Closer look at 10372: various pics w/questions

[Rich_NYS]

Temperature warmed up to 33F in my garage, tonite I jacked up the rear & removed the wheels to prepare for a fuel filter change, continued PB blasting the manifold studs, and got a closer look at the condition of things. I used to work full time on cars, but it's been ~23 years so I'm really out of the groove. I could use some input on a few things, here are some pics with questions:

What do you make of this cut wire, and how can I determine the amperage of this alternator? If I recall, there's usually a label but I didn't find one.

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Does this filter look like the right size? It's touching the pressure sender....seems kinda big.

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Axle seal leak. I remember changing this type of seal years ago and it was pretty easy if I recall...any pitfalls to watch out for here?

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I know this wiring/cabling has something to do with audio, but what is the blue harness & cabling for? Also, is that super heavy-duty speaker wire?

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Here's the other end of the blue cabling harness:

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Thanks!

[DMCMW Dave]

Temperature warmed up to 33F in my garage, tonite I jacked up the rear & removed the wheels to prepare for a fuel filter change, continued PB blasting the manifold studs, and got a closer look at the condition of things. I used to work full time on cars, but it's been ~23 years so I'm really out of the groove. I could use some input on a few things, here are some pics with questions:

What do you make of this cut wire, and how can I determine the amperage of this alternator? If I recall, there's usually a label but I didn't find one.

24731


Does this filter look like the right size? It's touching the pressure sender....seems kinda big.

24732


Axle seal leak. I remember changing this type of seal years ago and it was pretty easy if I recall...any pitfalls to watch out for here?

24733


I know this wiring/cabling has something to do with audio, but what is the blue harness & cabling for? Also, is that super heavy-duty speaker wire?

24734

Here's the other end of the blue cabling harness:

24735


Thanks!


Looks like the common current Delco knock-off. Could be from 100 to 140 amps. The cut off wire means someone was too lazy to remove it.

Crossover oil filter. Wrong size.

Drain some oil out of the trans first, although it's probably leaked below the level of the seal. Don't knock the roll pins into the side of the case. Don't scratch the seal housing. Good idea to sleeve or replace the flanges. You'll see why when you take them off.

It had a remote amplifier. Means the car was owned by someone under 30.

[Rich_NYS]

Looks like the common current Delco knock-off. Could be from 100 to 140 amps. The cut off wire means someone was too lazy to remove it.

Thanks Dave,

So it's a replacement plug and that wire is/was not needed?





It had a remote amplifier. Means the car was owned by someone under 30.

Haha! I think the PO is ~40 and the car was last registered ~2001....good call. That speaker wire is huge....

Also, there's a bigass speaker in the cubby box, what's that for? (Just kidding.)

[NightFlyer]

Dave pretty much covered everything.

Only thing I'll add is that the blue 'harness' is aftermarket low-level rca audio signal lines, that as Dave already said, would feed the audio from the head unit to an external amplifier. The thick speaker wire, also aftermarket, next to it was more than likely used as a remote line, whereby the head unit sends a signal to the external amp telling it to power itself on when the head unit is powered on.

[Rich_NYS]

Dave pretty much covered everything.

Only thing I'll add is that the blue 'harness' is aftermarket low-level rca audio signal lines, that as Dave already said, would feed the audio from the head unit to an external amplifier. The thick speaker wire, also aftermarket, next to it was more than likely used as a remote line, whereby the head unit sends a signal to the external amp telling it to power itself on when the head unit is powered on.


So the radio/cassette player in the front sends audio to an amp (probably on the parcel shelf,) then to the speakers? Sounds like I can remove all that stuff.

Oddly, I never got involved in any car audio....and I played in hair metal bands throughout the 80's. Some kinda techy headbanger I turned out to be, eh?! :headbang:

[DMCMW Dave]

Thanks Dave,

So it's a replacement plug and that wire is/was not needed?

.)

It's a replacement alternator and all the wires are not used in this application.

[Jonathan]

The heavy duty speaker wiring might be routed back to the rear speakers. Not sure if it is going directly there at the moment if you haven't found an amp. The original speaker wire was pretty thin and pretty crummy. I replaced my speaker wire with some that is very similar to that stuff you see in your photo. It was probably routed down the side of the centre console, on the sides of the fiberglass body with some duct tape and then the flaps of the vinyl cover it and keep it out of view.

Considering the things you're likely going to tackle with this car, and how reasonably simple it is to remove the console, you might want to take it off and just take note of what is under there and where everything is going.

There are a couple other threads here (Dermot started one and so did Shep) explaining how to remove the centre console, shifter and plate, disconnecting window switches, etc. It's a good exercise to get familiar with your car IMO.

[Rich_NYS]

The heavy duty speaker wiring might be routed back to the rear speakers. Not sure if it is going directly there at the moment if you haven't found an amp. The original speaker wire was pretty thin and pretty crummy. I replaced my speaker wire with some that is very similar to that stuff you see in your photo. It was probably routed down the side of the centre console, on the sides of the fiberglass body with some duct tape and then the flaps of the vinyl cover it and keep it out of view.

Considering the things you're likely going to tackle with this car, and how reasonably simple it is to remove the console, you might want to take it off and just take note of what is under there and where everything is going.

There are a couple other threads here (Dermot started one and so did Shep) explaining how to remove the centre console, shifter and plate, disconnecting window switches, etc. It's a good exercise to get familiar with your car IMO.

Thanks Jonathan, I was about to start figuring out how to take out the console then decided now would be a good time to come inside, warm up, and look for a thread on removing it...good timing you have. I'm going to remove the console & seats and do some cleaning.

With luck, I'll complete the fuel line check valve and fuel filter replacement tomorrow. I want to replace the steering column bushing, but not sure if that's happening in this deep freeze.

[Jonathan]

With luck, I'll complete the fuel line check valve and fuel filter replacement tomorrow. I want to replace the steering column bushing, but not sure if that's happening in this deep freeze.

No problem, anytime.

My experience with these cars is we don't get "lucky" very often. Once, I found that my trunk light wasn't working because the connector behind the front grill simply wasn't plugged in. That, luckily, was an easy fix. There have been a shit load of other things that were far from lucky. Rusty fittings discovery, surprise mouse nests or bee hives, or parts missing. I get some unlucky news on these cars more often than the lucky news.

The reason I mention this is just as a suggestion on your fuel filter replacement. You might want to consider starting off with a small job here and there other than ones with the hard fuel lines. Give yourself a chance to get familiar with how difficult it can be to loosen fittings on these cars, but not with a project that can cause significant grief if you twist the wrong thing and spring a pin hole leak in a fuel line you cannot gain easy access to for repairs.

Might be a good test of the patience idea too. Or to "warm up" to the project list with your steering column bushing idea first. This crap weather will pass soon enough and some extra time to read up on how-to's or obtain parts or fittings or dispensables might prove to be indispensable.

I have had a couple winter seasons now with a cold garage and lots of things I wanted to get started on. The reality was that most of these jobs get knocked out in a few days or couple weeks when the conditions are favorable. It's up to you of course, I would just take extra care on the fuel line work as it's less forgiving if you bungle part of it.

[Rich_NYS]

No problem, anytime.

My experience with these cars is we don't get "lucky" very often. Once, I found that my trunk light wasn't working because the connector behind the front grill simply wasn't plugged in. That, luckily, was an easy fix. There have been a shit load of other things that were far from lucky. Rusty fittings discovery, surprise mouse nests or bee hives, or parts missing. I get some unlucky news on these cars more often than the lucky news.

The reason I mention this is just as a suggestion on your fuel filter replacement. You might want to consider starting off with a small job here and there other than ones with the hard fuel lines. Give yourself a chance to get familiar with how difficult it can be to loosen fittings on these cars, but not with a project that can cause significant grief if you twist the wrong thing and spring a pin hole leak in a fuel line you cannot gain easy access to for repairs.



Really good advice, but I'm already partway through it...lol! I really needed to get the filter changed, when I replaced the fuel hoses I saw a lot of deteriorated teflon when I flushed the line, so I've been concerned about what condition the filter could be in. After removing the filter, I flushed the line a bit and I'm pretty certain there was some crap in there so I'm feeling pretty good now. I feel some restriction when I blow through the filter, so maybe I'll cut it open when I'm done and see what's in there.

Keep yer fingers crossed for me bro....putting things back together soon.

[Jonathan]

Really good advice, but I'm already partway through it...lol! I really needed to get the filter changed, when I replaced the fuel hoses I saw a lot of deteriorated teflon when I flushed the line, so I've been concerned about what condition the filter could be in. After removing the filter, I flushed the line a bit and I'm pretty certain there was some crap in there so I'm feeling pretty good now. I feel some restriction when I blow through the filter, so maybe I'll cut it open when I'm done and see what's in there.

Keep yer fingers crossed for me bro....putting things back together soon.

Haha, no worries. I'll admit, my fuel line impression comes from hearing about others and also my own when I did the accumulator. I had myself a pinhole leak after the accumulator job but luckily it was in a spot we could access and repair (hey, that's two lucky things!!).

So, as I have never got around to changing my own fuel filter out (ahem, since 2007 or earlier, eek!) and I'm also going to get rid of my own orange Grady hoses circa 10-15 years ago (ahem, lol)... maybe you can advise ME how to do this job?! Sound like a deal?? :)

[Rich_NYS]

So, as I have never got around to changing my own fuel filter out (ahem, since 2007 or earlier, eek!) and I'm also going to get rid of my own orange Grady hoses circa 10-15 years ago (ahem, lol)... maybe you can advise ME how to do this job?! Sound like a deal?? :)

Deal :thumbup:

Have you seen these pics? You can see where the teflon appears to be breaking down and clogging the line. The clear hose shows what I flushed out on the tank end (this is why I decided to go after the filter next.) When I removed the feed off the filter & flushed the line, I saw more of the same. The filter was actually in good shape, I don't think the teflon pieces made it far into the filter - seems like they came out when the filter drained, but I'm guessing was impeding the flow. In hindsight, I think I could've flushed the line & the filter would've been OK but wouldn't have known until I took it out.

Fuel hose replacement was an easy job...

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