Topics

I can not upload photos..  I do not see my upload directory to clen it out or at least reduce it. thx

 

Apologies for my whine here:

We watch various TV shows here n there..  For us the Prime Amazon charge with included video and music was a good value for our needs.  Now Prime Video has increased fee via the addition of "limited ads" , of course for an additional fee of $3.00  you can remain "ad free". 

Motor Trend is merging with Discovery + and of course the fee is higher.  Now it will be more $ to watch some of these automotive shows.

A couple of the home repair TV shows have become tied to increased fees.  We stopped watching them. They want 7.99 here, 9.99 for another streaming... I signed up for a small package on Prime Amazon to watch the Home repair type shows.. After the first week, I learn the fine print is the popular shows are additional $ fee for current content for 20 to 25 dollars per season.  So , I cancelled that package.

Increased ads on various internet forums has reduced traffic on the forums.  The Hotrod forums I visit , the traffic has dropped by  a huge amount.

I stopped listening to local OTA radio because of the near constant ads they put forward.  If I listen to the radio I use Prime Music on my phone.. Which I am waiting for fee increases on that too.

I need to build a few battery cables this year.  #4/0  and likely #2 /0 cable sizes .

I have (?) one of the hammer crimp tools I bought yrs ago.  Cant find it, yet.

I was looking at crimp tools with handles that look like bolt cutter tools, but thye crimp .  Reviews on them are hit , miss, sketchy.

Mayb I need to just buy another hammer type crimp tool?

Gasoline prices went up saturday here...  Sunday they came back down to the previous levels.  Diesel did not change.

Just some slap ask weird price changes going on here again.

    

A new thread for 2024.... 

Not much new here..  I have started the trim work on my windows in this mobile home.  Need more supplies.  Home Depot here we come. LOL

I read that Andy died yesterday at 91 yr old.

Any body here used GPS tracking devices on their hotrods, trailers or other stuff?

I just read about a fellow with a restored  Cushman Scooter stolen.  Reports of some high end race cars and trailers stolen that had no tracking devices on them.

Often rewards of 1,000 dollars or more are offered.  I wonder if a few hundred dollars of a tracking device is a wise item to use?

I see stuff used for tracking varies from Apple Tags to a self contained device that uses cell service

Anybody here bought and used a winch from HF?  The Badland brand type.

A fellow that bought a few Crosley cars from me about 10 years ago  , had the low end light duty from HF..  It would not winch a Crosley into the bed of his 3/4 ton chevy truck.  I see HF still sells that winch. They call it a marine winch

Reason I ask is: while winching an item up on to my trailer today , my winch spit (literally) a few teeth out thru the broken gear case. Steel gear teeth thru the aluminum housing.  This winch is about 30 years old.   Has not been used heavily. I was surprised it spit teeth. It still runs and winches.  I am sure its days are limited?

Any one here use the Bilstein shocks?  I never have.  In the olde daze 40 yrs ago, we installed Monroe Magnum shocks on our trucks , 4x4 or not.  There were kits to add dual shocks too.

The F-350 with RV attached , we experienced some real ruff freeways in summer 2022. Wavey roads on the super slabs concrete highways. This caused the truck and RV to kinda porpoise up & down on the rear of the truck.

I think the F-350 could use a bit more dampening on the back end when I have the 5th wheel hooked up.  Been looking at Bilstein 4600 series shocks for the rear of the F-350.  The truck is not a smooth ride with the spring rates any how.  So a slightly stiffer shock likely will not affect unloaded ride quality.

I deflat the rear tires slightly when unloaded for extended time.  Down to 45-48 from 65psi when towing. It suppose to help the ride while empty , altho I question how much smoother.

 

New thread for tools:

I bought a couple Dewalt brand kits of bits;  It was an end of year  budget deal at Home Depot. 6 dollars for the drill bits , 9 dollars for the hex bits and driver bit holders. The drill bit set is a small one, up to 5/16...  All I really needed was the smaller ones. LOL

If you have not seen these. The little boxes snap together. Kinda easy to keep them together.

Dewalt gives you many of the little short bits that I have found nearly useless for my needs.

I have a few various bits and stuff in more of these boxes in my RV for repairs.  RVs always need something tightened or fixed.

New thread on fuel prices in 2023.. 

In these olde vehicles..    Would you use the basic tar based noise reducer or the lighter foam type stuff on a ceiling.

I have never used the heavier stuff on a ceiling.

Usually see the Dyna mat brand stuff on the TV entertainment shows.

A friend I have known for 45 plus yrs.. We had a convo the other evening at dinner (tacos) about 2 door , 4 door cars (again). He is hard core 2 door car, period, end of discussion. Primarily for the look and resale.

I showed him a phone photo of a 1959 Rambler sedan 4 door car on craigs list. "Too many doors" were the first words from him. I said its a nothing car, rusty, enough patina for 3 cars. It runs and drives, new tires, a few other new parts. At $2k $$ , it is just a fun car to own , driver.

His point is valid: resale. 2 Door cars are more popular in most cases.  He thinks most non station wagon 4 door cars are parts cars.

When I owned the 1962 Dodge Lancer 4 door car... I often heard : " Kool car for a 4 door".. I seem to view the door amount different from most?  Most 2 door old cars are out of my price range now and frankly the whole old car market is pure stupid now on prices?

Thoughts?

Nothing too serious here but:  Before I take the dirt nap, I would like to see a couple things found.

I'd like to see the airplane of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan were flying found.  Just so there is some answer as to where they ended up. Its kinda a given that they hit the water , but where? There have been scrap pieces of metal found near one island, but never really conclusive evidence.

Where did Jimmy Hoffa end up, besides dead?

I have other items, just a couple mentioned here.

I am surprised on very few comments of Jegs High Performance being sold.  I guess it is not uncommon in the industry in the last 10 years?

Start a new thread for 2022 fuel prices.

I have not seen much change in prices around here in recent days.

Start a new tool review thread.

Friend is having feed back power from his cooling fans. Shut the ignition switch off, the engine runs on for few seconds, then dies.  If he pulls the fuse from the cooling fan circuit , the engine dies with ignition shut off , does not run on.

The fans are hooked to a relay , that is triggered by the ignition switch. I have not seen the truck yet.  I told him something needs to be rewired to avoid feedback, but I do not know what yet.

Or:  maybe a diode in the power circuit to the fans?  Like is used on the alternator circuit often?

ANy body up on golf carts?  I've been looking at them. We could use one at the RV park and I need something to run around at Bonneville and other places. They may be a bit slow for travel at Bonneville due to the length of the place?

Gas would make more sense at B"ville  than electric.

It seems Ez-Go , Club Car, Yamaha are common brands. I dont need a jacked up hotrod. Just need one to run a bit faster than 21mph

Any body purchase a laptop recently?

This one I use now is fading away. 12 yrs old as I recall... Key board numbers are breaking , the "P" is missing and can be difficult to get the "P" to work. 

A screen of diagonal measure at 15 inches is preferred. Touch screen is not needed or wanted.

Memory size of the laptop must not be a large need of mine.  This one still has 600gig of open memory.. There are so many units listed.  Not sure if any are actually in stock.

Tablet is a No go for me. Tried one years ago, we did not get along.

Per phone conversation with Enjenjo on a 200-4r transmission converter clutch lock up control, 4th gear only.  Hope this helps.

Common switch part number; 51876 , silver switch , single pole connection. Normally Open design. Yellow circle around the switch location... 90% v-bodys have switch port located there.

A thm-400 case connector single tab can be used for 12 volt feed to lockup solenoid

Weird antenna on the manufactured home we bought... I've talked to a few guys that have RV'd for years and near my age.  No body knows what frequency  or what this thing is.  Looks like 2 mickey mouse ears sideways or space aliens.

Kinda looks like 2 antenna in one..  I have done a little online searching with no results..  but then I have a track record for not finding stuff online.

I put an item on Craigs list..  A sew machine , Industrial unit.

In 8 minutes I had 6 spam text messages. The words used, poor grammar, want to send me a google link to respond to or they want to a voice message with number....  it goes on.  I am sure most of the folks here have seen / heard of this?

Or: their message goes on as tho I am the spammer and they are testing me.

Drives me crazy.  I hate craigs list.  LOL

ANy body heard of them?  In my searching , it turnns out they sell a lot of tires.  Hvy truck tires.

I may be in the market for a 14 ply G rated tires...  235/85R16 to be exact.

A friend mentioned the Greenball ASC brand.  He said they are a very sturdy quality tire manufactured over seas  (China)

Class 5 hitch :  any body here used them?  The trucks I am looking at have 2.5 inch receiver hitch on them

The insert design that is a dropped hitch.  Dual ball style.    2.5 inch square receiver on the truck.

I see 10k ratings to 20k ratings on them.  Material thickness is heavier with higher weight rating.  SOme of these inserts are listed at nearly 50 pounds

I have never used one.  They all seem to function basically the same.  Pull pins to move the ball height location up or down. Pull another pin to rotate from 2 inch ball to 2 5/16 ball.

I see prices from 200 dollars to 500 dollars

I have read this around the internet today. RIP Sonny

A new year. new projects.  New ideas for olde projects.

Hopefully we are moving towards a smoother year in 2021 than 2020 proved to be.  

Tail lights on my 1948 Simca are ruff shape.  I have seen some new lens created.   Something I have never tried.

The broke in two lens has missing edges... the mostly 1 piece lens is warped - cupped inward.

not sure these are worth the effort.  maybe just bolt on some other design light to the car? Its for drag racing only now , not a street car.

I have a few panels in my 1948 Simca drag race car that need to be removable. I figure dzus fasteners..  Or is there another method?

Simple flat panels. 18 gauge sheet metal.  Will cover the rear area of the car where the battery and fuel cell are located.

I have never installed these fasteners.

Reports are he had a stroke this monday morning and has died.  Amazing fellow and music  career.

Looking for feedback on Hammer drill brands

I had a 18 yr old Milwaukee Hammer drill. It crapped out couple years ago.  It was never a great hammer drill.

In fact:  Years ago, i was complaining about drilling some concrete with the Milwaukee unit using 5/8 inch drill bits. A buddy brought over his Bosch Hammer drill.  It used a different type of drill bit and chuck, the SDS style bits.  That Bosch drill went through the concrete easy.

I do not want a brand specific  design drill chuck and bits. I need a 1/2 inch drill and a hammer drill.  I guess everything is a trade off?

I have been asked to help with kitchen cabinet painting. They are wood, unpainted.  Varnish type finish. I know they need to be sanded, cleaned , yada yada.

Are the electric home improvement store sprayers workable?  Never used one.

I need a new air hose, basic 50 foot 3/8 air hose, 1/4 inch PT ends... Not Harbor Freight air hose. Any red air hose I have bought from HF has lasted 2 yrs maybe.. Starts cracking, then air bubbles under the red covering, then air leaks.

Looking on Amazon: only brands I know are Tekton and Senco...

I had a couple Goodyear brand air hoses many years ago.. All those hoses wanted to do was self coil up, loop around stuff.. They would not lay straight at all.  Maybe it was a feature , not a problem as I saw it?

My Air hose recoil reel from HF , the red air hose has crappped out.  I need a replacement..  Of course after I replace the hose.. The reel will quit.  LOL

Hi.  ANybody used this brand of primer? U-Pol UP2253 with hardener UP2323?

A couple friends are telling me this is the "high build" urethane primer to use.

[1/4 inch pipe thread.]

Any of you folks know where to find a similar item?  thread size is: 1/4 inch pipe thread.

Case connnector. these pictured are Mopar brand. Used on RWD Mopar transmissions that had lock up torque converters.

I am using these to pass 12 volts thru to inside a transmission case for other operations inside the case.

The Mopar produced type connector was discontinued some years back.  A suitable replacement seems hard to find.

Needed replacement needs to be durable in heat and oil exposure as this design.

New year.  New Decade. New thread.. So far for 2020 , the wife and I went out for breakfast. Oh yea, we slept thru the celebration at midnite.  

I have never used the balance beads inside of tires.  I know people that have used the beads, been happy with results.

I have heard various things like the beads cause leaks in the valve stem ..

Decided to try the beads on my trailer tires.  Recommended amount was 3 oz for the tire size.

Bought some beads on eBay..

How bad do these gear teeth look for rust pits?  I know any rust pitting is bad.

The gears would be used in a drag strip car.  Low power.  Not much use any where else.

It is just a money thing (save money)...  these are 3.70 gears for a 9 inch Ford differential

I have been having problems with sloooow page loading here since sunday..

Other places on the interweb I visit are functioning at normal pace.

I have researching wire loom materials.  I do not want to use  the split plastic corrugated wire loom.

The braided split wire loom looks like something I may try.  You can have wires run out of the split at various - as needed locations.

Any body used this stuff or other suggestions?  Going into my  drag  race car project.... maybe a street car too.

In time:  I will need a portable work table - stand setup.  Something to setup and use for various tools.  Like a basic 14 inch chop saw.

Was wondering if any one here had a setup they use when needed? This would be in addition to a regular work bench, just set it up as needed.  Take back down to gain the floor space back

A piece of plywood and some saw horses is not the deal I am looking for.

I figure 32 to 36 inches tall would work well for me.

i have always setup stuff on the floor for various seldom used tools.  My knees and back are less happy with that now

Olde Snap On evac pump for a/c work.  Looks like a basic refrigeration compressor to me.

Any body cut one of these open for a look see?  This has set on my shelf for 8 - 10 yrs, unused.  When i put it away, it worked like a champ

I got it out and plugged it in.  It hums, does not sound like it is running, no vacuum action , then the internal circuit breaker pops

A buddy is using 11 inch ford drum brakes on his project.  He was having problems finding the park lever arm that is attached to the brake shoe.  The parking  cable attaches to this lever.

He said the lever for the 10 inch brakes is reproduced.  The 11 inch brake lever is not.  He found a pair of used levers on eBay for 25 dollar$ a piece.

Any body found a reproduced 11 inch brake arm?  I do not find one.

Simply curious about this.  I have some 11 inch ford drum brakes out here on some 9 inch differentials from F-100 trucks. A few parts are gone from the inner workings on these 11 inch drum brakes

Photo shown is a 10 inch brake piece I have.

We have a new topic area for 2019....  So far we ate breakfast at Dennys.  My wife likes their pancakes. It was a quiet morning in there at 6:30am

Am I the only one that saw a generic web page and No RRT this morning?

I usually check in , early.  4:30am AZ time.  As I am awake and up , getting ready for the fun work day.

Looks like my 15+ yr olde garage door opener Craftsman 1/2 hp chain drive  is just slap worn out.

Door  will open 1 foot,  stop.  5 feet , stop. Then work great for 3 - 5 days and then puke again.

Sensors checked, limit switches checked. Roll up springs adjusted, cables are good....   If I open the door manually, easy up and down.  I am thinking the internal motor safety switch is going bad or the motor it's self is worn out.

Looking at new opener... sheesh.  Way too many options now.

Likely will buy a 3/4 hp unit.

Belt drive?  Another chain drive ?

[Looking at Moser and Dutchman for axles]

I have a partially finished Ford 9 inch , narrowed for my Morris Car.

It's an axle from a F-100 truck. Early 1970's ...  Large Ford  bearing Housing ends: 3.150 dia bearing

Brakes I have are 11" drums.  2 1/4 wide shoes.  Will need to re-drill the bolt pattern on the drums for 5 x 4.5 , I guess

I need to order 31 spline axles for the diff Since I have a Ford posi 31 spline center .  Looking at Moser and Dutchman for axles

11 inch disc rotor on the front.  11 inch drums on the rear. The Morris should have some good brakes, I hope

How many degrees of caster into the straight axle?  I read from 5 to 10 degrees.  10 seems a bit much.

Wheel base is only 90 inches. Drag race and street use too.

["hard start kit"]

ANy experience with the clamp on electric current measuring tool brands?

You clamp the tool head around a wire to measure the current flow.

I see tool brands and prices from 60 dollars to 260 dollars.

I am looking to measure the inline rush amp current on my a/c units on my house and shop.  My house unit specs out at 117 amps, the reading on the unit is 138 amps at start up.

The a/c service company was out 2 weeks ago.  Tell me I need a "hard start kit" on my 3.5 yr old unit to save stress on my compressor during start up. 249.00 dollars installed.  That is with a discount.

I found various hard start kits & you tube videos  on the internet.  A popular brand is around 45 to 50 dollars for my size a/c unit.  A brand :  5 2 1 Hard Start Kit , comes with relay and capacitor with 3 wires to hook up.

:!:

The spread of prices that I see, are increasing.

Station I pass in Phx  often , dropped to 2.16 a gallon on tuesday.  Of course I did not need gas then

2 days later , I paid 2.26 a gallon at a station near me here.