What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[kbeefy]

Don't know why I never looked in this thread....
Had a pretty productive day and wanted to brag about it.

I just finished an engine replacement in a turbo subaru (yesterday) and needed to do a little cleanup before a friend brought his jeep over for work.


Cleaning the floor evolved into collecting hardware, picking up remnants of a dozen projects, sorting hardware, cleaning out junk piles... seems like I couldn't finish one task without getting started on two more. Friend was later than I expected so I got a couple hours in putting stuff away in the shop.
He finally showed up at about 10 am, so I got started tearing down his jeep to rebuild the Eaton E-locker in his 8.8.



We eventually decided he needed more parts, so that project got shelved awaiting the parts fairy. I had lunch.

I've been trying to hack the computers on this BMW to disable the Daytime Running Lights. None of my OBDII stuff seemed capable, so I bought this BMW coder thing and spent some time trying to hack into the BMW... I had about 5-7% success rate. The car still has DRL's...


During lunch UPS showed up and had some fox 2.0 coilovers I had ordered for my tacoma. They weren't supposed to be here until Wednesday, which is why I brought in the jeep today.


Well, I figured I could get ahead of the curve and prep for installing the shocks tommorow... I dropped the jeep onto a dolly and drove it out of the lift bay.



I'd never actually tried to drive a vehicle on this thing. I was by myself so it seemed easier than pushing it. It worked, but driving a 4wd with the rear axle on casters is weird. Like pushing a short boat upriver, it wanted to go everywhere I didn't. I had to get out every 3 feet or so and push the rear where I wanted it to go. Might have been better off just pushing the thing.

So, one awesome thing about having bay doors on both ends of your shop is all the wall space you loose. Oh wait, thats the sucky part.
The cool thing is you can just pull in the other way after drive/pushing a 2 legged jeep out of the way. Got the Tacoma racked for tomorrows project. That was my predetermined stopping point, but things were going well so I forged on...

I had a list for the Tacoma that was waiting on the lift, I figured I could knock a few easy bits off since I wasn't doing anything else. Baby steps, right?
I pulled the front tires, and, well, Tacoma shock assemblies are so easy that I wound up installing the Fox units.



I needed to rotate the tires and the fronts were already off so I did that.
Since it was up and due, I started draining the oil for an oil change.
While it was up there, I had some replacement bushings for the Bilstien rear shocks (been clunking for a year or two). Got those installed and then finished the oil change. Also, since it's spring I pulled the plow mount off. That things ugly and hits stuff.

Dang, that was my tomorrow list. I think I might be 2 days ahead of schedule now.... that never happens.

Test drove the Taco, massive improvement. Actually got it into some decent 4 wheel drifts on some farm roads, never felt comfortable enough on the previous shocks to do that. Ride comfort is 15x better. I think the shocks that were on there were valved incorrectly.

This is a before-today pic, but the truck still looks the same except the Plow mount, 'fox' and silver springs. You can use your imagination.

 

[Flat Thunder Channel]

I fired up my old C750 aka Margaret. I was cutting laps in the neighboring parking lot. More or less an oversized kid in an oversized go kart. Yeah, I had a blast!

 

[2baditsnotachev]

Slowly getting this heap ready for the season.

 

[My Old Tools]

Finished restoring the latest Millers Falls boring machine and shipped it to the new owner. Machined new shafts and chuck, new legs, built a new base and turned new handles.

 

[930dreamer]

60" blast cabinet is on casters now.

 

[Bessy]

Installed two of four casters on the MUT. Now that the US move is off, I still need to get my cordless tool collection squared away while we figure out where we're going now. Picked up some tools and piled them on the bench.

Back at it tomorrow.

 

[nadogail]

Ground out most of a very crappy weld, I was my first attempt in months to weld, I was both weak and tired. I guess I had lost most of what little ability I had.
I burnt a few rods today and the results were much less crappy than the earlier effort.

 

[vwpieces]

1.5yrs After the DD build has been on the road, I finally installed some body trim molding and rocker trim. Had to drill lotsa holes for clips, main reason for putting it off. USA built rabbit had stick on trim, no holes. I used a set of Older German rabbit black and chrome trim.




Car also got a new fuel solenoid and new valve stem in RF wheel. Had a Slow leak.
SOMEWHERE I set down a bag of clips for the rocker trim molding. Gave up after 45min and found another set upstairs in the parts Hoard. All day and they haven't turned up... Yet.

 

[Perroflojo]

Bought an ultrasonic cleaner for some small car parts. Liking this purchase so far.

You can also clean you fuel injectors, wife's jewellery and watch bands with it.

 

[smackey05]

You can also clean you fuel injectors, wife's jewellery and watch bands with it.

Sounds like I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Started with a bunch of carburetor parts and now moving on to car hardware that I removed.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

1.5yrs After the DD build has been on the road, I finally installed some body trim molding and rocker trim. Had to drill lotsa holes for clips, main reason for putting it off. USA built rabbit had stick on trim, no holes. I used a set of Older German rabbit black and chrome trim.




Car also got a new fuel solenoid and new valve stem in RF wheel. Had a Slow leak.
SOMEWHERE I set down a bag of clips for the rocker trim molding. Gave up after 45min and found another set upstairs in the parts Hoard. All day and they haven't turned up... Yet.

Is that a Mk1 Jetta front end?

 

[welder4956]

FINALLY!!! at 2.30pm I remembered WTF I went out there to do first thing this morning.... Put a new belt on the sander. I also put three vises away in the fire cabinet & had a minor clean up under one end of the workbench.

Actually having a productive day



And yes, that's a Z1 cylinder head back in the corner.

What brand of belts are you using? I've been wanting to use 3M Cubitron on mine, but can't find them in a 4" x 36" size.

 

[vwpieces]

Is that a Mk1 Jetta front end?

Yup, not an easy conversion and I made the chrome and black Jetta fender trim. Stripped the black off.
It was a more time than money build but still basically a new car as far as mechanicals. Had to cut up my 83 TD Jetta after 20yrs of winter duty. Rabbit needed front fenders and I had a set of good jetta fenders, which started the conversion. Also has the full 16v scirocco brakes and 1.6l TD from the Jetta. Trans is a complete rebuild too, had every bearing and synchro on hand and 90% of the parts to build the car.
Car was FREE...

 

[ZRX61]

What brand of belts are you using? I've been wanting to use 3M Cubitron on mine, but can't find them in a 4" x 36" size.

Freud Diablo from Home Cheapo.

 

[ZRX61]

One done.... but now I have to go have a finger stuck up my exhaust at City of Hope.

 

[ZRX61]

Four done. Yoga mat was almost the perfect length for four drawers. Had about 1in left over & trimmed 1.5in off the side.



Before:



After (SAE drawer)



Metric drawer.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Cleaned up a bit. Got the TroyBilt Horse running again.

 

[kbeefy]

Jeep went back on the lift today...



After reinstalling the diff and function testing I noticed alot of movement of the magnet and wire harness (it's an Eaton E-Locker) that I didn't like. Closer inspection revealed that the locating tabs (red circle) on the magnet were bent, allowing about 1" of rotational 'slop'.
It looked like this would either fatigue the wire (blue arrow) and cause a failure, or give the wire enough slack to possible come into contact with the ring gear bolts. Sooo, out it comes again.



After discussing it with the owner, We bent the tabs back straight and put some small welds inside the bends on the tabs. This seems to have increased their rigidity pretty substantially. I advised him that this isn't really a fix, but more of a patch and it may last forever or it may last one day. He was OK with it, and has had enough issues with the Eaton that he's ready to swap in an ARB at the next failure.
Now the diff is back in, function test successful. There is now only about 1/4 inch of rotational movement, and the wire appears secure. The whole thing would be back together except we decided to replace the emergency brake shoes while the axles were apart, so thats another day waiting on parts.

 

[ZRX61]

Solved a mystery!
While installing the new drawer liners in the socket & wrench drawers I noticed my 3/8 drive 7/16 deep impact socket was AWOL. It wasn't among all the loose sockets...
Spot the gap:

That black tin in the back left corner of the drawer contains my 3/8 drive Metric deep impact sockets. I checked it out & discovered an extra socket, the missing 7/16 deep impact...

No gap:



In related news, the tin is a bit bigger than it needs to be for the set of metric sockets that came in it & they rattle around...

Or rather they *did* rattle around. I used some of the drawer liner offcut to take up the space... so solved a mystery & cured a rattle.

 

[jeep63]

Changed the oil in my 250 in preparation for an off-road camping trip starting tomorrow. first real vacation since moving into the new house.

 

[rayra]

Just making a big mess, in support of my ongoing outdoor projects. But soon, sooon, it will be time for walling off a corner of the garage to make a secure storeroom.

 

[Flat Thunder Channel]

I finally gained access to the new garage space I'm leasing. So far I shoe horned the snow plow thru the door and put in the riding lawn mower. I'm excited to have the additional space!

 

[ZRX61]

Pliers drawer done...

 

[ZRX61]

Screwdrivers & 'Mer's



Some didn't go back in this box & will be going to the *spares* box...The scrapers went in another drawer.





Some of these could go in the spares box... & this is just one of four drawers of hammers spread around several boxes..

 

[Magnum440d100]

Haven’t been in the garage for a couple days.

Between work and back pain/kidney pain, I’ve been doing very little. Yard work, yeah, but not mechanical work.

Today my back/kidneys got the best of me. Went to work, and I just couldn’t. So off to the ER. As I’m attempting to piss to give a sample, out comes a stone. Right into the toilet. Still gave a sample. Got a CT scan, and still have a stone in my left kidney. So now it’s pain pills and hope this one passes as well. She said it wasn’t very big, so may be quick.

Back and left kidney still hurts like hell though.

So now I’m couch crashin just resting. Thinking about how I put up with this stone for a month or better, finally decided to go to the ER, and THEN it decided to pass. Probably gonna be a $10k stone. I should have tried to retrieve the damn thing from the toilet…

 

[ZRX61]

Got motivated.... Dug out my Grizzly 12in disc sander. It had an old sanding disc stuck to it... & when I say *stuck*.. I mean like it was welded on. Got the heat gun to soften the adhesive & still left most of it stuck to the aluminum plate.
Went after it with single-side razor scraper & that's when things went a bit awry. I'd almost got the worst of it off & then had a slight mishap.
Not sure of the damage as I wrapped my hand in a Scott shop towel & masking tape without having a look at it. Then I finished off the scraping & used lacquer thinner & a rag to get the last of it off the disc. Didn't get any near the injured hand.

Fair bit of claret, but no pain & I've stopped leaking. Disc sander all spiffed up for install of a new sanding disc.

 

[ZRX61]

Bag of 100 M4x10mm stainless allen screws showed up, fitted four of them to the ZRX1100 as I buggered up one the JIS screws a few days ago...

Before:



After:

 

[kaymccampbell]

Put the tiller out. Put the big mower in. Dragged out some trash cans. Set up the Lancelot on the angle grinder.

 

[kbeefy]

Got our brake parts today, Jeep is back together and ready for Memorial Day wheeling trip.



I tried to tell it it shouldn't be so much of a poser, but it didn't listen. Our place is pretty flat so it just parked on the most convenient bump.

 

[Bessy]

The MUT holds tools! Still need at least one more shelf, then drill/driver holders up top.

Pictured is my circular saws, 1/4 sheet sander, belt sander and jig saw.

Still to load:
- Drills/Drivers/Impact Wrenches
-Oscilating tool
- Recip saw
- R/O sanders
- Task light
- Grinder
- Palm Router
- Inflator


Hoping I can get them all in before moving to the back side.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Started to go through the tool kit for the wife's vehicle.

 

[great white tj]

Finished up restoring this mower for a friend of mine.

Always wanted to restore a cylinder mower.. I stripped it all, straightened out (most of) any dings, made up the decals, and re-assembled it, whilst he painted it. The drum needs sharpened then it’s ready for use.

Very Nice... After you get a cutting edge on the reel, could you post a few pic. of the cut grass ?

 

[great white tj]

Finished up restoring this mower for a friend of mine.

Always wanted to restore a cylinder mower.. I stripped it all, straightened out (most of) any dings, made up the decals, and re-assembled it, whilst he painted it. The drum needs sharpened then it’s ready for use.

Very Nice... After you get a cutting edge on the reel, could you post a few pic. of the cut grass ?

 

[niget2002]

Watching paint dry. Hopefully this is the last time I have to spray primer on this project.

 

[Bessy]

Watching paint dry. Hopefully this is the last time I have to spray primer on this project.

That spray booth (and shop for that matter) is envious!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Serviced the Dingo, the big mower, the Burg. Cleaned splatters off the lift.

 

[niget2002]

That spray booth (and shop for that matter) is envious!

Thanks! I've been blessed. The shop was my wife's idea.

 

[cweidert03]

Put a new striping roller on my Zero turn and went to sharpen the blades and found this.. looks like a trip to the Deere store in the morning.

 

[PassnThru]

In the detached garage - got rid of a bunch of various balls the kids are never going to play with again. They haven't touched them in several years and they are 15+ now. Kept a few basketballs but that's it. The tub they were in was cracked and worn and it went also. Also got rid of a bunch of what can only be described as 'butterfly nets' - at least a dozen of them and the former toddler golf set carrier that they were in.
The wife insisted that we keep 3 of the the nets.
Small steps.
It's a perennial problem for me as the kids get older - so much stays around that I consider clutter that the better half has trouble getting rid of. And it's stuff the kids couldn't care less about.
Some of it just 'disappears' and no one ever misses it - some of it gets discussed - I try to keep it balanced but maintain at least some momentum and progress.

 

[Legion Prime]

After finding an ice rink and finding out I'm not QUITE too fat to tie my skates anymore I spent about a half hour zipping around the ice on skates for the first time in at least a decade (usually I'm wearing YakTrax if I'm on ice). I picked up a momentary switch and used that to wire around GM's godamned POS passlock yet AGAIN. Some lag screws to finish putting the wrong tray on a set of wheelbarrow handles and wheels etc that's been sitting in the potting shed for years, but it's a second wheelbarrow and the tray isn't rusted through anywhere. Then I aired up the bike's tires and rode it a town or two over to hit the ATM I forgot to hit that morning and changed the engine & gearbox oil when I got back. Next up is changing the oil on the genny & snowblower and ordering some clutch parts to delete the spring plate in my bike's clutch pack.