worknwood

This tool would work well for the fender cuts: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92115 I also come in an air tool version.

Can't blame you for not wanting to work in cold conditions, especially with the cold weather you are having right now. Things can wait for a better day. My interest was mainly to get your thread back on the front page.

It's been a while Steve; how about an update:-\

Try searching E-Bay, I found one for my '99 Forester that was reasonable and slipped right into the dash where my FM cassette was.

If you add all the white votes together the result would be overwhelmingly for a white car. The soul of this ff1 is white. # 2 is my vote. And I think you should have POS on the license plates . Just kidding about the POS. (inside joke) Darrell

The wife and I will be cruising from LA California to New Zealand and ports of call on the way. Will disembark at Wellington October 22nd, or Auckland on the 24th, subject to cruise lines OK for early disembarkation. Will be taveling by rented campervan for 10 to 12 days with a flight home leaving Nov. 3rd. May not be able to visit the south Island. What can we expect for the weather that time of the year, and what do you suggest as "must see/experience" of New Zealand features? We want to see as much of your beautiful country as we can, but we also want to visit with the folks that make your county what it is. Thanks for any input! Darrell

I don't have a lot of time this summer to spend on others projects, but could work in a couple of week ends if you think we could get the welding done in that time. You would have to bring the car up here though, so I could work on it as I have time. I have a oxy/acetylene set and a stick and wire welder, no mig and some body tools (harbor freight). If you want to do the work, thats fine, I can show you what I can, I'm no pro. We could feed you and put you up for a nite or two. I salvaged a 1980 toyota pickup that my grandson totaled, (lady pull in front of him), and I found the thin high carbon steel in Japanese cars to be hard to work. I think you are going to have to get it back into shape as close as you can and use fillers, thats what I had to do. As you know modern shops can't spend the time that the old timers did in shaping and leading in metal, fillers are much faster. Here are some pictures of my repair: http://picasaweb.google.com/dpdarnell/80ToyotaRepair Darrell

Sorry I didn't respond earlier, this site covers installing windshields well: http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/dent9.html Look at and page 2 and 3.

Anyone have any idea what this stuff will do to the Cat. converter? I put a can in the tank with a fill up in Elko NV on the way to Idaho Falls, trying to solve an engine light problem, and the engine seemed to run smoother and the light went out after a few more starts. Had the codes pulled at the dealer in Idaho Falls and they found a fissfire code and said I had a loose plug wire. ($45 and a bargain I thought) Light came back on the way home, changed plugs and it's out again. '99 Forester L 2.5 and it runs pretty good now, 142K with never ending piston slap.

Souns like a "salt" issue! When it goes back together use lots of anitsieze, and then before the end of fall season move to Arizona!!!!:lol:

Why do you want to remove the gas cap from the plastic strap? It's there to keep you from loosing it. It is a part of your emissions system and if your cap is loose, or not on; your engine light will come on. It gets in the way sometimes but I would not remove mine unless it was to repair or replace.

scroll down past the airplane; there are more pics.

oops! My bad, You wrote "Northeast to California" and I read Northeast California. Where your are headed may make the Wagon a better choice. A typical Californian will put 20k/yr.+ on a car. It's a big state and if you are going to travel the highways the wagon might be more practical. You can prolly carry more materials using the top rack and back or the wagon than you can in the Brat. The state has congested metro areas to vast wilderness, burning "Death Valley" deserts to Alpine Mts. Etc. And weather from one extreme to the other. Where you end up here could be more important than the towing issues.

Brat...Brat...Brat. I live in Plumas Co. northeastern CA. which is full of fun areas to see in a 4WD Brat. Plus there is no towing issue. Just get a good reliable tow bar. I have RV'ed a lot, and though I haven't pulled a toad, I have heard some real horror stories with tow bars the issue. BTW click the site below and you can check out some of the winter condition in the area: www.dot.ca.gov/dist2/travelmap.htm Welcome to beautiful Northeastern CA.

Try "Terrell's" (not sure of spelling) in Chico, they are near the tracks and south of the train Depot a few blocks. I'm away from my records and don't have the address. I had a head for my 88 RX rebuilt there and was very pleased with their work. The head had spit a valve seat that chewed thing up pritty good, plus there was the typical crack between the ports. They specialize in head rebuilding and may have answers to your other questions.