Following the #1 rule of a Lemons Rally: “Don’t die.” I did not die. But I am way behind on posting rallies and road trips here. I’m almost home from the 2023 Rocky Mountain Breakdown and will try to get these online soon as I can. It looks as though I may have at least… Continue reading Another rally. I still did not die.
Category: Site news
Timing belts–not completely terrible…
The mystery noise in Earl Burner was the water pump. I ordered in a new Aisin pump a few weeks ago and finally installed it over the course of the afternoon yesterday. All in, it probably took 4-ish hours. And yes, that is the same job as replacing the timing belt, as the belt has… Continue reading Timing belts–not completely terrible…
LED vs. Incandescent
Why I’ve switched to LEDs… View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Hooptie Garage (@thehooptiegarage)
The Civic weirdness continues…
Finally receiving a Heli-Coil kit for the Civic’s stripped threads, I set about to working on the aborted repair project. My first step was to dig right in and get those threads fixed. Only, I thought I would run the M10x1.25 tap into the hole to see what happened. Well, I encountered resistance almost immediately. … Continue reading The Civic weirdness continues…
I like ceramic coatings, but am done with Avalon King
Back when Avalon King was running some insane promotions a couple of years ago, I got a quantity discount and picked up enough to take care of a few of the cars in the hooptie fleet. Only now, I realize that I still overpaid for it. Seems that Avalon King’s Armor Shield IX (presumably a… Continue reading I like ceramic coatings, but am done with Avalon King
Questions, questions, questions…
Has anyone ever tried using Con-Tact paper on the exterior of a car? I have a Lemons Rally idea. Would a 2005+ Xterra be decent-ish enough for a budget off-road build? Nothing too new, in case it gets a little dinged up. They can be had for cheap money these days. Should I save my… Continue reading Questions, questions, questions…
More EVs near the Hooptie Garage
Ever since the local Meijer put in these Electrify America charging stations, it appears as though GM is driving over a lot of their prototypes, presumably to test the charging capabilities of their upcoming cars. (This charging station is only a few miles from the GM Technical Center.) For a while last year, I was… Continue reading More EVs near the Hooptie Garage
Update coming soon! Rocky Mountain Breakdown notes, photos and shenanigans.
I have a lot of photos to edit from the 2022 Rocky Mountain Breakdown edition of the Lemons Rally. Photos, notes, impressions, and shenanigans will be posted as soon as I’m done putting all of my thoughts into words. I also have a few ideas for my next hooptie, and one of them is a… Continue reading Update coming soon! Rocky Mountain Breakdown notes, photos and shenanigans.
It’s 2022! Time for a Lemons Rally?
I had considered running a Lemons Rally during the past few years but never had the time to put into getting an unused 1997 CR-V ready and roadworthy. However, I still have a 2004 Civic at my disposal. I have a theme in mind, and three months to decide if I’m going to make it… Continue reading It’s 2022! Time for a Lemons Rally?
2005 Acura TSX battery tray removal
Anyone who is considering removing the battery tray in a first-generation Acura TSX should take note of one thing–this is the most sturdy battery tray I’ve ever seen Honda put into a vehicle! It turns out that not only is the tray held in by two bolts from the top, there are two underneath the… Continue reading 2005 Acura TSX battery tray removal