What are you working on today?

Spent two and half hours with two neighbors replacing a set of five steps and risers on the community pier. They were damaged during a winter ice event on the Albemarle Sound in NC. It was as humid this morning as I can remember, and I was ready for two 20 ounce Body Armor drinks when finished. Our lowest bid was $1,500. We did it for $200 in materials and our own free labor.
Where on the sound?
 
One side down
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Getting ready to install a CV Fab Titan v2 intercooler, TurboSmart Vee Em blow off valve, AMS turbo intake tubes, and a new E50 tune from 5 Star Tuning. According to 5 Star, this setup should be darn close to 600whp, so it should be a freakin blast! May try to hit the track this week for the first time in the F150…
 
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2014 Jetta had a failing electric fan with an integrated control module. The larger fan would work sporadically....often shutting off while at idle/stopped in traffic. This would cause the A/C to run hot, as the smaller fan couldn't pull enough air across the condenser. Swapped the entire loaded assembly for a new Nissens unit purchased from FCP Euro.

This was the second failure of cooling fans on this car. The factory original unit encountered a failed bearing on the large fan. The failure this time was from a no-name unit purchased via Amazon in July 2020, which lasted 45,000mi.

While the car was on ramps, it also got an oil change. QSUD Euro 5W40 drained, Wix filter removed. Castrol Edge 5W40 filled the sump and a Hengst filter slapped on.

Next up for this particular ride is a brake fluid exchange and a new headliner.
 
I work from home, so at lunch I tore down the blown 1ZZ-FE. I need to transfer over an assortment of parts to the new engine, but my main priority is to separate the head, maybe the trans, to see some carnage and prepare for a scrap run to the recycler Saturday. Timing chain was still intact, but hoo boy the water pump blockage was thick and mushy.


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Went looking for a broom handle with 3/4 Acme thread.

Went to Ace Hardware; all they had were mop handles. 👎

Went down the street to Harbor Freight; just handles attached to push brooms. 👎

Drove across town to Raley's grocery store to get Jumbo brand sunflower seeds. The pegs were empty except for David brand. I just finished a bag of David seeds. There were more bugs than seeds in that bag. 👎 ConAgra 👎

Drove back across town to Home Depot, found the broomstick. 👍

Good excuse to drive around in air conditioned comfort. 👍
 
I work from home, so at lunch I tore down the blown 1ZZ-FE. I need to transfer over an assortment of parts to the new engine, but my main priority is to separate the head, maybe the trans, to see some carnage and prepare for a scrap run to the recycler Saturday. Timing chain was still intact, but hoo boy the water pump blockage was thick and mushy.
Wow! Orange sherbet.
 
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Replaced left front wheel hub, left inner/outer tie rod, changed oil replaced air filter

1997 Chevrolet Cheyenne 3500 with a 5.7 Vortec
Replaced distributor assembly, spark plugs, plug wires, air filter, fuel filter and changed oil
 
Finishing up my "stuff that has sat that needs to be done" for the Sportwagen are these Golf R rear jounce bumpers I bought at the local VW dealer last year to try. Part no. 5Q0511357N. The factory ones on my wagon are 5"/127mm and these are 4.5"/114mm. The R ones look to be a higher overall progressive rate and also have this plastic removeable donut in the top (no idea what that is for...GTI doens't have it either).

Remember - these aren't "stops", they are helper springs that so you don't hard bottom out by ramping up the spring rate towards the end of the damper travel. At my ride height I have ~1.5" of shock travel showing on the damper before the jounce is contacted and ~2.7" (calculated) after that that includes the jounce in the travel. Good article from H&R on this:

https://www.hrsprings.com/technical/micro-cellular-jounce-bumper
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Knocked out a quick OCI on the Fusion
In went Kirkland SP 5w30 and a 910S

I'm counting the minutes until the engine explodes because I put a 30 weight when the cap specs a 20 weight 🙄
I stand by my anecdotal experience that 5w30 in a 2.5 I4 Duratec/MZR/2.5 L Series (L5-VE) seems to quiet down the random ticks and taps that seems characteristic of it
I shed a tear for the 0.5 MPG I'm losing to this poor decision making 😲

I didn't have the heart to use any of the Total clearance oil yet 😔
 
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Just been out on my horse checking on the cattle.
Went early, as sometimes predators like to come out early, so i took a couple rifles with me.
Saw nothing bad, herd is fine.
They have spread out over a large area now, which is nice to see. My 6 year old girl came with me on her horse, and had her bb gun. She is a mighty fine rider for 6, super proud of her.
 
Just been out on my horse checking on the cattle.
Went early, as sometimes predators like to come out early, so i took a couple rifles with me.
Saw nothing bad, herd is fine.
They have spread out over a large area now, which is nice to see. My 6 year old girl came with me on her horse, and had her bb gun. She is a mighty fine rider for 6, super proud of her.
Was it a daisy rough rider ? Great starter there !
 
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