Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The "Glendora Garage"

[Dan in Pasadena]

Is his

My cousin had nothing but problems with his. He's currently dealing with lemon law-ing it. Beautiful truck and drove awesome, but he had a terrible experience with it. I wish they could figure it out, because I'd definitely be looking at them

They ARE “figured out”. Is his the Duramax?

When I bought my ‘21 used the very first thing I did was take it to the dealer and have ALL the fluids and filters changed to start off fresh. The service rep who I have come to respect told me to never use anything but #2 diesel in it. No Bio and no Renewable. I have.

He also told me to shut off the Autostop every time I start it, which I do.

Last he told me never ever to eff around with the software. No “tuning” or “deleting”. These trucks use sophisticated software to get the power they produce and still get great mileage but guys are always screwing with them. My feeling is if they wanted a faster truck they should have bought the 6.2 LS.

I’d buy another one in a minute if I needed a new truck.

 

[Bodj Built]

Is his

They ARE “figured out”. Is his the Duramax?

When I bought my ‘21 used the very first thing I did was take it to the dealer and have ALL the fluids and filters changed to start off fresh. The service rep who I have come to respect told me to never use anything but #2 diesel in it. No Bio and no Renewable. I have.

He also told me to shut off the Autostop every time I start it, which I do.

Last he told me never ever to eff around with the software. No “tuning” or “deleting”. These trucks use sophisticated software to get the power they produce and still get great mileage but guys are always screwing with them. My feeling is if they wanted a faster truck they should have bought the 6.2 LS.

I’d buy another one in a minute if I needed a new truck.

His was the Duramax. Absolutely loved the truck, but had some weird issues. The truck would randomly jolt/jar on the highway. Spent more time in the service department than his driveway. It was bone stock, no biodiesel or renewable fuel. Fluid changes were done at the dealer in the correct intervals. No software tuning or anything.

I have friends who have diesel shops and say the baby durama and ram ecodiesels are junk. Makes me sad to hear, since I love the 3.0L TDI in our Touareg.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

His was the Duramax. Absolutely loved the truck, but had some weird issues. The truck would randomly jolt/jar on the highway. Spent more time in the service department than his driveway. It was bone stock, no biodiesel or renewable fuel. Fluid changes were done at the dealer in the correct intervals. No software tuning or anything.

I have friends who have diesel shops and say the baby durama and ram ecodiesels are junk. Makes me sad to hear, since I love the 3.0L TDI in our Touareg.

I’m on a couple different blogs and the opinions are ONLY “the greatest truck I’ve ever owned” OR people have had nothing but problems. I’ve tried to break it down to whether it is the LM2 (mine) or the LZ0 and basically you can’t.

Before I bought I read alll that stuff and the only thing that gave me pause was the timing belt being on the backside of the engine so it has to be removed to change the belt. But more reading said engineers did that to make more room under the hood. I don’t get that because seems like the front-to-back dimension is what it is either way. Maybe they can disguise the length having it under the dash?

Anyway, I’d buy one again EXCEPT I’d really like to have the new SilvErado or electric GMC. But they’re crazy expensive, I don’t really need the truck I have now and the older I get the harder it will be to get in & out of a full size truck. But rationality has never ruled me before!!

 

[PugetDude]

On a related note... friend who bought a new 2023 Tundra at the same time as mine (remember mine smelled like a rolling refinery fire) just got a recall notice....

to...........................

Replace the engine.

I already took a 5-figure haircut getting out of mine.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I already took a 5-figure haircut getting out of mine.

YOWZER!!!

That would roll through this retired guy's budget like a tank. Man, that is terrible. My truck just passed the 80,000 mile drivetrain warranty so I took it in about 1 thousand miles before. Of course they found nothing....which usually means something is coming for me! EEK.

 

[rharman]

Enjoy Tulare. We drove through there twice on our turn-around trip Sunday to Modesto. Stopped at Love's for stretching and snacks.

Left home Sunday @6:00am, got back Monday morning at 3:30am. 11 hours behind the wheel.
Ridgeline mileage....

 

[captain14]

Dan,

Are you taking the Fiat to run around the nieces town? Or was that a previous “action” shot?

What’s on the punch list at the new house besides everything?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

11 hours behind the wheel.

11 hrs?? I can only do 4-6 hours at a time or it hurts my back. The High Country Silverado has nice seats but not being able to move that long kills. Our RV is worse. It's a 2017 Ford F350 chassis but may as well be 1980 because that's an OLD chassis they still use on them. Engine cover is too far into the cab making it DAMN HOT. My girlfriend has to sit with legs off to the side to avoid the heat and that hurts her after awhile. Seats are stiff and offer no lateral support by today's standards. She would like an Airstream instead, me too BUT they're 2-3x the price of the same length non-Airstream and it'd have less room. We have ZERO additional length to store it so it'd have to be shorter to accommodate the trailer tongue!

On the non-towing trip home I got 24.6 mpg and I was hitting 80 and even 90 awhile. This engine/truck is amazing.

Dan,

Are you taking the Fiat to run around the nieces town? Or was that a previous “action” shot?

What’s on the punch list at the new house besides everything?

My brother-in-law has been an ex-pat for many years. He's back now and it's his daughter that bought the new house. He'd been living with us for about a month then decided to move up there to help her. Been using one of her vehicles but she's selling it (GUZZLES gas!). He plans to return to L.A. so he'll need a ride while he's up there and to drive back south.
Punchlist? Same B-I-L spent days painting inside the garage. It was drywalled but a lousy, semi non-job of mudding the so he had to spent a lot of time sanding - and that was to a minimal level too.

We moved a ****-ton o'stuff yesterday and today then drove 4+ hours home. But there are days worth of stuff still to be moved. Back yard has fences but plain dirt otherwise and wasn't remotely leveled. Front yard is "landscaped" - IF you can call it that. They centered a postage stamp patch of sod about 10' x 15' then surrounded that with chocolate brown bark stuff. Very minimal assorted plants with no "design" at all were stuck in here and there. What passes for a new house is pretty minimal these days. It came with solar, fire sprinklers throughout, yard sprinklers on a timer, pre-wired for an electric vehicle charger - they'd put one in if you paid a ton. But still, it's new and she's not a renter anymore so we're all happy for her.

 

[rharman]

Well, the 11 hours was actually 12 total with stops. 5-1/2 up and 6-1/2 back. On the way up, we stopped at Love's in Bakersfield and Tulare. On the way back, we added Madera. Nice places to stop. Coming home that late, I really needed to stop, stretch, and get some fresh air.

 

[PugetDude]

Well, the 11 hours was actually 12 total with stops. 5-1/2 up and 6-1/2 back. On the way up, we stopped at Love's in Bakersfield and Tulare. On the way back, we added Madera. Nice places to stop. Coming home that late, I really needed to stop, stretch, and get some fresh air.

Dan, we owned a 27' Airstream Safari a few years ago, but we escaped that cult and never looked back....

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I don't know why you call it a cult but I suppose I don't care because I won't likely ever have one. They're beautiful, just highly priced and I suspect made with +/- the same parts and similar systems as any of the other major travel trailer makers.

 

[PugetDude]

I don't know why you call it a cult

Go to an Airstream rally and you'll understand.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I don't go to "rally's" of any kind. Not even car shows with my '55 truck. It isn't my style. Not a joiner. I'm more of an "on-my-own-er" type. GJ is as "joiner" as I have ever gotten.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Drove home from Tulare Saturday. Dodgers game yesterday with 3 grandkids all with upcoming June/July birthdays to be 3, 7 and 11. Grandson asked, "Where were you laster-day, Papa?"

Today: Took truck in for oil/filter & fuel filter change. I can do these myself but I wanted them on the dealer's database.

Truck developed a whistling on the trip. It's likely the turbocharger. MIGHT be loose or loss of a clamp on the down pipe. Tech said there's a couple "plugs" on the turbo body (news to me). One may have come loose. BUT if the turbo is going out and if it has to be fixed right away (MIGHT be useable for a couple months?) that's priced in the thousands. UGH. Rode my electric bike home from dealership a couple miles.

Mowed 2 lawns, sprayed fungicide on our new camelia bushes, fed hydrangeas to make them have blue flowers.

Moved flower pots that don't have drip irrigation to an area where I installed a Y on a hose bib with timer and an old fashioned soaker hose. This for an upcoming vacation. House/dog sitter won't have to figure out what to water and when. Hopefully we won't come home to dead stuff. Fingers crossed! Did it early to monitor it for the next few weeks.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Back to the truck whistle above in #2,134: It's not the turbocharger, it's the transmission, DAMN!

Service tech said they're sure it's a mechanical issue but don't know until internal inspection. But here's the thing: a Chevrolet Engineer has to come out to pass judgement on the diagnosis and if repair will cost more than total replacement? And there's only one engineer in the "Region". So he'll see it whenever he gets there. They're out of rental cars so I've been driving the red '55 pickup. It's been hella hot here the last couple days and I've never installed the AC ducting so it's mostly ineffective.

FORTUNATELY, the drivetrain warranty goes 5 years (to 12/2026) and 100,000 miles. I'm at 82,000+ miles. I asked if it were not warranty how much for a new trans? "$8 to 9,000". HOLY GUACAMOLE!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

On a happier note, I finally built a doggy ramp for our pool so (in theory) I won't have to worry about Max while we're on vacation and the dog sitter is here. He already fell in once and was rescued by my girlfriend - he'd have drowned for sure. Got the idea for this from a YouTube video. Hopefully our little Max-apotamus would even find this ramp, try to use it, and it would support his weight. I'm considering putting him in the pool and trying to make him use it but he will HATE HATE HATE it. And probably me too if I do!

 

[rharman]

When I was about 18-19 and living at home, we had a pool and my bedroom was at the back of the house. One night, I heard some commotion and got up to see. Something was in the pool but I couldn't figure out what. I grabbed it and it was our dog (my sister's that my folks inherited). Soaking wet, he was about half normal size - unrecognizable in the dark. Poor Jacques. He was furiously paddling around trying to get out. Couldn't find the steps.

You should probably try and acquaint Max with the ramp.

Or, maybe you need to figure out how to restrict him in the yard - away from the pool.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

When I was about 18-19 and living at home, we had a pool and my bedroom was at the back of the house. One night, I heard some commotion and got up to see. Something was in the pool but I couldn't figure out what. I grabbed it and it was our dog (my sister's that my folks inherited). Soaking wet, he was about half normal size - unrecognizable in the dark. Poor Jacques. He was furiously paddling around trying to get out. Couldn't find the steps.

You should probably try and acquaint Max with the ramp.

Or, maybe you need to figure out how to restrict him in the yard - away from the pool.

Yes, I’ve thought about putting him in the pool and guiding him to it to see IF his claws can even get traction. I know he HATES the water and will resent the hell out of me doing it but it might serve two purposes:

See if he can use it.
Remind him how much he hates water so he’ll stay away.

The yard layout is such there is no way to keep anyone away from the pool.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So this was our lantana hedge back on post 2,091 - April 21st.

By yesterday it had grown out enough to trim neatly instead of shearing the hell out of it again. There'll be a house/dog sitter here most of June so I knew if I didn't trim it again now it would have taken over the house by the time we're back! Kidding, but it would be so overgrown I'd have had to hack it again and I'd like it to bloom nicely for the summer.

April 21st:


Sheared it neatly yesterday:

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Irrelevent to GarageJournal interests but greetings from Prague, Czech Republic. We have a house/dog sitter staying at our home to dote on my beloved fuzz ball dogs. It's the only part of the trip I dread - being apart from them. I was always kind of an emotional slob about them while still working but since retirement I've gotten worse!

Anyway, Prague - called Praha by Czechs - is dramatically different than expected. I expected there to be an "austerity hangover" for a country only 35-ish years removed from Communist rule but I was totally wrong. A very nice place, nice roads, bridges, infrastructure (spent my career in heavy civil construction). Lots of new construction underway.

People are very friendly, many speak English well. I'm already having "ancient overload" - Guides tell us 8th century this happened, 13th century king did this other thing. But the castles and churches are phenomenal to see. On to Budapest tomorrow to meet family joining us on a river cruise to Amsterdam. No idea at all what to expect there. Maybe someone here has been there?

 

[gilr]

I was there in Prague in 2015, and it was a spectacular city, it is now my favorite in Europe. Enjoy Budapest!

 

[larry4406]

Please try a Pilsner Urquel from the source along with the original Budvar (Budweiser) for me!

Jealous!

 

[gilr]

Yeah, I was shocked when seated at a restaurant on a sidewalk in the town center area, asked for a local beer and the waiter suggested Budweiser and I said haey, I came all this distance and you suggest Budweiser! He laughed and said this is the original and way better than the stuff made and sold in the US. He was right, it was far better!

 

[gilr]

Did you see the Prague Astronomical Clock on the old town hall? A real gem!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Did you see the Prague Astronomical Clock on the old town hall? A real gem!

Absolutely did see it! Yeah it was cool.

But sorry guys about the beer. I don’t drink. My girlfriend does. Mostly red wines but she had a couple glasses today - frickin enormous glasses too. Must weigh a pound empty. Said it was very very good.

Hoping to be impressed by Budapest. Supposed to be 89*. Yikes.

 

[gilr]

As long as it is 89 F, you'll be fine!

 

[gilr]

Did you stay long enough to watch the striking on the hour?

 

[PugetDude]

Have fun Dan, I was there in the late 90's, we were bidding a project in Romania, flew in and out of Budapest. Wish I had had more time to sightsee, just a long weekend in between meetings.

 

[zanyad]

On to Budapest tomorrow to meet family joining us on a river cruise to Amsterdam. No idea at all what to expect there. Maybe someone here has been there?

Spent a year abroad there in the mid-aughts. Lots to see and do. How much time do you have in the city?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Spent a year abroad there in the mid-aughts. Lots to see and do. How much time do you have in the city?

Only the evening after arriving, then the next full day. I think my girlfriend signed us up for some “Baths” someplace this first night. Not sure what’s planned the full day.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Did you stay long enough to watch the striking on the hour?

Nope. We were walking with a tour group and missed it by only about 20 minutes. It was explained to us what would happen but I wish we’d had time to see it.

 

[gilr]

Here's an amateur video:

It was well worth waiting for the time for it to strike.

 

[zanyad]

Only the evening after arriving, then the next full day. I think my girlfriend signed us up for some “Baths” someplace this first night. Not sure what’s planned the full day.

That's not very long! Some highlights:

• The baths are definitely something I was going to recommend. Great for lazing about. The Szechenyi baths are gorgeous, in a baroque building. The Gellert baths are also very nice, though IIRC that's the more expensive one. The Rudas baths were under construction, so I haven't been yet.
• The castle district has lots of cool buildings and museums, including the national gallery.
• The Chain Bridge is very picturesque.
• The Fisherman's Bastion is also a good photo op.
• The Danube side of Gellért Hill is a nice park, with good views on the Danube and a chapel built into the hill (Gellert Hill Cave).
• There is a park/museum on the Buda side where they put a lot of the old Soviet-era statues: https://www.mementopark.hu/en/home/.
• The yellow, M1 metro is the first on the European mainland, and second in the world after London's Underground.
• Central Market Hall is an experience.
• Budapest has a lot of "ruin pubs," but IIRC you're not much of a drinker.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, these cruises offer only a day in each city. Sort of a "sampler plate". When you sign up you have an assortment of excursions to choose from. But having never been to any of the locations you don't really know what to pick. It was sort of a series of seat of the pants decisions....but I'm ok with that. I never expected to get a thorough exposure to each of the several cities we will visit.

Not sure which of those baths we will be visiting but knowing Viking it'll likely be the more expensive one. Our boat is ******* next to the Chain Bridge and yes, very picturesque. I took a couple sundown pictures there at dinner tonight.
After dinner we took a brief walk up to the bridge. There was a VERY loud "club" I guess you'd call it. An outdoor deck and bar. Lots of younger people hanging out along the river drinking from their own bottles. Hundreds of young couples and singles.

 

[zanyad]

D'oh. It just clicked you're there now. Enjoy!

 

[Bob Heine]

Scabbed in some new black line that doesn't have drip holes so I installed "spaghetti" lines with tiny sprinklers at each plant - which actually works better.

Dan, In our last home I used drip line manifolds that screwed onto the risers and reduced the pressure to the little drip lines. I don't recall the brand but I do remember spending a fair bit on the kit. For $10 you can try this Rain Bird manifold to water 1 to 9 plants.. Each of the nine pipes connect to a valve so you can adjust the flow or turn one off if it springs a leak. A 100' roll of the 1/4" drip line is another $10.

Rain Bird Drip 9-Port Adjustable Manifold, On/Off by Port MANIFPR9SX - The Home Depot

Visit The Home Depot to buy 9 Outlet Pressure Regulator Manifold On/Off MANIFPRPC

www.homedepot.com

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Dan, In our last home I used drip line manifolds that screwed onto the risers and reduced the pressure to the little drip lines. I don't recall the brand but I do remember spending a fair bit on the kit. For $10 you can try this Rain Bird manifold to water 1 to 9 plants.. Each of the nine pipes connect to a valve so you can adjust the flow or turn one off if it springs a leak. A 100' roll of the 1/4" drip line is another $10.

Rain Bird Drip 9-Port Adjustable Manifold, On/Off by Port MANIFPR9SX - The Home Depot

Visit The Home Depot to buy 9 Outlet Pressure Regulator Manifold On/Off MANIFPRPC

www.homedepot.com

Thanks Bob,
I actually already have a couple of those in the backyard though they are from a different manufacturer. This one looks nice because it is adjustable by hand with those little levers. The ones already installed require a flat screwdriver to adjust.

Someday I'll probably pull up all the drip style irrigation and put back conventional Schedule 40 PVC and ordinary non-turf sprinkler heads. But I'd use the style manifold heads you posted here and there in the borders. I had to patch up what was already there before we left on this vacation but I am pretty unhappy with the system and the leaks/break downs because of age and UV exposure.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

An update for anyone who might be interested. Waay too many places visited and pictures taken but these may prompt comments. The Sedlec Ossuary in the town of Kunta Hora in Prague has (get this!) the bones of 40,000 people in it. Locals call it the "Bone Church" This is a small town parish and it is considered an honor to be buried in the cemetery then later your bones are used as decorations in the church.

I think it is gruesome, macabre. I truly wish I'd not seen it. I feel it trivializes human lives. All these people's hopes and dreams reduced to parts of a chandelier or a wall decoration. REALLY makes you (well, me anyway) think life is unimportant and doesn't matter whatsoever what you do in your life. UGH UGH UGH. It's not as though any of us doesn't already know we will one day be reduced to bones but this reminder is harsh. Anyway, can't take photos in there (kinda dark anyway) but I grabbed these photos from the Internet to show.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Honestly, in the whole epic scheme of things, what we do in this life doesn't matter. We are here for a flash and are such a tiny mote in a an enormous universe.

Didn't let the bones bother you. They're just like the sand dollars you find on the beach. Whoever had them is done with them, and moved on.

 

[PugetDude]

An update for anyone who might be interested. Waay too many places visited and pictures taken but these may prompt comments. The Sedlec Ossuary in the town of Kunta Hora in Prague has (get this!) the bones of 40,000 people in it. Locals call it the "Bone Church" This is a small town parish and it is considered an honor to be buried in the cemetery then later your bones are used as decorations in the church.

I think it is gruesome, macabre. I truly wish I'd not seen it. I feel it trivializes human lives. All these people's hopes and dreams reduced to parts of a chandelier or a wall decoration. REALLY makes you (well, me anyway) think life is unimportant and doesn't matter whatsoever what you do in your life. UGH UGH UGH. It's not as though any of us doesn't already know we will one day be reduced to bones but this reminder is harsh. Anyway, can't take photos in there (kinda dark anyway) but I grabbed these photos from the Internet to show.

Don't tell a Fib (ula), Dan.
You know you're just trying to humerus.