Finally got around to fitting the upper & lower ball joints and driveshaft bearing & ujs. Fitting the ball joints was fun Although the truck has only done 64,200 miles the ball joints had never been changed. So when we started the job we were surprised to find they were rivetted in place, so no easy bolts to undo!! Is this how they were installed in the factory? It took 6 hours to replace the ball joints, we went through 4 drill bits drilling the rivets out with a bit of cursing and swearing along the way. But job done now!! Replacing the centre support bearing and 3 ujs was a walk in the park after the ball joints. I managed to locate some 10W30 engine and SAE 90 diff oil online. The engine is now quite happy and sounds really sweet for a 230 S6. Does anyone know the mpg i will get from this engine? Just so i can plan my journeys as i haven't replaced the fuel gauge yet. Still nervous about taking the instrument panel off and breaking something! Next week i'm fitting an original door mirror to the passenger door. Got all the parts. Now this was a dealer installed option back in the day. Is the there a mounting plate for the 3 bolts to thread through inside the door panel or will i have to fabricate something so that it provides a solid mount for the mirror? If i just bolt it through the skin of the door it is going to shake like a hula girls hips!! Driving this rig here in the UK with our narrow winding roads, no power brakes or steering is an experience. I have to plan my corners well in advance!! However she is a joy to drive (just wish i had a 4th gear) although i think the 3 speed will handle a constant 50 - 60mph just fine. The picture below was taken today after i took her for a drive.
Dave it would have been easier to grind the rivets heads off then smack the BJ with a hammer and punch it would have been about 5 minutes each one, anyways back to the mirror issue, there is a plate, that is welded into the front top inside of the door that is part of the structural support for the door, it has three threaded holes in it for the mirror base, you`ll have to locate it and uncover the holes for the mirror base, I will try to get pics from a junk door I have here....the second photo you can see the three screws protruding into the factory bracing inside...
Hi Rich. Yes thinking about it now you are absolutely right, just didn't see it!! Thank you very much for the info & pics re the mirror, they help alot. I'll post a pic when it's done.
Looks nice . The fuel economy depends mostly on how you drive it ~ these engnes are fairly thrifty , 20 MPG's is common .
