1st Gen. Lunch Table - General Discussion

Someone actually rode on the font middle bench seat? Impressive. Growing up my dad had Mazda B series trucks(basically a Ranger) and I would often have to ride in the rear jump seats that fold down. After a few hours my back would be hurting, even as a kid.

 

With 2 sisters and not wanting to be by them, some of my best sleeping was back window ledge of 65 Impala….probably not NTSB approved

 

Hey, at least you got to sit in the front. When dad was stationed at Miramar and most of the other family was in Florida, he'd load up the 1980's F150, throw the cap on it, and we'd make the cross-country trek from the burbs of San Diego to Alachua County in the bed of the truck. Again, probably wouldn't fly in today's world, but we made that trip about half a dozen times, only stopping for gas, food, pit stops, and the occasional roadside touristy sight to see.

I will say, I got a chuckle out of that bolded bit, but also a little grimace of aggravation. I've been struggling with that since day 1. I've always made a point of traveling with jumper cables, a tow strap, tie-downs, first aid kit, and a few other odds and ends in my truck. Right now, my tow strap is in the center console, I'm running w/o jumper cables which is odd for me, it just sucks, all-around. I am a bit perturbed by the lack of appreciable under-seat storage. I think the caged box system used on the access cabs is pretty inefficient and wasteful, overall.

 

That sounds like fun as a kid. What did you guys use for seats? CPS would be involved if you tried that today.

 

What is this thing you call "seat"? I know no such thing in a truck bed.

Seriously, we literally had our sleeping bags. In the bed of the truck. With some blankets to make the steel floor not so harsh. We pretty much had that, some comic books, and a Walkman or boombox with headphones. Oh, and we also had a dog for at least one of the trips.

Yes, CPS would've been called today, but it was normal for us then. You gotta understand, my family was dirt poor for generations, gas was ultra-cheap, and flying super damn expensive. I'm literally one of the first kids in my extended family who attended college, and one of the only ones making more than $30-40/hr today.

I would never feel safe these days doing the same with my kids. I don't frown on my parents for their actions, I legit think it was safer then, less traffic, less idiot drivers, less digital distractions on the road, and way better roads and infrastructure back then. Things really have declined in the last 30-40 years!

I won't lie, it was fun, at least for the 1st day or so of the trip, and any time we actually got to stay over at a hotel, especially if mom and dad found one with a pool because it was cheap enough.

 

If you have access to the flywheel, you can hold it in place by bracing the teeth with a breaker bar or some sort of tool while torquing down the HB center bolt.

Right now, I'm helping out on getting out a harmonic balancer on a 2.3L 4 cylinder 95 Ranger that has no holes to mount a tool.

Edit: scratch the flywheel approach, that's only for standard shift transmissions.

 

Right now I need to help my father replace the timing belt on his 95 Ranger. The original one lasted 210k miles before it snapped going up a hill about 1/4 mile away from his house.



Once that's complete I can work on my Tundra so I can get it ready to pass inspection. Looks like the parking brake is frozen yet again.

 

We went from 85-90 degrees to 70-75 here. I'm loving it.

Don't forget to switch over for fall.

 

Get creative with your old belt and vice grips. that belt and that pulley hold well by design, if that makes sense. It worked well for me

 

I wouldn't recommend this. The pulley is pressed over a rubber insert and can slip if used to 'hold' the center when loosening or tightening the crank bolt.

 

From this morning before bed time.


I give night shift a lot of shit, but I'd miss these mornings if I were on days.

 

well i've gotta drive up to Canada for 2 family funerals tomorrow after work, my wife, kids and in-laws left today in the sienna. Wife called a bit ago saying she tagged a cow that got spooked and ran onto the road.....awesome.
Now I get to spend money and replace a hood, grille and hopefully that's all. Paint won't be cheap either. Wish there was a wrecking yard with a used hood near me but no dice.

 

Got a person i do work for telling me theres a 60k mile 66 buick riviera... needless to say, im investigating and really dont need it, but kinda want it.

 

thats terrible... hopefully its not too expensive

 

Sorry for your loss.

 

I got the rough in mostly done, just left a few joints and a few runs for my dad to do. I put in about 50 hours this week and just got home a few hours ago. I didn't get many pics as I had to get home quick. I was supposed to leave at 12, but ended up leaving at 3.

For my last week at work of course I'm on call. We go on at 5 and of course I got a call at 530 when I was 2 hours from home. And my boss called and said they have a call for 5am tomorrow at Sonic. I'm so glad I'm done with this job.

Anyways, here's the last thing I did (before the punch list with my dad) before I took off, landed the panel:





Yesterday I was doing a bit of digging for the feeder to the house.




I made a good chunk of change so I think I'm gonna drop my truck of at toyota for the rear axle seals. Might buy myself a "canopy of shame" too...

 

now thats a beautiful electrical box. mine use to be like that... but then "electricians" came and did their hack job..

 

Tits

 

Than you sir! Do you think I should take the truck to the stealer for the axle seals? I think it runs about $1k?

 

just axle seals? thats a VERY DIY able project.. if your doing bearings? yea..

 

Everything is new, it's just leaking horribly cause nobody can get everything pressed together on the axle right. Twice.

 

they really dont know how to use a slide ruler and measurements in the FSM eh? dealer then... but make sure they know, THEY HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT>

 

Did you print the FSM pages and bring it with you to the machine shop that was doing your axles?

 

I'm gonna talk to them first and see if they can guarantee the work or something. Warranty it or whatever.

 

All the machine shops around here a full of knuckle dragging cousin humpers. If it's not a small block chebby they get confused.

 

well, it looks like I need:
hood ~$250-380 + paint at $500
grille ~$175
so I'm still gonna be quite some cash

 

I take it the wife and kids are OK though? A mature cow could've done a lot more damage than that.

 

Good thing it was a bull. Or a moose
Or worse... A bull moose.