re: #176 dangerman

yup
and lets not begin to talk electrics
or removing the oil filter housing

Christ, that. Lie underneath and turn the bolt part of a turn. Try to fit the wrench on it again. Turn it part of a turn. Try to fit the wrench on it again.

Then the hot oil comes gushing out all over your hand.

Mine also had that starter drive that would periodically wind up and lock itself onto the flywheel. The official cure was to remove the cap from the other end of the starter and turn the armature backwards till it unlocked. One night, stopped at an ATM, I turned the key and got the dreaded “Rrrrrrr-guiinnch” sound. Cursing audibly I got out, opened the bonnet and prepared to wield my crescent wrench to turn the armature, 30 degrees at a time.

Another guy who was there said, “Starter drive locked up?”

Yeah.

“Put it in 4th and let off the handbrake.” Then he rocked the car a couple times and *SPROING!*

Started right up.