Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Shakenfake's Small Shop

[shakenfake]

Also going Wilwoods for rear brakes on the GP. The Summit kit doesn't work with the Currie axles which is annoying. The axle setup we bought was supposed to be a perfect fit but I guess not. The rotors don't fit over the hub register.

Snowball and snowball and snowball and snowball. Custom is ********!!!


The only tools I have bought recently are a vacuum pump and a set of AC gauges from Harbor Freight. Nothing special just need something to get the job done.

 

[Mark_17]

Then let's get this job done buddy, just go out and buy a lathe and start hogging out those rotors.

 

[shakenfake]

Called around to four machine shops and nobody would trim down the hub register. I didn't ask about rotors because it seemed like a PITA to go back every time I needed rotors.

I actually passed on a free lathe because I had no place to store it nor any means to transfer it. Oh well

 

[Mark_17]

Based on your average mileage in the car..... your grandchildren might be forced to replaced the rotors

 

[Xti04]

Rear brakes are overrated. Get a chute and be done with it.

 

[shakenfake]

0 miles in 13 years. Yeah you are probably right...

 

[shakenfake]

Every year after heavy rain my insulation in the roof falls. Eventually I am not going to have any more insulation on the roof and I'll be forced to reinsulate it. I am dreading that day $$$

 

[shakenfake]

UMI coilover brackets are not going to work. Calling RideTech and Global West tomorrow to see if they would just sell us the brackets. Oh my god this thing is never going to get done. Global West looks fine except they want to sell you that damn crossmember which looks like a great piece except it is $500. Which means $500 more to sink in. RideTech doesn't list the brackets separately.

Gah!

 

[Mark_17]

The brackets are probably simple, right? Can you design your own with some cardboard then draw it up in CAD and have send cut send cut them out for you?

 

[shakenfake]

@Mark_17 That was actually my next step BUT, last night I took a step back and looked at the thickness of the plates and decided I should be able to grind it down enough to fit. Originally I was pretty against grinding the UMI bracket but I figure I wouldn't be able to get any money out of it should I try and sell it anyway so I went ahead and ground it down to fit.
They bolt on, not super pretty but they do work.

 

[shakenfake]

Summit on Mother’s Day is completely dead. Best Summit trip I’ve been on in at least 3 or 4 years.

 

[shakenfake]

Picked up some new Knipex external snap ring pliers, 46 21 A21. They worked great where my straight snap ring pliers failed and the no slip tips are awesome. The only thing is that these are slightly small in my hand. I don't know if this snap ring was just mega tight or what but gripping these to open it was slightly difficult.
Also picked up a used Mac 5.5mm socket (M65.5MM). Somehow I lost mine and need to do the blend door actuator on my Silverado, keeps getting stuck on floor or defrost.

 

[shakenfake]

I can confirm I have retard.

 

[shakenfake]

But check this out!
Wheels aren't gonna fit...

 

[shakenfake]

I'm baaaaaack!

The guy that was going to pick up the golf cart is no longer picking up the golf cart. Which means I have to find some way to haul it off. That *****.

Other than that I have had nothing going on. AC seems to be working on the Impala, GP has had no progress really, my Silverado has a loose TC I hope is the issue. Got the new parking brake cable for the GP just need to figure out how to hook it up, also got a 3" x pipe. This means I have to pull the headers back out though to get some hookups welded on and also get my O2 bung welded in, maybe this weekend.

 

[shakenfake]

GP now has driveshaft reinstalled and rear brakes are just about done. Need to bend the brake lines and get some fluid in there. Now that the car has a functioning parking brake I feel better about lifting up the front end. That held me up over the weekend. Not too mention I forgot it was father's day so that burned all of Sunday.
Impala going in for a windshield replacement on Monday and then the Sierra will probably go in the week after that. Also the Imp has a CEL wtf... High idle too, will try and dive into that over the weekend but most likely will just send it and deal with it.

I bought some RaceRamps wheel cribs but I haven't put them to use yet, I like them though.

 

[shakenfake]

Trans needs to come out of the GP. Need to buy a trans jack now. Dammit. Front suspension is completely apart and the rear is completely put together. Was just about ready to get the fuel system installed.

Impala won't be getting a windshield as the people I called apparently decided they didn't have one. The CEL is gone. I wanted a solar shade windshield since that was the OE but I guess I may have to suffer and get the regular one.

 

[shakenfake]

Dropping the headers off today to get v-bands and O2 bungs welded up. These guys do great work.

 

[shakenfake]

Gas tank is in, electrical is ran for it and feed fuel line is mocked.

 

[shakenfake]

Actual garage update! Hung a TV in there. I think it is 60”? I don’t know it was free. Ignore how full that workbench is. I need to spend some time clearing it off…


Also steering link is out and bench rebuilt. I got busy with the tv yesterday and didn’t make any progress. I’m also in a boot for 4-6 weeks.

 

[Mark_17]

Hey bud, projects aren't storage spots either! How much longer until it is road worthy?

 

[shakenfake]

@Mark_17 Honestly progress is going really well. Road worthy? I don't know. I would like for it to be back on four wheels by the end of this weekend. It is getting pretty damn hot even with the window shaker.

Apparently women need attention too??? I already offered her to come sit in the shop with me when I get off work.

 

[shakenfake]

I am looking into spray foaming the roof again though, which definitely would mean the car needs to be done by winter so I can have the work done. I would also drywall the ceiling and take down all those stupid *** glass jars. Haven't really decided if spray foam would be worth it over just blown in insulation, which would have to be installed at the same time as the drywall.
Something I have just been bringing up to myself recently.

 

[Mark_17]

Id do whatever is cheaper and use the difference in $$$ for a turbo LS

 

[shakenfake]

@Mark_17 That does sound like an excellent idea.

 

[shakenfake]

Front suspension is done. Brakes are installed now. Front lines needed a new bracket from AllStar so that they could get mounted.

​

Issue I am running into now is this UMI stuff. First of all the UCA is contacting the frame before the bump stop which means either get a taller bump stop or somehow space it out. Secondly, the sway bar is going to be contacting the frame during the suspension travel I am almost positive. The only way I can see it fitting is somehow getting shorter links but even then I don't see it working. I haven't torqued it in permanently yet so maybe when I get it on the ground everything will sort itself out.




Lastly, why on God's green earth does Wilwood think Allen heads are still actually good? Please Lord switch them to Torx.

 

[shakenfake]

I will never again post something free on marketplace. I have my 3 wheeled electric golf cart, needs to go to a new home. Within an hour I had over 120 messages asking about it. None of them seemed like spammers, checked account and seemed real. But yeah not doing that again.

 

[shakenfake]

I guess my spring rates are wayyyyyy wrong. 450 10" springs with a Pontiac big block with no lightening and the car just sinks straight to ground. I can't really weigh the car at this point so no idea. I will have to call Viking/UMI on Monday and see what they recommend.

 

[shakenfake]

Called UMI and they said crank the spring up. I did and it sits fine now. Will probably need some more adjustment. There are only 4.5" of threads and UMI said I should be at 2.5" below the jam nut. Just seemed like a lot. He did say however that those are not the springs they would have recommended for the application. I will need to get some take up springs for the rear so I can drop it down a bit more.

Other than that we are ready to pull the engine and trans over the weekend. I will probably get some of the easy stuff taken off/apart so that come Friday night/Saturday morning it's ready to go.

 

[shakenfake]

Engine was pulled and back in. Freeze plugs replaced and Holley dist in. Now just to put everything back together. Finally back to where I was on the engine when I pulled it into the shop

 

[shakenfake]

I sold my golf cart, gave me a good chunk of space under the car port. Got some detailing equipment on order thanks to @D.F.B
Fighting sway bars now. I want the suspension 100% completed before I get back to the engine.

My 3/8s Husky long handle ratchet I think is about to meet it's demise. I have had to open it up and put back the teeth twice within two weeks. On the hunt for its replacement. Looking to try and find an FL80. I think I would like a flex head but have never used one before. The long handle Husky I have is my go to ratchet although I am not sure if it is because it is long handle or if it is because it is just better than my Craftsmans. F80 or FL80 or a flex head variant hmm

 

[Mark_17]

FLH80A
Long handle, soft grip, flex head

My go-to ratchet. I use it for absolutely everything.

 

[shakenfake]

@Mark_17
Don't know if I can get behind the soft grip... Feel like it will just turn gross.

 

[Mark_17]

I felt the same way at first. After at least 13 years, it is still holding up, a little beat up physically but the rubber isn't degrading.

 

[shakenfake]

I'd need to feel one in my hands I guess

 

[shakenfake]

Headers are back in. Oil and filter are changed. Front sway bar is in. Getting so close…

Did a bit of yard work this weekend. Trimmed the tree by my car port and pressure washed the carport again. Also found a leak in my sprinkler system, I replaced four heads but there is a leak somewhere in the ground. I’ll call someone out to fix it.

 

[shakenfake]

My garage was running low on engine blocks.

 

[Xti04]

My go to ratchet is a Matco 88 long flex head.much smoother than the fx80 Snap on pictured next to it. Also not bent like the snap on ratchet

 

[shakenfake]

@Xti04 I’ve heard really good things about the Matco 88s

 

[Xti04]

@Xti04 I’ve heard really good things about the Matco 88s

I will put it this way. I found my first one lying in the road so it was free. I lost it so I bought one with the soft grip handle. Loved it but it grew legs. So I got another one without the soft grip. Much better action and easier to release a greasy socket than any snap on ratchet I have ever owned.