Garage Gazette
VEHICLES => DAILY DRIVERS/GROCERY GETTERS => Topic started by: goodfellow on May 19, 2023, 09:28:28 AM
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Daughter had a “fender bender” with the Highlander. This time it was her fault, but no use crying over it. I repaired this front end about seven years ago, after a crash. That time it wasn’t her fault - LOL. Well, the core support is bent, the bumper, bumper cover, left headlight, and condenser are all toast. Time to order some parts.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230519/6da94da6b39abdd325c934593f144cd2.jpg)
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This is to just keep yours skills up, right? Did the same to daughters Century. 2 years later a pickup rear ended it, was no fixing after that as I dont have a frame machine.
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Yeah John - keeping the skills up when you’re pushing towards 70 is a good thing - I guess. ——LOL.
This Highlander has had more accidents, dents, bumps, scrapes, and abuse than any car we’ve ever owned. In my mind it deserves another shot, because it just keeps on working. It’s like a member of the family by now.
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Well, the core support is bent, the bumper, bumper cover, left headlight, and condenser are all toast. Time to order some parts.
Elroy has full confidence it's in capable hands
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Daughter had a “fender bender” with the Highlander. This time it was her fault, but no use crying over it. I repaired this front end about seven years ago, after a crash. That time it wasn’t her fault - LOL. Well, the core support is bent, the bumper, bumper cover, left headlight, and condenser are all toast. Time to order some parts.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230519/6da94da6b39abdd325c934593f144cd2.jpg)
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Good to read you're up and about....
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Thanks Pep! Glad to feel normal again. Yes, 2022 was a bad year healthwise, and my back injury forced a lot of projects and garage time to be put on the back burner. This year has been productive -- knock wood! I'm getting the garage setup with air drops, I can bend over and work productively on cars again, and most importantly-- I can finally get that full size lift installed to make the garage more versatile. It took a while, but slowly getting back to a normal pace.
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Very glad to hear that you are doing better and getting back out in the shop and doing your usual great work!
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Ray you need to get that girl married to a young version of you so you can get some rest :))
Glad you are feeling better
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Ray you need to get that girl married to a young version of you so you can get some rest :))
Glad you are feeling better
Absolutely agree Phil. Not sure if she needs a guy like me, but she damn well get a guy that knows a bit about mechanical things. Most all the males friends in her social circle don't know anything about cars or mechanical concepts. That said, they know computers real well, but that doesn't help them when facing a large automotive, plumbing, electrical or home improvement quote. They just take the contractor or repair shop's word for it -- what a way to lose money.
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Ray you need to get that girl married to a young version of you so you can get some rest :))
Glad you are feeling better
Absolutely agree Phil. Not sure if she needs a guy like me, but she damn well get a guy that knows a bit about mechanical things. Most all the males friends in her social circle don't know anything about cars or mechanical concepts. That said, they know computers real well, but that doesn't help them when facing a large automotive, plumbing, electrical or home improvement quote. They just take the contractor or repair shop's word for it -- what a way to lose money.
Even computers have a mechanical aspect. Some time ago, I had a snap ring break and fly off of an oven door bracket. lodging in the door jamming it open. I told the help to go get a flat blade screwdriver and three people were back at the tool box, googling "what's a flat blade screwdriver".
Now Saturday, I am helping mom as dad has been sick for a week, when I receive a text about water dripping from the ceiling. Air handler has a clogged drain. I put three five gallon buckets on the table, climb the ladder and expect the kid down below to hold it over the buckets as needed.
Nope, yanks it out of my hands by pulling down, dumping it on the floor, because there is a floor drain five feet away.
The owner hears a noise coming from something, and turns up the radio. Just recently had to put out the company truck on fire, due to ignoring the noise from a bad wheel bearing. And he relies on this truck to get to dialysis
Mechanical morons.
Now if I disappear for a while, it's because of my main home computer died, I haven't been able to log in from any backup computer and am only logged in on my work computer. I tried requesting a new password, but this site hates my email. (and the password I saved said invalid). So I am going to try to reset it from this one, then log in from another.
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Ray you need to get that girl married to a young version of you so you can get some rest :))
Glad you are feeling better
Absolutely agree Phil. Not sure if she needs a guy like me, but she damn well get a guy that knows a bit about mechanical things. Most all the males friends in her social circle don't know anything about cars or mechanical concepts. That said, they know computers real well, but that doesn't help them when facing a large automotive, plumbing, electrical or home improvement quote. They just take the contractor or repair shop's word for it -- what a way to lose money.
One good thing is your daughter is smart and likely hangs out with equally smart friends. I would bet she will do well in life, marry well and be able to afford to pay to have work done even if it seems crazy to you.
I bet she is well grounded too
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Ray you need to get that girl married to a young version of you so you can get some rest :))
Glad you are feeling better
Absolutely agree Phil. Not sure if she needs a guy like me, but she damn well get a guy that knows a bit about mechanical things. Most all the males friends in her social circle don't know anything about cars or mechanical concepts. That said, they know computers real well, but that doesn't help them when facing a large automotive, plumbing, electrical or home improvement quote. They just take the contractor or repair shop's word for it -- what a way to lose money.
Even computers have a mechanical aspect. Some time ago, I had a snap ring break and fly off of an oven door bracket. lodging in the door jamming it open. I told the help to go get a flat blade screwdriver and three people were back at the tool box, googling "what's a flat blade screwdriver".
Now Saturday, I am helping mom as dad has been sick for a week, when I receive a text about water dripping from the ceiling. Air handler has a clogged drain. I put three five gallon buckets on the table, climb the ladder and expect the kid down below to hold it over the buckets as needed.
Nope, yanks it out of my hands by pulling down, dumping it on the floor, because there is a floor drain five feet away.
The owner hears a noise coming from something, and turns up the radio. Just recently had to put out the company truck on fire, due to ignoring the noise from a bad wheel bearing. And he relies on this truck to get to dialysis
Mechanical morons.
Now if I disappear for a while, it's because of my main home computer died, I haven't been able to log in from any backup computer and am only logged in on my work computer. I tried requesting a new password, but this site hates my email. (and the password I saved said invalid). So I am going to try to reset it from this one, then log in from another.
If it is for this site that will work
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Ray you need to get that girl married to a young version of you so you can get some rest :))
Glad you are feeling better
Absolutely agree Phil. Not sure if she needs a guy like me, but she damn well get a guy that knows a bit about mechanical things. Most all the males friends in her social circle don't know anything about cars or mechanical concepts. That said, they know computers real well, but that doesn't help them when facing a large automotive, plumbing, electrical or home improvement quote. They just take the contractor or repair shop's word for it -- what a way to lose money.
Even computers have a mechanical aspect. Some time ago, I had a snap ring break and fly off of an oven door bracket. lodging in the door jamming it open. I told the help to go get a flat blade screwdriver and three people were back at the tool box, googling "what's a flat blade screwdriver".
Now Saturday, I am helping mom as dad has been sick for a week, when I receive a text about water dripping from the ceiling. Air handler has a clogged drain. I put three five gallon buckets on the table, climb the ladder and expect the kid down below to hold it over the buckets as needed.
Nope, yanks it out of my hands by pulling down, dumping it on the floor, because there is a floor drain five feet away.
The owner hears a noise coming from something, and turns up the radio. Just recently had to put out the company truck on fire, due to ignoring the noise from a bad wheel bearing. And he relies on this truck to get to dialysis
Mechanical morons.
Now if I disappear for a while, it's because of my main home computer died, I haven't been able to log in from any backup computer and am only logged in on my work computer. I tried requesting a new password, but this site hates my email. (and the password I saved said invalid). So I am going to try to reset it from this one, then log in from another.
If it is for this site that will work
Nope, it requires the existing password, which I don't have (not what I have it listed as)
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Great to see you back in the shop (albeit for not so good reasons.) Also I don't think we got a tour of the new shop yet?
Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman
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Great to see you back in the shop (albeit for not so good reasons.) Also I don't think we got a tour of the new shop yet?
Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman
Quite right Tim, I forgot to do a post about the new shop. Been so busy that it slipped my mind completely. I have a few more things to install, but will provide an update and pics in short order. My bad!
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It was a nice clear dry morning and a perfect time to spray these parts. I shot two light coats of base, followed by a nice smooth wet coat to make it flow. A half hour later I followed up with two wet coats of clear. The clear was sprayed in 15 minute intervals.
Since I didn’t feel like making a drop cloth paint booth, i just propped my exhaust fans under the garage door and sprayed the floor with some water to keep the dust down. That worked pretty well. Almost a perfect finish -
I sprayed these parts in the attached garage of the house. It was easier to clean out and prep for paint than my shop garage.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230531/e8b1a7e8d88361166bee740b7ab75ba2.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230531/4a280a1e79c84654249c4ff4f3fc0c85.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230531/edcf09c158e46fbd717fba98537429cd.jpg)
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Put the vacuum pump on to see if there are
any leaks. I’ll let her run for an hour and then shut everything down and wait an hour to make sure the system holds vacuum.
Love these new gauges - separate ports for the vacuum pump and the fill side. Definitely an improvement over my old gauge set.
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230531/7b008271472c5e65f69194b3191f0e83.jpg)
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Very glad I did a check. Brand new Schrader valve was leaking on the low side. Careful when buying these kits on Amazon. This may bite you in the a$$.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230531/fb4bbdf336814159045bd583be846df1.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230531/4f5cd0e7cb3ce35c46eb3e1a026679f7.jpg)
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Paint cured for two days and I was able to install everything without a hitch. Recharged the AC system and took it for a test drive. Everything good to go. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/d02ee9f7d6f40cccd12917a892a89e2a.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/3cd8687d78cb8d1193f0cb82b2da54eb.jpg)
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Nice work, as usual, Ray.
I too have been bit by the leaky Schrader valves. What a PITA. I did get me a freon recovery tank a while back and that helps to recover the charge before pulling it back apart to replace the valve.
I dont recall the thread up fittings leaking this bad, but it seems like just about every time I snap onto a fitting now its gonna leak when I unsnap. usually you can poke it a time or two to get it sealed back but sometimes. :banghead: :banghead:
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Nice work, as usual, Ray.
I too have been bit by the leaky Schrader valves. What a PITA. I did get me a freon recovery tank a while back and that helps to recover the charge before pulling it back apart to replace the valve.
I dont recall the thread up fittings leaking this bad, but it seems like just about every time I snap onto a fitting now its gonna leak when I unsnap. usually you can poke it a time or two to get it sealed back but sometimes. :banghead: :banghead:
Thanks slipknot -- much appreciated! Yes, modern imported Schrader valves are always suspect in my view. I've been bitten in the rear too many times by cheap imported AC valves. In this instance I had no choice but to use what items I had on hand. It was a gamble, but I always check to be sure. Glad this is over, and I can get back to a slower pace -- I'm tired -- ;)
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yep, looking good Ray
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Very nice work, Ray. Much better than my beaver-tooth job on the wife's Buick.
Yeah, I've had my share of bad schrader valve cores leaking. Makes having a core removal tool indispensible. Makes replacing a leaking core without losing the whole charge easy.
This is an ad for the newer style. I also have an older Yellow Jacket model I reserve for R12 and R22 systems.
https://www.amazon.com/Appion-MGAVCT-MegaFlow-Vacuum-Rated-Removal/dp/B01M7SQGTR/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=valve+core+removal+tool&qid=1685972018&sr=8-2
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Thanks George! …. and thanks for that Amazon link. What an ingenious little tool. The tool snob in me wants one - I’ll place the order this evening.
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Glad I could be of help, Ray. Those tools have saved me countless times over the years.
If you prefer a brass tool, here's the YJ model.
https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Jacket-18975-Charge-Tool/dp/B0014JDNVO
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Those tools work well on the smaller schrader valves but not on the bigger cores. I've got the smaller tools and it wont work with the bigger cores.
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Those tools work well on the smaller schrader valves but not on the bigger cores. I've got the smaller tools and it wont work with the bigger cores.
Shoot - I hadn't thought about that!
HVAC schrader valves are all one size - even between refrigerants. there was some debate when R410a came out to make them a different size than the older R22, just so unwitting techs didn't install older lower pressure gauges on the new higher pressure units. But standardization won out - all A/C valves are the same size.
I know on cars they are different, but there are adaptors to be able to use different gauges. Maybe one of the tools is made with bigger fittings?
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Great work as always, Ray! There just might be a cigar or two in your near future...