1st Gen. Lunch Table - General Discussion

For me, it all boils down to upbringing. I came up in a family that was dirt poor and used the military to dig themselves out --- I'm one generation separated from poverty because my dad was willing to commit to the USN for 20 years, giving him the foundation to make sure his children had a genuine chance at something better.

That opportunity to break out of lower class life wouldn't have been possible if every time something broke, we paid someone to fix it. Poverty left Dad with a head full of knowledge how to fix stuff on his own, the right way, mostly due to his upbringing being similarly lacking funds and having to do it himself.

Everything I know about cars, I initially learned because my father forced me to work on fixing anything that broke on ours, and mine. Everything I know about electronics, using a DMM to test circuits, soldering and repair, I initially learned from him because he wouldn't let us spend money on new stuff if something broke.

The fixes weren't always elegant, but they worked, and lasted. He really taught me how to dig in, understand what makes stuff work, troubleshoot what failed based on that understanding, and think up robust solutions to solve the issue, then showed me what tools to use and why.

As stupid as it sounds, I was privileged to've had poor parents. I'm much less poor today because of it. Granted, I also married "up" which helped, but part of the reason she saw me as marrying material is I'm not worthless when it comes to keeping up on stuff, and she learns new stuff from me all the time.

But my love of muscle cars ultimately came from my aunt on mom's side who lives in Vegas and drag races. Her 2nd husband was a notorious engine builder up 'til he passed away a couple years ago. Was always fun when we got to visit. He was a grumpy asshole, but he'd always share his knowledge if he knew you were interested.

 

I so want these experiences with my kids. They seem entirely incapable so far. Sigh. I want to learn with them. They just want to f around and break stuff and then annoy me.

 

Just have patience. Dad started me early. Easy stuff, holding flashlights and handing tools, then he’d crack things loose and make me take em the rest of the way, then he’d hold the flashlight and give me step by step instructions… but that was early 90’s. Pre tablets and smartphones. My buddies kids would rather do a silly dance for ticktock. But i made em clean things while i was helping with the sxs. Told em they couldnt be in the garage if they werent helping, and they stayed and cleaned.

 

They're still young. They'll see you doing things and want to come join. That's what happened with my kids and now my son just signed up for auto tech in the afternoons as a high school elective. He wants to be a mechanical engineer, but understand how his designs as an engineer impact maintainability. He started out as a kid sitting on a skateboard hanging out with dad.

One of my other sons loves all things electronic, not so much my thing, but we go find old stuff for him to take apart. We'll go to goodwill and buy a $5 blender so he can take it apart and then play with the motor and wires.

 

Yea, dads was always big help while dumpster diving. I still cant pass a mower on a curb on trash days. When i was 10 or so the old man across the street threw his mower out, dad brought it home and we fixed it up and took it back, the man was grateful, gave dad a beer and me $10. The next year he threw it out again, nothing was wrong with it, so we cleaned the carb and plug, sharpened the blade and took it back, and the old man said ‘i appreciate it, but i really just want a new mower.’ Lol. I used that mower cutting lawns for like 5 years.


Picked this up thurs. Someone mangled the governor, but i’ve got some spare springs at home.

 

Haha My dad does the same thing. He’s got like 4 mowers at any given time he’s working upon. Some aren’t worth saving and he just puts them out to the curb again.

 

I thought I was good at parallel parking without aids in Boston but this guy has me beat.
https://youtu.be/DfMVB6X8qMA

 

When I got a house I needed a mower. I was visiting my moms house and she had 2 mowers on the side. One worked, one didn't. The one that didn't she had bought for my sister and my sisters hubby said it stopped working. They essentially threw it away by leaving it in the yard when they sold their house, my mom was having none of that so she grabbed it and left it in her yard.

I took it home, cleaned the carb, filled the gas, fired up 3rd pull. Been using it since 2019. It smokes but it works.

 

i’d have to have a fwd car if i had to park like that.
https://youtu.be/lb1awXgoyQE

 

Hey,
Have any of you bought land next to cornfields and worried about pesticides? I am just about to put my money down on ranch house on 3 acres that has small cornfields on three sides and I'm hearing a lot of round up cancer issues etc?
is this is still an issue nowadays?

 

The answer is, maybe. Realistically long term exposure to anything isn't great.

I've been across the street from corn/soybean fields for the last 15 years, they typically spray once per harvest and that's about it.

 

Kinda depends. Are they using aircraft to spread the poison? If so, how many times a year or season? Roundup takes years to develop cancer, but it's bad when it gets going! Google Roundup cancer in your zip code. If there are any stats they should be easily found. If you really have a choice, don't rent buy. But you need to invest in a little homework for your family's protection...

 

This is a small block about 3 acres of corn in total its done once a year via a tractor. I spoke to the guy who does the spraying and he said for the amount he uses its more dangerous with the stuff we buy from walmart.

 

3 acres of corn is a garden, not a farm.

 

hahah true, I think I've been whipped into a frenzy by the cancel culture on this one!

 

I think I watched a movie about this one...

 

were there children involved

 

It's still an 'issue', as in, some pretty expensive cases have been paid out to avoid going to court for a jury to decide, and more people are collecting data on it.

I worried about this when my parents moved to their current land, surrounded by rotating crops of feed corn/peanuts, but in dozens or hundreds of acres. After talking to the guy who leases it out, he won't let anyone use glyphosate because his brother died of it. He's convinced there's a link.

Anyway, that's tiny land. It's not going to be much worse than using it in your yard.

 

Its worth looking into, but probably not worth worrying about.

cancer is just a byproduct of life now.

hell, might be able to score some money out of the deal in 20 years or so.

 

Anyone know of online parts dealers doing smoking sales like Serra had the other month?

 

Someone has been posting rockauto discount codes like a champ.

 

Anyone have any recommendations for a AAL? I saw toytec has a single and a 3 pack. Trying to get rid of my 1" block as I might start towing here soon.

 

You can have any of my stock leafs if Jason still has them. Not sure they can stack though.

 

I f’d up w my Tacoma and got the rear door stuck shut w cable detached. And I knew better. Ugh. Bonehead move.

 

Wheelers or toytec. Not Icon. I did the toytec 3 leaf aal, I liked it, but then realized my leaf pack was shot and replaced with HD leafs.

 

should work.
The ice will shrink the mud, crack it & turn it to dust which will blow away before it can retain any moisture from the ice.
The base mud stuck to the surface will get moisture from the ice, loosening it's grip, allowing it to be blown away.
I'd think.

 

Going to have to pull the seat to pull the door card, or ????

 

It will be a series of steps in escalating intensity.

I may attempt a pull as hard as I can on the lever and if it breaks use as an excuse to go OEM black and ditch the covers.

A rather poor design really. Should be some easy way to exit the vehicle easily in an emergency.

 

Where you been Jonah? Good to hear from you.

I agree with Rock Climber. Skip Icon.

 

Rock Auto discount code:

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