NUTS!

Well, sourcing another non-metric nut was quite a task. I made an online order which clearly came with expensive shipping costs. Turns out a wrong size was delivered (about twice as large). So I tried the local car parts shop but they had none and pointed me to a special metal hardware shop. They hadn't these on stock either. So I thought I was clever and went to a local Jaguar/Landrover dealer. And surprise, they don't have these either! Then I recalled this specialized Jeep shop nearby (https://www.vanbuurenjeeps.com/). And finally, they had these on stock. So I bought one. I had good hopes I was able to get the stud out. But the Original nut went busted as the threading wasn't able to coop with the force. So this weekend I went back and bought another nut at the same shop. Both nuts held the force but the stud wouldn't move at all - the engine block did move very slightly though. Amazing how tight the stud is. So now I need to source a metal tube to put over the wrench to gain more moment-force. I wonder if heating up the stud will work out. Let's try to source a metal tube first. Watch this space.

Starter motor replacement

So today I made attempt to remove the starter motor. A nasty job as I don't have car lift (yet) and I need to work on the dirty ground (and I don't have the possibility to move the car either. So I used the jack and a small ramp to access it:

The new starter motor with only 2 holes to mount it:

The bolts of the starter motor are difficult the reach, well mainly the top two ones. Yes, there was a third one and very difficult to reach.

I was able to get the first two bolts removed. The bottom one was easy. The top one was doable and came off fairly easy - though I could make only very short turns, so it took ages to get it off. The third one was severely stuck. To get it moving I had to use this setup using another jack to push the wrench up.  Luckily it came off - again it took ages as I could only make very small turns.

However the starter wouldn't come off. It looks it's stuck due to a "bus" on the thread end. So I need to get the thread removed. So for this I need to source another 5/8 inch bolt … sigh

With the "bus" I mean this "lookalike" spacer. But trust me, it does not move. I have been hitting it with a screwdriver and a hammer. The top was mounted with two bolts and the bottom end with this thread and nut.

I have been hitting the starter motor with a soft hammer, used a long screwdriver using it as a crowbar. But it just wont move. Almost looks like it's being held together by this thread. So hence I'm going to attempt to remove the thread once I have obtained another 5/8 inch nut.

I also tried to remove the cap on the starter motor but I had two "bits" which simply broke since it was that stuck, sigh!