2021: What are you doing today

phat46 · January 25, 2021, 10:49:06 PM

Used to be so many old cars in the U.P. On the old farm by our deer camp there was literally piles of them, one pile, as near as I could tell, was at least seven late '40's - early 50's Buicks, I got tail lights off one piece, they were all cut into pieces. That same pile had a '46 - '48 Ford sedan body, and a big truck cab. They cleaned out the place about ten years ago and hauled 53 semis of "scrap". That didn't count the tractors, they were all bought by a collector from WI. including a few steel wheelers and a Fordson. A barn on the property had the biggest lathe I have ever seen, the bed was about ten feet! That barn also had several milling machines, a forge, lathes, etc, all scrapped.

enjenjo · January 25, 2021, 11:29:37 PM

The first time I went to the UP was in 59. When you drove down a road you would see a line of cars in the driveway. One from the 20s, behind it one from the 30s, then a 39 Ford, a 49 Ford, and a new Ford they were driving. Every farm was like this.

Rochie · January 26, 2021, 11:38:49 AM

There's an old wrecking yard north east of London On. that's been there for, at the very least, 80 years. He must not have liked the early 50's Chevs., his fence is made from 50 to 52 Chevs with their noses dug into the ground. It used to be a great source of cars and parts IF you could get him to sell you anything.

Crosley.In.AZ · January 26, 2021, 10:07:06 PM

Young guy that bought my steam cleaner called me... He and his buddies came out sunday morning and bought many pieces of my shop equipment. It was a difficult moment for me , yet a new chapter of my life is about to start.

They are setting up a fab shop.. Car stuff and other fab work. Something they hope to grow into a full time gig. I hope they do well.

enjenjo · January 27, 2021, 06:06:51 PM

I get upset with some of the vendors on Ebay. They give you a date you will receive the parcel, and then wait to the day before to ship it. Then they try to blame it on the USPS, or FedX or UPS. sorry fellas it doesn't work that way.

kb426 · January 27, 2021, 07:00:12 PM

Tony, I understand what you just said. You are about to get a new life that may or may not be a good fit. When I have thought about relocating, the possibilities of not having tools and equipment is always part of the equation. I have become so dependent on being productive that I want to continue that part as long as possible. Frank, I have the same exp. on ebay. The real pita has been the people that are using amazon to do their work. If that is the case, I never use them again. This isn't pc so regard it as such: the Chinese sellers are all using warehouses on the coasts. You get your stuff when you get it. They list locations all over the US but when you see the label, you know it came from one of about a half dozen locations. They have nothing to do with shipping or packaging. Should they receive equal feedback from the person that does it all?

Crosley.In.AZ · January 27, 2021, 07:16:48 PM

Quote from: "kb426"Tony, I understand what you just said. You are about to get a new life that may or may not be a good fit. When I have thought about relocating, the possibilities of not having tools and equipment is always part of the equation. I have become so dependent on being productive that I want to continue that part as long as possible.

Frank, I have the same exp. on ebay. The real pita has been the people that are using amazon to do their work. If that is the case, I never use them again. This isn't pc so regard it as such: the Chinese sellers are all using warehouses on the coasts. You get your stuff when you get it. They list locations all over the US but when you see the label, you know it came from one of about a half dozen locations. They have nothing to do with shipping or packaging. Should they receive equal feedback from the person that does it all?

Oh yes: I think I spend more time checking a vendor out on eBay to see who , what , where they are , than anything else now.

Also as a buyer : I do not provide feedback till I receive it. If the seller can not leave feedback first, usually no feedback is applied from either of us.

enjenjo · January 27, 2021, 08:00:11 PM

I received a package last week that was from a Vendor listed as in Florence KY. The package was sent China Post.

Arnold · January 28, 2021, 05:04:23 PM

Laying on my side..trying to dig..with my hands..UNDER a later model Dodge minivan..through packed in snow

Yes..it is -20C..blowing snow. About 1' of snow each day for days now.. I have ONE lol..of my big suits on. Yep..the snow is packed up quite a bit higher than the air dam

Just WHAT :?: can I even FIND to hook on to pull this thing out. This model should come with J hooks..or whatever recovery hook works

My,my,my just what kind of vehicles/life have we made

The guy who comes with his big tractor to blow our lane..he knows shi*. He can drive tractors/equipment..fix stuff..spends a lot of time at the local garage..fixing stuff. He comes..as this mini van is stuck in our lane. He has NO idea what to hook on to. Oh..this is NOT good..if HE doesn't know..
His dad and another neighbour have given up on trying to pull stuck newer vehicles..
2 guys here who work around farms. 3 of us and my better half.Sure..start to pull and I will be the guy who jumps on the tow chain to change the angle of pull..so it does not rip off the front 99% of this vehicle..plastic and tin underneath..

Got it out no damage.

I am GRATEFUL to still have the health AND Sanity to do this..

kb426 · January 28, 2021, 06:28:56 PM

Arnold, I agree with your statement. Several years ago, the Nissan Altima had a square place on the front bumper. It was a removable plastic panel that covered a tow hook. Some of my wife's cars have had a single round hole in the front crossmember that you might have gotten a portion of a hook in. I have cautioned her about where she goes that might not end well.

kb426 · January 28, 2021, 06:29:58 PM

I've spent numerous hours reading the manual and watching teaching videos to learn Freecad. If I had a memory, it would go faster.

It's been at least 2 or 3 decades since I used any cad. They were basic programs. I'm amazed at what Freecad can do. It's open source freeware based on Python programming. What I know of Python will fit in a real small thimble.

There was a young man that used to come to coffee sometimes who had been up all night doing programming for a company in Germany. He used Python. I have no intention of doing any programming. I will be using this to design the chassis for the F6. I don't know that it will be better than mechanical drafting but doing scenarios sure will be quicker and with accurate measurement of distance and angles. Every so often, I would have to stop and give my eyes a rest. I will probably watch one of the videos again before thinking I can remember all of the functions. I'm excited to get to use this.

Arnold · January 28, 2021, 08:06:39 PM

Quote from: "kb426"Arnold, I agree with your statement. Several years ago, the Nissan Altima had a square place on the front bumper. It was a removable plastic panel that covered a tow hook. Some of my wife's cars have had a single round hole in the front crossmember that you might have gotten a portion of a hook in. I have cautioned her about where she goes that might not end well.

Kb..oh this topic came up today..amongst others who knew a fair bit about it. Seems that for a while more manufacturers started doing this..then some started..some others stopped. The most experienced said that the only way to tell what was behind the plastic plug..was to take it out and see. I have had cars with the plastic plugs..and behind them nothing. Reminds me of seeing a pretty new truck and noticing how far in the tow hook was on the front. NO regular.normal size hook etc was ever gonna go over this. Looked like the ONLY way to use those hooks was to loop a piece of thin cable there somehow. CLEARLY the manufacturer of this truck did not EVER intend on these things being used. I have neighbour who has an awd Jag..in his Jag collection. The tow ring is a thing of beauty! BEAUTIFUL..comes in it's own beautiful bag. Has a threaded part that screws into EACH corner of the vehicle after you take the caps out. He is a good man..he PROUDLY states that it has been used on EVERY corner of his Jag..

Speaking of these things and factory tow hooks..not long ago I read an article and talked to my garage owner buddy about people
doing extensive damage to their vehicles by using what they THOUGHT were tow hooks..well..they are really. NO..they are hooks put there by the manufacturer for one reason. ONE. For securing the cars to the loading levels on rail car carriers.

I have had lots of vehicles with the single round hole in the front crossmember. Some like my 1994 GM 1 ton van..oh my..the meat around this hole..wow..WOW. This ain't never gonna fail..Other vehicles..ya..um..no..(even larger vehicles) the crossmember looked just too thin..weak..this was just going to be a bad idea pulling here. I had a truck with a factory skid plate..ya..the hole was there..tempting. The hole was there because that was pretty much the only way to drain the transfer case.

Crosley.In.AZ · January 30, 2021, 11:12:12 AM

Quote from: "kb426"Tony, I understand what you just said. You are about to get a new life that may or may not be a good fit. When I have thought about relocating, the possibilities of not having tools and equipment is always part of the equation. I have become so dependent on being productive that I want to continue that part as long as possible.

Yes, I need to keep busy. I hear most RV type vehicles need upkeep - repairs on a regular basis. I do not think my passion for working on or building cars is gone , it is just tired and needs a rest.

My wife has always helped me , supported me on the car hobby deal. Now she want to wander about the country for 1 year or so. I figure I owe her that.

We are not sure what or where we want to setup the next home location. We still own the 2 acres up near Show Low AZ .. That is paid for, utilities are to the property line. Only property taxes come due 1 time a year.

My wife thinks a Toy hauler type trailer does 2 things. After we sell this house it gives us a place to live as we travel and figure out where to set down roots again. It also gives us a place to store & carry the motorcycle. We enjoy the motorcycle together. She has ridden with me since she was 15 yr old and I was 17... The last few years we have not been able to get out on the cycle as much as we would like.

enjenjo · January 30, 2021, 01:08:53 PM

If you get a toy hauler, make sure the brand has a good warrantee policy. My son and his wife bought one and had a terrible time getting warrantee repairs done.

Crosley.In.AZ · January 30, 2021, 07:28:02 PM

Quote from: "enjenjo"If you get a toy hauler, make sure the brand has a good warrantee policy. My son and his wife bought one and had a terrible time getting warrantee repairs done.

We are not buying a new toy hauler. No warranty likely. From what I have read it is an industry standard for RV warranty problems.

I have noticed on some trailer reviews (you tube) the units may be listed as full time use warranty.. When I quiz these sales people on how the manufacturer would know an RV has been used full time or too often to deny a claim. I receive a "sales persons" answer: "I have never seen a claim denied for over use of a RV". Does the manufacturer have a flush counter on the toilet or what?