Important

[altrocker1]

well looks like the decision has been made and we will be moving to western ny after all. i actually made a call to someone who works at one of the state universities yesterday and even though i surprised him a bit with the call, he was very helpful. they just expanded their theatre department and they are looking for people to teach a few adjunct classes starting soon. he also told me that they have been hiring a local sound company to set up/run audio for all of their musical productions the last few years, but would be thrilled to have an actual theatre sound designer who could do it and train students at the same time. he also told me about the other work opportunities in the area and it really truly sounds like i would be able to find enough work locally fairly easily. in fact he seemed a little excited to find out a qualified audio tech was moving to the area. he asked me if he could hand out my resume to a few other people...i've never had anyone ask that before lol. i felt really good about the phone call and i hope to keep making contact with folks. i think our move out would happen in march sometime. i have a show the last week of march/first week of april that is a pretty hefty pay check so i will probably stay for that and move immediately after. the check would be enough to cover a mortgage on the houses we are looking at for 6-8 months. here is my wifes top prospect right now:

http://www.reahomesearch.com/listing/1033256-9-royal-ave-jamestown-ny-14701/

not much land, but a 2 car garage with a car port attached. could hold the wifes car, the mj and the boat can sit in the car port. here is my top prospect

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3137-N-Main-Ext_Jamestown_NY_14701_M40636-18917?row=11

melissa thinks it needs too much work though 3.3 acres, a shop a garage and a guest cabin. sounds like a dream. i also like this one...it has a boat dock!

http://www.trulia.com/property/3132692421-23-Leslie-St-Jamestown-NY-14701#photo-8

we probably have enough to put down for a house now, but i think we are going to knock of a little more debt first before going into it. anyone ever looked at getting a mortgage in one spouses name instead of both? my wife has good credit, but because of a few stupid choices when i was younger, a really rough 2008-2009 working freelance, mine is less than perfect. from what we've seen there aren't a lot of disadvantages to it other than only taking into account her income. Also, in the VERY unlikely event that we would ever split, i wouldn't have any share of the house in my name. She should have no problem with her current income getting approved for a loan on the house so i think that is the route we will take. after looking at what we will put down the mortgage estimates are between $350-600 per month with taxes and insurance figured in. thats almost laughable if you consider what we've paid in rent on the places we've lived...

2006 Rent $900 (first nyc apt)
2007 Rent $1200 (2nd nyc apt)
2008 Rent $1600 (3rd nyc apt...first without roommates)
2009-2010 Rent $1200 (chicago apt)
2010-2013 Rent $800 (iowa apt)
2013 Current rent $1400

I don't even want to do the math to total up what we've spent on rent the last 7 years

 

[99SJ_Ex]

Guess what is getting replaced on both the F150 and the F250....

 

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

Never.

Fore 'please don't take your shirt off' Wheeler

Haha yeah not around you. Wouldn't wanna get you all excited.
I want to take my son up there. The swimming part is for him and the dunes are for me.

 

[macgyvr]

First day back from vacation was last night.

Was ok til 0530 and then could barely keep my eyes open. I hadn't worked since sept 28th. Work tonight and then off two days...joys of a 4 and 2 rotation.

I had funny shifts in my megacab where it didn't know if it wanted 1 or 2. Had gov solenoid replaced and bands adj and it was better than ever. Think it was a 48re or something.

Good to see big hank with some participation today!

mac 'currently holding with the fewest cars in my stable in a while, but it's still more than two' gyvr

 

[Trixie03]

Hard to get steel when my dad doesn't answer the phone. Dads... Can't live with em, can't live without em...

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

To all the CIM Operators out there:

We have a Haas CNC Mill in our Metals/welding shop. Our machine is just 3-axis and has a 10-tool holder. Does anyone have some G-code programs that we could use to show our students how it works? Me and the metals instructor have spent about 2 months getting the thing operational (last guy didn't use it at all and it sat ~3 years). We're just looking for a program that might have 2-4+ tool changes to make something, anything... Our G-coding skills are not the greatest and we'd like to just have something to demo for the students while we self-teach ourselves...

i know this sounds stupid but... put some sharpies into tool holders and write your own program.

have the program draw different shapes or cutting patterns at different feed rates, etc, etc. youll be able to teach them the basics of moving about the 3 axis's, touching off, feed rates depending on material, proper fixtures, and so on. your material cost is low. and if its the kind of class where the kids get to play with it, having the sharpie blow up when they crash it trying to write their name is pretty funny... but more importantly cheap.

 

[99SJ_Ex]

i know this sounds stupid but... put some sharpies into tool holders and write your own program.

have the program draw different shapes or cutting patterns at different feed rates, etc, etc. youll be able to teach them the basics of moving about the 3 axis's, touching off, feed rates depending on material, proper fixtures, and so on. your material cost is low. and if its the kind of class where the kids get to play with it, having the sharpie blow up when they crash it trying to write their name is pretty funny... but more importantly cheap.

Loving this idea!


On a side note: Bought the F250 for $3000. Comes with two sets of rims with 8 wore out tires... Since I sold the S10 for $3500, I'm using the $500 to replace the manifolds/y-pipe with pace setters and I still come out with not losing any money on the deal. I've also identified the trans issue and am simply going to do a flush and a shift kit to improve line pressure, no biggie there.

 

[altrocker1]

melissas uncle just finished his crown vic resto...i'm going to have him help me with the MJ now that he is finished. he took this:

and less than 2 years later he now has this:

 

[99SJ_Ex]

melissas uncle just finished his crown vic resto...i'm going to have him help me with the MJ now that he is finished. he took this:



and less than 2 years later he now has this:

[

Come visit and bring him with! I could use some pointers on the CJ build...


99SJ 'Apart... Now what? ' Ex

 

[Big Hank]

Good to see big hank with some participation today!

mac 'currently holding with the fewest cars in my stable in a while, but it's still more than two' gyvr

Big 'always lurking' Hank... or suffering from Moab fever..

 

[FlexdXJ]

Big 'always lurking' Hank... or suffering from Moab fever..

I'm sure you could have hopped in the MacTruck and put your bike between the jeeps!

 

[poorboy87]

I may be mistaken here but aren't the Triton 5.4's the ones that have the problems with the spark plugs always breaking on them? Thought I heard somewhere that the plugs get seized and end up breaking when you try to remove them. Atleast that's what happened to my buddies 5.4 he had.

\

5.4 2 valves and 4.6s both shuck the plugs at random. Not that big of a deal. Theres a kit out there to install keenserts into the head for a better than factory repair.

5.4 3 valves are the ones that break the plugs off in the head upon removal. Not to worry, lisle tool as well as many other companies make removal tools. Its almost as easy to go ahead and break the plugs off and use the puller. Its quicker that way. Factory plugs are 9/16 head on a 3 valve.

Replacement champion plugs are available with one piece shank and thread but we have had several of them come back where the porcelin around the center electrode breaks and floats up and down creating a random misfire. Pain the the butt to diagnose.

If you antisieze the shank and the thread of the motorcraft plugs when installing them they are less likely to break during the next removal.
3 valve engines are easily identified by the cast aluminum valve covers and the VVC solenoid connector at the front of both covers

Ok quick question for those of you who have replaced their rockers with box tubing? What is the best recommended size of steel to use for it. Should i go with 2x4, 2x5, or 2x6? It will be 3/16' thick. We will be getting some to redo the rockers in suzi's jeep but trying to figure out what would be best. Also does anybody have an idea on how long each side should be? They only sell them in 10ft lengths and was hoping i didn't have to buy two sticks.

I used 2x6 3/16 and love them.

 

[lesslimited]

Vac pump?

Glad you made it home safe.

I planned my route from the interstate for lowest speed limits and fewest traffic lights. Downshifting and standing on the pedal worked for stopping when I had to.

After doing a little research, it does appear to be common for the vacuum pump to fail on these. Only 42k miles kinda sucks though. And I'll probably have to take half the front end apart to get to it.

Now, if I only knew a Ford parts guy that could get me a replacement...

 

[w_howey]

we probably have enough to put down for a house now, but i think we are going to knock of a little more debt first before going into it. anyone ever looked at getting a mortgage in one spouses name instead of both? my wife has good credit, but because of a few stupid choices when i was younger, a really rough 2008-2009 working freelance, mine is less than perfect. from what we've seen there aren't a lot of disadvantages to it other than only taking into account her income. Also, in the VERY unlikely event that we would ever split, i wouldn't have any share of the house in my name. She should have no problem with her current income getting approved for a loan on the house so i think that is the route we will take. after looking at what we will put down the mortgage estimates are between $350-600 per month with taxes and insurance figured in. thats almost laughable if you consider what we've paid in rent on the places we've lived...

2006 Rent $900 (first nyc apt)
2007 Rent $1200 (2nd nyc apt)
2008 Rent $1600 (3rd nyc apt...first without roommates)
2009-2010 Rent $1200 (chicago apt)
2010-2013 Rent $800 (iowa apt)
2013 Current rent $1400

I don't even want to do the math to total up what we've spent on rent the last 7 years

Yes... our mortgage is in my name only. Much the same reasons you talk about. My wife made some poor choices before we got married.

You will end up signing some paperwork stating you know you have no interest in the house. Your wife will have to sign and send in special paperwork to the mortgage company before they will talk to you about anything. You will have to document the sources of down payments, especially if they come from a source related to you, like your parents, or your retirement plan.

The mortgage company will treat you like you are dog meat. They may insist that your name is not on the title to the house either.

 

[REWSTER]

Now, if I only knew a Ford parts guy that could get me a replacement...

I may know a guy...

 

[99SJ_Ex]

I need the stainless steel manifold studs for F150/250 5.4L....

 

[altrocker1]

Yes... our mortgage is in my name only. Much the same reasons you talk about. My wife made some poor choices before we got married.

You will end up signing some paperwork stating you know you have no interest in the house. Your wife will have to sign and send in special paperwork to the mortgage company before they will talk to you about anything. You will have to document the sources of down payments, especially if they come from a source related to you, like your parents, or your retirement plan.

The mortgage company will treat you like you are dog meat. They may insist that your name is not on the title to the house either.

fortunately the lender we are trying to use is a local credit union who melissa and her parents have used since the beginning of time...im sure i will have to sign papers and the downpayment will come out her checking account there. so hopefully they will only treat me like horse meat instead of dog meat...but who knows.

 

[macgyvr]

After doing a little research, it does appear to be common for the vacuum pump to fail on these. Only 42k miles kinda sucks though. And I'll probably have to take half the front end apart to get to it.

Now, if I only knew a Ford parts guy that could get me a replacement...

Age more than miles...

I replaced one on the megacab at 100k and only 5 years old.

mac 'drive it more' gyvr

 

[w_howey]

fortunately the lender we are trying to use is a local credit union who melissa and her parents have used since the beginning of time...im sure i will have to sign papers and the downpayment will come out her checking account there. so hopefully they will only treat me like horse meat instead of dog meat...but who knows.

For us, it wasn't whose account the DP came from but the source. My dad matched what we had saved up because I didn't use all he had saved for me to go to college. And my employer gave us a nice chunk of money, because I was commenting on how dipping into our retirement plan was a pain in the rear with the required paperwork. The company wanted documentation from both that it wasn't a loan to me. My boss was happy to help.. my dad went into their office and got himself asked to leave by guys with badges...

 

[962door]

This weekend there is a huge mud event by me. The trucks with tractor tires were rolling in this morning. The great debate is do I go into work and make $ or do I fill a cooler and go watch them break stuff....