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66busman
Samba Motorcyclist
Joined: September 14, 2006
Posts: 1166
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| autiger78 wrote: |
| chillz1 wrote: |
| Icy wrote: |
This sounds very, very far-fetched. Plastic pulleys and cardboard gears???? |
It's true, unfortunately, Gary. Many automakers have used a plastic-type idler for years. Now, the gears aren't really cardboard, but are composed of a paper-fiber type material (which oddly enough, is somewhat reliable). Supposedly to help with noise reduction. |
Yep, I bet cardboard gears grind nice and quiet... |
Grind into pulp, you mean. I wish I had a picture of it....
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'66 SO-42
'73 Bay
'75 Type 181 |
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chillz1
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2002
Posts: 869
Location: Where You Least Expect
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| 66busman wrote: |
Grind into pulp, you mean. I wish I had a picture of it.... |
You know, I've torn down a ton of engines that used fiber gears, and have seen VERY few with any problems. I think using high lift cams and heavy valve springs would certainly spell their death, but using stock valve train, the reported problems are somewhat few. I still think that automakers could come up with a better idea, though.
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http://www.animalsintheattic.com
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66busman
Samba Motorcyclist
Joined: September 14, 2006
Posts: 1166
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| chillz1 wrote: |
| 66busman wrote: |
Grind into pulp, you mean. I wish I had a picture of it.... |
You know, I've torn down a ton of engines that used fiber gears, and have seen VERY few with any problems. I think using high lift cams and heavy valve springs would certainly spell their death, but using stock valve train, the reported problems are somewhat few. I still think that automakers could come up with a better idea, though. |
My experience was very isolated(only chevy truck i've ever been asked to take a look at), but first impressions are everything. This truck was a total pile anyway. Huge, fist sized rust holes, bald tires, 200k + miles, amazing it made it as long as it did. Still, like you said, it would be nice to not make parts out of "pressed paper" or what ever.
But we digress...
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'66 SO-42
'73 Bay
'75 Type 181 |
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iowegian 
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9983
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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Okay, Chillz, you win. No Maxx for me this week.
I bought another Ranger. 2002. 4door. XLT. 4 wheel drive.
Nine thousand, three hundred miles.(yes 9,300.)
Eight grand plus my 2001 two-wheeler with 97,000 miles.  |
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Gary
Person of Interest
Joined: November 01, 2002
Posts: 17069
Location: 127.0.0.1
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| chillz1 wrote: |
| Icy wrote: |
This sounds very, very far-fetched. Plastic pulleys and cardboard gears???? |
It's true, unfortunately, Gary. Many automakers have used a plastic-type idler for years. Now, the gears aren't really cardboard, but are composed of a paper-fiber type material (which oddly enough, is somewhat reliable). Supposedly to help with noise reduction. |
Well, the Model T used planetary gears in the transmission that were made from soybean fibers. People need to remember that all of this is done in the name of fuel efficiency standards. When my dad retired from the automotive industry in 1984, the directive from Detroit was to reduce the weight of every single part, including nuts, bolts, and screws, by approximately 10%. That's why we have "cheap, plastic" cars these days, or in the example of Ford pickups, trucks with radiator mounts that break because they are made from magnesium.
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Last edited by Gary on Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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///Mink
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000
Posts: 5051
Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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I've had to replace a couple of the plastic idler pullies on the BMWs I mentioned earlier, but it was never the plastic pulley that went bad, it was the sealed bearing pressed into it that failed. So not all plastic parts suck.
But then again, on the same cars BMW chose to use plastic thermostat housings and radiators with plastic end tanks. Replacing a radiator on an e34, e36, e39, etc is considered preventative maintenance at 50,000 miles unless you want your radiator neck to completely break off while driving.  |
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i_am_cool_fred
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2004
Posts: 1743
Location: Benton, AR
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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| mike yapps wrote: |
Isn't the Malibu Maxx a remake of the Citation?
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motor trend even said it was an "oversized hatchback"
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proud owner of a defunct 1979 sunroof kombi
Brian Denning, as seen on Gearz TV |
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9983
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| i_am_cool_fred wrote: |
| mike yapps wrote: |
Isn't the Malibu Maxx a remake of the Citation?
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motor trend even said it was an "oversized hatchback" |
Of course it is a Citation.
How stupid of me.  |
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_monkey_
Samba Monkey
Joined: April 11, 2005
Posts: 1584
Location: New England
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| My dad gave me an old Citation about 17(?) years ago. I might have driven that pile of shit 1000 miles before the flywheel sheered the bolts that held it. It had a really reliable engine, whatever good that does when it doesn't turn the transmission. |
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59 vw guy
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2002
Posts: 969
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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To late now but if you like the car get it and get an extended warranty i have a 2006 malibu and so far good luck except the front rotors warping from me or the po i bought it used.. but it under warranty and they fixed it without problem ..And mine is the ltz model and man it will scoot.. but i think most car problems are just the luck or unluck of the draw.. But i always get extra warranty only way to go.
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New project 66 bug And 61 bug for parts if you need some 61 parts im me to see if i have it Will trade 61 parts for dual carbs and bumpers for a 66.. |
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