83 Blazer 4 Bolt Water Pump
Robert Brough replaced his 83 Blazer water pump recently and came up with a slick method. As you probably know and if you don't know, the 83 Blazer has the 4 bolt water pump. Certainly this is not a difficult job, but to make it even easier Robert took two long bolts of the same thread size of the bolts he removed, and sheared the heads off. He then inserted both bolts (one on each side). Now you can slide the gaskets and water pump on without having to hold them as the two long bolts support the pump easily. Simply put the old bolts in the two remaining holes and tighten slightly. Now just remove the sheared long bolts as they are only finger tight and put the remaining two bolts in. This method really makes, it easy for the do-it-youselfer.
Note: As with all water pump replacements make certain that you have perfectly clean mating surfaces every where a gasket is used. A single edge razor blade works. Don't count on gasket goop to bail you out or you will be doing the job twice!
TO CATCH A THIEF!
A clever way to foil one who would steal the wheels out from under your car.
About a year and a half ago, the 16" Pony rims from my 91 Mustang LX were stolen, to make matters worse, it was only two weeks after they were fitted with new 225/50/16 BIG O Eruo VXP tires. Well, luckily for me, when I purchased the tires, I had the shop insert into each tire, a plastic ziplock bag containing a copy of my drivers license, the license number of my car and the color and year of it as well. Also in the bags was a short note, requesting anyone repairing the tires or replacing them to give me a phone call collect if the car that the tires are doesn't match the license and description of the one found on the note.
Last week, I get a call from a shop in Eureka, there is a 1987 Mustang in there with a flat, and the guy repairing the tire found my note and called me. I told him my tires and rims were stolen, and maybe he should call the police. I faxed him a copy of my police report and the receipt I had for the tires with the tires serial numbers on it. To make a long story short, when the customer was confronted with the note I had installed in the tire(s), he left the shop in a hurry. The police were summoned, and it was determined the rims on his car were mine. I got the rims back, but the tires were nearly worn out. The cars owner was arrested for possession of stolen property. That's just one more way to take a bite out of crime.
By Kenn Stogner of Petaluma, California
Problems with Fuses Blowing
Martin L. Blais says:
A techician has the most fun, when the customer has the old fuse blowing motorcycle that only blows on him once a week. And then after playing with it for two hours, wiggling wires, stretching and wiggling cables, pushing on the dash gauges, turning hanlebars, and nothing on the 10 mile test ride helps, what do you do? Attach a 12 volt buzzer, such as Radio Shack NO. 272-055, with one terminal on each side of the fuse. Then, if the fuse blows, the buzzer will sound. That will enable you to know exactly when and under what conditions (such as a turn or railroad crossing) the short occurs. Hopefully, this should help you track down the problem.
