Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[Bob Heine]

I try to use all the resources available and that includes printed shop manuals, CD-based PDF shop manuals and of course YouTube. Not a lot of owners seem to tear into their Cadillac CTS-V so I bought the printed shop manual. I would have preferred a searchable PDF version but didn't find them in my searches. If YouTube videos cover everything in this set of books, I'm going to be spending a lot of time in front of a screen. Here's the set (it's the 10-inch stack of yellow books -- the CDs are just out of frame on the left).

 

[BUGTHUG]

I think I would of went a different route than what you did. I would of unloaded the truck from the trailer, then pull the trailer out empty. But at least you were at home so that's a big plus.

 

[jbmatth]

This is so incredibly true. Funny story (exposing myself as oldschool a bit) but a young guy (22 or 23), at work, is having issues with his TJ Jeep and he's completely green when it comes to vehicles. He needed to change a few parts and do some simple maintenance and I recommended to him, "go grab a service manual and it will tell you step by step..." He contorts his face a bit like... why would I ever buy a book?... and says, "Yeah, I'll probably just look on YouTube."

It was some old ingrained, rote response stored in some fold of my brain. I use the Internet to learn all sorts of things but there's still some oldschool mentality somewhere in me but I should know better by now, especially when it comes to a young person.

I completely understand Brent, I didn't start using google and youtube for problem solving on vehicles until the past 7-8 years or so before that it was either Chiltons or Haynes manuals. Now a good factory service manual can be worth its weight in gold and they are typically priced as such. I would buy them for my vehicles if I felt like I would keep the vehicle long enough to make it worth the cost of admission, but apparently I don't seem to keep vehicles that long.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

I try to use all the resources available and that includes printed shop manuals, CD-based PDF shop manuals and of course YouTube. Not a lot of owners seem to tear into their Cadillac CTS-V so I bought the printed shop manual. I would have preferred a searchable PDF version but didn't find them in my searches. If YouTube videos cover everything in this set of books, I'm going to be spending a lot of time in front of a screen. Here's the set (it's the 10-inch stack of yellow books -- the CDs are just out of frame on the left).

I'm with you Bob, if only I'd keep a vehicle long enough to justify the cost. So far I've been able to find everything I need online but I'm sure one day I won't be able to find something and wish I had that set of books.

I think I would of went a different route than what you did. I would of unloaded the truck from the trailer, then pull the trailer out empty. But at least you were at home so that's a big plus.

Herb,
That is exactly what I did once I leveled the trailer up enough I wasn't worried about the truck sliding off when the chains were released.

JB

 

[krcoomer]

My only problem using YouTube videos is some people talk too damn much. I read and retain information fast and with adult ADD, having to someone who usually doesn't speak Southern English trying to explain stuff I already know wastes too much time. My wife timed me one night and I had skipped around so much in a 4:50 video that I actually spent nearly 7 minutes from skipping around and listening to the same thing again and again.

YouTube on my phone saved me one day putting a headlight in for my wife with a wet snow falling in her school parking lot before she was going on a trip. She had someone tell her it was out when she got there that day. I could not find the 4th plastic fastener holding it in. Once I saw it on the video it was about 30 seconds from done. It also works really good for appliance repairs.

 

[jbmatth]

I've been there too Kenny, I do waste a lot of time watching videos that don't actually help me but I do the same thing reading sometimes as well. Either way I chalk it up to part of the learning experience and keep moving forward.
JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Glad to see other people using old paper manuals. I just bought a set for my Ford 1720. My wife looked at me like I fell out of a tree when I did it. I prefer paper.


I am also glad to see that I am not the only one to steal parts off of a towed vehicle to get home. I did a radiator swap in a freezing cold parking lot when my Suburban Blazers radiator wasn't quite right, but it worked enough to get me home. I had to use some old wire to secure it in place. Drove it 200 miles home. Got the Burb's radiator fixed, put the rad back in the Blazer, and delivered the Blazer to its owner. He never knew. LOL.

 

[oldironfarmer]

My issue with lots of videos is they are not accurate, and some guys are just plain wrong. I've had the same problem with Chilton's however. I always liked Motor's manuals.

 

[Grumblebum]

Cool truck score, is it a 2wd duramax dually ?

Your luck with car trailers hasn't improved

I carry a spare set of belts and hoses with me for my truck (which is a baby compared to yours), and have the Haynes manuals for reference, haven't really looked at YouTube before for mechanical references though.

Cheers GB

 

[jbmatth]

Glad to see other people using old paper manuals. I just bought a set for my Ford 1720. My wife looked at me like I fell out of a tree when I did it. I prefer paper.


I am also glad to see that I am not the only one to steal parts off of a towed vehicle to get home. I did a radiator swap in a freezing cold parking lot when my Suburban Blazers radiator wasn't quite right, but it worked enough to get me home. I had to use some old wire to secure it in place. Drove it 200 miles home. Got the Burb's radiator fixed, put the rad back in the Blazer, and delivered the Blazer to its owner. He never knew. LOL.

War Wagon,
Good idea on the fix for the radiator, I'm not sure if I would have thought to do that or if it would have even crossed my mind to try a wrong sized one out.

My issue with lots of videos is they are not accurate, and some guys are just plain wrong. I've had the same problem with Chilton's however. I always liked Motor's manuals.

Andy,
I have come across the same thing, luckily I sometimes know enough to know that but other times I just re-watch over and over with a confused look.

Cool truck score, is it a 2wd duramax dually ?

Your luck with car trailers hasn't improved

I carry a spare set of belts and hoses with me for my truck (which is a baby compared to yours), and have the Haynes manuals for reference, haven't really looked at YouTube before for mechanical references though.

Cheers GB

GB,
Yes it is a 2wd dually Duramax with the 5 speed Alison transmission. Sadly my luck with trailers hasn't gotten much better but it would be better to just blame it on operator error. LOL I had a spare belt in my truck and knew that when I saw it was broken. Sadly I was wrong and that belt was in a truck I sold. DOH! At least I was able to pilfer from the dually, sometimes it is just better to be lucky rather than good.

All,
I have been using the carpet shampooer on the truck and am getting a lot of dirt out but I still have more to go. Parts are scheduled to arrive on Monday.

JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

" LOL I had a spare belt in my truck and knew that when I saw it was broken. Sadly I was wrong and that belt was in a truck I sold. DOH! "

Welcome to old age! That kind of stuff happens over and over. I distinctly remember having that spare belt. Oh yeah, that was two trucks back.

I've never needed a spare serpentine belt on the road (just luck) but have managed to give a few away to people in need. On the down side, I don't think I have a spare in any of my vehicles right now, except maybe the show truck.

 

[jbmatth]

" LOL I had a spare belt in my truck and knew that when I saw it was broken. Sadly I was wrong and that belt was in a truck I sold. DOH! "

Welcome to old age! That kind of stuff happens over and over. I distinctly remember having that spare belt. Oh yeah, that was two trucks back.

I've never needed a spare serpentine belt on the road (just luck) but have managed to give a few away to people in need. On the down side, I don't think I have a spare in any of my vehicles right now, except maybe the show truck.

Andy,
This is only the second time I've broken a serpentine belt and the other one happened 2 miles from my grandparents house. They also lived 3 houses from a parts store so it was an easy decision to make. I'll keep a spare in this truck now and probably a spare idler pulley as well since I have a few extra from B.B.B. that I parted out. I do happen to have two spare belts for the cobra though and keep them in the car, it only has one belt for the water pump and alternator. Gotta love simplicity.
JB

 

[krcoomer]

Andy,
This is only the second time I've broken a serpentine belt and the other one happened 2 miles from my grandparents house. They also lived 3 houses from a parts store so it was an easy decision to make. I'll keep a spare in this truck now and probably a spare idler pulley as well since I have a few extra from B.B.B. that I parted out. I do happen to have two spare belts for the cobra though and keep them in the car, it only has one belt for the water pump and alternator. Gotta love simplicity.
JB

The first time I replaced a serpentine belt we were at a campground and I stuck it under the seat in the truck. Was I ever glad I remembered doing that about 10,000 miles and many months later. I have kept them every time I changed since. They take up so little space and are usually easy enough to do on the side of the road.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

War Wagon,
Good idea on the fix for the radiator, I'm not sure if I would have thought to do that or if it would have even crossed my mind to try a wrong sized one out.

When you choices are swapping in the wrong sized one or spending the night in a freezing cold parking lot, with no cell signal, in a tiny deserted town in BFE WV, you get creative.

I had an external trans cooler that was plumbed into the radiator, but that was no problem just to run straight to the cooler.

 

[jbmatth]

The first time I replaced a serpentine belt we were at a campground and I stuck it under the seat in the truck. Was I ever glad I remembered doing that about 10,000 miles and many months later. I have kept them every time I changed since. They take up so little space and are usually easy enough to do on the side of the road.

Very true, I'll be hanging onto the old ones just in case I do need them some day.

When you choices are swapping in the wrong sized one or spending the night in a freezing cold parking lot, with no cell signal, in a tiny deserted town in BFE WV, you get creative.

I had an external trans cooler that was plumbed into the radiator, but that was no problem just to run straight to the cooler.

That is a very good point and I'm sure one that I would have taken into consideration. I know we are very fortunate nowadays that we not only have very reliable vehicle but also cell phones so help usually isn't too far away if the need arises.


All,
I received the injector on yesterday and the gasket/copper washer kit is out for delivery so I'll work on that tomorrow morning. I've been trying to get the interior cleaner and it is cleaning up a good bit. Fun filled weekend ahead.
JB

 

[250]

This go fetch it story rings home. My last one included hours of extra driving due to traffic, slow loading, getting a ticket for taking a trailer on a highway that didn't allow trailers (and how would someone out of state know that?!?), extra fee's for returning the trailer late and being so tired the next morning at work. Cheers to you!

 

[jbmatth]

This go fetch it story rings home. My last one included hours of extra driving due to traffic, slow loading, getting a ticket for taking a trailer on a highway that didn't allow trailers (and how would someone out of state know that?!?), extra fee's for returning the trailer late and being so tired the next morning at work. Cheers to you!

250,
It is never fun being stuck in heavy traffic with a heavy loaded trailer and not being able to just relax and drive. I have tried to avoid going out of state with a trailer because Oklahoma doesn't require a trailer to be tagged as long as it is for personal use. I've heard if you go to Texas with an Oklahoma trailer you are just begging for a ticket.

All I finished detailing the carpets and seats in the Silver Fox and it looks much better, not perfect, but much better at least. I received all the parts to work on the injector, tore into it the rest of the way:
View media item 70341
Out with the old:
View media item 70340
It is about ready to test it out but I have a little more I want to get taken care of before I want to really run it too much. I swapped the rear bumper and tail lights onto my truck to make it look just a touch nicer but didn't bother with photos.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Well things have been pretty slow around here lately. I have the entire interior of the Silver Fox shampooed and a few little bit replaced that were missing. I did try to run it after the injector replacement and it doesn't seem any better. I have a few tests I want to perform but believe I am in for a head gasket replacement. The "book" time is something like 40 hours and at my normal pace that'll be 80 hours of work. Other than that I've been doing some cleaning and piling up some scrap metal in my truck for a run to the scrap yard next week sometime.

I haven't made any progress on the Jeep bed because I plan to make it out of MDF and if it happens to rain before it is coated it'll ruin all of the work. Looks like I'll tackle that when the weather is way to hot for working with that stuff. Oh well I know the Bear (older daughter, I'll call the younger one the Cat as those are their middle nick names) will like it even if it is a little late.

On a better note I have all of next week off to be Daddy Daycare while my wife travels and I burn up some comp. days. During that time Andy will be coming over to help out with my water intrusion issues by doing some dirt work with Bob. I'll also be donating the red Dakota to him to help get his new '50 Stude' back on the road in time for his granddaughter's 16th bday. I think it'll be a win win for both of us.

Nothing really worthy of pictures so have a good one all and keep moving forward!

JB

 

[Growlertdi]

sounds like a great plan. best of luck!

 

[jp828108]

JB,

Sounds like you will have an excellent week. please take lots of before, during, and after pictures of the dirt work. I found it amazing to see how much could be accomplished in a day in my backyard.

 

[jbmatth]

sounds like a great plan. best of luck!

Growler,
Sorry for the late reply, but we had a good week and I'm now playing catch up.

JB,

Sounds like you will have an excellent week. please take lots of before, during, and after pictures of the dirt work. I found it amazing to see how much could be accomplished in a day in my backyard.

We were able to get it all done and even tested with a nice big rain and more to come. I'm working on a write up of the entire thing now.
JB

 

[jbmatth]

All,
As promised here is an update. My wife was out of town for a business trip in Vegas all week so I took a week of vacation and took care of the girls, that meant lots of shop time compared to normal. First things first Andy (Old Iron Farmer) and I were able to get the dirt work done around the shop. It all started Monday morning when he and Bob showed up just as I was trying to burn some stumps. He wasted no time getting Bob unloaded and shooting some levels to know how much Bob needed to dig then he got to work:
View media item 70675
In just 4 hours Andy and Bob had it mostly done:
View media item 70676
I helped him load the Dakota onto the trailer and off he went after treating me to a nice meal at the local Cafe. I spent the next morning working with Bob before Andy made it back taking down a few high spots around the yard and pulling a few posts and stumps. Andy came back we loaded Bob and off they road into the sunset...well how about high noon. I spent some quality time with a shovel and rake trying to get it a little smoother before the rain hit the next day:
View media item 70677
View media item 70678
As you can see it is doing its job, I had a little finish work to do to aid in the draining and still need to get a drain and gravel put back in front of the shop. All in all I'm very pleased with the outcome of all of the work Andy helped me out with. He has a few photos on his thread that also show some of the work. I spent the rest of the week changing oil in the Warthog in The Warthog Hidey Hole:

I also changed oil in my wife's Jeep, pulled the tires on the Greed Dragon to have them replaced, and tore the Silver Fox back down and putting it back together and even getting a little help from my other little helper (Bear):

She liked the impact gun unlike Cat who is scared of loud noises. I did some other bits of cleaning up in the shop and around the farm, took 900 lbs (408 kg) of steel to the scrap yard. I picked up a new diesel compression tester after everything else gave no answers and the #7 cylinder has no compression. Well ****, I'm sitting on it for a bit before I decide what to actually do about that. Hopefully it is just a valve stuck open, but who knows. Over the weekend I went to watch my little brother run his last high school track meet and see him walk across the state at graduation. Then made the long trip back home.

With rain coming in again today I decided to mow last night until dark and am about 2/3rds done, the work we did isn't too rough and should smooth out over time. That is all for now, I'll get back into the swing of things shortly hopefully.
JB

 

[HSpencer]

JB

Fantastic work on getting the water drained away from the shop. Your empire shop looks like a very fun place to be. That lift serves you very well, and your auto mechanic skills are great. Good you have a week off to get some things done for you.
Looks great!!! (Jealous of your vast space!!)

Best Regards
Herb

 

[Finallygotit]

OK, now you're just showing off!

 

[jbmatth]

JB

Fantastic work on getting the water drained away from the shop. Your empire shop looks like a very fun place to be. That lift serves you very well, and your auto mechanic skills are great. Good you have a week off to get some things done for you.
Looks great!!! (Jealous of your vast space!!)

Best Regards
Herb

Herb,
Thank you for the kind words, I'm sure the drainage will be tested over the next few weeks and I'll report back on how that goes. What is the saying, More Space More Problems or something like that.

OK, now you're just showing off!

If you've got it flaunt it. Thank you, but with your love of concrete, your cobra, and just a bit of work you could do the same thing.

JB

 

[Finallygotit]

 

[-Brent-]

... with your love of concrete, your cobra, and just a bit of work you could do the same thing.

JB, did you hear that Dan had a file on his desktop labeled "****" and when his wife looked in it... this is what she found?!

 

[Finallygotit]

OK, so it has come down to this, huh Brent?!?!

First it's "Dan, Dan the concrete man" Now this?!?!?!?!

Game on pal!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Brent: You can get banned for posting **** here!!

 

[Bob Heine]

I suggest someone take down the first two naked concrete photos. The third one is showing some naked concrete but at least the bits below the waist are covered. Sheesh, some of us let our kids look at this stuff.

 

[Finallygotit]

.......but with your love of concrete, your cobra, and just a bit of work you could do the same thing.

JB

JB, see what you started? This is on you!

 

[-Brent-]

OK, so it has come down to this, huh Brent?!?!

First it's "Dan, Dan the concrete man" Now this?!?!?!?!

Game on pal!

Hahaha, I may have laughed more on the GJ tonight, than ever.

Sorry for the distraction, JB. These moments don't come often!

 

[oldironfarmer]

You Cobra guys make me remember my first wife. She had a very sharp wit.

My very good friend Tom had his original 289 solid axle Cobra at college in 69-71, and a chrome frame high compression Norton (he might have been a rich kid). When he would show up at our modest trailer house you could feel either one about the time you heard it. This was college, he would walk right in. My dear wife, never wanting to say anything obviously offensive, would ask: "Oh, hi Tom, did you drive that Corvair thing or your scooter?"

I learned a lot from her...

 

[jbmatth]

I see ya'll can't be trusted without adult supervision. Tisk Tisk. Now I'm going to get fired for looking at those naked photos at work, I'll have to sell the Cobra and live in a van down by the river. If I'd have only known where my actions would have taken me.

Thanks all for the nice distraction, here is to all ya'll.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

You Cobra guys make me remember my first wife. She had a very sharp wit.

My very good friend Tom had his original 289 solid axle Cobra at college in 69-71, and a chrome frame high compression Norton (he might have been a rich kid). When he would show up at our modest trailer house you could feel either one about the time you heard it. This was college, he would walk right in. My dear wife, never wanting to say anything obviously offensive, would ask: "Oh, hi Tom, did you drive that Corvair thing or your scooter?"

I learned a lot from her...

You snuck one in on me, but that is a pretty good line Andy. I've had a few cool encounters with people while driving my cobra over the years. One of my favorite was when a lady asked what year corvette I was driving and said she loves her convertible then pointed to a cavalier.
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

I see ya'll can't be trusted without adult supervision. Tisk Tisk. Now I'm going to get fired for looking at those naked photos at work, I'll have to sell the Cobra and live in a van down by the river. If I'd have only known where my actions would have taken me.

Thanks all for the nice distraction, here is to all ya'll.

JB

You have a van?

 

[jbmatth]

No I don't have a van, looks like I'll be homeless. I better make a catchy homeless guy sign quick before they take away my markers. "Will restore old tools for food" sounds like a good one.
JB

 

[mefast]

I have some steaks to grill up and beer in the fridge if you want to work on my tools Although, the drive up here might take a day or so....

 

[Finallygotit]

You Cobra guys make me remember my first wife.

I'm not quite sure how to take that?

 

[jbmatth]

I have some steaks to grill up and beer in the fridge if you want to work on my tools Although, the drive up here might take a day or so....

We will see how things go, hopefully it doesn't come to that. LOL

I'm not quite sure how to take that?

Maybe because we are loud.
JB