Today I... "Redux Edition"

[5th T/A]

Jack, too bad you couldn't delay your trip until next weekend for the MCACN show. Unless you are in town for a week?

[70_71_78]

Not to Chicago, thanks. I live close enough so that it feels like more trouble than it's worth.

[Jack]

This was last night...

[FormTA]

I wouldn't follow so close 

[roadking77]

They have a string around the bottom!

I was at HD the other day, there was a guy loading at least 10' treated 6x6's across the car, from open back window through open pass side front window in his mercedes. I wanted to take a pic but couldnt grab my phone fast enough. I have seen my share of idiotic loading there over the years.

[ryeguy2006a]

Wow is all I have to say...

[roadking77]

Didnt want to hi jack on Rich's thread, but I have a 200? expedition. Bought it as a second work truck about 6 years ago for a great price. It has been an all around great vehicle. My wife started using it as a dd a couple of years ago. Anyway its starting to get a bit long in the tooth and I know its a short matter of time before a replacement is needed. The rear started making noises awhile back, so $500+ later new bearings on both sides. Ran great for 3 days, power steering went out, belt shattered! So, I guess that issue needs to be addressed then the 4 sale sign goes on!! Done spending money on it. Not sure what I will get, I would like another expedition or suburban, but the prices are a bit high for what I want. May end up with an escape or something small for a change. I still need a back up work truck but the wife will use it mostly as her daily.

[roadking77]

2022-12-14_07-50-24 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Anyone seen a lighted billboard truck? Saw this one last week at the beach. It was a bit distracting. First and only time I have seen something like this.

[FormTA]

Ya, that us pretty crazy and distracting too. How's that legal?

[70_71_78]

Didnt want to hi jack on Rich's thread, but I have a 200? expedition. Bought it as a second work truck about 6 years ago for a great price. It has been an all around great vehicle. My wife started using it as a dd a couple of years ago. Anyway its starting to get a bit long in the tooth and I know its a short matter of time before a replacement is needed. The rear started making noises awhile back, so $500+ later new bearings on both sides. Ran great for 3 days, power steering went out, belt shattered! So, I guess that issue needs to be addressed then the 4 sale sign goes on!! Done spending money on it. Not sure what I will get, I would like another expedition or suburban, but the prices are a bit high for what I want. May end up with an escape or something small for a change. I still need a back up work truck but the wife will use it mostly as her daily.

We have both an Edge and an Escape. I am used to a manual trans., but when my last manual work truck died it proved impossible to find something newer, manual trans and affordable. I found a real good deal on an, at the time, a two year old
Edge. Had no other choice available. I thought I would hate it, but it has turned out to be the most comfortable vehicle I have owned and really trouble free. I don't really fit well in the
Escape, but my wife likes it.

[roadking77]

Thanks for the comments, the more I am looking I am leaning towards an Edge. I dont hate the looks and the size is just about right. I like a big truck, but would not mind something that may get a bit better mpg.

[scarebird]

I thing I did not miss last month in Lisbon was all the darn brodozers that infest Albuquerque... nor the loud exhausts.

[Jack]

Today I start my only 2022 PTO that hopefully will last until Jan 3rd 2023. I have turned email notifications on my phone off but unfortunately can't do the same with text notifications. With the year end work/project freeze hopefully there will be no incidents that require travel.

[roadking77]

Sounds good Jack, I hope you can relax and have some decent family time. For years Dad would always say 'Were taking off the week between Christmas and New Years'. I dont think it ever happened, lol. Then when my brothers took over the business they would say the same. Never happened! When I started my business I said the same thing. I think I have taken a few days off depending on when the days fall. It usually seems we are busy and cant justify the days off though. I take off Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and usually the day after. Same with New Years eve and New Years day. Anything else is a bonus.

[FormTA]

The last 5+ years I have taken off that week plus. And the last few we have been going to the UP of Michigan to go snowmobiling.  I was afraid there wouldn't be snow this time and I'd be out a ton of money but it looks like that is going to change as they are supposed to get feet of snow in the next few days. I just hope the bridge is open when we get there next week.

I hope everyone can take some time to relax and be with family!! Enjoy  it!

[Jack]

Third day in and haven't had a chance to even start one of the Firebirds to move into the garage. So far I had to go to work (okay work from home) one day and was dealing with my parents heating system most of yesterday. Also tried to move my sons Jeep but looks like the starter went south... Don't want to do anymore car work outside when it's in the 30s.

I have a number of projects but I'll see how far I get.

[roadking77]

Luke, that sounds like fun. Safe travels to your destination.
Jack, sound like you need to read a good book or put an old movie on and relax a bit. Projects will always be there.

[ryeguy2006a]

Ew... Snow  JK, snowmobiling is one of my favorite things to do. Such a rush.

Not today, but on Saturday morning we woke up to 62 degrees in the house. Several service calls later we found out that Santa is bringing us a new furnace this year!! 

[FormTA]

Aw man, that really stinks.... So many other purchases that are way more satisfying  out there. I those essential ones.....

[Jack]

Not today, but on Saturday morning we woke up to 62 degrees in the house. Several service calls later we found out that Santa is bringing us a new furnace this year!! 

I am sure you looked into it but having moved south you have other options including a heat pump that works very well in areas with warmer climates.

[FormTA]

I'm not sure if a hear pump is what you call it but I have a GEO thermo unit and yard loops. We installed it when out house was being built and the government was giving huge refunds for energy saving products. It ended up costing the same as a normal propane furnace but this thing is awesome! Our heating costs are super low compared to propane (which we would have to have as we are put in a rural area). Plus it generates free hot water in the summer.

[Jack]

With geothermal you are using the earth (constant temp deep below grade) to either extract or reject heat. A heat pump is an A/C system that works in reverse and pulls heat in vs. rejecting heat. Heat pump technology advanced to a point that they claim you can extract heat when it is as low as 5 degrees outside (not sure if I believe that) but they always were a good option for areas that don't get very cold.

NG is going away (at least in my crazy state) and some towns already banned NG for new construction. Lets see if the electrical infrastructure can handle going electric for everything.   

[roadking77]

We put in quite a few geo therms a few years ago. It seemed to be the rage at the time. I havent heard of anyone doing them in the last 4 or 5 years in my area though. The only one I ever heard feedback from was that the 'fuel' cost was nil, but his electric bill had soared.

Snowmobiling sounds like a lot of fun. I have never done so, not enough snow in my area to justify one, but they are around and people travel to the PA mountains to use them. I like snow when it starts to fall, but after about a day I am done with it. Im a mild weather kinda guy. Ryan, you will not see any where near the snow in your new location but I think that area is prone to icing.

[Jack]

Thursday I spent 5 hours changing the headlight on my daughters car. I just love these manufactures that think it's a good idea to taken apart to get to a lamp...

Yesterday I worked on the 71 Firebird (4-5 hours) but unfortunately could not take it for an end of year drive (more accurately) the only 2022 drive. Will try again today hopefully I can say that I drove the car once in 2022.
 

[Jack]

Today I really wanted to drive one of the cars at least before the year was over but sadly that did not happen. Fixed some of the damage that the rabbits have done but the car did not want to start. This is a first an entire year without driving a Firebird.

[Jack]

Today my son and I tried to get the 71 to go, after fixing all of the ignition and distributer issues we discovered that the starter cable melted off the post. We are lucky that it was in the high 50s so I replaced the + cable from the battery to the starter and at least the car tried to start. Sadly it did not and we managed to kill the battery (and completely melt down my battery pack). tomorrow is another day and I need to somehow get the car moving and into the garage for the next few months.

[Jack]

Some good news and some not so good. The good news is that I fixed my snowblower (replaced the gear box) and the bad news is that the Firebird did not start.

[76455sd]

Pretty ambitious snowblower fix.  At that level I’d likely just buy another machine (either new or used).  Either way you need a working one.  We won’t be this lucky for the entire winter.

[FormTA]

Where in the world did you find a replacement gearbox?

[nas t eh]

Jack,
I know you know this stuff, just giving encouragement, Compression, fuel and spark are the three things to get that motor running.
1. It ran last time, so likely safe that compression is still good. But some things that could be hurting here. (Timing chain, slow cranking)
2. It’s getting fuel? You checked at the carb, tank has gas, gauge working.
3. Spark, pull a plug wire and check for a good spark to ground while cranking, either with a spark tester or a spark plug attached and grounded.

Good luck

[Jack]

Where in the world did you find a replacement gearbox?

eBay is good for one thing only and that is to find odd stuff. By the way I've only replaced the worm gear.

Piece of advice for those that have to deal with snow and snow blowers, remember to grease the gearbox.

[Jack]

Jack,
I know you know this stuff, just giving encouragement, Compression, fuel and spark are the three things to get that motor running.
1. It ran last time, so likely safe that compression is still good. But some things that could be hurting here. (Timing chain, slow cranking)
2. It’s getting fuel? You checked at the carb, tank has gas, gauge working.
3. Spark, pull a plug wire and check for a good spark to ground while cranking, either with a spark tester or a spark plug attached and grounded.

Good luck

Thanks for the encouragement. I have all three but still having trouble getting it going. I pulled a spark plug and the spark was very weak (but I always thought that was normal). The spark plugs also looked okay but I'll be changing those next.

[Jack]

I started this under mech but should move to elec.

http://www.transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=84622.0

[scarebird]

...need to slow down when driving in the city.

[Jack]

You really should... the take off is fun but the landing not so much.

[roadking77]

When people are walking across the street in front of you, just jump over!

[roadking77]

Started the dishwasher yesterday and a flood came about downstairs  After work today decided to dig into things and see what the heck was going on. It appeared that mice ate through the drain hose Crazy thing was how bad it was and this was the first time it leaked. Our dw runs almost everyday. I cant imagine they did that much damage overnight.
2023-01-09_04-53-54 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[Jack]

That's a mystery... are you sure it's a mouse? could be a bigger animal. I saw some mice activity in my basement so set some traps but the trap was gone within few days so now I'm looking for a mouse with a trap attached to it  

[roadking77]

Unfortunately we get mice in the house. They come in spurts, I suppose a couple get in then next thing there is a family. Once they are eradicated we are good for awhile. I found a couple of holes in the floor where I hope they were coming up. I was told they wont chew through steel wool so I packed it in tightly. I dont know if they smelled food particles in the line or what? My son brought up the idea of how rodents chew through car wiring because of the material, I wonder if this drain pipe may be the same situation?
The other problem was, its a bosch dw, higher end model. I would highly recommend against one of these! We bought it during the pandemic when ours went kaput. It was one of the only ones available without a 6 month wait. It runs so quiet you cannot hear it, but it does not clean the dishes perfectly. The other downside is that the drain hose is hooked directly to the machine, inside a closed cabinet. There is no way to unhook both ends and replace like on all other dw's I have worked with. We had to rig up a fitting to join the new hose to the existing one.

[ryeguy2006a]

Wow, that's crazy Kerry! That definitely doesn't look like an overnight thing.