Today I... "Redux Edition"

[roadking77]

Is there a subscription fee with those?  I like it. My wife put one in one of our rooms in the house to of all things keep an eye on the pets during the day. I think it cost something like $30 or so and I was amazed at how well it works. Only problem is if I step in during the day for something which happens often, she will send me a text "what are you doing home?", LOL.  I have a wired system in my garages that backs up to a hard drive but no real time monitering. I want to get a couple of these in the near future.

[Jack]

Not unless you want to save to the cloud. Mine records on mention for a short time and sends me notification. You can set the parameters any which way you want.

[FormTA]

Yup, what he said.

[Casey]

Tested a NC1 GT softop!  Not sure if it had the suspension package or not(no keyless start or HID) and the owner said the shocks needed replacement, but it rode better and was more isolated on familiar roads than my car with Fat Cat coil-overs and 195/55-15 at 26 psi.  Steering seemed a bit tighter and heavier, and the handling was better than expected.  Also felt like I sat higher up, yet with a higher belt line.  Definitely torquier, throttle pedal felt better than expected being DBW.  Trunk is a bit bigger, so that's nice.  Seats were comfy but not quiet as supportive, maybe cloth NC2 will be better.  I think the funniest part is how much heavier the doors felt on the NC, must be the cupholders.  Ha.

Ended up talking a lot afterwards and taking pics to commemorate the occasion:



I think I'd definitely like a NC2 power retractable hard top.

[RamblerRacer]

am starting a new job at a local paper mfg.
Engineering with a host of projects ahead.
JT

[roadking77]

Good Luck with your next venture JT,

Casey, from the outside they both look alike, but I do see some differences upon closer inspection. Both look like nice cars except one in dire need of a bath

[Casey]

Casey, from the outside they both look alike, but I do see some differences upon closer inspection. Both look like nice cars except one in dire need of a bath

They both have that "Miata look", that's for sure.  In my defense it's because the city came in and ruined the already bad road, and still can't get it right.  It's terrible.  Even after washing it, just going up and down the road once at 20 mph makes the car filthy again.

[b_hill_86]

Casey, from the outside they both look alike, but I do see some differences upon closer inspection. Both look like nice cars except one in dire need of a bath

They both have that "Miata look", that's for sure.  In my defense it's because the city came in and ruined the already bad road, and still can't get it right.  It's terrible.  Even after washing it, just going up and down the road once at 20 mph makes the car filthy again.

That would drive me nuts. It happened where I leave a few years ago. On a street leading to and from mine, they did some sewer work periodically but left the road destroyed in between. Then, the road was replaced the following year I believe. All necessary to keep us trucking along, I know, but really sucked with my 77 being black.

[Casey]

I've decided just to stop caring, not like the car doesn't need a full detail anyway.

[roadking77]

I was just bust'n your chops, didnt mean anything by it. I live on a small cul-de-sac and about 10 years ago the county had a bright idea to start using chip and tar again! My street was one of the first in the county to have it done. Only they call it 'slurry paving' now. It was quite a mess for a little while and eventually all wore off and were now back to the original black top.

[Casey]

I know, it's ok!  Until the road stops being garbage I figure there's no point in killing myself trying to keep it clean.

[RamblerRacer]

Got home late from racing (1:30 am)
Praised the Lord this morning.
Ate half of my daughters left over French Dip sammich from dinner out on Friday to celebrate my new job.
Hung outside with the dog a bit
Sanded on the TA a bit.
Had a couple beers with my cousin.
Ate crepes for Supper.

Posted on the TA site a bit.
Decided it was time for bed.

Good night all.

JT

[roadking77]

All in all sounds like a pretty good day!

[Casey]

Was feeling particularly cute today, so new profile pic! 

[FormTA]

Brought home my new trailer. 24x8.5 car hauler. It is just about a year old but the guy couldn't afford the payments and offered it to me for the payoff $5500. I couldn't pass it up. It will be my new snowmobile trailer as I placed an order for two new Ski-doo Renegades, the kids can now ride so they get our old sleds and I need to haul 4 so this will work (just overkill).



The barn is 30x65 but the trailer still looks huge. And won't fit either 

[b_hill_86]

Wow that thing is awesome! I don’t even have a legitimate use for one but I want one lol. When my wife and I moved out of a rental several years ago my landlord at the time (great guy) let me borrow his car hauler to move. That thing was huge but it was wonderful to be able to use. Makes my old truck look small.

Also, time fit a bigger barn I guess 

[roadking77]

That was a nice score Luke. I have a 16' double axle I bought for my motorcycles but use for work now.  I would love to have one like that, then I could take my car to the nationals!

[FormTA]

Just drive it Kerry!

I say that but I won't drive my car to work because the grass hasn't come in yet (new building) and I don't want my car to get dusty...

[ryeguy2006a]

Nice pic Casey.

Great score on that trailer Luke! Snowmobiles are fun, but I'd like to see some more work done on the 67 Camaro.

Today I mixed up some weed killer that isn't poison. I've never really liked the roundup weed killer but always thought you needed something like that. I was wrong and my parents actually showed me that some higher concentrates of vinegar work really well on weeds. I bought some 45% vinegar on Amazon, and cut it 1:1 with water, salt and dish soap. It works amazingly well!! Within a few hours the weeds turn brown. With young kids and pets, I feel much safer using vinegar than a poison. It will burn your skin though, so be careful if you use it.

[FormTA]

Now that's interesting.  I go through a gallon of concentrate a year, which I know is bad.... may have to try that vinegar mix.

[Casey]

Luke, I bet you could fit two Miatas in that trailer! 

Thanks Ryan! 

Also, I hear a high alkaline solution will kill weeds without killing grass.

[roadking77]

Im with you Ryan, I have small dogs although they stay inside I dont like poison stuff anywhere. My wifes boss buys vinegar by the gallons at costco or something like that and sprays it directly on the weeds around their house. They say it works wonders but can be a bit stinky. I have been tempted, I am still old school and pull them out.

Luke, driving the car would be great, but not sure I can afford to put that much gas in it

[FormTA]

Oh ya, you have a carburetor... Sorry, I'm getting used to LS fuel mileage.

On a side note I actually worked on something for the T/A.
I started wet sanding and filling stone chips in the front wheel flares. I'd like to get them done and on the car this summer.  These are what makes a Trans Am a Trans Am.

[ryeguy2006a]

Hahaha, well Kerry almost bought my motor so that has to say something that he's thinking about an LS powerplant at least. 

[ryeguy2006a]

Today I became an official SCCA member. Signed up for an Auto X event on July 11th, so that should be fun.

[roadking77]

Rainy most of the weekend so I took advantage of some down time and hit the shop. Finally got the rear end pulled, and started to clean up. Cleaned up the inside fender wells too, gonna throw some fresh paint there.

[Casey]

Fun fact, Miatas are terrible cars to try and shove enough amenities for two into and to try to live off of...

As always things fall apart and can't work out...  Have been crashing at cousin's trying to figure things out, but can only stay for another 6 days or so...  She found a job and starts tomorrow, but the pay is bi-weekly and we're having trouble finding a place to live.  I'm just about lost on what to do...

[TATurbo]

Sorry, you're having a tough time Casey.
 What part of the country are you in?
 

[Casey]

Sorry, you're having a tough time Casey.
 What part of the country are you in?

We're still in Alabama, now in Huntsville.  We managed to find an airBnB for a bit over two weeks while we try to get an apartment, but that took what funds we'd managed to put together..

[TATurbo]

I wish I could send more than positive energy and well wishes your way.  That's what I got, so I'll put it out in the universe for you and your partner there.

[TATurbo]

Today I...
was wondering...Does my new (to me) daily driver qualify as a sleeper?

IMG_5949 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_E5891 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

 

[Jack]

Nice looking car, how does it drive? I've never been in one.

[FormTA]

Nice! That is one that is on my list. That and a 69 charger, 81 Delorean and a 69 fastback Mustang.  Of course all engine swapped to EFI. Someday....

[scarebird]

...hit the ice after 15 months.  The extra 15 pounds and 7,500 foot density altitude did not help.  Shifts were short and I played D so a bit less skating.  Way outta shape.

Today there is a cruise going down.  Albuquerque is trying to squish it - remarkably stupid since we have the 2nd
 biggest lowrider scene nationally.  I will bring the TA if they will have me - who knows? maybe get arrested for this.

[b_hill_86]

Today I.....well, Friday technically, finished up a small project in my engine compartment. I’ve always been self conscious about it. My car is what I’d call a fairly nice driver but I do just that, drive it a lot, so it gets dusty and dirty and all but the top of my core support was one of the areas that just looked bad. It had chips and crud someone sprayed over before I got the car so I decided to finally decided to strip it and repaint it so I did that.

My first attempt didn’t turn out well so I had to strip it and start all over but the final product came out decent I think. Better than it was anyway. . Sorry no “before” pictures. And yes, that’s a 403 shroud and Pontiac motor. It’s on my list lol

[5th T/A]

Brian,

Core support turned out nice. I am one of those who like a clean engine compartment but still want to drive my TA. It seems like my eyes always get drawn to anything that’s not a 100% on my car, so I understand where you’re coming from.

Out of curiosity are you planning on putting on a new emissions decal?

[b_hill_86]

Brian,

Core support turned out nice. I am one of those who like a clean engine compartment but still want to drive my TA. It seems like my eyes always get drawn to anything that’s not a 100% on my car, so I understand where you’re coming from.

Out of curiosity are you planning on putting on a new emissions decal?

Hey thanks. Certainly not perfect but much better than it was. And yea, I’ll probably get another decal. The original one had been painted over by whoever painted the core support last time. Car was an auto and trans wasn’t original when I bought it so I swapped it over to a 4 speed. I bought a 4 speed emissions decal for it that I originally taped off hoping to save. That didn’t work out so I took them both off. Very briefly as I hit them with a wire wheel you could see the original deca under my new one and under the paint before the brush made it’s way through. I almost think had I know that, I could’ve saved it if I had tried. Naturally the brush went through it pretty quick so I didn’t have time to decide when it happened lol.

[roadking77]

Tom, looks like you made it to music city!

[ryeguy2006a]

Nice work on the core support!

Today I, finally upgraded my home internet. I'm in a rural town and have a roughly 1/4 mile driveway. The home never had cable installed even though the house is only 15 years old, the guy that built it did most of the work himself, but didn't want cable so he never had it done. It would have been so easy since he had a huge excavator and all of the electrical is buried...

The first time I contacted Spectrum I was quoted $9k to have it installed, so naturally I said no thank you.  That was about four years ago, and during the pandemic and working from home I thought I would give it another shot. That was back in January, and they said this time it would be $9.8k... But they gave me some good information that they offer a $3k residential credit per customer, and you can partner with a neighbor and combine your credits. So after talking with a neighbor, he was on board too and we also contacted a third neighbor who wasn't interested, but allowed us to route a different path to make the project affordable. After almost 6 months of easements, phone calls, contractors, and etc. it was finally installed!! Good bye DSL at 20 mbps on it's best day and hello 220+ mbps!!

What a difference since my wife and I are both still exclusively working from home. We also got rid of cable at the same time, so we are only going to be streaming now.

Cheers,
Ryan

[roadking77]

Good deal Ryan, I hear of people without cable/internet access and find it hard to believe in this day and age, in this country to not have a decent settup. But I guess it happens!  We are pretty lucky, rural as well but funny enough our town has its own phone/cable company. It has been this way for a hundred years now. Everyone around us thinks its a joke but they have great service. Heck, up to a couple of years ago I knew most of the employees and if there was a problem and you saw one of them on the street they would oblige. They dont charge anything for hookups, or even home equipment. Never a service call fee. If you have a problem they come out and fix it, no charge. I recently ran electric to my barn, my cable box had to be moved. When the guy was here I told him what I was doing. He asked if I wanted 'net and cable in the barn. I said why not, he pulled off about 250' of wire for each and handed it to me. NO charge.