Back when I visited a dyno once in a while, the first thing I learned was... you never know until you dyno it! But yeah, sometimes mods just feel so good you swear they're worth it!
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Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Bob Heine's Auto Emporium
- Thread starter Bob Heine
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
Back when I visited a dyno once in a while, the first thing I learned was... you never know until you dyno it! But yeah, sometimes mods just feel so good you swear they're worth it!
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Their thinking is probably that you'd want to maintain your manly attributes as much as possible. Most men would not risk hips, ****, n ***** to keep their bone density up.
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
I like looking at the '87 Corvette engine because I think it's one of the best looking engines ever made by GM. The hours I spent polishing parts made me like it even better. Here's a comparison with the engine compartment the way it was when I bought the car in 1991, and the way it looks now.
Bob, I couldn't agree more, the TPI is truly a beautiful intake system. There are days I wish I'd left my Z28 gen 1 SBC powered with the TPI.
Sounds to me like the best decision of your life was to marry her!
@Squankum, I put the bigger throttle body on the stock plenum and there may have been some improvement but it sure wasn't dramatic. Enlarging the plenum openings and port matching the runners and plenum to their gaskets along with some larger injectors made a noticeable change in the power.
Unfortunately my **** dynomometer isn't finely calibrated so I couldn't tell you if it really paid off. The used plenum cost me about $55 and the BBK throttle body was $273. With a smooth intake boot, intake plenum and cylinder intake gaskets I was probably into the project for $400. These days, a one horsepower improvement typically costs $100 and it sure feels like I got more than a 4 horsepower bump.
All the aluminum polishing I do is to entice me to open the hood and check the engine. I like looking at the '87 Corvette engine because I think it's one of the best looking engines ever made by GM. The hours I spent polishing parts made me like it even better. Here's a comparison with the engine compartment the way it was when I bought the car in 1991, and the way it looks now.
I despise working on them, but the c4 engine bay with a little dress-up really is something to behold.
Bob, I've had a change of plans with my super-duper, super shaker of an ultrasonic tank. Not that there's anything wrong with strong vinegar and its effects, but I do that, in a plastic zippy, inside the tank. I feel that I'm wasting resources. I can only put a handful of wrenches in a bag, then cook the heck out of it. I think more than one person has soaked a few things in the tank with water and some TSP. I can think that 555 has done this. I have a small box of that. I could eliminate the strong odor of vinegar, eliminate the baggie and fill the tank full of treasures. Cripes, this tank can hold 10 liters, about 2 gallons worth. I'll learn, one day... 
Bob, I wanted to show you this pic of the barn remains. If you put your reading glasses on, close one eye and squint with the other eye, you can see the yellow JCPenney garden tractor, tilted slightly, about ready to take a leap of faith to the floor below.... What a mess. I have many years of cleaning up to do on both the shop and the barn.
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y'sguy
Well-known member
Cool Barn. Shore it up and fix the roof. Easy for me to say, not so easy to do. But please give it a try.
Here's the rest of the barn. Pretty much of a done deal at this point.
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Prospecter
Well-known member
Yup. Done deal. Just like today, craftsmanship varied back in the day, too. Some stuff is worth saving. Some not so much.
Maybe I missed it, but what are your plans for the silo?
Maybe I missed it, but what are your plans for the silo?
Drives, it's probably just an urban legend but in his role as Perry Mason, Raymond Burr took fairly frequent pauses to breathe when he spoke. When a reporter asked him: "Why do you breathe like that?" Raymond responded "To -- stay -- alive" in a very exaggerated way.
My grandfather had an unusually strong grip from his years as a butcher. The fat and blood that got on everything made it important to grip the knives, cleavers and saws tightly. I had a pretty strong grip in my younger years but Arthur Itis has resulted in a fair bit of pain when I try to squeeze things hard. My recent bone density test indicating a fair bit of osteoporosis isn't helping. Breaking a bone somewhere on my body is way more likely now.
It's a little overcast in Boca Raton and the Weather app says it's 85° with 80% humidity right now with showers possible. The thermometer on the shady north side of our house indicates 97° and 56% while the one on the patio indicates 95° and 55% and the one on the side yard fence indicates 90° and 65%. I'm chillin' in my office, which indicates 80.6° and 38%. The A/C thermostat is set to 78° but my office has a lot of computers, monitors and printers that warm it up. Most people set their A/C much cooler but it makes it almost impossible to go outside in the South Florida Spring, Summer and Fall weather. In one of the late 1970s fuel crises we tried living without A/C (like the early 20th Century residents of Florida). We didn't turn the A/C on, except when visitors dropped by, for three years and adjusted to the heat. Most nights it would be 78° and most days were high 80°s and sometimes low 90°s. When the ceiling fan in the bedrooms wasn't enough, a quick skinny dip in the pool did the trick. Only reason we went back to A/C was the mold and mildew that ruined several of my wool and cotton-blend suits in the vent-less master closet (my cheap polyester suits weren't affected).
@Squankum, much as I love to hop up my vehicles, I can't bring myself to spend money on dyno sessions. I'd rather buy a cam or a fuel injection conversion kit.
Kay, I talked to my PCP the other day and he recommended I take Xgeva rather than an Estrogen patch. He also mentioned Prolia as a treatment option but wanted me to talk to my hematology oncologist. The results of the bone density scan done two weeks ago have been shared with all three of my oncologists.
I'm probably the exception to most men. Bigger hips, ****, n ***** don't scare me. Broken bones do. Already being short of upper extremeties and living with a fractured elbow for an entire year was a level of inconvenience I don't want to repeat. My left leg in a cast would be inconvenient but having given up three pedal driving certainly manageable. My right leg in a cast would be really weird, pressing the accelerator and brake pedals with my left foot but it's not like 80-year-old men ever get mixed up about which pedal to press.
As a side note, I did enjoy driving in Australia because the signal stalk is on the right side of the steering column. It was nice not to have to cross over the steering wheel to signal a turn.
Marc, I love the look but boy are they hard to squeeze out more power.
@zanyad, I couldn't agree more but I don't recall ever suggesting it was hers.
Adam, some of the simplest tasks on the L98 engine are a nightmare to attempt.
Rick, I prefer to just put magic liquiid directly into the tank and run the heat and ultrasonic with the lid sitting on top. Because we have an in-ground swimming pool I occasionally need muriatic acid to balance the ph. That stuff is really strong and using it to de-rust something is extrememely fast and generates a lot of gasses. I suspect the 30% vinegar is doing the same thing so sealing it up with something it reacts with will definitely generate some gas as well. I put a lightly rusted Irwin Speedbore drillbit in a tall olive jar full of 30% vinegar and bubbles were quickly forming on the rust. I took it out, rinsed it off and gave it a good blast of WD-40. It's not like new but the red rust turned gray.Bob, I've had a change of plans with my super-duper, super shaker of an ultrasonic tank. Not that there's anything wrong with strong vinegar and its effects, but I do that, in a plastic zippy, inside the tank. I feel that I'm wasting resources. I can only put a handful of wrenches in a bag, then cook the heck out of it. I think more than one person has soaked a few things in the tank with water and some TSP. I can think that 555 has done this. I have a small box of that. I could eliminate the strong odor of vinegar, eliminate the baggie and fill the tank full of treasures. Cripes, this tank can hold 10 liters, about 2 gallons worth. I'll learn, one day...
Rick, that's going to give me a nightmare one of these nights.
Alan, jobs other people tackle are easy. Given that barn's condition, I'd probably be contacting my insurance company regarding an unexpected lightning strike.
Rick, that's way past a coat of paint and a couple of throw pillows job. Every time we pass something like that, Liane says: "There's a place you could fix up."
@Prospecter, I noticed the silo (or is it two silos) and they look like another catastrophe waiting to happen. There seem to be some staves already trying to escape and like a barrel, when one or two staves fail, the barrel implodes. I'd be afraid to even inspect those.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Xgeva, fatigue, weakness, back pain, nausea, hypocalcemia, bone necrosis, breaking bones.
Prolia, pretty much the same deal.
Look before you leap. Docs like new meds, cause they like new clubs and cruises the reps hand out for improved sales.
Prospecter
Well-known member
Bob: We distinguish between "A house with potential," and "A potential house."
Kay, I did look up the drugs on a medical website and the side effects of those injections get scarier the further down you read. The Xgeva is supposed to treat osteoporosis but it increases the probability my femur will spontaneously fracture. If I stop taking the drug, my spine is extremely likely to fracture. Kinda like eye drops that treat dryness but may make you go blind. The "trust but verify" mantra comes to mind. If I ever get scheduled for my kidney scans I'll be seeing all three of my oncologists: Curly, Larry and Mo.
When I see a woman dressed to the nines and looking like a B--movie star, I know the staff is getting a real nice lunch delivered and the doctor is going to suffer a localized high blood pressure episode at the same time their upper extremity blood pressure takes a nose dive.
@Prospecter, for many years, certain buildings really attracted Liane's eye. Sometimes it was a town hall or other reasonable size but substantial building. The ones she admired most were funeral homes. No matter how many times I pointed out the signs, those were the "homes" she wanted. After we moved to Florida we often drove down A1A along the ocean and Intracostal. Most of the homes visible from the road put the fanciest funeral home to shame. Many of the oceanfront homes were not visible from the road but their gate/guest/caretaker cottages we could see made us ashamed of our pride and joy. At lease our house didn't have tires holding it up.
madison069
Well-known member
It's a never-ending story with doctors. You don't know much about medical related items, but you got to trust someone who got their degree in the medical field and hope they are just not getting perks from peddling the drug. My new allergist/asthma doctor wanted me to switch asthma meds and when I asked what's the difference all he could say was it's a different brand. The cost was more for the new meds, even though my medical insurance does cover it all, I just didn't fell right switching when what I am currently using is working and cheaper.
"Working" is nothing to sneeze at! That's what I keep telling my allergist!
(Okay, I made that last part up, but I am very grateful that the few pills I do take just plain work, no other issues.)
Yes, I do have (2) silos. One, as you've seen with concrete blocks and staves. The older one is a poured concrete one, made by using slip forms. I can imagine that process... I do have very old magazines that advertise those slip forms. The older one is without a top on it, but I do have the sheet metal top for it. It's in a bit of mess with rust and such. The newer one, still has the top on it, but it is full of holes from a shotgun, from a previous owner. Probably, his thoughts were to kill pigeons. I had trouble with pigeons in the hay barn, myself... But I didn't use a 12 gauge, at full choke, shotgun to get the job done...
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Here's a better pic of the poured concrete silo. See the steel "porch" at the top? As you climb the re-bar loops on the side, as you approach that porch, the metal floor is on hinges. You would push the floor upwards, climb through and let the floor go back. I used to put a few beers in my pockets, climb up there and watch fireworks on July 4. I had to be careful on how many beers I brought up there, as I still had to come down safely...
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The newer silo still has about (5) feet of silage in it. And plenty of pigeon offerings on top of that. Cleaning that silo out was never on the top of my list of things to do. If I ever did, I'd want Scuba gear or something like Bob has for a mask and filtered air. There's no way I'm going in there without some type of life support.
The one thing I did right... Rebuild the small shed between the silo and the barn. I made that small building with lumber off my sawmill. I put screen window openings on both sides. I didn't realize what I did until I filled my new shed with firewood. The big silo acted like a chimney, of sorts. During the day, the silo would heat up. During the night, the silo cooled off. Making plenty of airflow in both directions to dry my firewood. It turned out to be the perfect setup for drying firewood.
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Bob, I really agree with you there, with filling my ultra tank with mostly water and maybe some good stuff. Like Simple Green. Or TSP. What I don't want to do is mix many chemicals together and produce phosgene gas or something deadly. I only like to try one chemical at a time. Even at this point, I'm dealing with very strong vinegar, and only at 30%. At that point, it's far and beyond what is safe for human consumption. I'm trying to be careful.
I think, ultimately, I should spend the money to buy (2) gallons of Evaporust. That stuff is absolutely safe. It does wear out, but from what hear, it can be filtered. I have milk filters that I can filter with. We did that with maple syrup festivities...
I think, ultimately, I should spend the money to buy (2) gallons of Evaporust. That stuff is absolutely safe. It does wear out, but from what hear, it can be filtered. I have milk filters that I can filter with. We did that with maple syrup festivities...
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I once cut a beer can in half, filled it with muriatic acid, ready to soak something... It didn't end well, I remember that the acid started to steam and boil, and after I got the small can outside so it wouldn't melt my hard earned concrete floor, I forgot what I was going to soak in the first place. The only thing left of that can was the plastic coating from the inside. All of the aluminum part of the can was no more. And that happened in a short amount of time. I barely had time to put welding gloves on to get the hap hazard out the door. I should know better. I've scared myself a couple of times with trying things inside the shop for the first time, where I should do a trial run outside.
@Bob Heine I still have nightmares about changing a battery out on a 88 on the side of the road in single digits weather one night....
madison069
Well-known member
Changing a starter on a 87 suburban with a 350, in the dark with a river flowing down my back from the heavy downpour rain while under the truck. That’s my nightmare of a time working on a car while traveling on vacation. It gets sparky if you forgot to disconnect the battery terminal. 
gman007
Well-known member
I have used the Evaporust and have always been happy with the results. And yes it can be reused a few times. It is a bit pricy though but to me it is worth it.
As for safety, the claim is that it is safe. Personally I have no way to say one way or the other if it is safe or not. But I can tell you this point has been debated many times in GJ. In one occasion a few years back, on the Garage Journal main Vise thread, the arguments got really ugly and proponents and opponents of its safety claim got out right nasty, calling each other names etc !
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Holy cow, thanks for speaking up on this. I'll have to read about it on the vise thread. There was another on ultrasonic tanks, and I've read that one. Some folks actually had the recipe figured out of what it's made of.
I ran across this socket in the shop today. It appears to be in almost new condition, but I can't see a name on it. I'll have to soak it to see who made it. Spline drive on the business end, with an odd spacing on the splines. Hex drive on the drive end. The male hex drive tells me that it's quite old, but the condition of it tells me otherwise.
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kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Lug nut wrench, for those "wheel locks".
Ohh, you might be onto something, there. I'll have to measure the hex flats and see if it matches up to a lug nut size. I'll bet you're right.
Friday night, I had a phone call to a fellow programmer, at a different company.. He is very frustrated on how things are going... Slow down, there big fella, you just hit a bump in your road. Things will get better. I talked about how I wanted to buy a hot air balloon to use it like a crane or helicopter to take apart and fix my barn roof. I told another friend at my work, my thoughts... He forbid me from buying a hot air balloon to do the work... If you've ever been close to one of those, they are gigantic. I've been to the Hot Air Affair in Hudson and have been up close to those things. I would absolutely have it tethered to a very big tree or a good sized tractor and would have to hook up some RC controls to steer it with four fans and do something to hook up to the burner for off/on for lift. There might be some training to do with this thing, maybe become certified with a license to even own something like this. Nope, my friend talked me out of it... He thought that the thing would get away from me and someone would find it out on the East Coast next week... I didn't buy it, but I thought if it ever got away from me, if Kay would be gracious enough to rescue it for me... I'd pay for shipping and buy her lunch.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
And if it swept past me, @walrus could probably grab it with his bucket truck.
Honestly, it would probably be cheaper to hire out the crane service.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I'd never say no to a balloon. If I caught it, I'd just ride it round the world back to Wisconsin. Then you could just put me on the train home.
Would that actually work? Doesn't weather go from West to East, because of the Earth spinning? In any case I would pay the bill for the propane involved for the burner. Ohh you wanna go around the world, the long way... I'll still pay the bill for propane... I just want my balloon back...
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Cody, I don't believe doctors are the problem. My primary care physician typically gets paid about $100 for an office visit. He's in a group concierge practice so he shares the cost of the receptionist, phlebotomist, three billing and phone answering staff members and the rent for the office. He also covers the cost for his nurse. He's in his 60s and has paid off his student loans but he had to take out a second mortgage to pay the malpractice insurance premium seven years ago. That's when he closed his practice and joined the concierge group.
My urology oncologist doesn't fare much better. He is not only a specialist, he's the Director of Oncology at the cancer center I visit. Here's the Medicare MSN for my visit in April:
The the receptionist out front, the nurse that took me back to the exam room, the nurse that gave me the shot in the ***, the nurse who sprayed the numbing spray, the ultrasound tech and the doctor who did a video tour of my bladder got paid a total of $470.81. A dealership with similar overheads charges $75-$125 for a synthetic oil change.
My hematology oncologist doesn't fare much better. He has a similar staff, poking and prodding me, drawing blood and giving me a shot in the *** every three months gets this:
Afraid to ask who's getting stuck with thse $34,306.38 for the hormone injection fluid.
@Squankum, I broke out in hives a decade or so ago and went in for monthly $9,000 injections that required me to buy $350 epi pens (out of pocket) every year "just in case" I had a reaction to the shots. Also had to wait exactly 30 minutes after the shots before I could leave. The shots were a pain in my arms(?) rather than my ***. Every time a new nurse showed up I had to explain there was no problem sticking the second needle in my stump. One of my surgeries messed up the shedule for the shots so I told the doctor I wasn't coming back for more shots. He politely reminded me it would take 5 months to get CMS approval to resume the shots if my hives returned. They haven't so I haven't. One less monthly doctor visit.
Rick, I have evolved to old and stupid but I don't think there has ever been a time in my life that I would voluntarily climb the outside of a silo that tall.
It would have to be a positive air flow system for me. Hanta virus from mouse droppings, whatever diseases that pigeon poop is carrying and the likely black mold farm in there would likely keep me out unless I had a true HAZMAT suit.
Rick, sometimes planning produces results and sometimes just dumb luck suffices.
I'm with you on the one chemical at a time. I understand that the 30% vinegar can be dilted to 5% with water. I didn't read the label to find out if it's OK to do that but it seems reasonable. I'm mostly cheap but a gallon of 5% vinegar is cheap enough and it usally gets transferred to a squeeze bottle for Liane's final shampoo rinse. Does a real good job cutting the soap scum.
I stick to HDPE plastic jugs and glass jars when working with muriatic acid. I do try to perform my chemistry experiments outdoors but I may try some in the shop when the sun comes to rest on South Florida. Bursting into flame is a trick I'm trying to avoid.I once cut a beer can in half, filled it with muriatic acid, ready to soak something... It didn't end well, I remember that the acid started to steam and boil, and after I got the small can outside so it wouldn't melt my hard earned concrete floor, I forgot what I was going to soak in the first place. The only thing left of that can was the plastic coating from the inside. All of the aluminum part of the can was no more. And that happened in a short amount of time. I barely had time to put welding gloves on to get the hap hazard out the door. I should know better. I've scared myself a couple of times with trying things inside the shop for the first time, where I should do a trial run outside.
Adam, the whole fender liner removal thing is bad enough but Young Idiot Bob thought finding the lower nut using the hole on the side ground effects panel would be no problem. It turns out that panel keeps the battery cover panel nicely held in place. At the first hint of a battery going bad, I turn on the garage A/C and when it gets below flesh melting temperature I lie on the floor and remove the 1,200 fasteners (including the rear fender liner) and hit my forehead with a hammer a few times to make the job seem like fun.
Cody, regardless of what all the weld scars on my wrenches would tell youk I have never forget to disconnect something I believe is the battery. It's possible the disconnected clamp falls back into place by itself. Not sure how those clamps tighten themselves but that's just another mystery I haven't solved. If Smokey was still sending his column to Popular Science from Hot Rod Heaven I might learn the solution.Changing a starter on a 87 suburban with a 350, in the dark with a river flowing down my back from the heavy downpour rain while under the truck. That’s my nightmare of a time working on a car while traveling on vacation. It gets sparky if you forgot to disconnect the battery terminal.
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The company says it's safe enough to use on cookware.
Removing Rust from Cast Iron Cookware | CRC EVAPO-RUST®
Rust is troublesome for those cooking with cast-iron. Our users are happy with our product not just because it removes their rust easily, but because it's
www.evapo-rust.com
And if ya don't like that idea, there's always vinegar!
gman007
Well-known member
The issue is that what any company whose product is not regulated and verified by some independent authority is that they can claim anything.The company says it's safe enough to use on cookware.
Removing Rust from Cast Iron Cookware | CRC EVAPO-RUST®
Rust is troublesome for those cooking with cast-iron. Our users are happy with our product not just because it removes their rust easily, but because it's
And if ya don't like that idea, there's always vinegar!
All I am saying is that I can not tell just based on the claim by the company if it is safe or not. It might be or might not be safe!
I've got it! Organic white vinegar!
Spectrum Naturals Organic White Distilled Vinegar, 32 Oz | Grocery Pickup & Delivery | Whole Foods Market
Shop Spectrum Naturals Organic White Distilled Vinegar, 32 Oz by Spectrum at Whole Foods Market. Order online for fast delivery or curbside pickup, or visit your local store.
www.wholefoodsmarket.com