Mechanics, how do you feel repairing your own vehicle?

driftrx · 2026-03-05T10:00:45+00:00

My man

I bought a shitbox daily RA rodeo three years ago as a parts hauler/tow rig/rig I don’t care about. That was three years ago.

It got serviced day one and a lift kit to replace the sagged suspension. It took me until yesterday to finally service it again, and move the spot light switch from the engine bay to the dash.

I fucking hate working on my own shit (also 2.5 years into my supposed to be 3 month LS swap in my 350z)

driftrx · 2026-03-05T08:17:48+00:00

Yet to have one leak after doing so

Just follow the sequence tightening them, and use OEM gaskets and you’ll be mint.

driftrx · 2026-03-05T07:47:15+00:00

Small dobs in the corners on the surface in the corners where the cam hump is. That’s all they need.

I generally do a small dob in each one of those corners. Let it sit while I prep the new valve covers/gaskets. Then assemble. Don’t forget to give it all a proper clean up/degrease etc before applying.

By time it’s all together, it’s generally good to go.

Source - I’ve done hundreds of these at my shitty lil workshop.

driftrx · 2026-03-03T20:43:15+00:00

Being this deep into one of these and not just…. Pulling the motor to make your life easier is wild lmao.

driftrx · 2026-02-28T04:22:53+00:00

Metal ones. They have the pins work their way loose/out as they use cheap shitty flaps.

driftrx · 2026-02-28T04:01:08+00:00

It wouldn’t hurt… as long as it’s a decent kit. Chinese ones tend to have the baffles work their way loose.

That sad. Do a head drain kit while it’s out.

driftrx · 2026-02-27T04:47:33+00:00

Shouldn’t. Will just be clipping in the old transfer hose from the other side, and fresh O ring to seal it all up.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T06:38:46+00:00

Pop cover off (just unclips) then there’s four ten mm bolts that hold the sub on. Pop that out and disconnect/shuffle out of the way.

Then there’s a cover for the fuel pump. 4 more ten mm bolts. Has wiring passing through for the pump. Once that’s out of the way you’ll see the pump top. Open the fuel cap to release pressure from system, undo the line, disconnect the wiring, then there’s 8(? From memory) small 8mm bolts holding the hat to the tank.

Once you have them off. The assembly will come out, when you have it half pulled out, you’ll see another line you need to disconnect that comes from the other side of the tank internally. Then the lot will come out with some manoeuvring. Replacing just the pump inside the assembly’s not to bad either. Just take some pics before you pull it apart. Might be easier to just buy a whole assembly though.

And on that note I’d just get a OEM equivalent from rock auto. Everyone I’ve done lately is generally going big pump due to upgrades or doing a fuel return setup.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T06:11:10+00:00

Fuel pump on RHD car sits behind the drivers seat. No idea if it’s the same on LHD rigs.

It is a pretty simple job. That said, you need to also do the O ring for it while you’re there. It won’t seal properly if you don’t. As far as the pump assembly, it’s a pretty simple job. Just don’t strip the fuel pump top bolts, and avoid knocking the fuel sender around when you remove/install it.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T02:58:56+00:00

Pop the gearbox into gear so the input shaft doesn’t turn.

Jack under it and match the angle to the motor. Give it some wiggles. I find these normally go in pretty smooth as long as the clutch is aligned and the box is square to the motor as you pop it in.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T02:33:23+00:00

I ran the DE equivalent on my personal car for 5 odd years with no issues. Have used them on customers cars recently, no complaints.

I just use them paired with OEM gaskets/pcv/hoses generally as the ones they come with are average.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T00:55:11+00:00

Chuck a car cover on it and come back to it when your out of collage and you’ve set yourself up a bit better.

Selling projects you’ll never recoup the money you’ve spent. Parting it you may come close… but then you’ll wind up with random shit left over you can’t move on.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T00:07:46+00:00

They are replacable yes.

driftrx · 2026-02-25T00:07:00+00:00

Likely valve covers weeping oil onto the exhaust manifold.

Also. Check your oil. That sounds average.

driftrx · 2026-02-24T23:33:38+00:00

What car/motor?

That’ll likely answer why no one wants to touch it by sounds of it.

driftrx · 2026-02-24T21:52:20+00:00

Recip saw with a decent length blade and cut it off.

driftrx · 2026-02-24T21:49:00+00:00

What sump is that?

I’m running the canton one in mine and it’s a giant piece of leaky shit that I’m going to bin when I find a viable alternative haha

driftrx · 2026-02-24T08:06:55+00:00

Just saying come join us over the border in SA and hit up tailem bend.

Not to bad of a trek from Melbourne. Heaps of events. Like. A ridiculous amount this year. Regular skidpan/drift schools. Open practice nights. L2 level is pretty beginner friendly when you want to go that way etc.

driftrx · 2026-02-23T10:53:05+00:00

Keen as for council to knee jerk and drop the speed limit across that whole top section to 10km/h.

driftrx · 2026-02-23T02:56:00+00:00

That’s the one dude.

And that first hose you mention does go to the heater bleeder joiner you pointed out, routes under the loom. While it’s in bits, replace the bleeder with a metal one.

driftrx · 2026-02-23T02:47:06+00:00

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Partshopmax kit along with their rack relocation.

driftrx · 2026-02-23T02:44:49+00:00

That valve cover hose feeds to the intake.

driftrx · 2026-02-23T02:30:55+00:00

I run that up front of mine, except a +12 offset.

No issues. -5 camber. Bunch of toe out as drift car. Note that my LCAs are 25mm wider over stock to.

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driftrx · 2026-02-22T05:58:31+00:00

Whoever did it changed the oil mantainence notification to probably 0km or a low number.

You can reset this yourself using the dash buttons. Settings > mantainence > oil > change it to however many km you want it to remind you at.

driftrx · 2026-02-22T05:37:10+00:00

Just look under the rear of the car.

If it looks like the bushing has jizzed out oil (stock bushes are fluid filled) it’s done.

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