What are you working on today?

Bob in Utah said:
In those 148K miles

Have changed the oil 42 times 🤓

Has the 6.0L…has right at 3300 hours

Chipped it years ago

Revs out at 111…. they say

Biggest maintenance has been replacing front wheel bearing assemblies at 142K

Used Timkin..
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She is doing well! You are truly taking good care of her, and it shows. My old girl is at 110,000 and it is time for another transmission service. I just replaced the exhaust system, and are now getting ready to replace some sensors up front as they have a fair number of miles on them (Oxygen, TPS, MAP) I have replaced a number of hub assemblies, and have always used Timkin.
 
panthermike said:
2003 Matrix:

Final repair phase to be ready for cross-country trip.

- Front struts
- Front rotors and pads
- Sway bar end links
- Belt tensioner
- ATF drain/fill with the final two quarts of the 12 quarts I had purchased

229,420 miles. Happy to say that it's running smoothly, no rattles or vibrations and doesn't sound like it's going to fall apart when you go over bumps 😁

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I would also replace the front lower control arms and perform an alignment.
 
Worked on the 2004 Escape. Changed the passenger side rear brake hose. One flare nut needed a little Propane flame for coaxing but was in and out in minutes.

Oil changed and going to work on the front brake hoses. We might sell the thing so I am likely going to skip the leaking seal.

A majority of the customers out here, who buy old used vehicles are not in the business of keeping them long. They either get trashed, stolen or impounded.
 
No pictures but I found the cause of an erratic high idle on the Escape. The rubber elbow for the PCV crossover on the front valve cover, it was broken. The prices for the assembly are not much more than just the elbow. No thanks. White trashed it with some rtv and Bob is your uncle.

The other day I noticed a check engine light, which turned out to be a P0136. It self cleared so we will monitor. If we end up keeping this thing, I will do the front sensors for both banks.
 
'98 Ranger: both power windows inop. First I checked the Accy Delay Relay clipped under the glove box, but it was receiving power and sending it out to the pw switch. I have a donor out back so I swapped the driver/master switch and windows were restored.

Someone had been in here before and apparently lost the plasti-screws that held the harness connector to the switch, substituting cabinet or sheetmetal screws:
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Even though it was working, someone had done a number on the pdl switch connector. A wire was pulling out, the retainer tabs were sprung and they had glued it back together:
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I was able to grab the connector from the donor. Even though wiring colors had changed from '98 to '07, the layout was identical:
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cptbarkey said:
Tested the extended dump bed, it did exactly as I hoped, except the left rear tire started losing air quickly. I knew it had a slow leak, but 1700ish lbs of gravel the tire didn’t like. The hydraulics laughed and begged for more weight, which means I might make some raised bedsides. I know I was far past the “book” capacity.

Installed a toolbox on the front pushbar, tossed in wasp spray, a socket set, some hand tools. swapped the left rear tire from the parts machine.

Sometime last year I bought quite a bit of used tin. The ranch has a tall second carport that hasn’t gotten much use, so I am now converting it into a semi outdoor welding/workshop, the ends will be open but the walls are now enclosed. Lots of opportunities I need to think about, such as a gantry, outdoor lighting and a large fan.

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First major project in the outdoor workshop, been busy cutting a tractor bucket into swiss cheese, switching between a plasma cutter and metal circular saws. This is the next iteration to decimate the cactus that is all over the ranch. A bit more cutting to do on the backside, then welding it back up with some new flat bar for bracing and reusing the cut off pieces for vertical tines. The bucket as is does pretty good swallowing the cactus, but the spaces will help exclude dirt and rocks, which there are lots intermixed.

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Trying to figure out the cheapest/easy SSL certificate options for my wife's little promotional web site on this oddball "HIPPA Compliant" email slash web hosting service she uses. Their documentation leaves a little to be desired. I don't feel like paying $400 a year for a DigiCert certificate like I have used in the past.
 
I noticed vendors are dumping 7/8" round stock in many plastics...skipping up to 1"

Yes I found some but my favorite vendors dumped it in many acetals and nylons... and the prices stink...
 
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Zee09 said:
I noticed vendors are dumping 7/8" round stock in many plastics...skipping up to 1"

Yes I found some but my favorite vendors dumped it in many acetals and nylons... and the prices stink...
Click to expand...
Can you order as 22mm?? I mean, it's all made in metric ring-of-fire countries anyway.....
 
Agreed and I did look but the good price and service companies didn't offer it... I got a deal on it once and it was a perfect for my application..

The 1 inches messes up the in my mind hand -wheel memory which I don't want to relearn and I don't like the waste
 
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Got out in the garage and installed the final suspension piece on my Copart Volvo so I could finally take it for a proper drive. It still needs an alignment, but it drives out extremely well and tracks straight down the road without pulling.

The engine sounds extremely healthy, with what feels like a very strong turbo whistling softly along with that sweet 5-cylinder hum from the exhaust. The clutch feels a bit touchy to me, but it's been a long time since I've driven a manual Volvo (or any manual, for that matter) so it was likely more operator error than a fault of the clutch system itself. The brake pedal grabs a bit low for my taste, but I suspect the caliper slides are all sticky considering how long the car sat.

Now that I know the running gear is in good shape, I can focus on sourcing the few body panels I need come spring time.
 
sort of a busy day running around town. Went to Sam's for a few items, then Menards for new cold air return vents, then to O'Reilly Auto Parts for some Valvoline Synchromesh for my TKX.

These vents look much better than the old metal ones with the new electrical components. Small upgrades but expensive! These vents were over $31 each. I guess I won't complain about the bosses ask too loud, she has let me spend way more money on my Cobra!

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The daughter of my (extremely poverty stricken) buddy rolled her '97 Legacy last night at 2a.

All authorities responded, she had a broken sternum and a broken bone in her back. The cops contacted the landowner who said it could stay for a day. Thus, I get the call. I shoulda said no, but I'm too nice.

The start:
20260314_144446.webp


I let my buddy run the show as much as possible because I don't want it to be my circus. He wanted to try to right it like this, so I figured why not. It's kinda like reverse cow-tipping.....with Subarus. The view through the windshield of my '07 F150 backing in 4lo:
20260314_144806.webp


The land owner later brought his backhoe down to sink some fresh fence posts. My buddy couldn't hardly sit in the driver seat because of the crushed roof, and the landowner was kind enough to perform some quick body work. Beginning:
20260314_155906.webp

Much better:
20260314_155914.webp


My buddy wanted to strap it home, so ok. The view in my rear view as safety glass occasionally pelts him, and note the sun visor coming out of the windshield area:
20260314_162102.webp


The engine appears locked up. Pretty sure the daughter left it running the entire time.
 
D60 said:
The daughter of my (extremely poverty stricken) buddy rolled her '97 Legacy last night at 2a.

All authorities responded, she had a broken sternum and a broken bone in her back. The cops contacted the landowner who said it could stay for a day. Thus, I get the call. I shoulda said no, but I'm too nice.

The start:View attachment 328328

I let my buddy run the show as much as possible because I don't want it to be my circus. He wanted to try to right it like this, so I figured why not. It's kinda like reverse cow-tipping.....with Subarus. The view through the windshield of my '07 F150 backing in 4lo:View attachment 328329

The land owner later brought his backhoe down to sink some fresh fence posts. My buddy couldn't hardly sit in the driver seat because of the crushed roof, and the landowner was kind enough to perform some quick body work. Beginning:
View attachment 328330
Much better:View attachment 328331

My buddy wanted to strap it home, so ok. The view in my rear view as safety glass occasionally pelts him, and note the sun visor coming out of the windshield area:View attachment 328332

The engine appears locked up. Pretty sure the daughter left it running the entire time.
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Fun and games. Were intoxicants possibly involved? I hope she fully recovers, regardless.
 
I had a 97. It was rated as one of the safest vehicles on the road that year, along with a Mercedes, a Volvo, and the newer Chevy lumina. I hope your buddy’s daughter is ok.
 
Coolant change on my 2008 Ranger 2.3L, using Zerex G05

Touching up Fluid Film on the frame near wheel wells
 
zhaarnak02 said:
She is doing well! You are truly taking good care of her, and it shows. My old girl is at 110,000 and it is time for another transmission service. I just replaced the exhaust system, and are now getting ready to replace some sensors up front as they have a fair number of miles on them (Oxygen, TPS, MAP) I have replaced a number of hub assemblies, and have always used Timkin.
Click to expand...

When I ordered it in May ‘02

The Duramax/Allison option was $7K…I passed

Opted for the 6.0L Vortec instead
 
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