So, catching up on things - this is the story from back on May 4th. I realized my May blog posts are dwindling... so, time to play a little catch-up. Right, so, the Magnum got a car hitch installed... Before....
Before...
When I crawled under the car to start, first thing I noticed is that the pesky exhaust was in the way on both sides. So, time to pull those mufflers down. Grrrrrrrrr
Left rear muffler (looking aft)...
Right rear muffler (looking aft)...
So, get the exhaust pipes and rear resonators (kind of like muffler) moved out of the way on each side. Then comes the part where I get to hold a 50lb hitch above me while I try to screw in bolts on two sides of the car. That was interesting. "Thank you, thank you." (holds up arms, addressing and kisses big bicep muscles on each arm).So, there's 6 bolts to mount the hitch receiver to the frame. 3 of the 6 had nuts that were pre-welded into the frame from the factory. The other three holes were just pass-through holes and you have to manually put a loose nut on from the inside of the car (bolt goes in through the bottom). Sounds easy enough. No big deal...
So, I pull out the rear removable floor to get at the spare tire storage area. Crap - not far enough to the sides - have to take off the side panels on each side of the car. Fast forward 43 scrapes to hands from sharp plastic edges, approximately 38 eruptions of aggravation due to previous owner mistreating the car (breaking plastic tabs, wrong screws used, rusted holes
that were put in for mounting ground cables for his stereo, etc, etc). So, an hour later, I'm finally inside the car, with the entire back end (behind the seats) exposed to bare metal/paint. No holes can be seen where they are supposed to be. [Look under car - holes are there. Look from inside cars where holes are supposed to be - holes not there] [repeat] [scratch head] [repeat] [look again] [look again]. Son of a Gunderson!! Another panel was welded over the top, closing off the cavity space I needed to get at.
Enter HUGE power drill + 3" hole saw [Tim Taylor man grunt] Uuuuhhh uuuuhhh uuuuhhh - more power!
Yup, I had to drill a hole in the frame on each side of the car. It was closed off to prevent water spray coming through the lower holes and getting into the interior of the car. Normally, when a towing package is ordered for a car, it's put on at the factory on the assembly line. These cover panels would have been added on the assembly line for a car with the towing package too, but the hitch would have been put on before the cover plate was welded on. Oh well.
And the results... See that little hole down inside the big hole? Yup, that's where the hitch bolts are supposed to go. This is looking down, slightly right, slightly forward on the floor behind the right rear wheel. Love those metal filings...
And the end result after messing with the wiring harness install for another 2 hours.
Isn't she peeeeerrrrrty?
Then it's time for a few beers with the neighbors and cousin Chad (+Alissa + Ky) and the neighbors fearsome dogs.
Time to break out the steaks, burgers, and hot dogs for the grill! It's a beautiful night!
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