I think a couple of ya know I picked up a new ride. An 88 VW Fox. I did so because it was the fastest option at the time. I prefer to have a second ride and the Mark blew its starter.

Anyway. Last night, bar close, starter dead. Walked home. Blizzard. Sucked.

On a good note I picked up a new starter for $70 and not only that the place drove an hour round trip to pick it up for me and drop it off at work.

This is a new starter for the Lincoln though. Need that sled back up, then I will fix the VW and start using it again.

Fun times. Tonight it looks like I will be under the Mark.

Mark VIII starter I love replacing them...

Have fun,
Say a couple cuss words for me.

The only thing I have going for me is the fact that I have done it many times before. Just never in a snow bank under sub freezing temps.

Lets face it here, just about everything that I've turned a wrench on this car has been a royal PITA except the water pump. We are all gluttons for punishment for owning these cars. I've messed with all kinds of cars in my 47 years and this one ranks right at the top on the PITA scale. Lets rank the PITA factor for some of these jobs. Gen 1 IAC valve would have to rank right up there and then the drivers side O2 sensor comes next. Brake booster and windshielsd wiper removal are loads of fun too. Starter should have been in front of the Brake booster. Crank sensor, actually removing the ac compressor is the real chore there. Those are the ones that have made a distinct impression on me, I'm sure I've left some out but if I keep this car I'm sure I'll find more. It is definitely a Love-Hate relationship.

Even filling the coolant system is a PITA lol....

Have fun Unity... I'm glad I have a trailer, I would bring that sucker home.

Wow, that went well. I would actually rather do this then install a water pump. No joke.

I had a short throw socket wrench so I had plenty of room to get the evil third bolt out. I did not even open the hood.

Just took the passenger wheel off and then it was full access. It was also a little warm out, about 34. There was some mix rain, but not much.

The Mark starts so much better. I also had a new battery put in. If i have starting issues again, the Alt will have to get swapped.

So the Mark is back up and running. Now I just have to get the VW running.

Well I'm guessing that the designers never thought that people would be actually working on these cars...

The average person who bought them new wouldn't work on them... and when they got over 50,000 miles they'd be trading them in on something else.

True that.

50k mi? I should have traded mine in 7k mi ago. I must not have gotten the memo.

Hmmmm.... I haven't owned a Mark VIII with less than 118,000 miles but I do have a 94 engine with only 108,000 miles on it.

i knew you could does it.

Yes, that was grammatically incorrect. Bit me, i'm hyper from all the coffee i've had this morning.

Oh great Frogman hyper.. thanks for getting my PM box filled up in advance.. LOL...

Too bad I had to turn the old one in. I wanted to take it apart. :(

since i dropped the k member when i did the oil pan, any lower eng service im droppin the k first!!! starter included

That sounds a little excessive Chicken... but then again you do have a lift you lucky ass.

since i dropped the k member when i did the oil pan, any lower eng service im droppin the k first!!! starter included

So um... you drop the K-Member for oil changes? That IS part of "lower engine service", you know.

:D

no the filter is cake so no need, the top starter bolt of doom sux with the k in there

Actually if you have a short ratchet that top bolt was a cake walk. Easier than the one with the trans lines right by it, and that was not hard.

Speaking of filter. At least I never have that issue any more! :)

shut up unity, lol.
as for dropping the k, i had the k down and my oil pan in my hands in 30 min

shut up unity, lol.
as for dropping the k, i had the k down and my oil pan in my hands in 30 min

True this. It took me longer to find somebody who had the socket for the k bolts than it did to pull it down.

i bought 2 just for my car

i bought 2 just for my car

Yeah I tried but they wont come in for another year or so...(not literally) but our matco people suck about getting tools. I believe their shipments are down to once a month rather than every or every other week.

dropping the K is the way to go.

True this. It took me longer to find somebody who had the socket for the k bolts than it did to pull it down.

You mean a 6 point 9/16" socket.... if you don't believe me grab one and put it on the k frame bolt, it grabs it perfectly and doesn't jam onto the bolt when you apply torque.

yeah but if you strip the bolt head...........id rather just use the right tool

yeah but if you strip the bolt head...........id rather just use the right tool

No :q:q:q:qing way it would happen...

I'm not kidding Chicken, next time your car is on the lift try it out, you would :q:q:q:q yourself with how well it fits... I did 3 cars with the same socket, not one issue, at least not until the nut holder broke on one... bummer....

until the nut holder broke on one... bummer....

aint that fun, lol time to break out the hole saw :D ill try the socket next time

I broke out the torch cause it was going to the scrap yard lol....

ahhhh oh course, the gas ax

Blue tipped hammer!