[ScottinSoCal]

It took about an hour and a half. It should have taken 1/2 that time, but I didn't have a socket that would work, or a metric box wrench, so I had to make do with a 3/8" box wrench and not nearly enough space.

Old unit unplugged, hoses off, new unit plugged in, hoses back on and tightened. Replaced the cup of coolant that came out when I swapped the units. Started it and let it idle to warm in the garage to make sure there were no leaks. Drop the hood, drop it in gear and take off for a little drive. No heat. It's set on max, but I've got no fan action, no heat at all. If I put it in Defrost then I've got heat, but that's not why I just spent $500 on a new servo, is it?

Get down the block, I hear something click, and boy have I got heat. Pouring out of the registers, blowing across the windshield, warming me up nicely. Too much heat - let's dial it back. Crank it down as far as it'll go. The weather station in the house says it's 62 degrees here and the dial only goes down to 65. What'll it do?

Well, it opens the fresh air registers, of course. Nice, cool air blowing into the car, straight from outside. Cooling me down and making everything feel good. Woops, too cool. Let's get some heat back. Ah, right there. That's nice. Warm air, not hot. Plenty of it.

Yeah, I'm kinda pumped. My car makes warm air, and that's great. Sometimes it's the little things.

Now for the steering damper.

 

[flyboyike]

Now for the steering damper.

That's a lot easier.

 

[Digmenow]

, but that's not why I just spent $500 on a new servo, is it?

Who has it for $500? Is it the aluminum version? Did you replace the amplifier?

Details, dammit! I need details.

 

[GeeS]

107 Climate Control

 

[nobby]

Progress, Scott, Progress.

Heat is progress, just in time for summer, mind you but progress nonetheless.




Good wrench. (or lack there of)

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Who has it for $500? Is it the aluminum version? Did you replace the amplifier?

Details, dammit! I need details.

I replaced the amplifier ages ago, and it didn't do what I wanted. I got the rebuilt aluminum one from GermanStar for $465 and shipping, which made it a little under $500 for the unit. He did charge me a $200 core charge, which will be refunded after I return my old unit to him.

I don't know how much shipping would be on just the servo, I also got a steering damper and drag link kit.

If you know your amp is bad, let me know and I'll send you the spare I've got. Somebody might as well get some use out of it.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Heat is progress, just in time for summer, mind you but progress nonetheless.

Well, we're still kind of coolish here, and you know us Californians. We don't do cold.

But the AC also works, and out through the center vents, too. When summer comes, I'll be prepared.

 

[Digmenow]

If you know your amp is bad, let me know and I'll send you the spare I've got. Somebody might as well get some use out of it.

I don't know. Claude just advised me that it may be bad along with the servo. I will keep your kind offer in mind, though! Thanks.

 

[ussun]

Sorry to keep asking this, but is a way to turn off the climate control completely. Mine works very good but I like to drive with the windows down and with out the heat coming on in the middle of the summer.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Sorry to keep asking this, but is a way to turn off the climate control completely. Mine works very good but I like to drive with the windows down and with out the heat coming on in the middle of the summer.

Well, there's the Off button.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

OK, so the ones who have been hanging out here for a while know how I pursued a smooth idle. Obsessively, with my OCD in full control. Once I had that, I've been going the same way after steering.

When I first got the car, it steered all right, but on ugly, ugly wheels. I found the correct wheels and then it was all over the road - steering input didn't have much say over which direction the car went. First I replaced the lower control arm bushings. That was a major improvement. Then I replaced the subframe bushings. Another major improvement, with the added bonus of a much smoother ride. An alignment, new tires, a better balance on the wheels. Each thing added to better steering, but I wasn't quite there. There was a shimmy to the wheel on rough roads and potholes would jerk the wheel left or right. I planned to replace the tie rods, just on principle, but instead of ordering new ones, I ordered a steering damper shock. I put it on this morning and drove about 30 miles up to the bank and back to deposit a check.

We have a winner! Steering is where it's supposed to be. Smooth, with decent (but not great) feedback from the road, and road conditions don't dictate what the steering wheel does. Turning is much smoother, too. And high speeds are no longer a white-knuckle experience. At least not up to 100 mph. I don't think I'm going to go faster than that any time soon.

I'm holding off on the upholstery for now, most of it. Instead I'm going to go down to my local NAPA, where they've ordered me in some Hella H4 low beam units. Today will be spent getting better headlights. I've replaced the head rest and arm rest covers, and the rest of it is covered by sheepskins. Maybe I'll hold off on the upholstery until I've got that carpet, like Nobby recommends.

 

[nobby]

O

We have a winner! Steering is where it's supposed to be.

Satisfying, yes? Good go, Scott.

 

[nobby]

Today will be spent getting better headlights.

I'm going to let that go.


The best ones come in SQUARE boxes, though.

 

[ussun]

Well, there's the Off button.

Not in my "73"

 

[ScottinSoCal]

I'm going to let that go.


The best ones come in SQUARE boxes, though.

The box wasn't SQUARE, it was RECTANGULAR. And it held a 5 3/4" Hella H4 replacement lens and H4 bulb.

There was no sticker anywhere on or in the box that said WARNING: This headlamp is not certified as meeting any Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. It may not lawfully be sold for use as a headlamp on any motor vehicle. It may be sold for use on off-road vehicles which have not been certified to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. So, you know, if I ever get called on it I'll be able to say I had no idea these weren't street legal.

 

[KTT]

Well, there's the Off button.

On the newer versions that happen to have an off "O" button, can you turn it off and leave it off? I have this vague recollection that you're not supposed to leave it off all the time -- might've been in the owner's manual.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

On the newer versions that happen to have an off "O" button, can you turn it off and leave it off? I have this vague recollection that you're not supposed to leave it off all the time -- might've been in the owner's manual.

I haven't read the owner's manual in a while, I don't know what it says about the climate control. Since I replaced the servo, I've left mine on. It's easier to just set the temp and let the car figure out whether I need heat or cool to get it there. That's what I do in my regular car, too.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Not in my "73"

Well that's just messed up. No off?

 

[Digmenow]

The box wasn't SQUARE, it was RECTANGULAR. And it held a 5 3/4" Hella H4 replacement lens and H4 bulb.

There was no sticker anywhere on or in the box that said WARNING: This headlamp is not certified as meeting any Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. It may not lawfully be sold for use as a headlamp on any motor vehicle. It may be sold for use on off-road vehicles which have not been certified to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. So, you know, if I ever get called on it I'll be able to say I had no idea these weren't street legal.

Got a picture? Did they look flat like this?

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Got a picture? Did they look flat like this?

No picture yet, I'll take one later and post it, but yeah, they look just like that.

Hey, I've got a question about yours. I took my car for a short drive last night so I could see if they were adjusted right. They've got a nice, sharp cut-off line for the light, but then it points up at an angle on the right, on both lenses. Do yours do that?