Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT A trip back from the edge.

[xtremek]

Bob, I like your thinking, but it would be my luck that I'd the one that would end up getting cut.

Strouty, You and me both. They destroy so much stuff. That I then have to repair. UGH.

BF, I wonder why our stupid ducks don't kill the mice. We did get some snow last night, but it only stuck on the cars and porch.

 

[xtremek]

Just before my wife and I take off to Chicago for a few days, the oldest daughter had a woman cut her off and slam on the brakes. They get out and the other woman decks our daughter and leaves the scene. WT*? Anyway, they totaled her ride and we keep the it. Needs core support pulled, a hood, headlights, bumper, bumper beam, condenser, and radiator about 10-12 hours worth of work and she’s back in her car. Still need to pick up the hood. Paint the parts when it gets warm again.

 

[xtremek]

During the trip to Chicago, we hit the Field Museum, Garfield conservatory, and the National Mexican Art Museum.

 

[xtremek]

I also made it out to the Roadster Shop, but everyone was at SEMA, major bummer. Still, there were a bunch of cool rides outside and in the showroom.

 

[Strouty]

Looks like you had fun, did they ever find the woman that decked your daughter? That is some crazy ****.

 

[shortykorte]

Looks like your staying real busy. I like that lawn mower at the museum. Looks like it has an air actuated body. Roadster Shop had to be a treat.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[xtremek]

..........did they ever find the woman that decked your daughter? That is some crazy ****.

Strouty, you're right, that still makes my jaw drop. And nope, they never did find her.

Looks like your staying real busy. I like that lawn mower at the museum. Looks like it has an air actuated body. Roadster Shop had to be a treat.

The lawn mower was all electric and it was very cool. I was a little disappointed in the Roadster Shop, but I was expecting to be, since it was SEMA. The C10 that you can see in the outside shot has been on the cover of a bunch of magazines, and they magazines do an accurate accounting. Very nice truck.

 

[xtremek]

Another weekend gone. Did front brakes on the middle daughter’s Cruze. Finished pulling the core support on the ’03 F150 S’crew and cleaned the frame horns up as best I could. I’ll paint them with a brush tonight. Not the way I want, but my daughter didn’t want to put any effort in this truck, so I’m just trying to save myself some future rust repairs.

 

[Kev442]

Spent some time getting my "just OK" quarter panel repair further along. Hoping to have it rattle canned and out of the garage by the end of next weekend.

 

[xtremek]

Spent some time getting my "just OK" quarter panel repair further along. Hoping to have it rattle canned and out of the garage by the end of next weekend.

The quarter looks pretty good to me, Kev. One step closer.

 

[Strouty]

Progress is good, the paint applied with the brush is probably going to be better than a rattle can anyways.

 

[rixtrix1]

Just when your head comes up for a breath a rogue wave appears. Too bad about your daughter's ride, and getting decked!?!?!? Hang tough. I know you can do it!
Good work on the bench!

 

[xtremek]

Progress is good, the paint applied with the brush is probably going to be better than a rattle can anyways.

We're probably going to go back and do a better job in a couple of years when we put an air ride system in it.

Just when your head comes up for a breath a rogue wave appears.......... Hang tough. I know you can do it!
Good work on the bench!

The daughter's ride wasn't that bad. Getting the parts took 10x longer than the repairs.

On a good note, with my daughter's help (biological), I was finally able to get the place ready for winter this past weekend. Sigh.

 

[Kev442]

Yeah, winter prep came way too early this year. I usually don't even start until Thanksgiving weekend and we've already gotten three snowstorms this year. That's why I've got to finish the quarter, the wife's summer car goes in that spot.

 

[Strouty]

Our first real snow is supposed to be Sunday, I don’t even have a working snowplow yet.

 

[xtremek]

Our first real snow is supposed to be Sunday, I don’t even have a working snowplow yet.

I'm surprised that with all your equipment, that you don't have and end loader or backhoe that would work as a fill in. Reminds me, I should put the chains on the tractor.

 

[xtremek]

Over the weekend, the truck frame rails were treated to the firewall, the tin pieces were ready for a coat of paint, and as soon as I pull the left downstream O2 sensor out, the exhaust and front tires go on, and the truck comes down off the jack stands for the first time in 3 years. Baby steps.

 

[xtremek]

Daughter got the intake cleaned out, and I got the frame rails and miscellaneous tin pieces painted. On a more interesting note, my wife got her deer. I’m guessing they’ll total the car, we’ll buy it back, and I’ll spend the weekend scrounging around junkyards for parts.

 

[Strouty]

We have a few totaled cars in the stable as well.

Having the truck off the stands will be a milestone, congrats!

 

[shortykorte]

I see you’re using Shortys Surefire Project Planning System. Congrats on truck.

Ouch on deer. Exo-cage on the Christmas list?


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[xtremek]

We have a few totaled cars in the stable as well.

Having the truck off the stands will be a milestone, congrats!

Anything interesting on the "scrap" pile, other than 'burbans, and big trucks? If they total the Sonic it'll either be repaired within a week, or gone immediately.

I see you’re using Shortys Surefire Project Planning System. Congrats on truck.

Ouch on deer. Exo-cage on the Christmas list?

The only problem with exo's is that I would need to build 6 of them for the current fleet of DDs.

With all of the "distractions", I don't think the truck will be done before Christmas, but I can dream.

 

[xtremek]

Happy Thanksgiving folks. I thankful for family and friends, and a warm dry shop to fix cars in later this afternoon.

 

[xtremek]

On Friday, I had a grand adventure. Robin wants brick to put around the outside of the garden and I need fill for the parking area. A guy on marketplace pulled down his chimney, so off I went in the "Old Beast", ear plugs firmly in place. I get within 10 miles, the phone charge getting low, from his place and see a sign that says "Bridge Out". I go down the road anyways, hoping to get to my turn before the bridge. Nope. Turn around and go back to the sign. Pick up the phone for directions, dead. Dead reckon my way in his general direction. First guy, "Nope never heard of X road". Go down the road and a couple more turns, the next guy says go the direction you're headed, turn left at the next intersection...." I get to the house and the gent has the the end loader ready to dump. Goes back for a second load and proceeds to bury the loader about 8"-12" in his yard. "We'll get the Lull" (monster 4wd fork lift). The old girl says it's too cold for me and refuses to start. Low battery. Won't jump. So he gets another large fork lift and tries to lift the front end enough get the loader out of the hole. Nope. Dump the load and we'll pull it out with the forklift. Nope. If anyone out there needs a bathroom now break, I'll pause the story for you. So, we'll get the 3/4 ton 4wd truck, low battery. Open the hood, and in the 2 days the truck has been sitting, the squirrels have quite the comfy home in there. Clean it up a little, throw a jump on it, and the truck still says,"nope". The guy gets his old John Deere, it starts, and we get ready to pull the loader out. I try pulling the loader out with its bucket, but the ground is so wet and soft, It barely moves. It does move enough to get the tractor up high enough to put boards under the front end, and now we can finish using the bucket to get the tractor out of the hole. The JD pulls the loader up onto solid ground. We come at the pile from the high side, load it up, finish loading the "Old Beast", and I finally head home. What a crazy adventure. And, I made a new friend, Josh. Thanks for the fun time, it was quite the afternoon.

 

[xtremek]

For those following along, I inched along with the S’crew. It’s down on all fours for the first time in at least 2 years. And on the little project front, I got the two signs cut out and the first coat of spar urethane on them.

 

[jon72vega]

On Friday, I had a grand adventure. Robin wants brick to put around the outside of the garden and I need fill for the parking area. A guy on marketplace pulled down his chimney, so off I went in the "Old Beast", ear plugs firmly in place. I get within 10 miles, the phone charge getting low, from his place and see a sign that says "Bridge Out". I go down the road anyways, hoping to get to my turn before the bridge. Nope. Turn around and go back to the sign. Pick up the phone for directions, dead. Dead reckon my way in his general direction. First guy, "Nope never heard of X road". Go down the road and a couple more turns, the next guy says go the direction you're headed, turn left at the next intersection...." I get to the house and the gent has the the end loader ready to dump. Goes back for a second load and proceeds to bury the loader about 8"-12" in his yard. "We'll get the Lull" (monster 4wd fork lift). The old girl says it's too cold for me and refuses to start. Low battery. Won't jump. So he gets another large fork lift and tries to lift the front end enough get the loader out of the hole. Nope. Dump the load and we'll pull it out with the forklift. Nope. If anyone out there needs a bathroom now break, I'll pause the story for you. So, we'll get the 3/4 ton 4wd truck, low battery. Open the hood, and in the 2 days the truck has been sitting, the squirrels have quite the comfy home in there. Clean it up a little, throw a jump on it, and the truck still says,"nope". The guy gets his old John Deere, it starts, and we get ready to pull the loader out. I try pulling the loader out with its bucket, but the ground is so wet and soft, It barely moves. It does move enough to get the tractor up high enough to put boards under the front end, and now we can finish using the bucket to get the tractor out of the hole. The JD pulls the loader up onto solid ground. We come at the pile from the high side, load it up, finish loading the "Old Beast", and I finally head home. What a crazy adventure. And, I made a new friend, Josh. Thanks for the fun time, it was quite the afternoon.

For those following along, I inched along with the S’crew. It’s down on all fours for the first time in at least 2 years. And on the little project front, I got the two signs cut out and the first coat of spar urethane on them.

Kirk,
Sounds like you had a busy weekend.
What are the signs for that you are making?

 

[sean Buick 76]

I always enjoy catching up on your projects! Nice work!

 

[Kev442]

Wow. I posted a couple paragraphs a couple hours ago and ****! Never existed...

 

[xtremek]

Kirk,
What are the signs for that you are making?

One's for the Duck House (German translation for "the duck house"), and one is for the barn/shop (the Hack Shack)

I always enjoy catching up on your projects! Nice work!

Thanks for the compliment. I'm humbled.

Wow. I posted a couple paragraphs a couple hours ago and ****! Never existed...

I hear you. It's gotten to the point I do everything in Word, then cut and paste.

 

[xtremek]

The adjuster dropped by and gave us the official word, the Sonic is totaled. The decision was made and we’re keeping the car. Robin helped me take the bumper off and just 4 bolts are left to take out the core support. Hopefully I’ll finish taking it apart tonight and finish straightening the condenser and radiator tonight.

 

[Arkansas COB]

Dang Kirk.
It's winter. Time to kick back and relax. Oh wait I do that year round.

It took some reading but Im finally caught up with your busy ways again.

Cant wait to see the finished results on those signs.

Good luck on the Sonic. Repaired many a totaled cars and trucks in my earlier days. Sometimes its easy and sometimes not.

COB

 

[Strouty]

Glutton for punishment. I live it. From the outside, it would be better to take the money and buy something, but when you,re inside it is like free money, even though it rarely ends up that way. I think we like this tragedy that we call our lives.

 

[xtremek]

Dang Kirk.
It's winter. Time to kick back and relax. Oh wait I do that year round.......... Cant wait to see the finished results on those signs.

Good luck on the Sonic. Repaired many a totaled cars and trucks in my earlier days. Sometimes its easy and sometimes not.

COB

COB, I'd love to kick and RETIRE, but I'm guessing that won't happen for another 10 years. This one should be easy, everything that is messed up is bolt on, including the core support.

Glutton for punishment..... it would be better to take the money and buy something,....... I think we like this tragedy that we call our lives.

Unfortunately, the insurance won't cover all we owe on the car, so only two options are to fix it, or roll the debt into a new payment. Not gonna take on more debt. And I hear you on the tradegy, but my stuff is more like stubbing your toe on a piece of furniture in the dark............every night.........for at least 8 years....the same piece of furniture. Not a big deal, just totally annoying.

 

[Strouty]

That is a good description for sure.

 

[sublime68charger]

I like the free brick adventure!

Just be glad it didn't involve a hospital visit for you!

 

[xtremek]

I finished the Sonic disassembly last night. I need to straighten the radiator, finish doing that to the condenser, and get the “new” parts. Hopefully I’ll have it back on the road by the beginning of next week.

 

[xtremek]

I like the free brick adventure!

Just be glad it didn't involve a hospital visit for you!

I try hard to keep doctor visits down to my yearly check ups, no hospital visits

 

[jon72vega]

Good progress on the Sonic.

 

[xtremek]

Good progress on the Sonic.

Thanks Jon. This car was designed with mechanics in mind, from what I've seen so far.

 

[mwbailey]

You're lucky. I think most vehicles now days are only designed for the service department to stay in business. I may have relayed my 2008 Expedition spark plug adventure, but in short: diagnosis was new plugs for like $350. I could change 8 spark plugs in my 442 in less than a half hour, so I declined service department's offer. Then I checked the Internet and found out that I had one of "those" engines with 3 valves per cylinder which meant the plugs were installed in a narrow, cylindrical socket which froze up about 3 in 8 times, and there was a special tool to remove broken plugs. Back to the service department for them to do it.

Good luck with Sonic. It's great when a product actually IS well-designed!

 

[xtremek]

On an '08 and the plugs didn't already break? You're very lucky. On the '03 ('99-'03), you couldn't keep plugs in the head. You'd drive down the road and the plugs will just blow out by themselves. I told the next generation, the plugs blew apart, and then the next generation the plugs wouldn't come out. Or something like that.