zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Personally I'd hold onto the taillights Marc. As nice as they turned out it you know as soon as you sell them you'll need one.
Above 1200 Sq/FT Aces High Speed Shop's New Home - 36x40x14
- Thread starter OutlawDrifter
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
They still have the OEM GM circuit boards as well...another reason I might hold on to them. I've got an updated aftermarket set installed right now, but always nice to go back to the OEM stuff if necessary.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Agreed Marc, I prefer the OEM stuff more and more lately. Several years ago my son swapped out all of his for LED **** and after chasing problem after problem and burned out garbage one after the other, he has now gone fully back to OEM and much prefers it. He had to learn that on his own as he wouldn't listen to me when he bought the LED's.
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
I am still amazed at how much my father’s intelligence and wisdom grew the older I got!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sterling, it's funny you mentioned that. I had the EXACT conversation with my son while we were working on his truck the other day.
I was telling him to keep a good relationship with his son because there is going to be phases he goes through and how my son navigates those stages or phases will determine how good or bad of a relationship he has with his son later in life.
I explained that I love watching my grandson look up to his dad and want to be just like him. I explained that when his son is at this age until probably around 5 dad will know "everything".
At around 8 or so dad may still know "a lot".
Around 10 maybe dad doesn't know everything?
By 14 dad doesn't know anything.
By 16-18 dad is just plain stupid and he can't be taken seriously about anything.
By around 22 or so, dad is just talking nonsense.
Then by around 25 he may think that dad isn't dumb, but he will still think he knows more than dad.
By 30 maybe he should ask dad's opinion about this because he "might" know something about it.
By 35 dad was right about so many things.
By 40 dad is a freakin' genious and he'll will be amazed at how he handles all this "stuff".
Then by around 45 or later he may say to himself; "If only dad was here I could learn so much from him".
I know that has been my journey and now I wish I could have just one more conversation with my dad to tell him how much I learned from him and what a great dad he was. I can only hope and pray my son will navigate that journey and come out the other side on good terms. I see all to often the journey not going well between fathers and sons and ending poorly.
madison069
Well-known member
Keep the OEM lights. 
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Marc, if those are the original lenses I would keep them. OK, I might even keep replacements just to make the job go faster. I replaced the headlight housings on our '04 PT Cruiser when they got cloudy for the 74th time. The replacement housings started fading the day after I installed them. After a few years of wasted effort polishing the replacement lenses, they were yellow and developing surface cracks. I gave up polishing them because the yellow and cracks remained even though they were shinier.The light housings for the Suburban turned out better than expected. I had cleaned them up to sell, but now thinking I should keep them for backups, which defeats the purpose of getting rid of stuff.
I drug the OE housings out, sanded them with 800 grit and sprayed a couple of coats of SPI Universal Clear on them. Three years later I haven't done anything but wash them whenever I wash the car.
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Marc, if those are the original lenses I would keep them. OK, I might even keep replacements just to make the job go faster. I replaced the headlight housings on our '04 PT Cruiser when they got cloudy for the 74th time. The replacement housings started fading the day after I installed them. After a few years of wasted effort polishing the replacement lenses, they were yellow and developing surface cracks. I gave up polishing them because the yellow and cracks remained even though they were shinier.
I drug the OE housings out, sanded them with 800 grit and sprayed a couple of coats of SPI Universal Clear on them. Three years later I haven't done anything but wash them whenever I wash the car.
Bob, I think the clearcoat is the ticket on the plastic stuff!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Marc, I have the OEM headlights and turn signals from my 2006 Duramax that I am going to do a much better controlled test of. I tried some clear on our last coach many years ago and had a bad experience, it checked and peeled within a year. I prepped it properly, but I used a clear that was not what I normally used so that "may" have been the issue.
This summer when I am restoring the yard tractor I think I will sand and clear my OEM lights and reinstall them in my truck as a test. If I have a better outcome, I will probably do the same to the wife's car and our coach as I have polished them several times throughout our ownership.
madison069
Well-known member
I might be in the same boat with the lenses treatments soon. My 2012 F250 headlights are showing some foggy appearance that needs to be polished out. I just hope I can remove them without removing the grill guard.
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Busy weekend in the shop. Spent quite a bit of time sorting through stuff, throwing stuff out, and rearranging shelves and spaces.
Sunday I picked up the lumber to build a new woodworking bench. Decided 4'x6' with a 40" deck height. This would clean off another section of shelving on the south wall, and give me a better/flatter surface to work on projects.
The finished project. Had some help yesterday from my mini, he stained the drawers and spent a big part of the day in the shop with me...definitely the best part of the day.
Where it will live for now. Still in the process of the shop reorganization, but things are definitely flowing better, and I have a 1/2 a pickup load to take to the dump. Put a few items up for sale that it was time to let go of, including a nearly new Holley 670 Street Avenger I forgot I had.
Sunday I picked up the lumber to build a new woodworking bench. Decided 4'x6' with a 40" deck height. This would clean off another section of shelving on the south wall, and give me a better/flatter surface to work on projects.
The finished project. Had some help yesterday from my mini, he stained the drawers and spent a big part of the day in the shop with me...definitely the best part of the day.
Where it will live for now. Still in the process of the shop reorganization, but things are definitely flowing better, and I have a 1/2 a pickup load to take to the dump. Put a few items up for sale that it was time to let go of, including a nearly new Holley 670 Street Avenger I forgot I had
.madison069
Well-known member
Sometimes it’s surprising what we forget until we purge the shop!
Nice bench! What made you pick 40” as your height of the bench?
Nice bench! What made you pick 40” as your height of the bench?
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Thanks Cody, I'm 6'3 and don't like bending over the bench to reach things. Actually, height is 39.75"...but close enough to call it 40". My 5' metal topped bench over by the lift is at 41".
And yes, it's wild what I found on the shelves, and thinking..."why the hell did it keep this?".
Finally parting with a T10 transmission out of our Anglia drag car, it originally came out of a '63-1/2 Ford Galaxie Fastback with a 406FE and 3-2s. I hauled it back from NE when we had the farm sale, thinking I'd use it someday...I won't
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
I need your home address so I can come over for your yard sale, cuz everybody knows I love a “Good Deal”!
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Thanks, Mark, hoping it creates a better work flow like intended!
sean Buick 76
Well-known member
Wonderful build I love it!!Busy weekend in the shop. Spent quite a bit of time sorting through stuff, throwing stuff out, and rearranging shelves and spaces.
Sunday I picked up the lumber to build a new woodworking bench. Decided 4'x6' with a 40" deck height. This would clean off another section of shelving on the south wall, and give me a better/flatter surface to work on projects.
The finished project. Had some help yesterday from my mini, he stained the drawers and spent a big part of the day in the shop with me...definitely the best part of the day.
Where it will live for now. Still in the process of the shop reorganization, but things are definitely flowing better, and I have a 1/2 a pickup load to take to the dump. Put a few items up for sale that it was time to let go of, including a nearly new Holley 670 Street Avenger I forgot I had
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Thanks Sean, it's been quite useful thus far.
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Time for an update, it's been a month or more.Lots of goings on and happenings around our place.
Lost my father-in-law about a month a go. Great guy, very unexpected, the world is truly a lesser place without him. I really don't have the words. My wife is a "daddy's girl"(in a good way), so this has been very hard for her. I can empathize having lost both of my parents.
Had a couple of good shooting days, was able to help my cousin's wife gift him a Henry Big Boy carbine in .357mag, to which I also wrapped the lever in leather, and found an awesome hair on leather scabbard to transport it in. Also built him a custom sign for his man cave with a to-scale .308win cartridge sized to 12" in length.
The MF 8 lawn tractor is sold and replaced with a John Deere 185. New in the late 80s, this 17hp single jug Kawasaki powered mower was around $4000. It was a little rough so the mini and I set out to spruce it up.
New wheels on front, new tires all around, repaint on the back wheels, buff job to all the green, new seat, fresh plug, fresh air filter, mechanical once over, etc. It runs like a sewing machine, should make a great tractor to spread fertilizer and spray with, and let the kid cut his chops on mowing. All that is left to do is put some new blades under the deck, should be here this week.
Lost my father-in-law about a month a go. Great guy, very unexpected, the world is truly a lesser place without him. I really don't have the words. My wife is a "daddy's girl"(in a good way), so this has been very hard for her. I can empathize having lost both of my parents.
Had a couple of good shooting days, was able to help my cousin's wife gift him a Henry Big Boy carbine in .357mag, to which I also wrapped the lever in leather, and found an awesome hair on leather scabbard to transport it in. Also built him a custom sign for his man cave with a to-scale .308win cartridge sized to 12" in length.
The MF 8 lawn tractor is sold and replaced with a John Deere 185. New in the late 80s, this 17hp single jug Kawasaki powered mower was around $4000. It was a little rough so the mini and I set out to spruce it up.
New wheels on front, new tires all around, repaint on the back wheels, buff job to all the green, new seat, fresh plug, fresh air filter, mechanical once over, etc. It runs like a sewing machine, should make a great tractor to spread fertilizer and spray with, and let the kid cut his chops on mowing. All that is left to do is put some new blades under the deck, should be here this week.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Marc, sorry to hear about your FIL. My condolences to you and your wife.
Great job on bringing the JD back, looks good.
Great job on bringing the JD back, looks good.
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Thanks, on both accounts Mike.
madison069
Well-known member
Loosing good family members are never easy. Like you I lost both my parents in a short period of time, and I know it's not easy.
nice looking gun scabbard, do you know what he will mount it to?
John Deere is looking good. I'm currently in the market for a seat but it seems like I can buy a whole riding mower on Facebook marketplace then I can buy a new seat for the mower!
nice looking gun scabbard, do you know what he will mount it to?
John Deere is looking good. I'm currently in the market for a seat but it seems like I can buy a whole riding mower on Facebook marketplace then I can buy a new seat for the mower!
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Scabbard was just for fun, Cody...more cowboy gear for a "cowboy" gun.
Thanks! The seat I bought was $90ish, but I had to add 2 holes filled with riv-nuts to make it work properly. Based on what I paid for this mower, I'm in agreement with you. I've got more in parts, than I have in the purchase. I really wanted this model based on the engine and hand-controlled hydro. The piston in this Kawasaki is 3.5" in diameter...with the 38" deck, I think you could mow off trees
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Much appreciated, Mark.
madison069
Well-known member
Oh I figured he might mount it to a side by side or something along that line.Scabbard was just for fun, Cody...more cowboy gear for a "cowboy" gun.
Thanks! The seat I bought was $90ish, but I had to add 2 holes filled with riv-nuts to make it work properly. Based on what I paid for this mower, I'm in agreement with you. I've got more in parts, than I have in the purchase. I really wanted this model based on the engine and hand-controlled hydro. The piston in this Kawasaki is 3.5" in diameter...with the 38" deck, I think you could mow off trees
3.5” piston?!?!? So, it can handle a turbo then!
My condolences, @OutlawDrifter
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Appreciate it!
jbmatth
Well-known member
Sorry to hear of the passing of your FIL, my thoughts are with you and your wife.
That is a nice looking JD, I've been on the lookout for a decent one for my new place, it is just a little too big to push mow.
JB
That is a nice looking JD, I've been on the lookout for a decent one for my new place, it is just a little too big to push mow.
JB
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Thanks JB, appreciate it.
With you guys normally being a few weeks ahead of us up there, I'd bet you're due for a mow!
jbmatth
Well-known member
I am due, but the "free" push mower I got needs a carb, I got it before I left last weekend and the cold hasn't made me want to work on it at all.
JB
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Thanks Logan.
I probably should have mowed on Saturday...oh well. It's fixing to be a busy weekend. Need to mow, spread fertilizer, and do an oil change on the wife's Tacoma. Probably should prune the apple tree too, and, and, and, and....
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
I am so ready for that spring to do list after this winter, though I'm likely 4-6 weeks away from mowing the lawn yet.
That 185 looks really good!
Sorry to hear about your FIL.
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Appreciate it!
Looks like you might need pontoons right now from your last post.
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
I'm actually back to needing a winter coat. Currently back to snowing and blowing with windchills below 0F.
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Appreciate it, Mike, on both accounts.
OP
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Well, yardwork season is in full swing at our place.
Been busy, haven't really been documenting much. Wife's Tacoma got both diffs, the xfercase, and the power steering fluid serviced. It also got a new set of plugs, upper/lower rad hoses, and fresh coolant. The plugs were finally out of spec with 87k miles on them. Pretty good life for some coppers. This is the 2nd set I've put in this Tacoma.
The "new" JD mower got its electric PTO clutch replaced after some troubleshooting and only 1 good outing actually mowing.
My mini and I actually got to go fishing on Sunday. The weather was fantastic and the Crappie and Bluegill were biting. Had a happy boy, and that made it all worth it.
In other news, I had my tuner go over the tune in the Z28. Before I knew my current guy, I had this car tuned in KC. I'm not sure why I waited 10yrs to have Anthony look it over but it is noticeably better...we found some shocking shortcuts while in there.
Been on the fence about updating the Tundra to a newer pickup. It's still running great at 262k+ miles, but thought maybe it's time to move up to a 2nd gen Tundra. Well, to get the 38gal fuel tank I would prefer means a 2016 or newer, and I really don't want the 2014+ facelift trucks with more electronics. I'd be limited to 2016-2018 because 2018 was the last year of the factory transmission cooler...none of these things are really deal breakers, tanks can be swapped, and coolers added, but still can't stomach the price.
So, I guess we'll just go to "Phase 3" on the current 2003 Tundra. This will include a new fabbed front bumper(and lighting upgrades), possibly moving to an OME 2884 spring from a 2883, some vinyl exterior styling upgrades(more Ivan Stewart livery), potentially headers, maybe an ECU tune, and it will be due for tires this Fall. Rear bumper will get fabbed up at some point as well. Might have a few more additions as well, still plotting the plan.
Been busy, haven't really been documenting much. Wife's Tacoma got both diffs, the xfercase, and the power steering fluid serviced. It also got a new set of plugs, upper/lower rad hoses, and fresh coolant. The plugs were finally out of spec with 87k miles on them. Pretty good life for some coppers. This is the 2nd set I've put in this Tacoma.
The "new" JD mower got its electric PTO clutch replaced after some troubleshooting and only 1 good outing actually mowing.
My mini and I actually got to go fishing on Sunday. The weather was fantastic and the Crappie and Bluegill were biting. Had a happy boy, and that made it all worth it.
In other news, I had my tuner go over the tune in the Z28. Before I knew my current guy, I had this car tuned in KC. I'm not sure why I waited 10yrs to have Anthony look it over but it is noticeably better...we found some shocking shortcuts while in there.
Been on the fence about updating the Tundra to a newer pickup. It's still running great at 262k+ miles, but thought maybe it's time to move up to a 2nd gen Tundra. Well, to get the 38gal fuel tank I would prefer means a 2016 or newer, and I really don't want the 2014+ facelift trucks with more electronics. I'd be limited to 2016-2018 because 2018 was the last year of the factory transmission cooler...none of these things are really deal breakers, tanks can be swapped, and coolers added, but still can't stomach the price.
So, I guess we'll just go to "Phase 3" on the current 2003 Tundra. This will include a new fabbed front bumper(and lighting upgrades), possibly moving to an OME 2884 spring from a 2883, some vinyl exterior styling upgrades(more Ivan Stewart livery), potentially headers, maybe an ECU tune, and it will be due for tires this Fall. Rear bumper will get fabbed up at some point as well. Might have a few more additions as well, still plotting the plan.
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