The Daily Chat Thread (11 Viewers)

[green40]

Toyota Trails arrived today, The Tech Exchange has a new editor, did we know Mark Whatley was quitting?

Like losing a good neighbor : (

 

[Sporin]

Stopped on the way home and picked up new spark plugs, wires and another gallon of gear oil. Spent about a half hour clearing off my workbench in the garage. My f-i-l comes over tomorrow morning to help me tune up the V8 and replace a few vacuum hose. Also going to drain and refill the diffs again.

Soaked the fuel tank bolts again and gave them a tap. Found out they are 10mm x 25mm with captive locknuts from Cdan and will try to get 4 new ones over the weekend in case they break coming out. Best to be prepared.

 

[Sporin]

Tuneup mostly done, new plugs and wires (old wired were in bad shape) got the tstat housing off and discovered why it was leaking, the chrome on the cheap piece of crap was flaking son a not to seal right. Of course the tiny Carquest in down didn't have one so I'll pick one up later today and get it in. Proper gasket and sealant ready as well.

My f-i-l also helped me sort out the carb. Lots of bad vacuum plugs and no hose for the secondary advance, need to get that later, too. Also a new PCV hose as that was chewed up a bit. We routed all the new hoses and wires where they belong so nothing is rubbing anymore.

It never ran poorly but this should be even better.

 

[fogblanket]

nice Dave
it might change your mind about the pig when next you fire her up and she purrs.

i successfully diagnoised and fixed an electrical issue I was having. seems I am/was getting water into my passenger side kick panel and shorting out the relays that are in there. maybe now I will try and finish the wiring on the lv
Jason

 

[Sporin]

It's always run great, I suspect now it will run more efficiently and cleaner.

It took me a few stores but I got the new housing. Going to bolt it up tonight and probably let it set overnight, refilling the cooling system in the morning. Also going to do the diffs and maybe the trans tomorrow as well.

I have GOT to figure out what this V8 started life out of because auto places are nearly useless if you can't tell them year/make/model.

 

[green40]

Shouldn't you be able to figure it out from the serial # on the block?

 

[Sporin]

haven't found them yet, haven't looked real hard either.

 

[40Flipper]

They are useless because people that work in auto parts stores don't actually know anything about cars anymore. They only know what's in the computer. Cars are so sophisticated these days that they might as well be selling widgets.

Recently I called a Toyota dealer to order new old stock rims with clips for the 45 and the guy wouldn't help me until I gave him the VIN number. I said all I needed were rims for a 1983 FJ45 or 40. He said he couldn't help me unless I had the VIN.

I don't know jack about trucks but I bet I know just as much as the average employee at most auto parts stores.

Rant over.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

They are useless because people that work in auto parts stores don't actually know anything about cars anymore.

That's been my experience. Their payroll expenses are lower as a result.

I was in VIP Auto today asking for prices on tires. I provided the counter guy a specific size and brand. He asked for the make and model of the vehicle. I told him I just wanted the tires. He wouldn't give me a price without the make and model. I thought it was odd. I told him "nevermind".

A friend that was with me said that he thinks there might be a law on the books that prevents retailers from selling oversized tires in Maine. Maybe there is but the employee didn't mention that.

 

[Sporin]

Since the engine was custom built by a race shop in Rhode Island (I have the PO's near-$4k bill) I suspect the block info would be pretty useless, it's all hotrod pieces attached to it anyway.

What was weird was I went to Advance Auto and the guy brought up a bunch of pictures via computer for various carb'ed 350's from the 80's and none looked right. He said he couldn't help. Didn't bother to even go out back and open a few boxes.

I go over to Auto Zone and ask the guy if he can help, he walks me over to a display with a few different style right out in the open, they have the right one, and I buy it.

 

[40Flipper]

I have to say AutoZone people tend to be the friendliest and they always have way more stuff instock. Not sure Duralast is the best brand but McDonalds isn't exactly the best hamburger but I keep going back there too.

I called NAPA just yesterday to get a rattle can for cygnus white and I was hung up on twice. Then, the paint guy seemed like I was bothering him. Fun.

 

[green40]

Dave, I don't know if they have a Sanel auto parts store in Claremont or maybe Lebanon but those are the guys I use. They are always looking up stuff for me and have been very helpful. Granted they are on my route and know me by name : )

Lane

 

[Sporin]

we have Sanel's in West Leb but they have short hours, no Sunday's, closed by 5 on weekdays and noon on Saturday. As soon as my wife gets up I'll go out and finish up the truck and take it for a spin.

I wouldn't mind getting a set of bucket seats into this thing before FG either.

 

[green40]

Did you get down to Gary's for the other problem?

 

[Sporin]

grrrrrrr so I replaced one cheap piece of crap with another. Got the new housing on and everything refilled an buttoned up. Started great, ran sweeeeeetly but once things warmed up I noticed a trickle of coolant at the top of the housing, seems it's a bad casting, coolant is bubbling out of an invisible crack where the ball meets the neck of the piece. So now I have to let it cool, drain it, pull it all apart again, and put on another one.

My f-i-l suggested I clean up the only one and use that again now that I have the correct gaskets and such. Probably give that a try. What a pain.

Did you get down to Gary's for the other problem?

Not yet, waiting for a good time for him, I'm not in a big hurry, I can still use the truck, just can't fill up more then half a tank. Gary is a Saint btw.

 

[Sporin]

and it's done! My f-i-l popped over and we rehabed the old part (sanded the flaking chrome of) put the o-ring from the crap new part into the older one and sealed everything up. Runs great, no leaks, everything working as it should.

Now I'm off to take my son to his second birthday party of the weekend, followed by a Parent's BBQ with his school's PTA. Once I finally get home I'll put some gas in it and take it for a spin.

 

[green40]

Nice!

 

[40Flipper]

My kid has hives and is on the way home. get the feeling I'm babysitting all day tomorrow.....

 

[green40]

A little extra Benedryl and it sounds like shop time! (not that I condone over medicating your kids, but hell
our parents did it and most of us are ok)

 

[green40]

Had a good day off. Filled my CO2 tank, and looked at the Millermatic 180 while I was there, $789 without tank. Picked up a timing light and checked the Cruiser (it was off). Went to a local kids shop (Josh) and had him weld up a cracked spring perch for me. Nice shop, he had a few rigs in there that he's working on and it looks like he does good work.
Walked all the new trails in Swanzey and I'm pretty pumped about getting people on them at the FG.



good day!