Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 9: August 30th, 2010 Pittsburgh (Transmission)

Unfortunately, I must prepare my breakfast today by myself. Therefore I throw again three eggs in the pan. Then I leave the house. Just to be sure, I look for a magnet for my new transmission oil pan. Pep Boys sends me to NAPA, who sends me on to Dan’s Transmission. This shop is even a bit further out of town and hardly to find. It is in the backyard. This is a real nice and small family owned shop, which is immediately sympathetic. I think to myself, if I should ever have an issue with my transmission, this will be the shop to go!

Right now, the mechanic returns from a test drive. I ask him about a magnet and he hands me one over, which is just laying around. This one was from a GM vehicle. But it doesn’t matter, which magnet will be installed there. When asking about the payment, he just says I have nothing to pay — unless I am willing to pay him $5000. I tell him, if I should win the lottery, I will be back! This is an answer he really likes and he gives me a pat on my back! This is really a sympathetic shop.

Now it’s time to drive back to David. I immediately enter I–79. But what is this? A traffic jam! I quickly turn on my CB radio and I hear, that there is a road construction ahead. Great! If I would have known this before, I would have stayed on 19 up to Warrendale and enter the Interstate there. But now I am stuck.

Anyways, it is not too bad. Only the fan must be turned on manually a couple of times. It really cools down very quick, that works perfectly! But doing this manually all the time is a bit annoying. Therefore I will try to adjust the thermostat better, when I am back at David.

After arriving there, I try to directly reach the adjustment screw. But I burn my arm and fingers and I am not able to reach the screw. Therefore I have no other choice than to unscrew the cover to bend it open a little bit. Now it works out better. But I still burn myself everywhere. After working hard for a while (and in the meantime I also put my long sleeves down) I am able to adjust it that the thermostat is turning off just at the right temperature. However, I don’t know when it turns on. But this is something I will probably see very soon. However, I still have my manual switch if everything else fails!

Then I drive into the garage and install the new switch box. In the end, everything must cool down before I start working on the transmission. Also I must remove the left fog light again, because the mount is a bit loose. In the meantime it is already noon!

Next, I remove the transfer skid plate. Then I support my transmission with a piece of wood on the carrier. Next, I can unscrew the crossmember. Now I should be able to reach the transmission oil pan — and the mess can start. It is as always: First, carefully open all screws and check to have everything reasonably over the funnel — while the oil is dripping on my head, arm and hands. I really hate this mess!

Finally, everything is opened up enough that I can empty the pan. It is really a balance act if you hold the wobbling pan with one hand and unscrew with the other the last screw! But it works out and I am able to get almost everything into the funnel!

Then I check the new transmission oil pan. It looks pretty good. But I must move the crossmember back. There is no chance to get it out because the torsion bars are now running below the crossmember and there is no way to get around them! But to move it, I must remove the rubber carrier for the transmission where I already had no chance to get it unscrewed eight years ago. But with a big wrench I am able to get it open. This really makes me proud!

Now I can move the crossmember back and the new oil pan fits! There is not plenty of room to the exhaust pipe. But it should still work out. Therefore I remount everything with the filter and I also see that a spring is missing, which is usually putting pressure on the filter! But the new pan has this spring. Therefore, everything is perfect!

Okay, now I check everything for the last time. But what is this?! Damned, when the filter is installed I am not able to get past the exhaust pipe. I also try if I could make it when I carefully move filter and pan around and then try to install the filter. But this also does not work, no chance! What a bummer!

Therefore I must put in the old transmission oil pan and remount everything back. My silicone, which is already several years old, is still good. This I can still use! Now I can mount the pan and carefully tighten the screws. The silicone needs an hour to dry.

During this time, I start working on the transfer case. Filling the oil in is really a hassle again with the syringe. But I don’t draw up the syringe anymore. Instead, I fill it up from behind. Then things are way easier. Finally, I also complete this task and it is already six in the evening.

Perfect, now I can tighten the transmission oil pan screws and mount the crossmember back on. But the transmission has lowered itself in the meantime and I am not able to push the crossmember back in. But there is still this rear lift running on compressed air. This one is easy to move and I am also able to move it this far to the front that it will fit!

I move this one under the crossmember, put a thick piece of wood on top and lift it. While lifting carefully, I am able to move it exactly to the hole for my screw. So it is very easy to get all screws in. I only tear apart the lower screw, which I changed last year, when I tried to tighten it!

But I find another one in David’s garage. However, I must use now a nut with washer, which is not easy to put in the frame. But using some grease, I glue the washer at the nut. That works out.

Next is to fill in the transmission oil. I overfill it a bit and see that everything is sealed. Then I start the engine and fill up further until the correct level is reached. Also now, everything is still sealed and I can mount the new skid plate back on. This is a bit of work with a washer, but I have no other choice.

Now it’s time for the grease job. To do this, the front plastic cover must be removed. I encounter a whole bunch of lubricating nibbles. Most of them are easy to handle. But a few are very difficult to fill up. But finally, I also get this done and I can assemble everything back together.

Now it’s time to clean up. Also the coolant water must be decanted from the drainage pan. Then I throw everything in my truck and drive home immediately. All in all, it is already ten in the evening! While driving, I also test my new fog lights and everything looks perfectly! Ready to roll!

Unfortunately, Helen already went to bed when I arrive back home. Originally I planned to ask her, if it is okay if I go out for dinner because Sam will be endless barking when I return. But she is already sleeping when I go for my shower. Therefore I have no other choice. Then I will only have a sandwich after taking my shower. Around half past eleven I am laying in bed. Slowly I am getting really wiped out…

The next day is in preparation…