What are you working on today?

[meep]

It’s railing painting day! Found a new quart, unopened, of black rustoleum in the garage. should be 60f and sunny.

 

[wings&wheels]

The local O'Riellys is staffed by a couple part time old school muscle car types who tolerate my wandering in to buy things for the Euro fleet They are great guys and one has a great old Suburban survivor, massive old beast.

Been looking for an NLA crankcase vent snout(?) for the old BMW; minimizes oiling the filter by directing the blow by down the carb's primary neck. We spent a fair amount of time going through every PCV bit they had to finally find one that fit exactly! It's the little things...

The PO had installed a Weber, but hadn't trimmed and lowered the OE filter housing, so someone just pushed in the top of the lid(!) so it didn't foul the hood. I properly trimmed and sealed the housing, the black spray is an oil and fuel resistant coating I had lying around. Next step is smoothing the hack job someone did on the carb neck extension...oddly, the rest of the car remained fantastically original.

 

[Pablo]

Another fire. I cleaned up lallalalalapooza 2023 windstorm woodpile knockover. Burned some, restacked the rest

 

[D60]

OME lift and MBRP catback on a '19 Ranger. The lighting and snow likely make apples to apples difficult.

The day before Thanksgiving:

The day after Thanksgiving:

 

[Tomioka]

Dorman PoS strikes again. Had my coworker drive me to his place to check out a massive coolant leak on the 08 F-150 I did an intake manifold replacement several months ago. As expected the 5/8" coolant plug on the back of the manifold cracked.

Bad implementation to make one manifold to fit various 4.6L configs. Had to fix it with a another plug which I know won't last 3 months. Got a silicone plug on order for a permanent fix.

 

[michaelluscher]

Accompanied Grandma with the periodic changing of the lease
Swapped this POS 2020 XT4 for a 2023 CT5 Luxury AWD
Flexed the GM Supplier discount, ooh they didn't really like that, but an extra $3k off is nothing to sneeze at
It was fun to go back and forth with the salesman, he remembers keeping me entertained as a kid
Some of the cars have been better than others, this XT4 was awful and I'm glad to see it go
She had

• 2004 DeVille (shag top/spokes and Vogues)
• 2008 DTS (landau top/spokes and Vogues)
• 2012 SRX Performance (learned to drive in it)
• 2015 XT5 Luxury (kinda ehh)
• 2017 CTS Performance (Pirelli RFT/8AT ruined the whole car)
• 2020 XT4 (should've lemon lawed it, more features broken than working)

Hopefully this CT5 with Michelin SilentSeal tires and the 10AT rides and shifts better
I declined the $1200 wheel & tire warranty, hopefully I can self insure @ $300 a corner
Staten Island potholes are vicious

And yes, I did work on it
I ran to the printer no less than a dozen times, and I screwed the plates on

 

[Creekside]

Went to a farm consignment auction yesterday and left with an Allis Chalmers square baler and also bought a couple of used 18ft gates. Had to go back for the gates and ended up buying a 48’ air ride flatbed too. I really need to stay away from auctions.

 

[Sam_Julier]

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 turbo

The radiator neck broke in my hand in the driveway.

Installing a new radiator, hoses, clamps, clips, rubber cushion, coolant, thermostat, etc.

I also noticed a weep at the base of the coolant sensor housing. Removed it for cleaning, new gasket and some hard vacuum lines.

I’m hoping the gasket is still available. If not I’ll be seeking advice for the product to create a seal.

 

[ls1mike]

I didn't take pictures because I didn't want a Toyota hanging around on the property for too long...

Brakes on a 2004 Camary. Everything all the way around. The guy I did it for hung out and had beers. I will tell you he got his money out of the last set. Belt, couple of hoses and a coolant flush. Thing just hit 180,000 3.3 V-6 I think it is just about for another timing belt. I did the last one this car.

 

[D60]

Dorman PoS strikes again. Had my coworker drive me to his place to check out a massive coolant leak on the 08 F-150 I did an intake manifold replacement several months ago. As expected the 5/8" coolant plug on the back of the manifold cracked.

Bad implementation to make one manifold to fit various 4.6L configs. Had to fix it with a another plug which I know won't last 3 months. Got a silicone plug on order for a permanent fix.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I recently intentionally ordered a Dorman carrier bearing. All the Precision/National etc stuff seems to be junk. Overall the Dorman had far more positive reviews and was clearly of a different design.

Thing is, I don't necessarily expect it to last any longer -- I just figured it can't hardly last any less than any other aftermarket, so it was worth the gamble.

But yeah, as a rule friends shouldn't let friends buy Dorman. Although with those Triton intakes options are limited these days

 

[dumkid]

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 turbo

The radiator neck broke in my hand in the driveway.

Installing a new radiator, hoses, clamps, clips, rubber cushion, coolant, thermostat, etc.

I also noticed a weep at the base of the coolant sensor housing. Removed it for cleaning, new gasket and some hard vacuum lines.

I’m hoping the gasket is still available. If not I’ll be seeking advice for the product to create a seal.

I've used gasket maker instead of proper gaskets in a pinch (new gasket only comes with the $200 coolant housing) and it's holding up alright

 

[ls1mike]

Unexpected one today. Caprice water pump seals. I will do the pump too. 35 minutes to remove it. I'm at 90,000 but had the pump off to do the cam. The seals suck. It might be because of the attention I gave the Toyota yesterday...

 

[meep]

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 turbo

The radiator neck broke in my hand in the driveway.

Installing a new radiator, hoses, clamps, clips, rubber cushion, coolant, thermostat, etc.

I also noticed a weep at the base of the coolant sensor housing. Removed it for cleaning, new gasket and some hard vacuum lines.

I’m hoping the gasket is still available. If not I’ll be seeking advice for the product to create a seal.

Two methods:

1. Simply buy the flat gasket stock in a rectangle and cut it out with a sharp utility blade

2. Clean it really well and the follow the instructions for RTV. You could even *actually* follow them, to include tightening sequence and cure time.

you’ll be ok with either - try the one that sounds best for you.

m!

 

[Sam_Julier]

Two methods:

1. Simply buy the flat gasket stock in a rectangle and cut it out with a sharp utility blade

2. Clean it really well and the follow the instructions for RTV. You could even *actually* follow them, to include tightening sequence and cure time.

you’ll be ok with either - try the one that sounds best for you.

m!

I had no idea flat gasket stock was available. Thank you!

 

[michaelluscher]

TPMS activities

Please stay out TPMS light

 

[Pablo]

Too cold outside so more outlets replaced

 

[michaelluscher]

Neighbor was struggling with this '04 Highlander
He thought it needed a new battery, that didn't help
I shined up both terminals, starts first try

Then I got in my Camry
I might cry
I guess a good excuse to use the new Autel scanner

Oh that's not gonna be a fun job

 

[BrianF]

Tossed in the new front cv shaft on the Wolverine x2. Took an hour all in.

 

[D60]

View attachment 190507View attachment 190508View attachment 190509Too cold outside so more outlets replaced

You might be a gearhead if: you perform household wiring tasks using Wiha and Knipex. Nicely done sir!!

 

[Pablo]

You might be a gearhead if: you perform household wiring tasks using Wiha and Knipex. Nicely done sir!!

Good tools no matter the task make much more pleasurable work.

I still steam a bit about the original outlets = extreme junk.