Quick update this morning–I heard a light clanking from the front of the Civic and earlier this week, I put it on stands to try to track it down. There is still a loud overall clunking, but this was slightly different. Found the culprit. The left lower ball joint is loose. I compared it to… Continue reading Dang it! Can’t we get quality parts anymore??
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
I hate tire shopping…
I like tire shopping! It’s when I have to make the decision on which tire to buy that things get rough, and then worrying about the cost and the installation (and also the alignment, given my recent issues) adds more angst to the process. And I’m not an angsty person. Except when I’m not fed… Continue reading I hate tire shopping…
Bad alignment is bad.
A year or two ago, while the world was locked down, I had replaced the rear upper control arms in my road trip CR-V with adjustable units, so that camber could be adjusted. To prevent wearing out the tires, I decided to get an alignment prior to the Rocky Mountain Breakdown rally. After the Lemons… Continue reading Bad alignment is bad.
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.
Fail, fail again…
Here we go again. “This will be a quick job,” he says. “It’s only three nuts and a bolt,” he says. “This only needs a few tools,” he says. Ball joint Hell. These 3rd-generation CR-Vs have, allegedly, the easiest ball joints to replace. Rather than have the joint pressed into the steering knuckle, these ball… Continue reading Fail, fail again…
What car mods do I need for a Lemons Rally?
Approaching mid-March, I’m starting to take stock in what I need for a proper road trip. I already have a list of repairs and maintenance I need to get through before I take the soul-sucking appliance on a 4,000 mile trip halfway across the country. But this is more about the “stuff” I need to… Continue reading What car mods do I need for a Lemons Rally?
Lemons Rally, February 2022 update
I’m convincing myself to get into the Rocky Mountain Breakdown (Lemons) Rally. My big question remains–will I have sufficiently non-cold, non-wet weather to get those piston rings replaced and cylinders honed? At the worst, the Japanese soul-sucking appliance might have to sit at home while I take my daily driver CR-V instead. Rocky Mountain Breakdown… Continue reading Lemons Rally, February 2022 update