I took a set of 13 inch trailer wheels and tires to my local Discount Tire to have them mounted. Look how much they charged me:
Hopefully the larger tires and lower pressure (Load Range B) improve the bounciness over the little 12x4.80 tires.
I took a set of 13 inch trailer wheels and tires to my local Discount Tire to have them mounted. Look how much they charged me:
Hopefully the larger tires and lower pressure (Load Range B) improve the bounciness over the little 12x4.80 tires.
I'm a sucker for cheap tool deals. I constantly look for tools on sale. I'm not a brand snob by any means. Today I found this 55 piece Kobalt socket set for $20. I bought it and a screw driver bit set. The socket set is going behind the back seat in the Maverick.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-100-Piece-1-in-Set-Steel-Hex-Shank-Screwdriver-Bit-Set/1002653024
I've been trying to lose a little weight and somehow, I lost 2.25 Lbs. between Friday morning and this morning.
Nope, not a big poop (I control for that), not dehydration (60 Oz. per day), not measurement error (I actually teach a one-day engineering class on MSA).
I cleaned my big, old-school vertical drum pool filter yesterday and noticed that the job seemed easier than usual.
I'm not complaining but that's 7,875 calories that appear to have vanished...I did completely cut out booze recently; think that could have something to do with it???
Edit...
I'm at 192 Lbs. now so that was a 1.16% loss in three days.
In reply to RX Reven' :
I did the same over the weekend.
My weight is normally very stable, but between the all inclusive resort in November (that we returned to mostly because of the food) and Christmas, I'm up about 7lbs. I'm lucky my metabolism is quite good, because my appetite is too, but my energy level lately is not where I'd like. If I can behave myself I'll see if I can get another 2.25 this week.
The other half of the chrome plating splinter came out of my right index finger.
In reply to Peabody :
Good for you!
The Sunday before last I packed five of those big gardner style bags with leaves (I'm in the Southern California fire area) and noticed that I got the job done quickly and wasn't tired or sore. I'm 60 and I haven't been working out, the only change I can think of is zero booze.
Out running errands today, and stopped at the metal supply shop for some steel for the challenge project. Also grabbed a small sheet of aluminum. They gave me the aluminum for free!
In reply to stanger_mussle (Supported by GRM undergarments) :
Holy crap thanks for the tip! Bought one of the socket sets and a couple tip sets. Both things I'd been keeping an idle eye out for.
In reply to dculberson :
You're very welcome 
. It's a decent set of SAE, metric, regular and deep well sockets. Even the ratchet is decent. And it's in a nice, blow molded case. Perfect for throwing behind the seat.
Almost a year ago now, my daughter bought a very clean 1998 Civic EX that had a rod knock. With my help - and while occupying my lift - she pulled the engine, tore it down, rebuilt it, and put it back in. The other night, she started it up for the first time. We had a minor problem with a leak at the fuel filter, but other than that, it fired right up. Last night, while I worked on a woodworking project she put the sway bar back on, got the tires on, filled the transaxle with fluid, and put coolant in. We fired it up and it just sat there and purred while we got it up to temp to bleed the cooling system and then set the timing.
Neither the brake lights nor the horn are operational, but it looks like they're on the same fuse, so that should be easy, hopefully. The dome light isn't coming on when we open the doors, but it works with the switch, so no sure what's up with that, but that's a minor thing. Assuming that a fuse fixes it, all we need to do is get it insured, tagged, and, since it's a Honda, adjust the valves again!
I certainly helped her through the process, but I didn't do the work for her. When that thing started up for the first time, there was so much glee in her voice!
wae said:Almost a year ago now, my daughter bought a very clean 1998 Civic EX that had a rod knock. With my help - and while occupying my lift - she pulled the engine, tore it down, rebuilt it, and put it back in.
The other posts and the pictures you posted about this were really wonderful to see! She looked so damn happy in that picture. Go go go, Daughter of Wae, and here's to Wae for good parenting!
Tuesday the low tire pressure light came on in Mrs Monohue's 5. The win here is that there is nothing to repair. All four tires were uniformly low due to cold weather. Tires got pumped up and the light went out.
Yesterday at lunch I popped into a thrift shop hoping to find some bicycle parts. Didn't find what I wanted, but did score a lovely Nitto forged stem sold by weight at scrap prices. Also found a honkin' big (120 watt) Weller soldering iron and a couple of things for the New Year's Game box that may even be useful.
Today was ordinary but for the fact that I had lunch with a friend who needed someone to talk to (turns out parenting has its challenges) and got a bunch of stuff labelled for shipping tomorrow. Tonight I rescued Mrs Monohue's weekend by offering to take the kid to a birthday party that she was dreading.
Tomorrow I have fasting labs, and have managed not to ruin them by snacking after dinner.
Taxes have been roughed in, and it looks like we will survive them.
It's the little stuff.
I can tell when depression is kicking my ass, I lose weight like crazy.
I looked in the mirror a couple weeks ago and figured out that I needed to start taking better care of myself.
Two wins:
Jr got into NC State tonight so that's a big win for him. He was wait listed to UNC this evening which is just a polite way of telling the kids that were close they didn't get in. Last year UNC waitlisted like 2500 and admitted only 25 from that group. Seriously tough public school to get into. But proud that he's got into Clemson, USC, and his two safeties (App State and UNCC) so far. Just waiting on VT which doesn't announce for a couple of weeks. Then the fun part begins, making a final selection..
In reply to wake74 :
Congratulations! I have 2 degrees from UNC and I hold NC State in high regard.
I'm continuing to lose weight and improve my cardio fitness since my heart attack in May '24. I ran 3 miles in 31:12 and weighed 194.8 pounds today. I'm down 62 pounds and my glucose and cholesterol numbers are all in the low range now. I don't think I've weighed less than 195 in the last 30 years.
stanger_mussle (Supported by GRM undergarments) said:I'm a sucker for cheap tool deals. I constantly look for tools on sale. I'm not a brand snob by any means. Today I found this 55 piece Kobalt socket set for $20. I bought it and a screw driver bit set. The socket set is going behind the back seat in the Maverick.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-100-Piece-1-in-Set-Steel-Hex-Shank-Screwdriver-Bit-Set/1002653024
Its back up to $60. Snooze you lose I guess.
$500 saved me $30k- a tale of fixing a Nissan.
I posted the picture in the confession thread if you want the cliffs notes. The mighty versa has been throwing a 3-4 misfire/coil pack for a while and running like absolute dog E36 M3. I've been avoiding the job because I have one fully functional arm, not a whole lot of vertical balance and was honestly unsure if I was still capable of turning a wrench.
Friday night we attempted to drive home, and said Nissan refused. It was dead. Called progressive to get a tow and found out it was only going to be for-berkeleying-ever. While waiting, a tow truck pulls up. Young kid pops out, super nice guy. I think he's the tow guy. Find out he just happens to be out in his family's rig looking to make a few extra bucks to keep the family shop afloat while his dad is in the hospital. Offers us a killer rate on the tow (seriously $100 cheaper than the one we'd already had on the way). Hook and book, even Ubers us with for no extra.
Next morning, walk to Enterprise (which is within walking distance, berkeleyin Longwood, man...love it) only to find out they don't have E36 M3 for rent. Ok, we gotta hail Mary this E36 M3. Less than half a mile it turns out advance auto is right there. Walk to advance - find out they don't have the coil packs in stock. Sanford does - and they'll send a driver. So we be cool for an hour or so, grab four new coils, new plugs, and a new intake gasket. Also treated myself to a spark plug socket just to cover my bases. I'm praying that what I'm about to do is going to save plan b. What's plan b you ask?
Well, while we're waiting, we discuss what happens if I can't fix the stupid thing. We know eventually we need to buy a new car. We know what we want. Lexus Orlando even has the right car. We're just hoping to avoid it for a few months to pad numbers a little bit, but sometimes you don't get a choice. (It's a 2021 Lexus nx300 f sport. It's really pretty) Coils come back, drop the $$$ and away we go.
Push the car inside and start working. Job is a giant pain in the ass because I have to take the whole top part of the engine off. Intake manifold wraps up and over the valve cover, so the manifold, the throttle body and the intake has to come off. Conveniently the only way to reach 5/7 of the manifold bolts is a collection of swivels and extensions, so that's fun. Everything off and the coils and plugs are out and in in about 30min. 
can't possibly imagine why this thing was running like E36 M3. Maybe we should replace the plugs before 180k.
The part that REALLY sucks is I can't test fire this thing without putting it all back together, which is about another 90min back in the other direction, and I am about out of gas. But, we soldier on and reassemble. Christina has small hands and when my fine motor gives up, she handles the MAF screws and the intake-throttle body hose.
Got it all assembled, not even with any extra screws or anything. Hit the key.
I HAVE MENDED SOMETHING!
No codes, no misfire, no nothing. $500 and s couple busted knuckles (and about 3 miles of walking) saved me buying a really pretty blue Lexus. Not that I didn't want to, but I am loathe to pay a car note.
Was making Thai curry, halfway through realized I was out of coconut milk. But I was able to use the sweetened coconut cream we have for tiki cocktails to make it work. Was a tasty curry and now I'm using the same coconut cream to make a painkiller
I sold my Miata in November. It's a 99 sport, one of the two best cars for E Street autocross. It was always intended to be a "forever " car, but I needed to convert it to cash.
But wait, you say, this is the minor win thread. Well, the SCCA just announced that they're moving a whole bunch of cars into E Street next year. The list includes boxters, the toyobaru twins, NC Miatas, RX8s, 350 and 370Zs, and more.
The value of the 99 Sports just dropped significantly. So, that's a win.
Since I no longer have a dedicated autocross car, I've been using my civic daily driver. It's got koni sports and a rear sway bar, good brake pads and an alignment, but since it's not an SI, it's way outclassed in H Street, the slowest street class in autocross. However, the platform is so good that I've been winning with it frequently.
Yesterday, was shaping up to be different. There was a good driver with a Fiesta ST at the event.
The course was very challenging, a series of slaloms with very abrupt changes. I'm very good in slaloms, but the hydraulic power steering cavitates badly in my car with abrupt changes in input. That also means lots of wheel spin.
The fiesta is hundreds of pounds lighter, smaller, has brake torque vectoring to control wheel spin, and 57 more horsepower with a turbo torque curve. It was the class overdog for several years until the turbo civic sports showed up.
I put it together on the last run for a win. Despite my car being outclassed in the slowest class in autocross, I also raw timed all of the entries in eleven other classes.
I was 62 years old when I went to my first autocross, I'll turn 70 this year but I'm definitely making up for the late start.
Peabody said:In reply to RX Reven' :
I did the same over the weekend.
My weight is normally very stable, but between the all inclusive resort in November (that we returned to mostly because of the food) and Christmas, I'm up about 7lbs. I'm lucky my metabolism is quite good, because my appetite is too, but my energy level lately is not where I'd like. If I can behave myself I'll see if I can get another 2.25 this week.
Down 3 more lbs. I just enjoyed a big veggie wrap for breakfast, and heading outside to clear brush all day, which definitely won't hurt.
I've officially lost an entire weight plate (45lbs). Started September with a 3-month program with a friend who is a coach, kept on with him since then on a monthly basis. Macro tracking, and working out. Currently weight training 4x/week, and 25 minutes of cardio per day. Shooting for 15 more pounds, then figuring out a good maintenance routine so I don't gain it all back.
The gas furnace wasn't coming on yesterday when we got home after dinner out. 58 degrees inside. Error code E2, low pressure switch. Checked some stuff, found the exhaust fan wasn't turning well, motor was hot. Took fan off, took it all apart, cleaned everything and found a mostly sized bearing on the fan shaft. Soaked in oils and got it free, lubed them both, all back together and reinstalled, cleaned the contacts on the low pressure switch, and everything works. New parts are on order as the fan is a temp fix, but at least we have heat until then.
Another example that is common to people here, fixing something on your own and saving the $1k in service fees for an emergency hvac call. How do normal people go through life?
Dropped the truck at the dealer thus morning. Tech confirmed that the rear main seal is leaking.
It's under warranty so yay for that!
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