Learned'd VIII: Less Bewbs, Same Nonsense

[Razi]

You can run whaterver GUI you'd like on Archlinux.
I'm running AwesomeWM on my laptop because all the shortcuts lets me work quickly without using the touchpad.

[sx moneypit]

[frapjap]

Howdy Ben.

Sometimes getting past Monday is half the battle!

[sx moneypit]

Howdy Ben.

Sometimes getting past Monday is half the battle!

Agreed Ray,especially if you tied one on like i did this weekend.

[Dattebayo]

especially if you tied one on like i did this weekend.

Yeah, friends around here did a late Oktoberfest-thing and got shloshed, we all fell asleep in a field. Today was a little, eh, "off" for some of us...

You can run whaterver GUI you'd like on Archlinux.

You can run anything linux on linux, even linux! But seriously, I'd rather not have to remember all the little work-arounds I did to get my system to the way it currently is all over again.

[frapjap]

I have a general question/want opinions from you guys since some of you know the old Datsuns a lot better than I do.

I rode in a 280z (not the ugly one) this past weekend and was really impressed with the build. It had the original L28 block, was on fuel injection, had some sort of a different head, ran megasquirt, and had a transmission that was amazing that we didn't get to discuss (really short throws). Suspension was an upgrade over stock, but not over the top- very simple and done back in 2004, but man! The car ran/drove awesomely. I was wholly impressed and really want one sometime down the road. I've got a bit of research to do in order to see what others have done for engines, but I really like the idea of a car thats even more simple than the Miata.

The question I have is- is there a better chassis/engine to start with (240/260/280), and if the engine is kaput in whatever option, what makes the best bang for the buck engine choice? Rebuilding the old one, swapping in something else like a KA, SR, or RB, moving to an inexpensive V8? Am I nuts for thinking about this kinda thing?

[numbnuts240]

as you go from 240 to 260 to 280, the weight of the car will increase, but so will stiffness. the l-series are neat in that heads can be swapped for different goals, there are stroker kits readily available, and they can be a lot of fun if built right, either carb'd or fi. just keep in mind, cheap engine doesn't equate to cheap swap if you want to do it well.

[sx moneypit]

Here ya go Ray.
wi-1978-280z-3-1-built-clean-t593279.html

[frapjap]

WOW! That is a beautiful car and seems like the type of thing I'd like to own, but he probably won't get 18k for it. Theres a buyer for every seat, but that is a heck of a niche market car the way it is.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Tito, what about the L26's tendency to overheat (at least relative to the L28 and L24)? I know you've talked about that in here before but I have absent-minded-professor syndrome and don't remember any of it.

This might sound a little Jalop/hipster (Jalopster?) but, particularly being a Maxima guy, I've always thought a turbo LD28 would make for a fun build experiment.
Actually...on that note...since you mentioned the heads are swappable, could you use an L24 head with an LD28 block and crank for a super stout gasoline six?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Ugh.

Just got a "Check Engine Temperature" warning while driving home from the store. Had a few of these about 2 or 3 winters ago, and it ended up being a stuck thermostat (really easy to get to on the AJ).
This time, when I popped the hood I heard the tell-tale sound of hissing and sputtering. I could see a little bit of coolant dripping but not much. Got my flashlight out and hunted all over, then finally realized the leak is not coming from a fitting, but from a tiny ~.5'' long crack in the top of the upper radiator hose. I still managed to lose about a quart of fluid, but I suspect that happened while I was parked at the store with the engine warm.

The good news is: the hose is right out in the open, and my MacGuyver coolant valve is attached to it and needed to be opened for winter anyway, so I was already planning to mess with it.
Bad news is: it appears to be a Motorcraft dealer-only part for $90. I guess that's what I get for having an uncommon engine.

[float_6969]

Meh, that's more of a nuisance than anything. $90 for a hose sucks, but $90 in the scope of a car repair isn't bad. I think that car has treated you pretty well so far, hasn't it?

[frapjap]

Ugh.

Just got a "Check Engine Temperature" warning while driving home from the store. Had a few of these about 2 or 3 winters ago, and it ended up being a stuck thermostat (really easy to get to on the AJ).
This time, when I popped the hood I heard the tell-tale sound of hissing and sputtering. I could see a little bit of coolant dripping but not much. Got my flashlight out and hunted all over, then finally realized the leak is not coming from a fitting, but from a tiny ~.5'' long crack in the top of the upper radiator hose. I still managed to lose about a quart of fluid, but I suspect that happened while I was parked at the store with the engine warm.

The good news is: the hose is right out in the open, and my MacGuyver coolant valve is attached to it and needed to be opened for winter anyway, so I was already planning to mess with it.
Bad news is: it appears to be a Motorcraft dealer-only part for $90. I guess that's what I get for having an uncommon engine.

At least its a cheap fix. Does Rockauto have the part?

Wrap some duct tape around it for a while, make an article out of it for Brian's thread.

[WDRacing]

I keep a roll of rescue tape in my trunk and in my go-bag.

http://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Tape-Self- ... B000ZTK6CI

[Dattebayo]

Upgrade your lines, add some chrome brah.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Turns out it was only $35 through the dealer, so huzzah.

I keep a roll of rescue tape in my trunk and in my go-bag.

Why have I never heard of that stuff?! Also: How does it bond?

That s***'s better than duct tape. I can think of a million uses for it.

[WDRacing]

It's self bonding. It's the coolest stuff Chris.

[sx moneypit]

Used some of that stuff on a hole in my old Megan exhaust.Works great!

[Kompresshun]

Holy crap. How have I never heard about that stuff before. I need to order a couple of rolls of that for sure!

You know, I really hate giving car advice to people when that's the only reason they call me. Then to further rub salt in the wound, they ignore the advice I give them and proceed to full retard.

My buddy has this worn the hell out F250 that he bought a while back for a daily driver. First indication that he's a tard obviously, because he bought a 96 F250 4x4 SINGLE CAB with a 460 V8 in it to drive daily even when he knows he has a kid on the way. He called to ask me what he should buy before he bought it too, which I found him plenty of good examples for the $2,500 he could spend. Then a few weeks later he ended up with this junk. It gets negative 30mpg, you have to start it with a power window switch wired to the starter solenoid with an extension cord, has no exhaust because it fell off, and it's got more wear throughout it's body and components than a retired p0rn star. Anyways, that's not the point - just a little back story.

So it's had multiple failures and typically the only time I hear from him is when one of these failures happen. Last time I talked to him I told him he needed to roll it in the fawking street and set it on fire. So after not hearing from him in a couple of months, he calls me up and tries to make conversation then quickly changes the subject to "Oh, I had a question about my truck."

He's trying to trade it to some guy for a truck in worse shape than his, but actually runs and the guy wants him to replace the clutch first. He wants my mechanics number and somehow has come up with the idea that it would only cost $400... I told him he had lost his mind and he thinks that if he can get it running right it's worth $4,000 according to KBB

Once again I tell him to roll it off of the nearest cliff because at this point the exhaust manifolds have a terrible leak, every vacuum line leaks, it leaks 1-2 quarts of oil per day because it has tons of blow-by and every gasket and seal is bad, it needs tires, and now the clutch is shot because the rear main seal has dumped oil all over it. Don't listen to me though, because dumping more money into something like that and expecting it to be reliable is completely within reason

So my mechanic calls me yesterday and tells me that my buddy had came and dumped his hunk of s*** in his parking lot and left it there with no information other than his name. I asked him if he had looked at it and he replies with "Yeah, this thing is junk. It needs an engine rebuild and a clutch at minimum. It has tons of blow-by, every seal and gasket leaks, and it runs like crap. I just want his number to call and tell him I don't want anything to do with it. " Sounds oddly familiar to what I said, but again don't listen to me - even though you called me to ask for advice.

/rant

So how's everyone doing?

[WDRacing]

That's hilarious! That dude needs a Camry.

[Kompresshun]

That dude needs a Camry.

Which is one of the vehicles I suggested to him the past two times he's asked me about a vehicle. He always asks for something reliable and somewhat economical, but never has any money to spend and ends up buying something stupid.

I honestly have gotten where I can't even stand to be around him. This isn't the first time he's went full retard anyways - this is one of many instances. I tried to get him a technician job where I work a year ago to help him out and he totally bombed the whole thing. He could have had the job easily, but he acted like a complete idiot. I didn't talk to him for a good six months after that whole ordeal, because I stuck my neck out for him and he made me look like a fool.

[MinisterofDOOM]

ARGH. The Ford dealer ordered the wrong hose, which is why it was cheaper than I expected. Then they had the gall to charge me $10 to get it here Friday rather than Monday. I don't have time to not have a car all weekend.

[WDRacing]

Treat yourself to a rental car and give it a solid thrashing!

[frapjap]

Time for duck tape! Or, f*** it, JB Weld the crack and let it cure over night. Duck tape for good measure. Write an article about it!

[WDRacing]

If done properly, JB Weld can be stronger than the original part. I've preemptively used it to brace plastic parts for years. It held the plastic fuel tank of my old mower together after it cracked in half at a seam. Held together for 6 years. Other things broke around the JB Weld.

[Kompresshun]

JB Weld will hold about anything.

I chose to epoxy the broken cupholder on the Pathfinder last weekend and it immediately broke when I reinstalled it. I think it's about the only thing JB Weld probably couldn't fix though.

[Bubba1]

Morning gents. Just dodged a legal bullet. I've been on standy for federal jury service for the last two days. My number never got called. Whew. VIR, here I come.

[frapjap]

Nailed it!
Even in retirement you can't get away from jury duty, huh?

JB weld will not fix cracked turbo manifolds either.

[numbnuts240]

or cracked cast iron steam radiators

[WDRacing]

Use muggy weld for cast or anything that gets intensely hot.

http://muggyweld.com/