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Ecotecs are actually a decent little engine if taken care of. Unfortunately like many good GM engines the rest of the car falls apart around them.
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Jul 16, 2014 13:52
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I've had him for 10 years; he was 4 or 5 when I got him. He was drat near feral when I got him - the people I got him from pretty much never interacted with him, and they got him when he was a few months old. It took months before he'd even let me touch him. More months before I could actually hold him without needing a blood transfusion. If you mean it's "like losing a member of the family" in that I'm losing one of my best friends  then you're right. Especially with how much time I spent with him getting him to actually be "pet" instead of "gently caress YOU, gently caress YOU, gently caress YOU, YOU'RE COOL, gently caress YOU, I'M OUT", adding a loud hiss instead of throwing a burger at an old lady.I was supposed to have a meeting with the owner of my store in about 2 hours about a "promotion" (yay 30c/hour more so I can do exactly what I already do, except with a new nametag that had "Trainer" added). I don't think I'm even going to make it to work today. 8ender posted:Ecotecs are actually a decent little engine if taken care of. Unfortunately like many good GM engines the rest of the car falls apart around them. The engine runs like it's brand new; it has one tiny oil leak from the valve cover (it's literally a few drops of seepage). The car itself has a couple of rattles, but so far the only real issue is a trim panel fell off of the RF door (... at 55 mph, whacking a windshield of someone who was apparently too busy texting to figure out what smashed their windshield). I go ~10k between synthetic oil changes, and I've never had to add any oil (it's always dead on the "full" mark even after 10k). The Getrag F23 it's mated to is.... the gearing is WAY, WAY too tall for a 2.2 (or even a 4 cylinder), and feels like I'm rowing through a box of boulders, but it's given me no problems aside from being notchy as hell. The car as a whole, except for the sunroof (binds up a little while opening, but not nearly as bad since greasing the tracks) and a rear deck rattle... looks, drives, runs, and sounds like it's brand new. Even the paint looks new. I fully expect the car to be a chassis with wobbly wheels around the engine around 300k, with the engine giving as few fucks as an AMC 4.0. For fucks sake, it still has the original loving battery from mid 2005. I got it last Jan with 65k or so; under warranty it had an evap sensor pigtail replaced, along with a swaybar endlink. Under recall, ignition switch and ignition lock cylinder (+ new keys). Aside from that, I've done a drain/fill on the evil DexCool, a handful of oil changes, and a set of tires. I haven't even had to touch the brakes or clutch yet; it's about to hit 98k. That said, it was on a lift in front of me for the first time yesterday. It actually does have a fair bit of rust on the suspension, but it's all surface (it spent most of its life in Utah before I got it). The only rust that looked "significant" to me was on the rear axle beam, but it was only surface. The NE guys would laugh at me if I took a photo of the "rust" I saw; by Texas standards, it's "what's this reddish brown poo poo? OH gently caress THAT'S loving RUST IT'S A TOTAL RUN AWAY RUN AWAY", by MA/ME/etc standards "HOLY gently caress YOU BROUGHT US A CAR FROM THE SOUTH HOLY gently caress WE CAN ACTUALLY TURN A BOLT ON THIS THING". I never thought I'd utter the phrase "A GM product has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned", but I've said it. I've owned 6 Hondas, 1 Ford, 1 Nissan, and 1 "Saturn" (Chevy Cobalt in plastic drag). It's really luck of the draw when you're buying used, especially with no service history, but it's been great so far. The original Delta cars weren't exactly great to begin with either; it's basically a bigger J-body (with the later ones getting laughably laggy DBW). It's not great on power, the mileage isn't great for such a small car, but the drat thing just gobbles up abuse (and pizza) without complaints... until it spits a 9 year old serpentine belt at you anyway. It doesn't do any one thing great, but it excels at being "adequate". Parts are dirt cheap for it too. The entire ignition system, going with AC Delco parts on Rockauto, is well under $300. Both coils, ignition control module, cassette body. A distributor alone was double that for OEM for my Altima.. (of course, I still owe a laughable amount on it [which is why I rolled GAP into the loan, I knew I'd be upside down before I finished the paperwork], at a laughable APR, but at least I didn't get it at a buy here/pay here lot). My credit score has gone up nearly 150 points since I got it, but it was already at the borderline of what my CU would (re)finance, so I'm kinda stuck with the loan. It was a 0.5% difference between a 2 year and 5 year loan, so I opted for 5 year, and I've been paying it like it's a 2 year (in case I have a tight month, etc). randomidiot fucked around with this message at 14:22 on Jul 16, 2014 |
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Jul 16, 2014 14:01
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drat, I'm sorry to hear about your cat, STR 
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Jul 16, 2014 15:02
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My SS/SC had it's sunroof fixed before I bought it and it already is squeaky as hell if it's all the way open. I got to close it from wide open about 1cm for the noise to stop. I changed the OEM timing chain tensioner to the revised one a while back so my engine should be good for a while. Now if we are talking about the clear coat peeling off, that's a different story all together. Work is a bust today. Got to the site at 8 instead of 7 because that's when the head of IT gets in. We were supposed to pipe and snake a bunch of locations back to the IDF but there is some special class in the room we need to get into ALL WEEK. You'd think someone would have known that before hand. So me and my JW are just sitting here talking about coins and silver killing time because we have about an hour of work left to do here and 6 hours left until we can go home.
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Jul 16, 2014 15:09
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Aye I put my cat to sleep a few weeks ago. It sucks
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Jul 16, 2014 15:24
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My brother and I are battling feral cats. There are like 60 of them in the neighborhood, the lady next door keeps feeding them. I'm tired of the cats fornicating and giving birth in my garage, and on my crown vic.
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Jul 16, 2014 15:39
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Cat Terrist posted:A MSP3 is a fast car, the stock pads are not up to the task - what are you doing giving such bad advice? You should know better. Yes, I'm sure the factory forgot and put base econobox brakes on his MazdaSpeed. Stop being ridiculous. Really. If the car passes tech inspection and he knows how to drive it's good to go. If he doesn't know how to drive he needs an HPDE. Obviously a properly performed brake service is never going to hurt, but if the car isn't a pit of deferred maintenance it's far from necessary. But at least it sounds like you had fun being outraged over nothing.
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Jul 16, 2014 15:43
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alternate.eago posted:My brother and I are battling feral cats. There are like 60 of them in the neighborhood, the lady next door keeps feeding them. I'm tired of the cats fornicating and giving birth in my garage, and on my crown vic. Report your neighbor to animal control and trap the cats or it will get worse.
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Jul 16, 2014 16:19
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alternate.eago posted:My brother and I are battling feral cats. There are like 60 of them in the neighborhood, the lady next door keeps feeding them. I'm tired of the cats fornicating and giving birth in my garage, and on my crown vic. It's really annoying when neighbors do that. Look up Trap Neuter Return (TNR). If she keeps feeding them they will never go away but if they've been neutered they can't reproduce obviously.
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Jul 16, 2014 16:55
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alternate.eago posted:My brother and I are battling feral cats. There are like 60 of them in the neighborhood, the lady next door keeps feeding them. I'm tired of the cats fornicating and giving birth in my garage, and on my crown vic. Buy a lot of firecrackers, electric fuses for them, an electronically controlled garden sprinkler, and a motion detector. Assemble.
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Jul 16, 2014 17:05
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kastein posted:Buy a lot of firecrackers, electric fuses for them, an electronically controlled garden sprinkler, and a motion detector. Assemble. Seriously. http://www.amazon.com/Contech-CRO101-Scarecrow-Activated-Sprinkler/dp/B000071NUS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405526754&sr=8-1&keywords=scarecrow Totally worth it. Move it around your yard on occasion. They'll probably get the idea that it's the kind of place where they're likely to get doused with cold water and stop coming over so much.
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Jul 16, 2014 17:06
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Slung Blade posted:Polish it up, put some electric motors on it, and make a little desk ornament. That's actually a pretty cool idea. Any suggestions for solvents?
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Jul 16, 2014 18:01
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Amazon's got 5 quart jugs of Mobil 1 for $22.66/Prime. 10W and 5W-30, at least... those are the ones I checked. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4E91GI/ref=pe_385040_30332200_TE_item
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Jul 16, 2014 18:08
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EVERYWHERE 
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jamal posted:Agressive stock pads are one thing, dealing with repeated full on application from over 100mph is another. Those things have pretty big rotors, right? That will help a little. Stoptech pads are cheap and would probably be an improvement over stock, but they aren't a track pad. I do know a number of people who have been on track with them though. Otherwise carbotech has a pretty good range, and probably something with a higher MOT that will not be too harsh. True, but again, novice driver. Maybe I'm unique but I know the first time I'm ever doing something stupid fast (i.e. shifter karts at Bondurant) I have a hard time convincing myself to stay on the throttle long enough to need a full-on brake application. Now, depending on how quickly he learns, by the end of the first day he may well already be able and willing to brake beyond the capabilites of the stock pads. meatpimp: Goddamnit they don't seem to have 0w20 and I'm due for an oil change on the CR-V soon.
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Jul 16, 2014 18:09
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I'm on the schedule in a couple of weeks to dog sit a 19 yr old poodle that looks like a zombie and a 12 yr old bloodhound mix that has bad arthritis. With my luck the poodle will die on my watch. The bloodhound is the sweetest dog ever, but pants like a porno phoner.
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Jul 16, 2014 18:14
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CharlesM posted:It's really annoying when neighbors do that. Look up Trap Neuter Return (TNR). If she keeps feeding them they will never go away but if they've been neutered they can't reproduce obviously. Here in wonderful Maryland they charge whomever drops them off for the TNR. kastein posted:Buy a lot of firecrackers, electric fuses for them, an electronically controlled garden sprinkler, and a motion detector. Assemble. I like the way you think, but that is still more than I want to spend....
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Jul 16, 2014 19:55
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Boaz MacPhereson posted:That's actually a pretty cool idea. Any suggestions for solvents? I just use the five gallon bucket of "solvent" from princess auto. I think it's just paint thinner, at least that's what it smells like to me. Great at removing oils and grease. Just don't put the chemical in a parts washer. It's not good for the pump's seals. Ask me how I know that. 
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Jul 16, 2014 19:58
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Motronic posted:Seriously. Fill with solvents, rig coil and spark plug in front of spray head...
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Jul 16, 2014 20:14
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You need that automated paintball gun from a few years back. http://www.realsentrygun.com
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Jul 16, 2014 21:24
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Motronic posted:Yes, I'm sure the factory forgot and put base econobox brakes on his MazdaSpeed. Tech inspections don't check what compound is being run. I've seen either one or two people per track weekend park their cars on Saturday because they ran out of brake pad. Also, the MS3 is pretty nose heavy, spending ~$100 on some dedicated race pads is a drop in the bucket and never hurt anyone. I wouldn't want to be the guy who cut his weekend short because I have no brake pads.
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Jul 16, 2014 21:33
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I just read this on Jalopnik: http://jalopnik.com/the-feds-just-seized-40-land-rovers-imported-to-the-u-s-1605985758 Now, I can fully understand that there is an issue with something like a Landie being able to be artificially aged to meet the age requirement for importation... But on the other hand, you can just as easily make a 30-year-old one into something that could have rolled out the factory yesterday. Leaving aside the nonsensical nature of the laws in question, and the issue of the owners they have been seized from not actually having been the ones who imported them... Do they actually have anyone who knows these things (and I mean who knows them) well enough to be able to actually make the call on what they're really looking at? Phone posted:I wouldn't want to be the guy who cut his weekend short because I have no brake pads.
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Jul 16, 2014 22:02
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What those people don't realize is the feds are doing them a favour, saving them from spending the thousands and thousands of dollars required to keep those Landies running and working.
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Jul 16, 2014 22:24
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InitialDave posted:I'd just stick the spare set of pads in my tools/spares kit. And then have to wait until your hot brakes cool of to work on them? I'd just throw a set of good pads on to begin with, cheap and easy insurance that your expensive track day doesn't get shortened because of stock pads. I'm sure in some cases stock would be fine but if you're spending money on a track day why not just take the extra precaution.
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Jul 16, 2014 23:52
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leica posted:And then have to wait until your hot brakes cool of to work on them? I'd just throw a set of good pads on to begin with, cheap and easy insurance that your expensive track day doesn't get shortened because of stock pads. I'm sure in some cases stock would be fine but if you're spending money on a track day why not just take the extra precaution.
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Jul 17, 2014 00:18
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Motronic posted:Yes, I'm sure the factory forgot and put base econobox brakes on his MazdaSpeed. No Mazda comes with pads that cope with track days and I know the MSP3 will run out of brakes fairly quickly on a track as a result. The pads are more designed to work fast in one emergency stop (soft compound) and more bent for quiet operation, rather than hard, constant use. So changing them to something that has more of a performance bent is something you should do. I know who's being ridiculous and it aint me. Stop giving bad advice, brakes are kinda important and in a turbocharged FWD that hits it's front brakes very hard, doubly so, the stock pads WILL be an issue.
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Jul 17, 2014 00:21
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HotCanadianChick posted:What those people don't realize is the feds are doing them a favour, saving them from spending the thousands and thousands of dollars required to keep those Landies running and working. Surprisingly, Defenders are cheap to keep going. It's just like a jeep, only with a bit more axle articulation, a bit more advanced transfer box and that's about the differences. The 4 bangers are along the lines of a tractor motor, solid axles and rust issues... just like a jeep!
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Jul 17, 2014 00:29
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InitialDave posted:Because having a fresh replacement component on hand guarantees your current one will last forever. I bought rear pads for my MS3. I never needed them even with 124k on the loving car.  Remember what I said about being afraid to brake deep? I think it's perpetually ingrained from the poo poo brakes my GMC has had forever...At any rate, nobody can ever accuse Freiburger of not 'getting it' when it comes to long term projects. Goddamn.
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Jul 17, 2014 00:46
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One of about three people in my life who I care deeply about thinks I'm a worthless piece of poo poo and it kind of makes me want to consume a vast amount of mind numbing substances
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Jul 17, 2014 01:21
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So on Friday I ripped the back seat out of the Kia to maximize cargo space for its first road trip, and I just kinda plunked it in my living room whatever I'll deal with it later. Well it turns out it's a more comfortable place to sit than the last 3 couches I've owned. If it wasn't for my roommates I would totally be making a frame to get it a little higher off the floor and launching the lovely couch into a dumpster somewhere right now.
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Jul 17, 2014 01:36
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I kept the bench seats from my old dodge 2500 van when I scrapped it for exactly the same reason.
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Jul 17, 2014 02:00
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I'm sitting here seriously contemplating placing an order with a Chinese clothing supplier for socks in bulk. I have this dream of wearing a brand new pair of socks every single loving day for the rest of my life. Going over the numbers, the minimum order will run me $600 and last me nine goddamned years. I'm seriously contemplating this.
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Jul 17, 2014 03:51
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Ok but think practically: Where are you going to store 3,000 pairs of socks?
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Jul 17, 2014 03:53
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Fucknag posted:Ok but think practically: Where are you going to store 3,000 pairs of socks? My father is in the process of buying a vacant church to turn into a model railroad museum. He's already okayed me storing a car there, I'm sure he'd let me dump some socks as well.
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Jul 17, 2014 03:54
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Someone needs to start writing this poo poo down because this is the next great American novel.
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Jul 17, 2014 04:19
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How much space would 3000 pairs of socks even take up? E: Holy poo poo I did the math and it's like six cubic meters. Basically you'd be filling up a walk-in closet from floor to ceiling. MrChips fucked around with this message at 04:23 on Jul 17, 2014 |
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Jul 17, 2014 04:20
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Seat Safety Switch posted:Someone needs to start writing this poo poo down because this is the next great American novel. My sock dream? Now accepting donations for the fullfillment of Rhyno's sock dream.
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Jul 17, 2014 04:24
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I think we all have Sock dreams in this subforum. If you catch my drift.
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Jul 17, 2014 04:26
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Fucknag posted:I think we all have Sock dreams in this subforum. If you catch my drift. That involves jorts, not a new pair of socks every day.
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Jul 17, 2014 04:27
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Jort-high socks?
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Jul 17, 2014 04:30
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Phone posted:Jort-high socks? I'm not Bavarian enough to pull that off.
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Jul 17, 2014 04:34
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