LOL my frame rails are fantastic indeed!! haha
and yes I went thru on my laptop and really paid attention and have re-read a lot of what you wrote me and I have it down now and understand in full what you've explained thus far (still learning though). At this point I have gotten everything together and just need to do it (off this weekend! woo!)
I bought the thermostat a few hours ago ($5, got a Stant 180* as you indicated..) and the gaskets came separately but I ordered both the 1mm paper gasket and the 5mm rubber o-ring and get them after 4pm (went with the fel-pro, they cost a little more but neither was expensive by any means). Then I got myself some ultra blue permatex gasket maker that I was told I can also use on my valve cover gasket later. I also went ahead and got myself a gallon of pure antifreeze that I will mix myself into 50/50 and get an extra gallon for $2 extra.
I am doing it tomorrow. :-) I will MAKE SURE bleed hole forward, wax side down if needed, thermostat not upside down OR wrong gasket floating. I'll make sure enough coolant IN THE RADIATOR (not just the overflow) to prevent air bubbles and bad temp readings. In fact, even though I've changed thermostats before on other vehicles, I am going to read everything again tonight to MAKE SURE I have everything vehicle-specific down.
Regarding the fuel filter- I am taking it to a mechanic friend with a true shop today to see if he will touch it lol. BUT Like you have said, there is a very real possibility that he won't touch it. If he won't then I am NOT going to take it shop to shop until I can find the first person who is hard up enough to try and then, like you say, possibly man handle and break something. Nah, I KNOW how to do it and you know? I think I am just going to spend the cash that I was going to spend on labor on some newer, better tools to help me get the job done- as well as line stoppers (yea I didnt have those before
I'm not risking anything or skimping on this job though... and a few more jack stands (as I was trying to do this before with it on the ground and almost no clearance). I have been soaking it in Liquid Wrench already and have the bolt/nut for the bracket cleaned up pretty well.
I read about the fuel filter bracket NOT being sold by Suzuki now or ever. I'm going to TRY not to break it. It's more important that the filter be changed though so IF I do happen to break it then I will rig up a bracket very similar to the one currently used. I will also do EVERYTHING That you said including sanding down the banjo connectors to ensure that they are totally clean and not pitted- basically clean it like I would a thermostat housing face to prevent leaks. The WIX fuel filter came with 4 of the little copper washers you've been talking about and I have the process and system absolutely DOWN PAT (thanks to you!).
Now, it's on me. Wish me luck! Even if, like you said, I break the fuel lines or something then I'm committed lol...
Thank you again for the help. Even when I type something into Google and Suzuki-forums pulls up someone going through a similar problem- I'm 99.999% sure that most of the answers I have ever gotten about this car, from here or from those forums, was from YOU.
Also, I'm sorry for the confusion on not recognizing and thus reading the links.. and about posting pictures BUT I have it down now and can communicate a bit more effectively
I will update on Sunday! - Josh
P.S. I have found your "grounds" page and will check and clean those when I'm fixing the back up lights on my "bulbs/wiring/dash/cleaning" jobs coming up soon. Also, since essentially the lamp doesn't tell me that the oil pressure is low until it's too late anyways- AND there is a risk of metal shavings into my oil gallery as a result of what the PO did.. I am really hesitant of pulling that plug out of that block. It's not leaking, just missing, so I am going to at least put it off and get everything performance or inspection related done first.
and yes I went thru on my laptop and really paid attention and have re-read a lot of what you wrote me and I have it down now and understand in full what you've explained thus far (still learning though). At this point I have gotten everything together and just need to do it (off this weekend! woo!)
I bought the thermostat a few hours ago ($5, got a Stant 180* as you indicated..) and the gaskets came separately but I ordered both the 1mm paper gasket and the 5mm rubber o-ring and get them after 4pm (went with the fel-pro, they cost a little more but neither was expensive by any means). Then I got myself some ultra blue permatex gasket maker that I was told I can also use on my valve cover gasket later. I also went ahead and got myself a gallon of pure antifreeze that I will mix myself into 50/50 and get an extra gallon for $2 extra.
I am doing it tomorrow. :-) I will MAKE SURE bleed hole forward, wax side down if needed, thermostat not upside down OR wrong gasket floating. I'll make sure enough coolant IN THE RADIATOR (not just the overflow) to prevent air bubbles and bad temp readings. In fact, even though I've changed thermostats before on other vehicles, I am going to read everything again tonight to MAKE SURE I have everything vehicle-specific down.
Regarding the fuel filter- I am taking it to a mechanic friend with a true shop today to see if he will touch it lol. BUT Like you have said, there is a very real possibility that he won't touch it. If he won't then I am NOT going to take it shop to shop until I can find the first person who is hard up enough to try and then, like you say, possibly man handle and break something. Nah, I KNOW how to do it and you know? I think I am just going to spend the cash that I was going to spend on labor on some newer, better tools to help me get the job done- as well as line stoppers (yea I didnt have those before
I'm not risking anything or skimping on this job though... and a few more jack stands (as I was trying to do this before with it on the ground and almost no clearance). I have been soaking it in Liquid Wrench already and have the bolt/nut for the bracket cleaned up pretty well.I read about the fuel filter bracket NOT being sold by Suzuki now or ever. I'm going to TRY not to break it. It's more important that the filter be changed though so IF I do happen to break it then I will rig up a bracket very similar to the one currently used. I will also do EVERYTHING That you said including sanding down the banjo connectors to ensure that they are totally clean and not pitted- basically clean it like I would a thermostat housing face to prevent leaks. The WIX fuel filter came with 4 of the little copper washers you've been talking about and I have the process and system absolutely DOWN PAT (thanks to you!).
Now, it's on me. Wish me luck! Even if, like you said, I break the fuel lines or something then I'm committed lol...
Thank you again for the help. Even when I type something into Google and Suzuki-forums pulls up someone going through a similar problem- I'm 99.999% sure that most of the answers I have ever gotten about this car, from here or from those forums, was from YOU.
Also, I'm sorry for the confusion on not recognizing and thus reading the links.. and about posting pictures BUT I have it down now and can communicate a bit more effectively
I will update on Sunday! - Josh
P.S. I have found your "grounds" page and will check and clean those when I'm fixing the back up lights on my "bulbs/wiring/dash/cleaning" jobs coming up soon. Also, since essentially the lamp doesn't tell me that the oil pressure is low until it's too late anyways- AND there is a risk of metal shavings into my oil gallery as a result of what the PO did.. I am really hesitant of pulling that plug out of that block. It's not leaking, just missing, so I am going to at least put it off and get everything performance or inspection related done first.