So I slide the Input shaft out of the transmission (it slides all of the way out, and no other O-rings are on it) and with the open end of the TC turned upward, I slide the Input shaft into the TC and I could push it in all of the way this way........I removed it and installed it into the TC 6-7 times this way.......I then reinstalled the Input Shaft back into the trans, and slide the TC back on the trans again, and this time I was able to get the TC all of the way back into the trans.

The TC goes back far enough where the backside of it actually rubs the trans case when you spin it! I thought something was wrong.......but in hindsight, you will pull it back forward about 1/4" - 3/8" to abut the flex plate when bolting the TC to the flex plate. There is just enough room to get a 14mm short socket, and a 3/8" x 3" extension on your ratchet/torque wrench to then tighten the 4 TC bolts down to spec. Of course you will need to rotate the engine 90° to get to all four TC bolts after each bolt install. I left them loose until all 4 were in, then rotated through them to torque them down. I also used Red Loctite on the threads of each TC bolt.

MazdaMitch

Axel-Breaker-Earl Good Stuff! Thanks for the info. I have my seals and pan seal along with the filter and have not installed any of it yet.

Have you put the engine and trans in the truck already?
Do you put them both in joined at once?

I am thinking I will put it all back just the way I took it out, which was trans back in first, and supported, then drop the engine in and mate it up. I may be begging for a beatin on this one, but thats how I have done the manual trans trucks, but thats easier. This auto is heavy!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Yes, the engine is in the truck now. I left the trans in the truck, and installed the engine to it.

I put my floor jack under the trans and lifted it some, so that it angled upward in the front. I then hooked the engine to the hoist where it had a slight angle down in the back. This way I could install the motor mounts to the engine, and when the engine is mated to the trans, the threaded studs on the bottom of the engine mounts were above the truck frame engine mounting pads just slightly.........once the engine was mated to the trans, I just lowered the engine down and into the slotted holes of the truck frame engine mounting pads. Worked like a charm.

I then crawled underneath the truck and installed the torque converter bolts, the engine to trans lower braces, and the lower motor mount washers, lock washers, and nuts......I torqued everything to spec as shown in the Workshop Manual.

Picked up a new PS belt today......the other belts I already had in stock......🙂

kz6fittycent

Axel-Breaker-Earl that's awesome man! I'm glad it went smoothly for you!!

Cusser

Axel-Breaker-Earl Yes, the engine is in the truck now. I left the trans in the truck, and installed the engine to it.

I put my floor jack under the trans and lifted it some, so that it angled upward in the front. I then hooked the engine to the hoist where it had a slight angle down in the back. This way I could install the motor mounts to the engine, and when the engine is mated to the trans, the threaded studs on the bottom of the engine mounts were above the truck frame engine mounting pads just slightly.........once the engine was mated to the trans, I just lowered the engine down and into the slotted holes of the truck frame engine mounting pads. Worked like a charm.

I then crawled underneath the truck and installed the torque converter bolts, the engine to trans lower braces, and the lower motor mount washers, lock washers, and nuts......I torqued everything to spec as shown in the Workshop Manual.

He's "Axel Breaker Earl" for a reason !!!! Great job !