Learned'd VIII: Less Bewbs, Same Nonsense

[Kompresshun]

Yeah I've had plenty of stupid on eBay too. I sold that tablet for $20 less than what everyone else was in the first place, then gave the guy back another $15. Then I had some stupid kid buy an Xbox360 from me and then had a billion questions about it, even though he got it dirt cheap. Seriously people: AS-IS. That doesn't matter to eBay though, because nothing is truly as-is on eBay.

Then I got screwed myself and accidentally shipped a phone before the buyer paid. Long story short, the buyer never paid me for the phone and eBay wouldn't help me out either. So I basically sent a $115 phone to someone for free. Ugh...

Yeah I paid a friend of mine that is a Certified Lexus Master Tech to do the timing belt on the Miata. Watching him doing it was like watching art being created. I've never seen a more meticulous repair in my life. Well worth $100 and lunch.

Subaru flat engine's are nearly as bad as Audi engines. At least you don't have to take the whole front end off of it though!

[MinisterofDOOM]

Holy s*** I'm glad this week is over. I need to pass out on the couch for a few hours.

[frapjap]

Morning fellas. Finally got the hand brake sorted out.

Kinda glad Fathers day is coming up- a great time to buy tools to get the engine out of the Subaru! On the list are some wobble extensions and bendy joint socket things from Sears and then an engine stand from Harbor Freight (hoping for one of their big a** 20% off coupons) to replace the head gasket.

[Kompresshun]

Yeah I just dropped some cash on tools this weekend. Bought a used Dewalt 18V Impact Driver, then went to Harbor Freight and bought a 3 foot breaker bar, new impact sockets, and some attachments for the impact driver. They were having a sidewalk sale that day though so I had to clear out there or I probably would've dropped $200+ quick.

I got a smokin' deal on this impact driver though. One of our techs sold it to me for $30 because it needed a battery and it's normally $200 new. He was like "the batteries are $90 new though". I hopped on Amazon and picked up one for $26 shipped to my door. Threw it in and the thing works like new. Total investment $56. I win.

I'm not excited that the rear main seal in the Miata took a dump though. That is going to be a HUGE PITA and not cheap either since I need to replace the clutch and other seals while i'm in there.

[WDRacing]

Impact driver for 56 bucks...well done dude!

[frapjap]

Score on the impact driver! That'll make your RMS job much, much easier!!
How bad is the RMS leaking? Can you ignore it until the end of the season?
FWIW, the job is pretty damned easy, Chris.
- 4 bolts and slid out the drive shaft- mark it before you take it out, there is a notch on the splines to match up.
- a small handfull of bell housing bolts.
- separate engine and trans. Get the Harbor Freight transmission jack if you haven't done so already. It makes life A LOT easier.
- R&R the clutch and seal, bolt it all back together and be on your way. I bet it takes 4-5 hours start to finish.

[Kompresshun]

That's why i've been dying to get one of the impact drivers. I work on stuff so much and I despise firing up my 40gal compressor for most stuff I do. I prefer to only fire it up for big jobs.

I haven't driven it a lot since I got back but I jacked it up Saturday night, the oil pan and bell housing was wet with oil. I sprayed it off clean with brake parts cleaner then took the kid for a ride around the neighborhood that night. When I jacked it up again after i put her to bed, the leak was already showing up again and that's when I figured out the rear seal was leaking.

I could probably ignore it for a while, but since i'm taking it to TOTD in August and Gatlinburg in October i'd rather get it taken care of. I really don't want to drive it that far with it leaking like that.

That doesn't sound too horrible. I am a little concerned about getting it safely in the air. I was thinking that I could park it on ramps then raise the rear with forklift jacks with jackstands placed under it for extra security.

[WDRacing]

That's how I did the drivetrain stuff on my S14. Ramps and stands ftw.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Dammit. I REALLY want one of these:



But I definitely do not have $19k to throw at a motorcycle. That's way, way more than I've ever paid for a car.

[Dattebayo]

Really? I kinda want the bike from Oblivion. It has an awesome winch, it folds up and it's from the future. Yeah.

Edit: I just re-read that in my 6th grade voice. Ha...

[WDRacing]

Dammit. I REALLY want one of these:



But I definitely do not have $19k to throw at a motorcycle. That's way, way more than I've ever paid for a car.

My thoughts exactly. I'd love to own one of those, but I have a budget more suited to a used 500 of some sort

[frapjap]

Mornin' Brian.

I'd love to have a bike, but man, its not a matter of if, its a matter of when you're going to take a spill. If spills didn't mean that you'd have a good chance at not walking again, I'd be more likely to buy a motorcycle. Fun as they may be, I've got too much self preservation. All this coming from the guy who straps two boards to his feet and weaves in between trees and off 20ft cliffs into piles of snow....

[Bubba1]

Dammit. I REALLY want one of these:



But I definitely do not have $19k to throw at a motorcycle. That's way, way more than I've ever paid for a car.

My thoughts exactly. I'd love to own one of those, but I have a budget more suited to a used 500 of some sort

That is one fugly bike, imho. I'd take one of these instead...

[WDRacing]

It's purpose built Joel. For people that drive off-road as much as on.

[Bubba1]

It's purpose built Joel. For people that drive off-road as much as on.

Might be purpose built, but it's still ugly.

[TurboSauce]

Hi.

[nissangirl74]

So the LS lives?

[frapjap]

Those look more and more attractive every time I see one.

Morning fellas!

[sx moneypit]

Mornin' Ray!

[Kompresshun]

Those look more and more attractive every time I see one.

Mornin' Ray!

Finally back from my trip to Chicago for a meeting. Seeing Chicago was awesome, but driving there was definitely not. I DESPISE driving through Indiana.

Looks like i'm going to end up buying a stock clutch for the Miata too. I can't find an upgraded clutch for less than $350 and i'm not sinking that much into a clutch right now. I'll just save the MSM 1.8L clutch and use it for a 1.8 swap later.

[numbnuts240]

I HIGHLY recommend this one Tito. Easily the best radio i've ever had in a car. I currently have it in my Ford Five hundred and it's awesome. Works with any phone, does bluetooth streaming, hands free calling, and has more features than you'll ever need. No touchscreen nonsense either and the price is awesome IMHO for what you get.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PIONEER-FH-X700 ... 35d647d129

They sell them at Best Buy too if you don't want to mess with eBay.

finally picked one of these up last night and installed it. so far, very pleased with the unit, i just have to fine tune the audio and decrease the brightness of the lights.

[Kompresshun]

Yeah I really need to tone down the brightness on mine too. I never have paid much attention to it, but I took the car on a 7 hour trip to Chicago this week and at night I quickly realized how annoying it actually is.

[numbnuts240]

i also found it odd that the receiver harness didn't have any wires for a dimmer option.

[Kompresshun]

i also found it odd that the receiver harness didn't have any wires for a dimmer option.

Yeah I don't think mine did either. Yet it has a dimmer on/off in the settings. I've definitely had brighter aftermarket radios, so I can live with it but I wouldn't mind a little more dimming options.

[TurboSauce]

So the LS lives?

Yup I went to get an estimate on it for a trade in on a 2k11 juke 6 speed. and let's just say.. with the money i'd get for a trade in i'm driving this into the ground.

the longer i keep it. the more i end up putting into it one way or another.

Don't get me wrong it's an excellent car, it's just, BIG.

[nissangirl74]

Is it paid for?

[TurboSauce]

yeah 100% owned by me, The salesman at Lexus was like, with your car the year and mileage, we'll give you at most $2000 for it.


And with the premium only going UP in parts for older model lexus (plus the 4.0L V8) Its honestly difficult to fathom me keeping it. Like honestly I want to get into something smaller slightly easier on gas, and less of a people hauler. like tbh i was even considering trading it for a civic. several times.


but on a separate note what's you guyu's consensus on a 350z that's auto?

[nissangirl74]

I'd drive it until it literally fell apart.

[TurboSauce]

it's a 98 with 229k miles.
I've done every manufacturer's suggested maintenance (whilst i've owned it)
and I would bet that this car will not take a s*** on me.

like I have no problem getting up and driving to atlanta in this thing.


... it s just the gas.

oh and here's a kicker they had a 07 g35 coupe auto where the hood flew up and both front fenders were badly damaged at 87k

and they were asking $12,000 for it. as is.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Buying an efficient car to replace an inefficient car (magnitudinally moreso if the car's paid off already) with the goal of saving money is broken logic. Unless you're getting 6mpg and going to a 40mpg hypermiler, you're not going to feel the difference in your pocket because you'll be too busy paying for the new car--which costs a lot more than the difference between 18mph and 30mpg.

There's a reason I still love my V8 despite living in a town with a travel-fueled gas price premium ($4.15 for premium right now where it's $3.80 10 minutes south in Rigby). Getting 18 city/39 highway just isn't expensive in comparison to the real world costs of a second/different/new car.