Man it started chewing into that pretty good, didnt it?
What are you working on today?
- Thread starter Amkeer
- Start date
Yes it did. Explained the fine metallic debris in the fluid.
Further progress on the L84.... Used ARP bolts for the exhaust manifolds like always. Cleaning all the RTV off the pan & timing cover is very time consuming!!!
I’m sure you’ve used it, but the motor craft silicone remover and metal prep wipes work great!Further progress on the L84.... Used ARP bolts for the exhaust manifolds like always. Cleaning all the RTV off the pan & timing cover is very time consuming!!!
Changed the oil on my neighbor's '99 Escalade 5.7
He often takes it to a Big O and they cross-threaded [or whatever anti-magic LOF techs do] the drain plug.
For the filter I installed an Omnicraft 51036-equivalent. I had got it cheap awhile back. @bdcardinal might see the occasional Omnicraft packaging as I think they're affiliated with Ford?
He often takes it to a Big O and they cross-threaded [or whatever anti-magic LOF techs do] the drain plug.
For the filter I installed an Omnicraft 51036-equivalent. I had got it cheap awhile back. @bdcardinal might see the occasional Omnicraft packaging as I think they're affiliated with Ford?
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2021
- Messages
- 2,210
Tuesday and Wednesday I was out of commission...I'll spare the details
Thursday
2014 Nissan Versa
Replaced battery, battery terminals, rotated tires, changed oil
2013 GMC Yukon Denali 6.2 rollover
Pulled engine
Friday
2007 Lincoln Town Car
Replaced thermostat, rotated tires, inspected brakes, changed oil
2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4.8 Vortec
Replaced water pump, thermostat, radiator hoses, heater hoses and connectors
Thursday
2014 Nissan Versa
Replaced battery, battery terminals, rotated tires, changed oil
2013 GMC Yukon Denali 6.2 rollover
Pulled engine
Friday
2007 Lincoln Town Car
Replaced thermostat, rotated tires, inspected brakes, changed oil
2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4.8 Vortec
Replaced water pump, thermostat, radiator hoses, heater hoses and connectors
Correct. Omnicraft is their competitive make line of parts. They had a huge selection at one point, then fire saled a bunch of parts and the offerings are a lot less not. That being said, I got hubs for my Silverado for like $10 or $15 each. Even if they suck it was worth the chance.
Friend’s 2015 Camry,
Michelin CC2 tires 215/55 r17. Something made by Kelly came off. The Kelly tires probably made it 40k and were surprisingly good in the rain for being down to the wear bars with no sipes left. Out of balance was also showing. They wore fast but in all honesty impressed me.
Oil change. About 11k on Mobil 1 5-30 (oem spec is 0-20). Old oil came out brown and not black, but it dripped s l o w l y as it came out, and well, maybe 3 quarts came out and it takes 5.
Replaced H11 low beams hoping for an improvement. If I’m being honest, the extra vision or whatever name brand bulb that was installed didnt seem to change much (projector housings?).
Replaced plugs at 150k miles, may have been original. Both electrodes looked decent but the gap was double spec as the tongue was bent outward on all four. The difference was subtle, but it’s got more low-end torque and just feels smoother, silent.
Plugs:
Michelin CC2 tires 215/55 r17. Something made by Kelly came off. The Kelly tires probably made it 40k and were surprisingly good in the rain for being down to the wear bars with no sipes left. Out of balance was also showing. They wore fast but in all honesty impressed me.
Oil change. About 11k on Mobil 1 5-30 (oem spec is 0-20). Old oil came out brown and not black, but it dripped s l o w l y as it came out, and well, maybe 3 quarts came out and it takes 5.
Replaced H11 low beams hoping for an improvement. If I’m being honest, the extra vision or whatever name brand bulb that was installed didnt seem to change much (projector housings?).
Replaced plugs at 150k miles, may have been original. Both electrodes looked decent but the gap was double spec as the tongue was bent outward on all four. The difference was subtle, but it’s got more low-end torque and just feels smoother, silent.
Plugs:
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2009 Trailblazer with broken exhaust support bracket. Weird bracket that sandwiches between trans tail housing and trans mount. When it fails the exhaust knocks on the frame.
Oddly my buddy down the road had a spare and it looks like GM triangulated ("needs more triangulation!") the arm because of this. Truthfully they should have just used steel rather than Al and it wouldn't crack:
Even with the trans xmember 100% removed these fingers run up to the welded part of the frame, preventing you from removing the bracket. I didn't feel like messing with the manifold at the motor so I trimmed them shorter as they're much too long. Despite appearances both still have full engagement in the rubber isolator.
One sway bar link was completely missing and the other looked ready to pop apart from a rusty bolt, so cheap Masterpros went in both sides:
@dogememe
Oddly my buddy down the road had a spare and it looks like GM triangulated ("needs more triangulation!") the arm because of this. Truthfully they should have just used steel rather than Al and it wouldn't crack:
Even with the trans xmember 100% removed these fingers run up to the welded part of the frame, preventing you from removing the bracket. I didn't feel like messing with the manifold at the motor so I trimmed them shorter as they're much too long. Despite appearances both still have full engagement in the rubber isolator.
One sway bar link was completely missing and the other looked ready to pop apart from a rusty bolt, so cheap Masterpros went in both sides:
@dogememe
Front brakes on a 2017 Spark
I ran the part numbers, turns out it still had factory rotors/pads at 8 years and ~80k miles
It got ACDelco service pads and Raybestos coated rotors
Significantly less grindey
One inner pad ground to the metal, the other side bound up in the bracket before that could happen
Surprisingly all the pins and boots were in reusable condition, and the rotor screws both came out
I mean one broke, but that's still a win in my climate
I use Moly heavy brake lube on metal to metal surfaces, and silicone paste w/PTFE on pins
Just out of curiosity, what should one expect to pay for a pad & rotor job these days?
Because I understand people are hurting these days, OTOH my time and skill has value
I ran the part numbers, turns out it still had factory rotors/pads at 8 years and ~80k miles
It got ACDelco service pads and Raybestos coated rotors
Significantly less grindey
One inner pad ground to the metal, the other side bound up in the bracket before that could happen
Surprisingly all the pins and boots were in reusable condition, and the rotor screws both came out
I mean one broke, but that's still a win in my climate
I use Moly heavy brake lube on metal to metal surfaces, and silicone paste w/PTFE on pins
Just out of curiosity, what should one expect to pay for a pad & rotor job these days?
Because I understand people are hurting these days, OTOH my time and skill has value
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Building fence and setting up gates. Well actually set the 6x6’s and hedge post last weekend. 6x6’s are 3ft down with at least 2ft of concrete… going nowhere 
Gates are a bit off but fix that someday. The oldest was mowing while the youngest and I did this. Lots of work to do on the new place.. trying not to overdo it so the children don’t want to help. Tomorrow is more mowing if I can fix the mower and spraying for weeds… the sumac is intense and that stuff is evil compared to ivy!!
Gates are a bit off but fix that someday. The oldest was mowing while the youngest and I did this. Lots of work to do on the new place.. trying not to overdo it so the children don’t want to help. Tomorrow is more mowing if I can fix the mower and spraying for weeds… the sumac is intense and that stuff is evil compared to ivy!!A trip into town with Dad for an ice cream treat is a great motivator.Building fence and setting up gates. Well actually set the 6x6’s and hedge post last weekend. 6x6’s are 3ft down with at least 2ft of concrete… going nowhere
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AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
I wanted to be lazy today but then my friend blew up my phone before I even got up asking if I could help him work on his car today he wanted to do an oil change and the sand rust and paint over it and wanted to learn how to do those things so I helped him with that. Then took parents to my dealership shop and aligned their car for them. Only needed toe adjustment on the left side front. It’s 8 years old and never had an alignment so not bad. We as technicians are allowed to use the shop anytime we are off the clock except on Sunday because then sales isn’t open and they want others there with you just in case something happens. Totally understandable though and it’s great we can use the shop and all shop equipment on our own time if needed. Sales used to be open on Sunday so we were allowed to be there then but now they are closed on Sunday so no use Sunday which is fine.
My buddy asked my oil recommendation I said any brand is fine but I always buy Castrol or Valvoline unless something else is on sale. He went to AutoZone and got Valvoline and a STP filter. I told him go to Walmart it’s right next door and cheaper he said he doesn’t go to Walmart and only shops online unless it’s for car stuff so I’m like whatever. He just bought this car and it’s extremely rusty. Applied lots of anti seize to all the bolts.
My buddy asked my oil recommendation I said any brand is fine but I always buy Castrol or Valvoline unless something else is on sale. He went to AutoZone and got Valvoline and a STP filter. I told him go to Walmart it’s right next door and cheaper he said he doesn’t go to Walmart and only shops online unless it’s for car stuff so I’m like whatever. He just bought this car and it’s extremely rusty. Applied lots of anti seize to all the bolts.
Toolbox mount for the dump truck today. My work is taking me farther from home most days with a new customer and it’s all site work. I want my spare fluids, triangles, tools, etc out of the cab to allow for a cooler. Didn’t care for many of the off the shelf underbody boxes as most aren’t built well and the ones that are cost a lot. Bought a small job box from northern tool and put this bracket together. It’s 100% built from scrap and other drops I had laying around. Painted it just before dark and will post a finished pic when it’s back on the truck tomorrow. I was able to pick up factory holes in the frame, that’s why it’s not centered in the opening from pusher axle to battery box. I didn’t want to put any new holes in the frame. In time I plan to relocate the air dryer on the front side of this mount between it and the exhaust. It’s tucked up inside the frame and extremely hard to work on with the dump cylinder subframe above it.
It isn't one of the new 2.4T's was it? If so good luck waiting on all the parts to assemble it! Kinda sucks Toyota doesn't do long blocks and you gotta assemble the engine yourself.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
It was a 2023 so right before that style and engine came out luckily.
Ehh, I think I'd rather assemble a 4 cylinder over the V6 personally. But, everyone hates the new 4 pot turbo...
I know of someone with a 4th gen where I want to say the oil filter came off, dumped all its oil, and blew up. Took months for all the parts to show up and the dealer managed to screw up the assembly. That truck was lemon lawed.
Finished up the toolbox install today and moved a bunch of stuff out of the cab. Still have some items to add and will probably reorganize but this project is basically done.
