Honda Element Engine Replacement and Restoration (Part 1)

[@thatbaldnurse]

"Stop thinking about the money you're not making and start thinking about the job you're doing." Yes!!!

[@useless3596]

That's only if you make decent money to begin with

[@garycasper2929]

@@useless3596 something tells me that if people stopped halfAssN’ it all the time ….. they would have some decent money.

[@DrGooseSr]

Dude, I've told you this before and I'll say it again. Your ability to to deal with the anger and frustration you experience when things are not going your way showcases a very good part of you.

[@mikehillstrom8987]

I truly appreciate you leaving the bushing fails in this video, this is what makes you a Real car show. Anyone that has wrenched knows sometimes it doesn't go as it should, and how you adapt is what can make or break you

[@eaglesforlife9334]

Thank you for showing what being a mechanic is really about. Nothing ever goes as planned ---- EVER. If it does Look out!

[@wildbill23c]

I know if a repair starts out easy, there's going to be a really bad problem somewhere during the process.

[@murkinstock]

I'm always terrified when something goes "too smoothly"

[@GrayRaceCat]

@@murkinstock I know what you mean, waiting for the "shoe to drop"!

[@mailmanjoe]

I lost it when you said "Hey look! I'm a quick lube oil place!". Then proceeds to run the fastener down with your impact driver. Great comedy!

[@budthestud9400]

As someone who works at a quick lube oil shop, this is accurate

[@panzerveps]

I work at a dealership, and a former colleague did that exact thing... Made me so effing mad.

[@wildbill23c]

I had a 94 Toyota 4Runner a few years ago, took it to the local lube shop to have it serviced. They had to remove the skid plate under the engine to do some of the service work, yeah kind of normal...Toyota couldn't figure out how to install an access door in the skid plate to get access to the oil drain bolt, and oil filter....Anyhow, they put the skid plate back on using one of those little Black and Decker cordless screwdrivers to install the bolts on the skid plate....I'm going down the freeway the next day and kept hearing something rattle, a few miles further and my skidplate goes flying across a few lanes of traffic....WTF. Those bolts were never tightened down after they had used that toy screwdriver to install the 3/8 bolts...needless to say they got an ear full at the lube shop, as well as had to replace my skid plate and all the bolts....took them a while to find a replacement skid plate, oh well. I've never been back there sense either. Figured if they can't install bolts in a skid plate properly I don't want them doing any other work to any of my vehicles. I'm back to doing my services myself, I don't drive much anymore so I usually do 1-2 oil changes a year. I just did the transmission fluid drain/fill and new filter on one of my vehicles a couple weeks ago. Messy job but its done for another 30,000 miles. I also replaced the transmission pan with one that has a drain plug...not sure why so many automakers don't find that to be something necessary...while you are trying to drop the pan full of transmission fluid because some idiot in the design process didn't think a 5 cent drain plug was worth it LOL.

[@kylewitter2806]

@@panzerveps was that incident the reason for him being a “former” employee?

[@panzerveps]

@@kylewitter2806 I quit and got a job where they don't hire people like that.

[@IanRolo86]

"I'm going to kill somebody" Anyone who has ever worked on cars has been there, i feel your pain Eric.

[@useless3596]

(BANG BANG) FBI OPEN UP!

[@tyree9055]

Always gotta love bad engineering, tools, and build designs; or just plain ol' stubborn parts! 🤬👍

[@ijible]

Turn the old parts from your Elements into a coffee table and call it your "table of elements".

[@bingjimenez566]

Use it sometimes for magazines and it'll be your Periodic(al) Table of Elements

[@MediumHalf]

🤦‍♂️ you guys are killing me lol

[@PapaWheelie1]

I was required to click like because the counter was at 68. It’s not a choice anymore lol

[@monsterq6]

That's a good one!

[@troyfordguy1345]

Eric! You need 2 more Elements... so you can have... wait for it.... The Fifth Element! :D

[@fila1445]

But he needs just one to become the Avatar !

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I watch that at least once every couple years.

[@CheezyDee]

BIG bada boom.

[@ferndog1461]

Shaking my head & smiling.

[@camf03]

The screwdriver struggle is so relatable haha. I always slam it down on the table, "Stay!"

[@juhasundholm9962]

That C clamp struggle was painful and entertaining at the same time.

[@wobblysauce]

A little bit of tape to hold it all together...

[@shengruizhang6476]

You always need 3 hands

[@farerse]

I suspect some parts were edited out to make this video still family friendly

[@wildbill23c]

That's pretty much the story of any car repairs I do, regardless of the repair, it always ends up to be far more frustrating and involved than it really should have been, because as in the case of this Element, previous owners and repair shops tend to cut every corner they possibly can to save a minute of their time, whether it be cross threading bolts, overtightening, stripping threads, you name it they do it wrong.

[@bobm7275]

On the bright side your customers now know how hard you work.

[@StephenAldaco]

Dude I live full time in my element and your videos are so helpful when things are broken! Thanks for this!

[@notapplicable430]

From one Element owner to another...I hope neither of us actually needs this engine exchange video.

[@StephenAldaco]

@@notapplicable430 dude I hope not she’s running great at 225,000

[@notapplicable430]

@@StephenAldaco Mine has 254K...still running and functioning like it came from the factory.

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

Hey, I found a socket....10mm....I FOUND GOLD!!! LOL. Also missing and cross threaded fasteners...smh how some "mechanics" have no pride in their work. Eric O. calls them Jerry`s. We follow guys like you and SMA because of the pride you guys have in your work. Much respect. Stay safe, God bless....and Stay Dirty!

[@sikhswim]

Dude, I can’t believe I just watched a 40 min video. You are the man Eric. Cant wait to see the new engine start up...

[@djlatnhouse]

Eric, thank you for all your videos. Because of you I have been able to work on my own Honda Element without fear. I now change my own oil. I've changed out the transmission fluid, twice. I've changed out the coolant in my car, replaced one radiator fan and about to replace the other. I've also done many other things to it. As of today I have 265,000+ miles on my car and I credit the longevity of my car to you inspiring me to work on my own car. I thank you many times over for your videos and your hard work. Staying dirty.

[@ericthecarguy]

That is great to hear. I'm very happy to know that my videos have helped you with your Element. Thank you very much for the comment.

[@cbrown17982010]

The fact that out of every socket possible a 10mm drops out. . ."priceless"

[@crosstolerance]

The most valuable socket in your toolbox! :)

[@VortechBand]

+200 % Better Chance Of Getting Magic Item

[@wendyfrederick5965]

Did somebody replace the PCV and just leave the deep socket on?

[@JustMe-gw4xj]

First time I ever heard a piano solo during a time lapse engine removal segment, very cathartic, nice touch man, I appreciate that, you've came a long way sir, bravo.

[@oldskool1979]

"Stop thinking about the money you're not making" Great line ! Its so true for most modern workers !

[@museinglis1979]

Some ppl need ASMR to fall asleep...for me, Eric working on cars does the trick! So relaxing! 😴

[@itseperkele181]

DRRRRRRRRR CLINK CLONK BRRRR BANG BANG hey look! I'm a quick lube place! VRRRRRRRRRRRRR DINGDONG BAMBAMBAM Yes, I too sleep soundly with this relaxing soundtrack

[@Rockardo_]

Yeah until he breaks out the impacts lmao

[@museinglis1979]

@@Rockardo_ What R U talking about?! The impact gun adds rhythm 🥁!!! 😂

[@restlessjack0042]

This is it...this is why I love to watch these videos...ETCG is like a good wine, it only gets better over time...

[@probochronicles3991]

I'm a dedicated fan with an 04 Honda Element (5 speed AWD) and I've been discovering all kinds of repairs I need to do that weren't disclosed when I bought it (oil pan, locked brake calipers front and rear, rusted parking brakes both sides, and rust rust rust....). Genuine word of advice....those control arms aren't too expensive to replace, as I had to replace both of mine for bad bushings. That aside, I really enjoy your videos and have learned a lot about my Element from watching them. Thanks!

[@miketavenermedia7853]

Eric, thank you so much for leaving the frustrating part of these jobs in your videos. I struggled a couple weeks ago replacing the bearings on my Element and no video I found showed that anyone was having any problems. I was pissed off beyond measure! I was cussing and throwing things (afterwards, I had to talk with my 16 year old son that I was completely wrong in my actions). Every single video showed that they had no issues and it only seemed to take them 30 minutes after complete disassembly of everything else. Years ago, I watched your first video on replacing those bushings and realized then, that it was way easier to replace the whole control arm. That was all thanks to watching your frustrations. I am a shade tree mechanic only and that video showed me, that if a pro is struggling, then I will bypass the whole thing altogether. Thank you so much for your videos. *Side note* I would love to see an updated video on your thoughts (maybe an ETCG1 video) on buying aftermarket parts versus buying OEM. I like to try OEM but, Rockauto and other sites have made parts so much cheaper than OEM. I learned my lesson with MOOG ball joints, ( I will never buy another one),

[@ericthecarguy]

I love it when this happens. Mondays ETCG1 topic covers that very thing. Thanks for the comment.

[@shane6961]

This and ETCG1 are the only channel's where I hit the like button before the video even starts. I always know it will be a good time!

[@JeffWinter1]

In my experience it's all about having the correct tools for the job. It gets rid of the Frustration Factor. Looking forward to part 2. 👍

[@DIAGAMEIT]

Cruising after work in my 93 del sol & some dude rear ended me with an F1 & ruined my trunk/bumper. Thank you Eric for posting this because a calm, great mechanic repair video is all i need to distract myself for a bit.

[@OneKauz]

For years you've thrown on greasy, dirty, unpainted & rusty parts. It was such a relief & very therapeutic to see you finally apply a little elbow grease with some cleaned restored parts 🙌 💪 👏

[@ericthecarguy]

I did it for you. And also for me. Thanks for the inspiration and the comment.

[@MediumHalf]

In states like Ohio where rust is prevalent, cleaning and painting parts can feel like pissing in the wind because one bad winter can make them look like hell again, so I understand not bothering. That said, as a viewer who's not doing the prep work it is very nice to see cleaned up parts going in. 🙂

[@OneKauz]

@@MediumHalf yep I understand the futility of fighting the rust. Fortunately I live in Northern Nevada so I see a little snow but not to the point it makes a 3 year old car look like its 35 years old. My 99 accord is still rust free & all the bolts come out like they are new, sans a few exhuast bolts.

[@MediumHalf]

@@OneKauzI'm jealous 😛

[@GickelsGaming]

Also, Eric, im SURE you've heard this before, but your video's are SO.DAMN.INFORMATIVE. It was close to 10 years ago when your video on no crank no starts saved my first daily driver (99 EJ7 hatch , d16y7). Was on the on-ramp to the highway, hit a pothole then the entire car instantly died. took about a week to diagnose the issue, but it turns out the ignition coil under the distributor snapped IN HALF!!! never would i have thought to look there, but that little waffle shaped / heatsink thing was the culprit and it was ONLY your video that helped me get it fixed up. the entire thing just cut in half. Not only that, but theres been countless other videos you've put out that have been a gargantuan help. balljoints, suspension stuff, engine stuff, radiator stuff, diagnosing coolant issues, valve adjustments, electrical stuff, you name it, and its probably helped me in some way, shape or form. Whenever theres an issue with my honda's youre the first person i check. my very first civic turned into my absolute favorite platform and made me a honda guy, and I eventually worked for honda, themself. turned that singlejingle automatic into a b20vtec manual that made 216hp on 91. god, that transition phase with a st.2 clutch and never driven manual was horrendous but that was my absolute favorite car experience to date. ended up with a hole in the block later down the road, and fully rebuilt a b18c1 block to OEM spec with all new parts and regrettably traded the whole project for an element that was a lemon, was title washed 130k miles->300k hidden miles, and never drove more than a few miles. sold it, and now own an rd7 CR-V, to which more of your videos have helped more than you know =) you're an absolute legend, Eric. please dont stop working on hondas, and If this makes your day, throw me a heart so i know you read this which would make my day too =)

[@ericthecarguy]

I'm very happy to hear that my videos have helped you over the years. It's always been my goal to help people with these videos and I never get tired of hearing about it when they actually do. I'm honored by your comment. Thank you.

[@GickelsGaming]

@@ericthecarguy you have turned me into a honda guy... Or honda turned you into a honda guy, who turned me int-- nevermind. Thanks for being awesome and thanks for the birthday cake. It was delicious and I ate it all.

[@TheBeerBox80]

There is something super satisfying about watching the old bushings fall out. Probably because I have done them before.

[@Oblithian]

👌 _Fantastic_

[@Yappyboy11]

when he slammed that impact driver down, I felt that

[@MrSamPhoenix]

@3:43 LOLOLOLOL!!! A Jiffy Lube did this to my 2001 Honda V6 back in the day. When servicing the car at a Honda Dealer, they quickly pointed out how my drain plug was stripped. & that an oil pan replacement was needed ($500). I got a used oil pan from an Acura CL 3.2 (thank god J-Series engines have 80% interchangeable parts), bought a Haines Repair book, & replaced the oil pan myself with one of my brothers. I’ve been doing my own repairs since then & never looked back!

[@delmarrathbone7092]

Just removed the engine from my 07 Element SC last week. Pretty much the same procedure but I did a few things differently. I left the wiring harness connected to the engine and disconnected it from the ecu behind the glovebox. I removed the subframe and used a transverse engine support bar to support the engine, lowered the vehicle with the 2-post lift resting the engine and transmission on an ATV jack, lowered the engine with the support bar and then raised the car back up with the lift.

[@gregorysattler7021]

Had the same exact problem with my Honda Accord. I too just bought the new lower control arm. Buying the control arm is huge time and money saver in the end.

[@acestone7125]

i hate all bushings, but watching other people play with bushings is always a treat, lol

[@susanlloyd3515]

I'm not going to lie, the one segment of this video reminded me of my daughter and I working on my vehicle and hers this last week in the driveway. 🤣🤣 There were probably many moments that the neighbors were afraid to come outside lol. Oh well, we got the repairs done on both vehicles and learned some new words 😁😁

[@monkeyCmonkeyDoo]

Good stuff, the bushing debacle is why I have brand new compliance bushings sitting on a shelf for 2 years.

[@1BarryMoore]

Thanks very much for your suggestion for me to watch this video! Again, thanks for showing the mishaps, problems, remedies, etc, and the thought process (both right, incorrect, and what you have done differently the next time, etc.). Please continue with this type of practical repair videos. Race cars are cool, but who can afford them as well as put the time into them. Thanks again.

[@jeffparker9610]

Ironic that it was a 10mm socket. Love the stuff you make Eric. You truly are a man of your craft.

[@brianchen3093]

Eric, I replaced the control arm bushings few years ago. Similar to you, only the compliance bushing were bad, and I didn't need to replace the rear bushing. But, I decided to do it only because the control arms are already out of the car. That ended up to be the most frustrating experience. I ruined multiple bushings per control arm while using the shop press to push the bushing into the control arm. Inevitably, the "lip" the bushings are destroyed in the process. At the end, I had to machine an custom adapter that would push on the "lip" AND the metal center cylinder of the bushing at the same time. I also removed whatever the paint that are still on the inner surface of the control arm hole. Freeze the bushing and with lots lube, ky jelly, grease, butter, whatever I can find in the house. The bushings were finally installed without destroying the "lip". I think the whole project took almost a week with many trials and errors. Yeah, hint sight 20/20. I won't be replacing those dame bushing unless I abuslutely need to.

[@delta999999]

Great video Eric! I like the soothing piano music during the frenetic time lapse, I found the juxtaposition to be delightful.

[@robertvance1873]

Hi Eric, that's exactly what I did for my 2000 Nissan Sentra GXE for the front end re build everything was all together worked great.

[@monsterq6]

That valve cover looks awesome!!!!!!! Great little visual plus every time you look at the engine. Great video

[@jamothegreat6052]

I usually don't comment on your videos. However, thank you for showing people how hard it is to change suspension bushings. Peolpe wonder why it's expensive to replace them. They have ro be clocked right and requires special toolss. Most people think it's easy and not worth the price....but it is!!!

[@mishimposble]

Great work. I want a Honda Element for all it's great versatility. Wish Honda still made it

[@dc5723]

I feel you Eric, just did LCA bushings on a 1993 Toyota p/u using the Astro ball joint press with the pucks and cup falling all over the place. I was ready to call my Snap-on driver and order the BJP1 or the Matco set since I hear the cups/pucks lock into the C arm better than the OTC or Astro but I'm glad I got it done without spending $700 OR buying complete new LCA from the dealer. My wife said to get the new LCAs since it would have been easier.

[@sebastianholmes5020]

I like videos like this for my element. It’s a project that I will never ever do, especially by myself. But it just gives me a better idea of my car. I am someone that just replaced the whole suspension, all the fluids, and then some purely off of KZbin videos. It’s been a long couple months but I feel as tho I’m about done with work on my element!

[@alexanderjin201]

Love starting my Friday with my coffee and a ETCG video!

[@theusedblink]

Bro, you do such an amazing job at everything you do. You're truly an awesome mechanic. I wish I had someone like you around my area.

[@jeeprubicon6650]

God bless your cool demeanor. I’d have said “fother mucker” and “bon of a sitch” so many times by now!!!!

[@commodore665]

Wow Eric , you're an accomplished pianist too .

[@MediumHalf]

Hahaha that cumbersome bushing press, sometimes you just have to laugh so you don't cry

[@silasmarner7586]

Both the vice-mounted tool and the hydraulic press leave something to be desired. The hydraulic press should be less wobbledy dobbledy... Yes he found the correct adapter but still, I'm not really impressed. What else is out there? Dunno.

[@marke.1021]

Nice to see that rust is getting removed for the most part and new paint added. nice when stuff is out of the way. 2-4 coats of black is a nice addition to prevent rust from returning --well for a few years at least.

[@SomayOklu]

Love the classical music time lapse

[@donkaiser6704]

Great video, Eric - thanks for showing us the good, the bad, aaaand the ugly!

[@buddyboy4x44]

Fascinating and impressive. Above all, you have convinced me never to remove a modern engine. I would never get it all back together again.

[@ericthecarguy]

It's not as difficult as you might think. Just take it one component at a time. Thanks for the comment.

[@climberman8]

Love how you are keeping the element alive! Just replaced the spark plugs on mine, guess replacing the engine is next!

[@vijayantgovender2045]

Thank you Eric I always love watching your videos I am from South Africa

[@cory8791]

Great vid!!! I had to put my sand blaster on blocks so my back does not hurt!! Just a suggestion!!

[@aserta]

I'm not sure who makes them (saw it on a video from a restorer, i think) but there's a kit you can purchase that attaches to the existing legs of most sand blasters and lifts the whole unit up. It doesn't use screws to fit to the existing legs, rather a simple clamp mechanism (IE being that as long as the legs are the common bent sheet metal type, not cast or tubular).

[@cory8791]

@@aserta yea I look at one after the fact that I raised mine up I just had to do a big job in the cabinet to get done so I just cheeped out with the bricks for now I think I could build some leg Extenders with some scrape!

[@ericthecarguy]

Great idea!

[@16guns]

I enjoy your videos. I will admit I appreciated your frustration with the bushings. I say that because I am not a professional mechanic and I always feel like everything happens to me. I will try to chalk up the “things happen sometimes” even to the pros.

[@michaelporras3258]

A trick i've used for stubborn bushings is to grab a bench grinder and give them just a tiny lip, like oem toyota ones so you can start them easily on the control arms

[@spacecat7247]

Engine swaps can be very rewarding when time permits. Know you kept all the leftovers. Got 3 now lol. Love those elements. Glad they're making them again. Sweet 10 mm and deep too wow.

[@pirihern9329]

That was alot of work. I applaud your patience and determination. Been a long time follower. Paz y salud

[@metaphive]

See.....I watched your original Element control arm video a couple of years ago so when my turn came, I just bought new control arms with the bushings pre-loaded. The labor savings was more than worth it.

[@MySkullzDented]

Nice touch with the timelapse and piano tunes😊

[@FixIt1975]

Interesting. I did one of these a few years ago. I dropped the engine and trans down in the cradle, onto 4 jackstands, all in one piece. I unplugged the pcm and pulled harness thru the firewall, makes undoing wiring a lot easier on the ground

[@Smokeythewelder]

That clamp at 12:16 cost me $4,500 for an engine replace. The clamp failed and out went the coolant by the time I noticed the engine was losing power and the temp gauge was spiked. I thought I caught it in time but three months after I got a head gasket leak. For those of driving high mileage element I recommend swapping the radiator at 200,000 miles.

[@Deadlybroom]

I just had my Lower control arms replaced on my 2005 Honda CRaV yesterday. My mechanic told me he just wanted to mess with buying new ones directly from Honda, and it actually saved me money from Labor. Now I know why he didn’t want to deal with this haha.

[@darrylmcleman6456]

There is an old (4yrs.) Scotty K. video where he changes an Element starter from the top.He said that was the way to go if you are not working with a lift.CHEERS from Canadian westcoast!

[@MrCuckoobox]

Thanks for Sharing. I have a whole bunch of bushings and ball joints that I need to do on several cars. After watching you work, I am thinking "What will I be getting myself into?" The Big Press looks like it comes in handy. I hoping they come out and go in easier than what I saw there. I could see a lot of frustration, I have run it to a lot of that in the last few "car repairs"....... I ended up cracking my daughter's Accord Distributor when knocking out the pin to replace the gasket. Ended up replacing with manufactured with new bearings too.

[@ericthecarguy]

The press is a must for bushings. Also, get the ball joint set linked in the description. Good luck.

[@handycrowd]

Easiest front subframes ever on the CRV! Great video Eric, have a great weekend :-)

[@seewhyem]

Yup, I always buy the complete control arm. Not worth the trouble to replace the bushings IMO... but it's always interesting to watch others try to replace the bushings though. lol

[@maxwolf6285]

So amazing. Wish you lived close. Have 2 Elements.

[@marsredr100]

I normally heat the aluminum parts with either a heat gun or torch to open the pours then aluminum spray paint. It helps promote adhesion of the paint to part.

[@christophheinrichs7396]

good job Eric, never give up. In trust the tools can do nothing for the failure it happens

[@somdood3292]

i have a valve lash adjustment in my elements future and im suffering from mild "how to properly find" TDC in a k24 anxiety but i plan on step by stepping it from your old video... have the tool and feeler gauges and valve cover gasket and some wrinkle blue for the cover so im excited about it

[@stevenb1465]

OMG I love the Piano time-laps :D

[@Super_64]

i loved the "hey look im a quick oil change place" and then cranks on the drain bolt with an impact.

[@kaibaumgartner7721]

This was me doing the rear knuckle bushings in my 97’ Odyssey, except I did it on the car, on jackstands, with the cheap power built C-Clamp tool. 4lb sledge hammers come in handy for removal 😄 when in doubt, beat it out.

[@ericpaul80b17]

Sometimes you just can’t win brother. Thanks for the great content!

[@GrayRaceCat]

Hi Eric, At 36:15, the press wobbles. I know it's a PITA to move later, but I've found that bolting the press to the floor REALLY helps with stability and reduces the flex in your press. Making it easier to press bushings in straight.

[@GrayRaceCat]

Hi Eric, At 35:17, you suffered a common problem, too few hands. What I've done is get a very large C-clamp and mount it to the left upright on my press. I can easily adjust the height of the C-clamp and let carry the weight of the control arm while I juggle everything else.

[@aserta]

16:50 what i've done in the past is lifted the car, undid everything like you did and used one of the little wheeled carts to drop the engine on. Makes things a wee bit more manageable. I've a short one used for when you're rolling on a stool, about 40 tall all in all, perfect for this kind of stuff. Much better than dealing with the crane's linear motions.

[@ericthecarguy]

Perhaps, but some carts are too low and it makes it difficult to start the fasteners when the vehicle is on the ground. Not to mention you often have to work on the ground in that situation. That said, there are a million ways to do the same job. Do what works for you is what I say. Thanks for the comment.

[@roberthearn2908]

This makes me miss the base auto hobby shop. You remind me of some of the old motor pool Chief Master Sergeants that volunteered there. Knew everything about vehicles like they knew the backs of their hand - and never came across a situation they couldn't resolve without seven extensions and four universals.

[@Steve4x4]

very happy to hear that im not the only one who drops ball joint press pieces 40 time per joint.

[@FixIt1975]

Nope, I do too. The snap on set pieces stay clipped together but it is wicked expensive. I'm not spending $ 1,500 on something I use a few times a year

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

With all the trials and tribulations great work Eric 💪👍 @EricTheCarGuy

[@Jsbs1991f]

Eric you're doing it wrong, I don't what. But Eric you're doing it wrong.

[@brettsuydam7457]

Ended up doing the same thing when I needed new lower control arm bushings for my trailblazer. Time is money and the cost of a new control arm wasn’t much more in the end.

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

Nice little project. Mine is happening on 4/25. Swapping out a used 700R4 trans out of a 91 C1500..lost reverse. Had original trans rebuilt finally(300,000 miles..had to save up to have it done..$1,750.00..better than stock). Was told it was trashed inside. Guess so due to the mileage. I`m 63, no lift, no garage, just a floor jack and 2 ratchet straps to raise trans high enough to get jack under it and a wheel chock for an 18 wheeler(overkill but very safe). Got a 3 yr/100,000 mile guarantee on rebuild. Supposed to be nice weather here in York Pa tomorrow...hope so. Stay Dirty!

[@ericthecarguy]

I'm doing the same this week to my truck. The video should be out in the next couple of weeks. Good luck with your swap.

[@ericthecarguy4615]

W•H•A•T•S•A•P•√ +=1= 2= 3=4=9= 7=8=2= 5= 3= 5....

[@blockbertus]

Nice to see Eric in his Elements. ;-)

[@smilingdonkey1]

Hi Eric! great job on this video, I may add that I had a similar issue on my 2003 Honda civic with removing the ball joints. they pushed straight through the cap on the top of the ball joint and I had to air hammer the rest of the ball joint out! that sucked lol, good times.

[@canuckfixit7722]

33:05 based on recent direct experience removing the transmission from my '05 Element, occasionally you get thread damage from corrosion that sets in on bolts that "daylight" through the transmission housing. This is likely what happened with that one bolt fir thd starter. The damage occurs during removal and cannot be avoided since you have to remove the bolt. Best to use a thread chaser kit or a same-size metric tap and die set to repair the inside threads and the threads on the bolt before reassembly as you did in the next video.

[@Lordosvk]

Super video. I learn from this video i will buy whole lower arms next time. :D

[@petecurran3995]

Frustrations & victories! A great pt. 1 Eric! ✌🏻

[@warwickscram5925]

I haven't seen Eric that mad since the video with the slide hammer.

[@Andrew-ps9kq]

14:16 yay the seat belt is back for a cameo 😀

[@A_guy840]

Having literally just spent 3 full days working on my “new to me used” element I can relate to so much of what you said here. The previous owners were great about maintenance but the places they went to used impacts on everything! Oh and they put atf in the power steering rack...

[@ericthecarguy]

Sorry to hear about your struggle. Good luck and thanks for the comment.

[@A_guy840]

@@ericthecarguy thanks, your videos certainly make it all quicker/easier!

[@joesdiy4260]

I love the struggle fest content. I have a video of me doing a control arm replacement on a cobalt that was a complete nightmare. Keep cranking videos out and take care!

[@joemonroe9402]

Droping sub frame is tuff,easy to pull trans n motor up...done both ways...out the top is far easier..peace😎

[@ericthecarguy]

Easy is relative. Thanks for the comment.

[@bluebeast440]

I always put bushings (and other parts) in the freezer first for an hour or 2. It really can help with installation! :D

[@RS24-7]

I’m literally in the market for one of these right now. These cars are amazing!

[@ericthecarguy]

Make sure you get it checked out first. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2bZlJuhq8qgfZo

[@S4h4r4s]

I had my original 2007 Honda Element motor removed after 235k miles. I had the car replaced with a 2nd motor JDM? At 40-60k. My Honda Element is still running to this day at 305k miles in 2022 from 2010 when I first bought it.