jgaz

It’s nice to see clean, well done, accessory installations.

Maybe more theft resistant? You have to remember, Steve spent time in Detroit. 🤣. That does change one’s perspective.

Besides, by using Kenworth parts you probably gain a couple hundred ft/lbs of torque😜

Thank you Steve! What a great back story! So cool that they reached out to you. It’s funny how some (most) mechanical depts. seem to have an off the books “transportation” vehicle. I was the lone mechanic for Chrysler Engineering Suspension Lab’s Electronic Suspension section from about 1987 thru 1990. We had a development vehicle assigned to us for an electronically controlled variable damping suspension system we were developing. This vehicle was a J Body convertible that just happened to be one of only two vehicles that was built in house with a turbo charged, five speed manual, Mitsubishi V6 engine. The suspension system I worked on never became production and ultimately the electronic suspension part of the Suspension Lab was disbanded. For the next couple years no one ever asked for our J Body back. We suspected someone was looking for it and I’ll admit we didn’t make it easy to find. As I’m sure you know, manufactures license plates aren’t registered to a specific vehicle so we keep rotating the plate and registration so it couldn’t be traced that way. I hear you on a lunch vehicle. Hamtramck ( an old suburb of Detroit) was right across I75 from our engineering center’s back gate and had great mom and pop restaurants. The vehicle was known as “the mechanic’s car” and was used extensively by us. Sadly one day it was getting serviced and the “owner” happened to see it on the hoist. He said he had been looking for vehicle #2 for two years! So many one of a kind items on the car and it hauled ass for a late 80’s build. We had it so long I drove it in two of my small town’s annual homecoming parades chaffering a king and queen. Good Times!

Interesting article on a one-of-a-kind saved from the crusher. https://www.thedrive.com/news/one-off-1977-jeep-j10-prototype-restored-decades-after-escaping-the-factory @ob1jeeper Steve, do you remember this? In my experience, this didn’t happen very often

Nicely done Kris! I’d never heard of that urethane top coat. You might have shamed me into getting one of your fancy paint mixer. I’m getting a bit tired of the hose clamp and long blade combo.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/court-clears-mahindra-roxor-sales-in-us-as-jeep-continues-to-fight Saw these at SEMA in 2019 when it looked like a CJ. Interesting vehicle

Very interesting. Thanks Kris

RIP

Oh Heck Yes Karen! Shes beautiful! I love the sound of that motor in a wrangler. Can’t wait to see her in person. Lunch next time you and Steve come to town?

Everything Tim said is spot on with what I experienced with my wife’s 2014 Grand Caravan. The clicking in her van would happen several times over a few minutes after the key was off and then again after you initially started the vehicle. The actuator motor I replaced was the drivers side blend door that directed air flow to the floor vents. Fairly easy access except for working around the accelerator pedal. One note. I had a friend at work print me out the service manual page that dealt with the motor replacement. The procedure showed “calibrating” the new actuator motor with a scan tool after replacement. I found this step to be unnecessary. After replacement I could hear the blend door sealing closed and had good air flow when it was in the open position. Just my .02

Thanks for posting Joe’s comments and thoughts on the 8 speed. I don’t believe in “lifetime” when it comes to rotating automotive power train parts. I was just thinking about servicing my 2017 Ram’s transmission the other day. Joe rocks!

This is an all too common story that we’ve all heard before but the cautions bear repeating. It’s my understanding that this hiker succumbed to hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance. (too much water, not enough salt). I know this kind of thing is less of a problem as we enjoy our AZ desert in a vehicle but just be aware of what you are eating and drinking. A break down or stuck vehicle could put us in a dangerous situation quickly. Carry and use an electrolyte product that you like and will drink. I’ve found two different powders that work for me, some others I seriously dislike. Eat salty snacks. Be safe out there GRAND CANYON, Ariz.— On May 14 at approximately 9 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of an unresponsive hiker on the Bright Angel Trail above the Three-Mile Resthouse. National Park Service (NPS) emergency services personnel responded down trail and soon thereafter the hiker became pulseless. All attempts to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful. The victim has been identified as a 36-year-old female from Westfield, Indiana who was attempting a hike to the Colorado River and back in one day. Park Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park strongly urge visitors, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks. In the summer months, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120°F (49 °C) in the shade. Park rangers do not advise hiking in the inner canyon between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as most heat-related illnesses are from hikers on trail between these hours. The NPS does not recommend hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day. Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia (a life threatening electrolyte imbalance from drinking too much water and not consuming enough salt), and death. Be aware that NPS efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather. Park staff remind visitors that there are ways to safely hike below the rim, for those who are prepared, well-acclimated to the climate and elevation, have the appropriate gear, and who have prior experience hiking in steep, desert terrain. Important tips for a successful hike include the following: balancing food, electrolyte, and water intake; drinking when thirsty; getting wet to stay cool; and stopping hiking if you start to feel ill. Visitors should evaluate their level of experience and plan accordingly. For more information on hiking in the summer months in Grand Canyon, visit: Hiking Tips - Hike Smart - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the NPS in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. No additional information is available at this time. -NPS-

Excellent short article on this subject Kris. I was aware of the this issue on the Wave permits but hadn’t really looked at other lotteries. The Grand canyon back country permit lottery will transition to from NPS run to recreation.gov run this fall. Im curious if there will be an “application fee” charged even if you don’t score a permit. I hadn’t thought about this before now The current NPS run lottery charges a $10 processing fee that is only paid if you are issued a permit. Ironically, a good friend of mine has found it easier to get a Wave permit in person since recreation.gov took over the process. He is of the opinion that there were quite a number of locals that applied for permits almost everyday with no intention of using the permit. According to him, these folks were trying to keep down the number of visitors to the site under the idea of protecting the sensitive area. My buddy has visited the Wave twice in the last two years . Both times he got a permit on the second try. YMMV

Great design and execution. A lot of thought went into your build. I really like the drawer front.

Spent the last three days hiking the corridor trails at the Grand Canyon for my volunteer “job”. I know most of Arizona the canyon has had a wetter than normal winter. Here are a couple of pictures of the icicles on the upper part of the Bright Angel trail Also, if the park service recommends shoe traction devices please, please believe them. Some of the slip and falls I witnessed were very, scary.

Excellent trip report. I really liked the what went right/wrong summary. I have no similar vehicle experience, but we do an after trip review on almost any hiking trip I take

Might as well continue the 2x4 segment. Im up at the canyon and bored right now. , @4x4tographer I assume you are talking about using the jointer to flatten one face first before using the planer. That is one method. To do that you’re going to need a large jointer at least 6”. Although bigger would be better. (Minds out of the gutter people)😜 Below is a “sled” that I use to flatten one side of a board. Various shims are hot glued in place to support a twisted piece. The top face is planned until flat. The board is removed from the sled, turned over, and the still twisted face is then planned parallel to first face that was cut. PM me if you have twisted board and want to see how I use this

Thank you Tim Thanks Steve I should clarify something here. I did not make the doors. It’s kind of a habit for me not to take credit for something I didn’t do. The cutters for the stiles and rails are quite expensive. About $125 for a matched set for a router. You also need a powerful router. Building raised panel doors is where Tim’s shaper would be way better than a router in a table. The shaper would cut the joints in one pass. Cutters still expensive.

Caution: Thread derail ahead: @4x4tographer you mention possible furniture projects in your future. Don’t be afraid to utilize or at least checkout the lumber machining services offered at Woodworkers Source. In 2016 I built two nightstands and a headboard for our master bedroom. The nightstands are 3/4” cherry veneered plywood and solid cherry stock. Back then the plywood was over $90 a sheet. I’d hate to price it now! It cost me $35 to have them break down the sheets into finished size pieces to build the two nightstands. I provided a cutting diagram using graph paper. I have a pretty decent woodworking shop and a lot of experience but I still struggle handling 4x8 sheets with my table saw and I don’t have a track saw. Having the pieces the exact sizes and cut perfectly square was worth every penny. The night stands: One tip if you go that route: Show your cut list or diagram to the guys in the back to get your price for the machine work. I’ve found it to be cheaper than getting the price from a couple individuals at the checkout desk.

Did you join their Rosewood Club? $20 fee, lifetime membership. 10% off lumber and plywood anytime. Sometimes 20% of plywood during a sale. Ive been a member for the last 8 years and it’s been very worth it to me.

Nice job on the packaging Kris Also, the bed liner you applied to your drawer front and drawer box seem to be holding up well. Ive referred several people to your “how to” when you built the storage unit

Happy Birthday Kris

I’ll take this item please if still available 8 ft, 10000 lb Vault Cargo tow/tree strap (30k break strength) - never used Thank you sir, Jim