Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Bob Heine's Auto Emporium

[Bob Heine]

I am bored to tears so I decided to finish a little organizing project. My collection of detailing products is growing but that has made it harder to keep organized. I made two more exhaust pipe racks to hold five 16-ounce squeeze and spray bottles each.

A while back I used some scrap 3-inch stainless exhaust pipe for a rack but could only fit four bottles and the bottles flopped around in the oversize pipe.

Decided I could use that oversize rack somewhere else, maybe with a foam liner...

The exhaust pipe replacement rack fits the 16-ounce bottles perfectly. Unless the pipe was deformed in the process of cutting it. My little reverse-head Vice Grip was perfect for adjusting the pipe back to round.

The first new rack makes holders for ten bottles on the left two cabinet doors...

...and the second new rack does the same for the right two cabinet doors.

I think I have a problem.

 

[Finallygotit]

Bob, I think you have more detailing products than the professional detailer I know.

 

[HOTFR8]

Looks a better set up than my cupboard with a box and couple of buckets and tool caddies.

Bob, I think you have more detailing products than the professional detailer I know.

I was almost going to post the same comment.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob, I think you have more detailing products than the professional detailer I know.

Looks a better set up than my cupboard with a box and couple of buckets and tool caddies.



I was almost going to post the same comment.

Dan and Simon, this happens when you get old. I forgot I had some of this stuff because it was buried in the back row on the shelf. Perfect example is the two bottles of V38 Final Polish. Now that they are next to each other I'll use the old one up first.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

If you are really bored I have a very dirty Suburban....

 

[Bob Heine]

If you are really bored I have a very dirty Suburban....

Uncle Willie, I love dirty cars. They don't put salt or sand on the roads around here so I have to find a dirt road on a rainy day. Then I don't look quite so crazy cleaning a car with a light dusting of pollen and bee poop on the body and brake dust on the wheels.

 

[sbosecker]

...The exhaust pipe replacement rack fits the 16-ounce bottles perfectly. Unless the pipe was deformed in the process of cutting it. My little reverse-head Vice Grip was perfect for adjusting the pipe back to round...

Bob,

Tell me about "reverse-head Vise-Grip". I've not seen one of these before.

An Internet search has led me to Strong Hand Expand-O Pliers. PE6 for the 6-inch version and PE10 for the 10-inch version.

Are you happy with this tool? May I ask what task motivated you to purchase it?

Best regards,

Scott

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob,

Tell me about "reverse-head Vise-Grip". I've not seen one of these before.

An Internet search has led me to Strong Hand Expand-O Pliers. PE6 for the 6-inch version and PE10 for the 10-inch version.

Are you happy with this tool? May I ask what task motivated you to purchase it?

Best regards,

Scott

Scott,

I forgot to post the real name of those pliers so thanks for that. At this point I am very happy with the tool and I've decided to order the 10-inch version. You rarely need it but when you do, it really comes in handy.

I was working on the PT Cruiser bumper cover and discovered a damaged lower radiator support. Because it's a turbo model, the part is $178 instead of $25. Before I sprung for the new support, I wanted to try to straighten it. I made a press out of a bolt, nut and sleeve. It worked like a charm but when Philip (driftpin) posted a link to the Strong Hand Extend-O pliers I realized it would have made the job go faster. More than that, I remembered how hard it was to straighten a small dent in an exhaust pipe (those pipe expanders never work for me).

Here's a link to the post that eventually led to the pliers:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7477176&postcount=3269

 

[HOTFR8]

I have a couple of cars you could wash as well. Although two weeks isolation here may not be a nice welcome to the country. If things keep up the way they are here I may just get my cleaning gear sorted out like that as well.

 

[sawduststeve]

Bob, I think you have more detailing products than the professional detailer I know.

More products than a tarts boudoir, ahem, not that i know of course, I'm far to young.

If you are really bored I have a very dirty Suburban....

I see your suburban and raise you a LWB high roof Transit.
I normally prefer the touchless wash but a one handed wash is close enough. Hang on, are be back in the tarts boudoir.

Bob, glad to see you're keeping my caddy clean.

Steve

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Uncle Willie, I love dirty cars. They don't put salt or sand on the roads around here so I have to find a dirt road on a rainy day. Then I don't look quite so crazy cleaning a car with a light dusting of pollen and bee poop on the body and brake dust on the wheels.

Mine has progressed past dirty to downright filthy, and with the yellow pollen on the dark green truck, the paint you can see has an very odd hue to it. With all the rain we have had, and spending most of its time on unpaved surfaces, it has been pretty hopeless to wash it. I did run it through a touch free wash a couple of months ago ( 98% of the time it has a trailer attached to it so no car washes for it) and it did half hearted job of de-scuzzifying it. I did get a hearty chuckle when it sprayed the wax on top of the caked on mud it wasn't able to remove.

 

[driftpin]

I am honored to hear that my info allowed Bob to solve an expensive issue with his fleet. I've benefitted from others' postings on-here, including Mr. Heine's, and I am happy to hear my contribution of info was able to help his work.

 

[Bob Heine]

I have a couple of cars you could wash as well. Although two weeks isolation here may not be a nice welcome to the country. If things keep up the way they are here I may just get my cleaning gear sorted out like that as well.

Simon, I'm working up to leaving the house this coming Wednesday. Need to get my shots but I'll be wearing a cotton glove and carrying my own sign-in pen as well as some 70% rubbing alcohol so I can wipe down everything I touch. The hand washing thing is a nice idea but my one-handed washing is about as effective as my one-handed clapping.

Seems like a good time to make some trash. I have some rotten fencing and old siding to cut up so it fits in the bin. Along with a lot of 'stuff' that belongs in a landfill.

Bob, I think you have more detailing products than the professional detailer I know.

More products than a tarts boudoir, ahem, not that i know of course, I'm far to young.


I see your suburban and raise you a LWB high roof Transit.
I normally prefer the touchless wash but a one handed wash is close enough. Hang on, are be back in the tarts boudoir.

Bob, glad to see you're keeping my caddy clean.

Steve

Hi Steve, sorry to hear you'll be joining the no-fly list. I'm hoping you have a sturdy ladder for scrubbing the LWB high roof Transit. I like the ones that have a platform for an upper step. Do you have a long-handled mop for me to reach across (and around)?

I'm certainly old enough to remember a tarts boudoir but we call it a donut shop here.

I'm afraid your Caddy is a dirty dirty girl right now. Brake dust piling up on the wheels...

...and muddy water thrown up on the fender -- sorry, on the wing!

Mine has progressed past dirty to downright filthy, and with the yellow pollen on the dark green truck, the paint you can see has an very odd hue to it. With all the rain we have had, and spending most of its time on unpaved surfaces, it has been pretty hopeless to wash it. I did run it through a touch free wash a couple of months ago ( 98% of the time it has a trailer attached to it so no car washes for it) and it did half hearted job of de-scuzzifying it. I did get a hearty chuckle when it sprayed the wax on top of the caked on mud it wasn't able to remove.

Uncle Willie, I completely understand the unpaved problem. On the other hand, I've only tried to use those touch-free wash places twice. Once in the Corvette and once in the PT Cruiser. Both failed to clear the tracks and continuing would have caused some damage to the stuff under the car. The convertible X-brace under the headers on the Corvette hit first...

...but the spoiler on the PT Cruiser would hit first before I put some spacers on the front end (used to be 3-inches clearance).

 

[Bob Heine]

I am honored to hear that my info allowed Bob to solve an expensive issue with his fleet. I've benefitted from others' postings on-here, including Mr. Heine's, and I am happy to hear my contribution of info was able to help his work.

Philip, I really do appreciate your help. That 6-inch tool was right on the edge of my pliers comfort zone money-wise but the good news is the 10-inch model was discounted to the same price when I ordered it today. The GJ in general is very helpful when it comes to tools. So many I didn't know I needed and my kids will be thrilled to inherit them instead of dirty smelly cash.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Simon,

Uncle Willie, I completely understand the unpaved problem. On the other hand, I've only tried to use those touch-free wash places twice. Once in the Corvette and once in the PT Cruiser. Both failed to clear the tracks and continuing would have caused some damage to the stuff under the car. The convertible X-brace under the headers on the Corvette hit first...

...but the spoiler on the PT Cruiser would hit first before I put some spacers on the front end (used to be 3-inches clearance).

The lowest vehicle I own is a seldom driven 89 S10 that I only keep because my wife loves it. The other two are full sized trucks, a 4wd suburban and a 2wd F150. They climb over whatever they feel like. I could probably put the suburban on top of a carwash if the trailer wasn't attached.

Geeze it is almost 2am. Gotta take the daughter's dog to the vet today. Probably should go to sleep at some point.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Bob I have a small pair of reverse vise grips. Problem is, the things I have needed them for, spreading rings and springs are too tight for me to get them in between.

 

[driftpin]

The lowest vehicle I own is a seldom driven 89 S10 that I only keep because my wife loves it. The other two are full sized trucks, a 4wd suburban and a 2wd F150. They climb over whatever they feel like. I could probably put the suburban on top of a carwash if the trailer wasn't attached.

Geeze it is almost 2am. Gotta take the daughter's dog to the vet today. Probably should go to sleep at some point.

dsimatt has a different opinion of that venerable, simple '89 S-10 Chevy pickup:

Tell him his dad is a idiot and shouldn't touch anything mechanical if he thinks that's a correct repair.

Also it's a s10, POS truck so just let it rot away.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446757&highlight=s10

It was in the post about the GJ member's daughter dating a kid with an S-10 who had a sloppy body repair done by the S-10 owner's father. It generated a surprising amount of traffic.

I at one-time used to borrow a S-15 GMC Sonoma pickup from the motor pool to do inspections, an inline-4, auto ****** & AC, extended cab, I thought it was a decent truck, it was reliable, the AC worked well in south Florida, which is always important. It gave me enough of a positive impression that when I was looking at spending a few thousand dollars on my '93 GMC Sierra 8 ft bed pickup, my wife suggested that I buy new instead, and I bought the S-10/S-15 next-generation, a Colorado/Canyon. Mine is the inline-5 cyl. aluminum block and head Atlas engine in a crew cab, a GMC, and with a 5,500 lb tow rating, it hauls my 4 ft X 10 ft open trailer easily. The highest mileage I've gotten is 23+ MPG, and my average in mostly around-town use is 17 MPG. I've averaged about 10K mi/yr and at 11 yr old, it's been very reliable. I can see why your wife (mybigwarwagon) likes the S-10. My Canyon, the successor to the S-10/S-15 has been a good truck for me, it's much-more fun than my 8 ft bed Sierra was, and for my loads, it tows-better, too!

Oh, and thanks to the POTUS, because he gave me a $3,500 down-payment on my GMC! (Cash for Clunkers)

Bob, I'm gonna hire you to straighten things up over-here, you can begin anytime!

As-to vehicle/fleet repairs, I'd never pay someone to-do all the things I need done on my rolling stock so that leaves a volunteer workforce of one. Some things are left to the pros, buy plenty isn't.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

dsimatt I can see why your wife (mybigwarwagon) likes the S-10. My Canyon, the successor to the S-10/S-15 has been a good truck for me, it's much-more fun than my 8 ft bed Sierra was, and for my loads, it tows-better, too!

At the moment I have 4 square bodied S10s.

The one that she drives and loves) now.

A Extra cab short bed 5 speed 2.8l V6. I have a grand total of $217 in it. I bought it for $125 with a bad freeze plug and a mangled bedside. Then it had to have brakes, and u joints. It is really handy since it is so low and is easy to load. We went to get a new washer and took it rather than the F150 since I could just toss the washer in the bed.

It is ugly, has no ac, the door handles are broken, and she won't let me sell it.

The OG $100 truck. ( that she reallllllllllly loves)

Regular cab, 5 speed, 2.8l. We bought it for scrap from a guy who "builds race cars for a living". I would not want to drive anything he worked on at speed. We pulled up on the trailer, it had a good title, she said she wanted to drive it. It had 4 inch lowering blocks in the back and one broken leaf spring on each side. She did all the work changing out the springs and removing the blocks. I supervised and smoked cigars. Fortunately the front was lowered correctly with spindles. It sat way **** high, but was fun to drive. It eventually got newer springs that brought it down to sorta level.

Next it had to have a new fuel tank. There was a huge split in the original one, that had been "repaired" with JB Weld. Since it had an (I think) 9 gallon tank in it, I had another truck with a 13 gallon.

Then it started having electrical problems. It would randomly die. After much frustration and searching I found that the genius had rewired the ignition coil with short, leftover pieces of wire with crimp connectors on it. I replaced it all with one continuous piece of wire and it hasn't had a problem since.

It has 850K miles on it and hasn't had the spark plugs changed in 10 years. I am afraid to work on it because if you touch one thing two others break. It leaks so much oil I just changed the filter on it every 6 months.

At one point I sold it to a guy. Later he told me he was looking to sell it so he could buy a van to work out of. I gave him his money back.

My oldest daughter drove it for months and never so much as scuffed it. Then I allowed my oldest son to drive it. For some reason it took it on himself to paint it. He got some turd brown paint and started - badly - then never finished. I found out he had half assed painted it when he got it stuck on a no longer used railroad track.

He called while I was at the doctor and said it was stuck and asked me to come pull him out. I figured he had got close to the edge of the road and slipped off and was just hung. Since I was busy I told him to send me a picture and I would get there as soon as I could. He sent me a picture of the truck that had been driven DOWN the track. The LOWERED truck driven DOWN the railroad tracks. THe LOWERED truck driven DOWN the railroad tracks WITH my freaking John Deere 242 on the back of it. I was severely pissed. I took my Ford 1720 down there and got it out. I got caught in a bad hailstorm in the process, with nowhere to run. I got beat half to death. I later found out that my wife ( his step mother), who was steering the truck when the storm started, refused to let him inside. She was pissed too.

Then I found out that he had driven it down there the day before. And he left it overnight. With my tractor on the bed. I was livid. What I didn't realize was that I had a massive concussion from hitting my head the day before, and the hail didn't help matters, in my brain mushed fog I let him keep driving it. I would up in Neuro ICU. He got to live.

A month later he called and said it had rolled down a hill and hit a tree. I wen to get it. It had two smashed places on the front, and one on the side. I asked how that happened. He said it just rolled off and hit the tree. I asked if I was supposed to believe that it rolled down the hill, hit the tree, bounced off, turned 90 degrees, hit the side, bounced off, turned back straight, and hit the front again. He said yes. I loaded it up on the trailer and reallllllly wanted to drive to AZ to slap his mother, who raised him. his Xterra broke down recently. His mother had the audacity to ask if I would loan him a truck. I asked if she was going to pay to repair the last one he drove. I never heard back.

For now it sits destitute in the front yard awaiting restoration after we move next year. I really want to put a supercharged 3.8 and a 200r4 in it. It has earned it.

Two for parts.

One complete regular cab, long bed, 4.3l automatic. I bought it for the cab and front end.

The other is a regular cab, short bed. I am sure it has an engine and may have a transmission. I bought it for the bed. A friend of mine wants the frame to put under an old Ford F1 pickup he is working on.

 

[Guster]

I thought I posted earlier after you had your procedure but it was about the same time I was running a fever but may have had a delirious moment. Very happy to hear you procedure was a success and that you've made it through your recovery so quickly.

If it helps any... I had a similar filter leak and it appeared to have been dropped or bumped during shipping or storage. One edge was just slightly pushed down and only really noticed it because of the leak on that side. So slight was the damage that it looked fine out of the box but the rim would not sit flat. I also thought the gasket would take care of any unevenness. Got a no questions asked replacement filter and oil from the shop where I bought it. Makes me think it happens often enough that shops know it.

I tend to work tools into the cost of a job. Though I'm allowed expensive tools or machines as part of birthday or bonus expenses. I'm very careful with out of budget purchases as they will be mirrored in her purchases meaning they cost me twice as much.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bob: you might be over the top with your car cleaning products, but your organizing skills so you know what you have is up there at the top. you sure know how to make the best use out of doors on your cabinets.

keep up the good work. I'm guessing you are feeling great again? hopefully this Corona thing doesn't get you or shut down your town or state like it has here.

enjoy the sunshine and warmth and thanks for sending some up here.

 

[zmotorsports]

Awesome bottle holders/racks Bob. I may have to steal that idea.

 

[Bob Heine]

The lowest vehicle I own is a seldom driven 89 S10 that I only keep because my wife loves it. The other two are full sized trucks, a 4wd suburban and a 2wd F150. They climb over whatever they feel like. I could probably put the suburban on top of a carwash if the trailer wasn't attached.

Geeze it is almost 2am. Gotta take the daughter's dog to the vet today. Probably should go to sleep at some point.

Uncle Willie, I do have one high-clearance vehicle. The Cadillac CTS-V has almost 5.5-inches. Should be fine as long as I don't put my usual Eibach lowering springs on the Caddy.

I thought sleep was over-rated until I found out I had sleep apnea. Now that I wear a mask every night (and for my many naps) I feel like I've been in training for the current health crisis. I expect my look will inspire confidence when I go to the bank.

Bob I have a small pair of reverse vise grips. Problem is, the things I have needed them for, spreading rings and springs are too tight for me to get them in between.

Bobby, like you I find my tools to work for some things and not others. I know they have piston ring expander pliers but today I did a search for reverse pliers and found some "bow opening pliers" that appear to be for making jewelry (making oval chain links and expanding rings). Might be what you are looking for.

dsimatt has a different opinion of that venerable, simple '89 S-10 Chevy pickup:

Tell him his dad is a idiot and shouldn't touch anything mechanical if he thinks that's a correct repair.

Also it's a s10, POS truck so just let it rot away.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446757&highlight=s10

It was in the post about the GJ member's daughter dating a kid with an S-10 who had a sloppy body repair done by the S-10 owner's father. It generated a surprising amount of traffic.

I at one-time used to borrow a S-15 GMC Sonoma pickup from the motor pool to do inspections, an inline-4, auto ****** & AC, extended cab, I thought it was a decent truck, it was reliable, the AC worked well in south Florida, which is always important. It gave me enough of a positive impression that when I was looking at spending a few thousand dollars on my '93 GMC Sierra 8 ft bed pickup, my wife suggested that I buy new instead, and I bought the S-10/S-15 next-generation, a Colorado/Canyon. Mine is the inline-5 cyl. aluminum block and head Atlas engine in a crew cab, a GMC, and with a 5,500 lb tow rating, it hauls my 4 ft X 10 ft open trailer easily. The highest mileage I've gotten is 23+ MPG, and my average in mostly around-town use is 17 MPG. I've averaged about 10K mi/yr and at 11 yr old, it's been very reliable. I can see why your wife (mybigwarwagon) likes the S-10. My Canyon, the successor to the S-10/S-15 has been a good truck for me, it's much-more fun than my 8 ft bed Sierra was, and for my loads, it tows-better, too!

Oh, and thanks to the POTUS, because he gave me a $3,500 down-payment on my GMC! (Cash for Clunkers)

Bob, I'm gonna hire you to straighten things up over-here, you can begin anytime!

As-to vehicle/fleet repairs, I'd never pay someone to-do all the things I need done on my rolling stock so that leaves a volunteer workforce of one. Some things are left to the pros, buy plenty isn't.

Philip, my chances of getting a vehicle with a box on the back are next to zero so I'm not going to even look at them. OK, IF I was going to get a pickup, it would have to be like this one -- low enough so SWMBO might not notice it.

You might regret having me "straighten things up." My problem is throwing things away. I have four little bottles of air tool oil in addition to a quart jug. All of them are more than a decade old. I also have a Mobil 1 M1-113 oil filter (now superseded by M1-113A) that doesn't fit anything I own or have ever owned. Not even sure if I bought it or it was a gift. Still can't throw it out. The AC Delco filter fits my '72 Corvette 454 but it has been on the shelf for more than 30 years!

At the moment I have 4 square bodied S10s.

The one that she drives and loves) now.

A Extra cab short bed 5 speed 2.8l V6. I have a grand total of $217 in it. I bought it for $125 with a bad freeze plug and a mangled bedside. Then it had to have brakes, and u joints. It is really handy since it is so low and is easy to load. We went to get a new washer and took it rather than the F150 since I could just toss the washer in the bed.

It is ugly, has no ac, the door handles are broken, and she won't let me sell it.

The OG $100 truck. ( that she reallllllllllly loves)

Regular cab, 5 speed, 2.8l. We bought it for scrap from a guy who "builds race cars for a living". I would not want to drive anything he worked on at speed. We pulled up on the trailer, it had a good title, she said she wanted to drive it. It had 4 inch lowering blocks in the back and one broken leaf spring on each side. She did all the work changing out the springs and removing the blocks. I supervised and smoked cigars. Fortunately the front was lowered correctly with spindles. It sat way **** high, but was fun to drive. It eventually got newer springs that brought it down to sorta level.

Next it had to have a new fuel tank. There was a huge split in the original one, that had been "repaired" with JB Weld. Since it had an (I think) 9 gallon tank in it, I had another truck with a 13 gallon.

Then it started having electrical problems. It would randomly die. After much frustration and searching I found that the genius had rewired the ignition coil with short, leftover pieces of wire with crimp connectors on it. I replaced it all with one continuous piece of wire and it hasn't had a problem since.

It has 850K miles on it and hasn't had the spark plugs changed in 10 years. I am afraid to work on it because if you touch one thing two others break. It leaks so much oil I just changed the filter on it every 6 months.

At one point I sold it to a guy. Later he told me he was looking to sell it so he could buy a van to work out of. I gave him his money back.

My oldest daughter drove it for months and never so much as scuffed it. Then I allowed my oldest son to drive it. For some reason it took it on himself to paint it. He got some turd brown paint and started - badly - then never finished. I found out he had half assed painted it when he got it stuck on a no longer used railroad track.

He called while I was at the doctor and said it was stuck and asked me to come pull him out. I figured he had got close to the edge of the road and slipped off and was just hung. Since I was busy I told him to send me a picture and I would get there as soon as I could. He sent me a picture of the truck that had been driven DOWN the track. The LOWERED truck driven DOWN the railroad tracks. THe LOWERED truck driven DOWN the railroad tracks WITH my freaking John Deere 242 on the back of it. I was severely pissed. I took my Ford 1720 down there and got it out. I got caught in a bad hailstorm in the process, with nowhere to run. I got beat half to death. I later found out that my wife ( his step mother), who was steering the truck when the storm started, refused to let him inside. She was pissed too.

Then I found out that he had driven it down there the day before. And he left it overnight. With my tractor on the bed. I was livid. What I didn't realize was that I had a massive concussion from hitting my head the day before, and the hail didn't help matters, in my brain mushed fog I let him keep driving it. I would up in Neuro ICU. He got to live.

A month later he called and said it had rolled down a hill and hit a tree. I wen to get it. It had two smashed places on the front, and one on the side. I asked how that happened. He said it just rolled off and hit the tree. I asked if I was supposed to believe that it rolled down the hill, hit the tree, bounced off, turned 90 degrees, hit the side, bounced off, turned back straight, and hit the front again. He said yes. I loaded it up on the trailer and reallllllly wanted to drive to AZ to slap his mother, who raised him. his Xterra broke down recently. His mother had the audacity to ask if I would loan him a truck. I asked if she was going to pay to repair the last one he drove. I never heard back.

For now it sits destitute in the front yard awaiting restoration after we move next year. I really want to put a supercharged 3.8 and a 200r4 in it. It has earned it.

Two for parts.

One complete regular cab, long bed, 4.3l automatic. I bought it for the cab and front end.

The other is a regular cab, short bed. I am sure it has an engine and may have a transmission. I bought it for the bed. A friend of mine wants the frame to put under an old Ford F1 pickup he is working on.

Uncle Willie, when my two children were in their teens I was tempted to accuse Liane of having *** with someone else. Unfortunately our son looks way too much like me. Daughter won scholarships and self-funded her education, all the way through to a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. Never put a scratch in any of the cars she bought. Son graduated high school with one more credit than needed (wouldn't have if we didn't make him attend summer school). Joined US Navy and took their tests -- and qualified for the Nuclear Program. Slept in one too many times and washed out. I found and purchased his dream car (1974 Fiat X1/9 set up for competition) using his savings. After I finished all the needed repairs and upgrades, he came home one weekend and left after a five minute visit (took that long to mount his license plate). A few months later he abandoned the Fiat at a bar and asked me to pick it up. Drove my X1/9 with a friend the 200 miles to Orlando and drove his car back home. A month later he called to ask me to re-register the car. Because he never actually registered the car (plate was from his friend's repossessed Camaro) and lost the wallet that contained the title it was a big job to get it registered. Instead of wasting more of my time, I bought the car for parts to upgrade my X1/9. Navy decided his service was no longer required so he came home and bought a '73 VW Beetle. His habit of tailgating put a bad wrinkle in the front of the car so I helped him straighten it out. He was so thrilled it was fixed he went out that night to celebrate. Turned out the car didn't handle quite as good as the Fiat and he flipped the car in a tight turn. His string of accidents (involving both his and his employers' vehicles) and tickets took him off the road for three years. In 1990 he married a woman who fixed him. After just 30 years with her he's a great husband, father, grandfather and son. Glad I've hung around to see the change.

I thought I posted earlier after you had your procedure but it was about the same time I was running a fever but may have had a delirious moment. Very happy to hear you procedure was a success and that you've made it through your recovery so quickly.

If it helps any... I had a similar filter leak and it appeared to have been dropped or bumped during shipping or storage. One edge was just slightly pushed down and only really noticed it because of the leak on that side. So slight was the damage that it looked fine out of the box but the rim would not sit flat. I also thought the gasket would take care of any unevenness. Got a no questions asked replacement filter and oil from the shop where I bought it. Makes me think it happens often enough that shops know it.

I tend to work tools into the cost of a job. Though I'm allowed expensive tools or machines as part of birthday or bonus expenses. I'm very careful with out of budget purchases as they will be mirrored in her purchases meaning they cost me twice as much.

Eugene, thanks for the kind words. Now that I feel back to normal I'm living in self-imposed quarantine. Taking it a day at a time.

I think you're on to something. There was no sign of damage but it doesn't take much to make a filter leak.

Liane and I used to do the mirror thing but now we have a simple deal. Each of us gets $100 cash each week. We can spend it or save it for a bigger purchase. No questions asked unless one of us wants something over and above. Then it has to be discussed. Tools for projects are among those discussions. On the bright side, we don't buy each other anything expensive for Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Bob, Mrs. Outlaw Drifter and I have a similar purchasing habit. Anything under $100 is fair game, all other purchases we discuss together. She is into cars, so I don't have to sell the idea for go-fast parts very hard! And it's always easy to offer something new for her Mach 1!

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob: you might be over the top with your car cleaning products, but your organizing skills so you know what you have is up there at the top. you sure know how to make the best use out of doors on your cabinets.

keep up the good work. I'm guessing you are feeling great again? hopefully this Corona thing doesn't get you or shut down your town or state like it has here.

enjoy the sunshine and warmth and thanks for sending some up here.

Drives, you are very kind. The cabinet organizing is important in my garage because things are hidden behind 55 doors, 45 drawers and 64 parts bins (8 drawers with 8 bins each). Nothing like what you have but daunting none the less.

I'm feeling fine and will see the doctor who did the procedure and my cardiologist at the end of March. We rarely go out beyond our compound under normal circumstances so 'shelter in place' is no big deal. Instead of going food shopping every two weeks, we'll stretch it out to four weeks. Amazon is already a regular visitor so the only change will be delivery delays as others us the service.

I am making a few changes for our required doctor visits. I already have to wear sunglasses to go out so I put them on top of a light-duty latex glove, heavy-duty (9-nil) nitrile glove, a ballpoint pen and a squeeze bottle of 70% alcohol. The ballpoint pen is my extra step. Every visit to a medical facility involves signing in and the pen they leave on the log has been touched by a lot of people, probably including a few who put the pen in their mouth while thinking of answers. My pen may not be clean but it only has my cooties on it.

Awesome bottle holders/racks Bob. I may have to steal that idea.

Mike, thanks for the very kind comment. Coming from you that's heart warming. It all started when I found myself splashing a bunch of painting and cleaning fluids when I tried to pour it from a gallon can. Having the stuff in little squeeze bottles was handy and wasted a lot less. For quite a while I had the bottles just standing on the counter and more than once knocked them over.

I discovered an 8-ounce squeeze bottle fits in a 2.25" exhaust pipe just right and made my first rack in 2013. It let me store small amounts of paint thinners and cleaners on my paint cart.

I realized I needed more than just 8-ounce squeeze bottles of those chemicals so I decided to make a rack for 16-ounce squeeze bottles at the workbench.

That meant I had to find a bigger exhaust pipe. Turns out the 2.5" ID couplers are a great fit and the swage in the middle makes it easy to cut them in half. any standard 16-ounce squeeze bottle fits. I'm sure there are other sources but this was the one I found (PN: 41957):

I was becoming obsessed with the organizing opportunity. My spray paint and penetrating oil cans were stacked two deep and it was hard to tell what I had on hand. A 3" tube works for the spray cans but it isn't a good fit. I found the best fit was a 2.75 ID pipe.

The only 2.75 ID to 2.75 ID coupler I could find was a Nickson 548586.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob, Mrs. Outlaw Drifter and I have a similar purchasing habit. Anything under $100 is fair game, all other purchases we discuss together. She is into cars, so I don't have to sell the idea for go-fast parts very hard! And it's always easy to offer something new for her Mach 1!

Marc, the go-fast parts are a mixed bag. She feels my '87 Corvette was fine the way I bought it in 1991 (ground effects, paint and lumber on the dash). With the PT Cruiser, she saw some at a car show and liked some of the custom touches. Exhaust upgrade, turbo upgrade, rolled pan and grille upgrade were fine with her. She likes to surprise people at stop lights (no street racing, just a quiet giddy-up). I waited and accumulated a nest egg before spending $2,600 for a front and rear coilover conversion for the '72 Corvette. I won't live long enough to finish that discussion..

 

[bj383ss]

Bob I still love this idea of organizing you have. And I thank you very much for the squeeze bottle idea. My only problem is I need to buy more of them.

Bret

 

[Grumblebum]

That cupboard organisation came up well, my detailing products haven't had much love in recent time.

Take care.

GB

 

[bolensboneyard]

Bob Nice Rack!

 

[driftpin]

You have some interesting pics, Bob.

The mask pic, yes it does look like Dr. Lechter, I also thought of the Mad Max leader.

Your COVID-19 kit looks like a bank-robber's regalia, just missing the Zippo lighter to flick-open, to fire-up, and to threaten the bank clerk, after you douse her with the squeeze bottle of alcohol.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-robber-douses-clerk-lighter-fluid-threatens-set/story?id=29232950

 

[Bob Heine]

I knew this COVID-19 thing was serious but the crisis has hit home. The city of Boca Raton closed everything under its control including libraries, beaches, parks and even the police station lobby. The Town Center Mall announced it was closing. In the first sign of the Apocalypse, the valets at the Boca Raton Community Hospital are no longer parking cars -- you have to park your own car.

This is not a joke or a media circus. When a local family returned from Washington DC March 3, they found out they may have been exposed to COVID-19. They didn't worry until the husband and son started feeling ill on March 12. Went to their doctor and were told it could be anything and to go home. When the husband couldn't breathe a day later he went to the ER and they admitted him with pneumonia and tested for the virus. Because there is a shortage of the reagent, the test results won't be available for maybe 10 days. Neither the husband nor the son has been added to the list of 300 known cases in Florida. The rest of the family is self-quarantining but if they were infected at the beginning of March, they may have been spreading the virus for two weeks. I don't think this is an isolated case. We're going for routine doctor visits this week but otherwise staying home.

I'm somewhat interested in this disease because I'm 75. "Although 17% of the U.S. population is 65 or older... they represent 31% of the cases, account for 45% of hospitalizations, 53% of ICU admissions, and 80% of deaths, the CDC reported." I believe older people see a doctor more often and we probably notice symptoms that a younger person would ignore, resulting in the high number of reported cases among the elderly. Only 20% of the deaths involve younger Americans but that doesn't sound like something to cheer about.

Seems like a good time to tackle a few projects that involve stuff I have on hand. PT Cruiser oil change is first on the list.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob I still love this idea of organizing you have. And I thank you very much for the squeeze bottle idea. My only problem is I need to buy more of them.

Bret

Bret, I'm getting low on the 16-ounce bottles so I may have to order some more.

That cupboard organisation came up well, my detailing products haven't had much love in recent time.

Take care.

GB

Rod, there's a good chance I'll be buffing some paint off the cars because it looks like this mess is going to longer than once expected.

Bob Nice Rack!

Bobby, I'm going to take that as a compliment about the bottle holders.

You have some interesting pics, Bob.

The mask pic, yes it does look like Dr. Lechter, I also thought of the Mad Max leader.

Your COVID-19 kit looks like a bank-robber's regalia, just missing the Zippo lighter to flick-open, to fire-up, and to threaten the bank clerk, after you douse her with the squeeze bottle of alcohol.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-robber-douses-clerk-lighter-fluid-threatens-set/story?id=29232950

Philip, it is a look!

I notice that story starts with the usual: "Florida Robber...."

 

[drivesitfar]

BOB: I love the PEN idea and so true. if i end up going to a doctor or dentist i'll try to remember to bring my own too. another tip for travelers is to bring wipes in their hotel room and first off wipe off the remote and all the switches.

this Corona virus has every lawyer on standby and all the politicians shutting down everything up here except the water so far (yes we need to flush to use all the Toilet paper being sold) while they provide housing for those with Corona and don't make them stay in their rooms.

i'm not sure I'll ever use all my STUFF, but having some of the right tools when I do a DIY job or fun project is pretty nice IF I CAN FIND THEM which i'm getting better at now.

we've been walking a lot the last month and here's one of the views from a trail we walked on last night that is pretty steep, but at least it's not muddy like it was a few weeks ago.

have a great day!!

 

[Guster]

I've had to go check in and explain things to my +80yo Chinese speaking neighbors that they are expected to remain home and let us know if they need anything. Still see them out for their 2 hour stroll early each morning and zipping out to the shops. Life is fragile but it is also for the living. Can't hide forever and have to be prepared to continue these new habits for the next 18-24months based on slowing down the transmission rates. Nature is also never all that obvious in how she gets to you.

Personally, I'd rather live a normal life. Get it when I get it and get back to normal as long as I don't impact anyone else who can't afford to get sick. Some of my friends are undergoing cancer treatment. One is a mother with endometriosis on immuno suppressants. Another, a very bad asthmatic prone to getting lung infections. Know all to well what this means to them. Still, some days you wish you lived on a farm, far away from those risks.

On the plus side there is nowhere to rush to and chances are looking good for some QST all weekend.

Stay safe and healthy Bob! We are thinking of you guys as we prepare to go into lock down on midnight Wednesday.

 

[Bob Heine]

BOB: I love the PEN idea and so true. if i end up going to a doctor or dentist i'll try to remember to bring my own too. another tip for travelers is to bring wipes in their hotel room and first off wipe off the remote and all the switches.

this Corona virus has every lawyer on standby and all the politicians shutting down everything up here except the water so far (yes we need to flush to use all the Toilet paper being sold) while they provide housing for those with Corona and don't make them stay in their rooms.

i'm not sure I'll ever use all my STUFF, but having some of the right tools when I do a DIY job or fun project is pretty nice IF I CAN FIND THEM which i'm getting better at now.

we've been walking a lot the last month and here's one of the views from a trail we walked on last night that is pretty steep, but at least it's not muddy like it was a few weeks ago.

have a great day!!

Drives, thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you are able to get out and about.

I've had to go check in and explain things to my +80yo Chinese speaking neighbors that they are expected to remain home and let us know if they need anything. Still see them out for their 2 hour stroll early each morning and zipping out to the shops. Life is fragile but it is also for the living. Can't hide forever and have to be prepared to continue these new habits for the next 18-24months based on slowing down the transmission rates. Nature is also never all that obvious in how she gets to you.

Personally, I'd rather live a normal life. Get it when I get it and get back to normal as long as I don't impact anyone else who can't afford to get sick. Some of my friends are undergoing cancer treatment. One is a mother with endometriosis on immuno suppressants. Another, a very bad asthmatic prone to getting lung infections. Know all to well what this means to them. Still, some days you wish you lived on a farm, far away from those risks.

On the plus side there is nowhere to rush to and chances are looking good for some QST all weekend.

Stay safe and healthy Bob! We are thinking of you guys as we prepare to go into lock down on midnight Wednesday.

Eugene, now that it's fall Down Under, the flu season is just getting started. New Zealand and Australia (Southern Africa as well) may be able to do a better job of flattening the curve on the COVID-19 Pandemic. Most people who get the virus don't know they have it but are able to transmit it. In New Orleans they didn't cancel Mardi Gras on February 25 and they will soon be the epicenter for the disease in the US. My state, Florida, didn't cancel Spring Break so I expect we will make Louisiana look like a walk in the park.

I'm old so I rely on newspapers for stories because the stories have more information, not just sound bytes. I spent my working career as part of the computer revolution so I get those newspapers on my PC.

The reported numbers are deceptive and probably way under-reported because we don't have a way to count people who have gotten a mild case of COVID-19 and recovered at home because they obviously were never tested. The numbers are confirmed cases.

Here's a chart that shows how the virus has exploded across the US in one month. It's the daily new cases, not a cumulative graph. I'm not real good at math but if that trend continues, it means a lot of people will be sick real soon.

I keep hearing about seasonal flu killing 27,000 or more a year and COVID-19 is a lot like the flu. Except this pandemic is on top of the flu. We're set up to handle the flu, not this thing. Worse, way worse, is the death rate, especially among older people.

I vaguely remember getting the flu 40 years ago and it wasn't fun. I get a flu shot every year but have no proof that it works but because I haven't caught the flu doing that, I'm going to continue the practice. None of my 19 immediate family members have tested positive for COVID-19 but one member of the family is on the front lines as a nurse. Doctors don't want to get close to patients so nurses are having the physical contacts.

 

[xtremek]

I'm gone for a couple of weeks and you just keep moving ahead at near light speed. You're making me feel lazy.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bob: maybe when the ones that survive Corona 19 give their blood to the medical people we hopefully will have some sort of cure to stop this ****.

I just saw that Miami's mayor has closed the beaches and restaurants and he's had the Corona going on i think for over a week or maybe 2 now. he's quarantined in his apartment separate from his family.

when I was sneezing and coughing two days ago my wife and daughter living with me did their best not to make contact with me, but I felt fine the next day so guessing it was some sort of allergic reaction to maybe something in the air.

not to doubt your charts, but it looks like there isn't any people dying from the flu and as far as i've read the flu is still responsible for more deaths so far this year. I could be reading it wrong or missing what you tried to post, but I agree this Corona 19 needs to get stopped quickly.

stay safe!!!

 

[Bob Heine]

After talking to my daughter-in-law I am changing some of my plans for projects. Any project that requires sharp power tools like saws will be put on hold. My chance of seriously hurting myself is low but this would be a terrible time to need to be in the ER. With that in mind, I have been doing a few things.

The AT&T guy who buried the cable from the pole to my house was careful and I was with him when he announced he found a sprinkler line. We've had rain often enough that the sprinkler system has been switched off. This week a pile of bright white sand in the yard was a telltale sign there was a leak. Dug around with a hand trowel and sure enough, right where the cable passed by the PVC pipe there was a cut. Not a huge gash but enough to blow the sand around.

I cut the pipe on either side of the damage and planned to dig a six or eight foot trench, uncovering the pipe so I could bend the pipe enough to install a coupling.

I know there are repair unions available but they are all quite expensive. Spent a little while searching on the Internet and found something I've never seen before. It's a coupler with a shoulder that matches the pipe size and a slightly smaller diameter center section that allows the sleeves to slide over the joints.

Pretty simple process to install. Mark the pipe for a second cut using the inner pipe on the fitting. Double check the fit and apply cleaner all four of the pipe ends and then apply glue.

Sliding the outer sleeves of the fitting over both joints completes the repair. At $3.50 for the 1-inch couplers and $3 for the 3/4-inch coupler, these are a great solution, at least for me.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bob: I love that piece/part of PVC to repair leaks in broken sprinklers and good to see it did it's job for you.

another great tip:

DON'T USE POWER TOOLS or put yourself in harm's way or take unnecessary chances that might get you a trip to ER cause it's far from a good time to go there.

STAY SAFE and THINK when using any power tools is my rule and i try to always wear ear and eye protection cause we don't get replacements as we grow old. along with not touching my face it's tough teaching an old dog new tricks, but i'm learning.

cheers

 

[Bob Heine]

I'm gone for a couple of weeks and you just keep moving ahead at near light speed. You're making me feel lazy.

Kirk, my little heart procedure put me on the bench so my **** is growing roots. Now I don't leave the house except for doctor appointments and getting medications. I'm filling the garbage can with stuff and will soon start tossing things from the garage and shop but they only pick up twice a week.

 

[Bob Heine]

not to doubt your charts, but it looks like there isn't any people dying from the flu and as far as i've read the flu is still responsible for more deaths so far this year. I could be reading it wrong or missing what you tried to post, but I agree this Corona 19 needs to get stopped quickly.

stay safe!!!

Drives, you're right that the charts show strange results so how about a chart on the flu. Here is a chart the CDC published. There are 329 Million people in the US and during the 2017-2018 flu season, 45 Million people came down with the flu. If you didn't catch the flu you were one of the 284 Million who didn't catch the flu. Of the 45 Million cases, 61 Thousand died. That didn't happen in a month, it was a season of flu. In the best year on that chart, only 9.3 Million people caught the flu and only 12 Thousand died.

Taking today's numbers, there are only 83 Thousand cases of COVID-19 with 1 Thousand deaths. If we are able to keep the COVID-19 virus contained so only 9.3 Million people catch it, 112 Thousand people would still die. If it's 45 Million coming down with it, there would be 556 Thousand deaths. Seems like it would be important to do whatever the CDC says we need to do so the fewest number of people catch it.

You and I don't know anyone who has tested positive so maybe we're one of the 284 Million who won't get it. If we do come down with COVID-19, maybe we'll be one of the 45 Million who don't have to be hospitalized.