What's going on. My activity has been low since my daughter was born, but today I had some free time to work on the spare DE-K that's just laying around.

1. I noticed that there two dowels on the engine where your supposed to place the tranny. I think I heard its easier to remove them when your re-installing the tranny. Is this true and if so do you cut them off or can they be pulled out?

2. The Large EGR tube that fits into the rear header. How the hell do you get that thing off. Which tools you use?

3. I recently replaced my lower radiator support, around December 08'. It was an aftermarket piece and I painted it with that zero rust black paint. Well the radiator support is rusted and started to break literally. I'm convinced that the gauge thickness is thinner than OEM. At this point I just want to weld on metal plate b/c this is ridiculous. What has members done to prevent this? I'm most interested in knowing about welding a plate and if you went to a body shop to paint the support.

 

1. They just pull out, but why would you want to remove them? Because you 'think' you 'heard' something about it? Leave them in, they don't 'get in the way' until the input shaft is already splined into the clutch disc.
2. You use a wrench. Not quite sure what you're asking, you use the correct tool for the job.
3. There are a few threads that have covered welding in a support plate on the lower radiator support. Did you search for them?

 

thanks,

2. I want to buy the right size wrench. I tried a 22 mm and it was still too small. Them wrenches are like $12.00 and really don't have the luxury like I used to for trial and error.
3. I will try the search feature. Just thought I can get a quick answer.

 

Ok, did the search on the welding a steel plate. I'm going to bring it to the body shop so they can get this thing repaired. Now my new question is for those who welded in a steel plate how is it holding up? I'm also going to tell them to user undercoating paint to minimize rust.

The radiator support was only on for 7 to 9 months.

 

3. Use an OEM replacement Lower Rad Support, fill it with a $5 bottle of expansion foam (it keeps water out and creates heat to kill any moisture that might seep in, surface rust ain't the problem, rotting from the inside out, is), and fabricate an additional center panel to your splash guard, if you still want to have one.

 

Thanks. When you say fabricate an additional center panel you mean the steel plate?

 

I replaced my lower radiator support with a new oem one and I must say it's much better than they first made it. Enough holes to get the water out from the bottom so it don't rust or as fast.