4.44 lessons

[NeedForSpeed]

Well, many months later, the 4.44 project swap is complete!

A little detour after beginning the project, #2 son and major project worker, cracked a rib at high school football practice late last summer. While he was healing, #3 son and I swapped the rear Limited slip into the 4.44 housing and reinstalled the rear diff into the car. And the lower valve cover bolts were dripping badly, so all the lower rubber washers were replaced on both sides. Then a long by California standards winter.

Other delays were because the trans shop that replaced the front diff only 20K before it failed again; stretched, stripped, crossed or rounded nearly every fastener. No surprise, that trans shop is under new ownership! Cleaning up his mess required some time and effort. One ball joint was torn, so two new ones were installed, considering the 150,000 miles on the odometer.

The boys and I knocked off the old front diff for a look, and noticed that the pinion had 180 degrees with teeth, and 180 degrees without teeth. No wonder the car would move six inches, bang, then after the pinion came around again, move the car six more inches before the next Big Bang. When we bought the car, we drove it onto the trailer just that way.

Many Thanks to ALL those [you know who you are] that posted on the several 4.11/4.44 threads or PMed me with advice and encouragement. And special thanks to the 4.44 King and pioneer, SVXfiles, for much help and laughs over the phone. I know that SVXfiles can perform these swaps relatively quickly these days, but I can personally say to anyone that he earns at least twice, maybe three times his fee. It is a big job for sure.

The biggest lesson was figuring out how to start the car! I was ready to go, but no power to the starter, none, nada, not even a moan. A real puzzle, since the engine had started when we got the car, and the starter wiring was never disconnected. Even though the interior lights were bright and the mouse screamed across the door, I swapped in a battery from the other car. No solution to be found there.

SVXfiles had the 'easy only if you know the answer' solution. Without his 'rabbit out of the hat magic', I would still be looking-at rather than running the Pearl 92. The key fog/security system/starter interupt circuit was the culprit. SVXfiles asked if I had a key alarm fob and suggested I try that.

The doors were unlocked. First tap on the fob produced three beeps, but didn't lock the doors. Next tap, three beeps, doors locked. Next tap, three beeps, unlocked doors. Jumped in, and the beast fired up. The trans seems to be well, after 35 miles of spirited driving and many 6500 shifts.

Another lesson was just an observation of other mishaps, and to avoid the same plight as others. Two or three SVXers recently blew trans line hoses, so we bought new rear hoses. Those hoses are expensive for a reason, but seemed a better bet than the 'gas' line the trans shop cobbled. And those factory clamps, what a .....! I can see why people swap them. But, we preferred to use the factory style clamps, and located some used ones for the project.

As the trans sat in the garage, it seemed to seep oil under the plug. I tightened it, but no help. I thought the pan was cracked, as it was bent badly on the bottom. After the trans was installed, it was drained of old oil. I noticed that the oil plug washer was recessed on one side. Sometime before we got the trans, the washer was flipped. No leaks now. Oh, the pan was staightened, cleaned, painted and reinstalled. Nothing seemed harmed inside, and everything was very clean. The exhaust was painted high temp Aluminum just because.

The right rear wheel bearing is the next necessary fix, probably take it to my local non-dealer Subaru wrench. He replaced both rears in my Claret a couple of years ago, and everything is perfect. The rear bearing is noisy, just as the previous owner said it was.

Tomorrow, a Day Trip Permit allows a 'legal' run for a California smog check on the 'non-op' registration. Will wait until June 23 to register the car, to avoid paying for the whole year up to that date.

A couple hours after #3 and I drove the car for the very first time and 35 miles of mountain roads, my girlfriend drops by, asking for a ride around the block. We don't have 'blocks', so out to the two lane highway. Well, a mile up the road and around the bend, there sits the Sheriff. As I drove by at 45 mph, he slowly pulls out to follow. I saw him and headed for the left turn lane, and I turned left to a parallel road going back in nearly the same direction. He came around the corner to follow as I was three point turning to double back toward him and 'hide my tail plate'. He went past slowly as I was just getting going. He drove by and turned his SUV around to follow again. I turned right onto the highway going the same direction I had come. My girlfriend, the optomitrist says, 'you better ditch him'! I'm thinking, ya, right! I take an immediate left into a little gas/food stop as the sheriff reaches the stop at the highway.

Seeing my blinker, he didn't follow, but he hid on the same side of the street, and across the street curving in front of the store going south to canyon. Well, his SUV is big, and his light rack was visible from his 'hiding' place. He must have figured if he could see the road, but not my car, then we couldn't see him either. Other than the lights on top of his SUV, he had it figured out pretty well.

He staked us out for a whole hour [one mile from my place], moving several different times and driving by the store many times, hoping that we wouldn't see him, or hoping to lure us out to drive the SVX back on the road for his backup. Maybe he was thinking, 'what is that cool looking Pearl car', but later figured that I had the wrong color year tag on the rear plate, and no plate on the front, so he would nail me when I got back on the road. Both a no-no in California. But the Deputy didn't put his lights on before we pulled off the public road and into the snack shop, maybe thinking we would make a quick stop and then, not seeing him, make a run for it and make him a 'where did he come from' hero.

We just ate berry pie in the quik stop/food mart we fled to, looking out the various windows each time he moved to determine his continually changing and now seemingly impatient whereabouts. Once he parked directly across the street from us and from the car to be as intimidating as possible, effectively letting me know that he knew I was in there and that I wasn't coming out. I had backed in a spot, closest to the road. No intent to hide there. This is a small populated area, closest traffic light miles away, at about 2800 ft. elevation.

I finally decided to call someone for a ride, and left after more than an hour of cat-N-mouse. We ventured back to the little parking lot after dark, about 9PM [the store closed at 10PM] making it home without personally meeting any member of the Sheriff's department or signing the big-fine ticket that would have accompanied such a meeting.

I didn't have a pet name for the Pearlie, but I think 'renegade' seems appropriate?

Well, that's it for now.

[Landshark]

congrats on the swap!



try to keep it legal, m'kay? what's next, a throaty Stebro exhaust for your illegal high-speed runs?

[NeedForSpeed]

Hey, no one was speeding!

Only 'legally' evading in a 'non-op' 'unregistered' car. As an American, one has the right not to self-incriminate!

No one lit up a christmas tree for me or anything like that;
just a little cat-N-mouse fun between the officer and I.

Right, just what I need, a 'here I am' exhaust? Wait, that is just what I need!

Originally Posted by Landshark

congrats on the swap!

try to keep it legal, m'kay? what's next, a throaty Stebro exhaust for your illegal high-speed runs?

[Chiketkd]

Congrats Ron! Hooray!!!!

-Chike

[Matthewmongan]

now i know the shifts are firm, but in low speeds mine are a bit hard. no thud or anything, just my butt knowing the car is in second and third. i think im still used to the mushy stock 4eat.

how do you like it?

[NeedForSpeed]

First to second hits hard, compared to stock. I'll know more in a couple weeks, after the wheel bearing is replaced and the car is registered. Seems like a nice car though. Gearing is 'way lower'!

Originally Posted by Matthewmongan

now i know the shifts are firm, but in low speeds mine are a bit hard. no thud or anything, just my butt knowing the car is in second and third. i think im still used to the mushy stock 4eat.

how do you like it?