What Did You Do In The Garage Today?

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3rd brake light on my 2014 F150 started leaking....again. Second time it's done it. First time I bought another OEM brake light that was suppose to be "improved" which is their way of saying a little thicker gasket around it. It's a known and very common problem for these things to leak. Ford dealership wants $125 for a new one and don't sell just the gasket. Gasket on Amazon is $10 with mixed reviews. I do not want to put silicone (RTV or otherwise) on it as some videos or post on other forums suggests. Looking over some Youtube videos and apparently it's a problem for some Dodge truck owners as well. Got the idea of using a weather seal from a Youtube video of a Dodge truck owner. $3.48 for Duck Weatherstrip Seal and I'm back in business. No leaks during the rain yesterday.

Plumbers putty also works well.
 
Not "in the garage" but I picked up the following at a Pawn Shop for $13"
Craftsman 5/8-3/4 open end wrench
Craftsman 9/16-5/8 open end wrench
Craftsman 11/16 combo wrench
2 Gear Wrench 11/16 ratchet wrenches
Gear Wrench 5/8 ratchet wrench
Snap-on 13mm wrench
Craftsman 1/2 and 3/8 drive ratchets.
I thought that was pretty good. Also picked up 34 Craftsman sockets for $12. Guy at the flea market on 301 in Rocky Mount wanted $7 for one Craftsman 17mm wrench and $2 per socket. No thanks.
 
Does crawlspace count?

We built this house in ‘99. No idea why it took 20 years to do this. Our yard is sloped, and house built on a crawlspace. The leaves me with plenty of area under the house...about 3’ at the front of the house and 8’ at the rear. The door is ~6’ tall.

There’s one bulb, just a couple feet into the area. I bought 100’ of wire, three work boxes, three of the single bulb fixtures, and a 4-pack of LED bulbs. Not a major project by any means, but what a difference. Now I can see all the crap I’ve thrown under these over the past two decades. :D

Probably gonna add one more. Less wattage for these bulbs combined than the single incandescent that used to be there.
 
Not "in the garage" but I picked up the following at a Pawn Shop for $13"
Craftsman 5/8-3/4 open end wrench
Craftsman 9/16-5/8 open end wrench
Craftsman 11/16 combo wrench
2 Gear Wrench 11/16 ratchet wrenches
Gear Wrench 5/8 ratchet wrench
Snap-on 13mm wrench
Craftsman 1/2 and 3/8 drive ratchets.
I thought that was pretty good. Also picked up 34 Craftsman sockets for $12. Guy at the flea market on 301 in Rocky Mount wanted $7 for one Craftsman 17mm wrench and $2 per socket. No thanks.



nice score!
 
115E9E82-883F-4631-BE11-D1152D21CCC7.jpeg Ripped out all the old 24 volt wiring on my M416 trailer . Replaced it with 12v lights and new wiring. Sanded some rust spots until I can get it to the sand blaster. She’s pretty solid for a 67 model trailer. Most have been rotted away.
 
Another "not in the garage" but I stopped by a pawn shop in Greenville and picked up the following for $15:
Craftsman 3/8 breaker bar
Craftsman 11/16 combo wrench
2 Craftsman 1/2 combo wrenches
Craftsman 10mm combo wrench
Craftsman 5/16 combo wrench
SK 7/16 combo wrench
Husky 9mm and 7/16 combo wrench
Gearwrench 5/8, 14mm and 10mm ratchet wrenches
Craftsman 1/4" ratchet. Older model with the metal shift lever instead of the plastic one. Has the slot under the socket attachment where you remove the snap ring unlike the later teardrop ratchets.

As for actually in the garage I am trying to organize. During this I realized I was missing some things which is why I started visiting pawn shops to pick up tools.
 
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Today I stopped by a speed shop with @carolina-snipe that I used to hang out at 35 years ago. It was a step back in time!
Almost everything’s the same, even the fridge their grandfather bought after WWII is still in use.
C452B18C-A888-4681-AEF5-A837C95DD549.jpeg 47DFD93C-C202-4321-8E15-8DACDCD6DF82.jpeg 40111103-AF6E-48F1-84C8-AB43EFD3DE93.jpeg CF630328-7722-4114-9D5F-00A3AF3A82BE.jpeg E5E3708A-E776-4421-B233-0E2286DE4F4E.jpeg

I have no idea why some pics upload sideways.
 
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I installed a 2" lift on my beater Xterra. New front springs and add-a-leafs in the rear. I was unbelievably misled by Youtubers on how easy the install would be!:mad: It's all lies!!! lol.
CRNsEsl.jpg

CHRIS
 
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Today I stopped by a speed shop with @carolina-snipe that I used to hang out at 35 years ago. It was a step back in time!
Almost everything’s the same, even the fridge their grandfather bought after WWII is still in use.
View attachment 174686 View attachment 174687 View attachment 174689 View attachment 174691 View attachment 174692

I have no idea why some pics upload sideways.


PLEASE tell me where this place is, I used to work in a small speed shop very similar to this one back in the 1970's. I'd love to visit.

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PLEASE tell me where this place is, I used to work in a small speed shop very similar to this one back in the 1970's. I'd love to visit.
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They’re nice folks, the front of the machine shop is a wooden floor, a horse trough is still underneath, it was where the horses were kept for the building next door.
https://www.boyettesmachineshop.com/
 
They’re nice folks, the front of the machine shop is a wooden floor, a horse trough is still underneath, it was where the horses were kept for the building next door.
https://www.boyettesmachineshop.com/

Back in the early 1980's they were a customer of mine at a warehouse distributor I worked for. Awesome, thanks for the update. Kinda hard to believe they've made it this long. Good for them.
.
 
Back in the early 1980's they were a customer of mine at a warehouse distributor I worked for. Awesome, thanks for the update. Kinda hard to believe they've made it this long. Good for them.
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What distributor? In the 80’s I worked a couple buildings over doing concourse Corvette restoration with Carolina Corvette.
 
What distributor? In the 80’s I worked a couple buildings over doing concourse Corvette restoration with Carolina Corvette.


Bellwether Automotive. Based out of Chicago with 6 other warehouses across the eastern US. I ran the Charlotte location.

You know Tommy Wilder, Wilders Fasteners?

.
 
Bellwether Automotive. Based out of Chicago with 6 other warehouses across the eastern US. I ran the Charlotte location.

You know Tommy Wilder, Wilders Fasteners?

.
Yessir, I loved the signs they used to have hanging in there. They’re so much better than Fastenall!
 
Both of our vehicles (‘03 Ram & ‘05 Pilot) have really cruddy headlights. Decided instead of trying to polish them I’d just replace the assemblies.

Had them for a month or so and decided today was the day to swap hers out. Each headlight is held on at four points. Wouldn’t you know it, three can be reached simply by popping the hood. The fourth, as my luck would have it, requires removed the front end.

Here’s a random collection of pics...

29085D6E-13CE-4BAA-981C-5C0172CAD4B2.jpeg 42498E1D-F1FC-46F7-844E-35EB137A9A4C.jpeg 9A68633C-75E2-4AB3-8B09-72D5B1B8494F.jpeg 30E1DF68-F11B-4AE1-85CD-4F68C700730B.jpeg


Probably attempt mine Mon or Tue next week.
 
Today I thought about selling my fun car and picking up something else. I’m having trouble deciding so I selfishly want to keep both
 
Today I thought about selling my fun car and picking up something else. I’m having trouble deciding so I selfishly want to keep both
 
@amnesia what is your fun car?



I just spent some time picking up out there, throwing some trash away (like those old, worn out pads from a month ago), moving a storage rack to a better place and condensing boxes to make more space.
While it's not a lot, not like a big car project etc, it's quite rewarding and I like how much more spacious the garage feels
 
Both of our vehicles (‘03 Ram & ‘05 Pilot) have really cruddy headlights. Decided instead of trying to polish them I’d just replace the assemblies.

Had them for a month or so and decided today was the day to swap hers out. Each headlight is held on at four points. Wouldn’t you know it, three can be reached simply by popping the hood. The fourth, as my luck would have it, requires removed the front end.

Here’s a random collection of pics...

View attachment 177494 View attachment 177495 View attachment 177496 View attachment 177497


Probably attempt mine Mon or Tue next week.
Honda still getting payback for WW2. Lol

The ram should be easier.

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@amnesia what is your fun car?



I just spent some time picking up out there, throwing some trash away (like those old, worn out pads from a month ago), moving a storage rack to a better place and condensing boxes to make more space.
While it's not a lot, not like a big car project etc, it's quite rewarding and I like how much more spacious the garage feels
C7 corvette / supercharged / long tube headers/ methanol injection/hi flow air filter / ngk plugs / solar ported tb/mgk short shifter/ 601hp to the wheels and probably around 680-90ish at the crank
34F37DA0-A998-4328-9A28-977535083432.jpeg
4FACCE6B-B218-4BF6-AC41-257BFDD65F09.jpeg
EF96460F-E240-42B5-B307-7AA48F47D126.jpeg
 
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New battery in the Ram. And replaced two bolts I broke in the process, and a 3rd that was a proactive replacement.
 
New wipers blades and cabin air filters on both vehicles. New engine air filters on wife’s ride.


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New battery in the Ram. And replaced two bolts I broke in the process, and a 3rd that was a proactive replacement.

The truck is starting hard, wasn't quite sure why, so I headed down to the parts store.

"We Test Batteries and Charging Systems," says the sign. OK, I take them up on it. Charging system is fine they say, battery is toast. So I buy a battery.

[Deleted] nut on the wedge that locks the base of the battery is frozen. Soaking in WD-40 now. I might have to break it off if it doesn't take care of itself first. :mad:
 
[Deleted] nut on the wedge that locks the base of the battery is frozen. Soaking in WD-40 now. I might have to break it off if it doesn't take care of itself first. :mad:
Snapped that one, and one of the terminal carriage bolts. Replaced the other terminal bolt as well. 96¢ trip to Lowe’s. :D

And $25+tax for the battery...so it could’ve been a lot worse.
 
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