Why do molehills turn into mountains?

[Saddle Tramp]

Not sure. Pry check out the locks, cruise over to superior, maybe go blow money at the casino if its open....

The Locks are interesting but bring a snack. They take a long time to work. Also check out LSSU as the Greek housing on campus were the quarters for the engineers that built the locks.

 

[pjtoledo]

that will be right in the middle of the northern lights season.

if 'ya want a quite afternoon, cruise the Seney National Refuge.

 

[RangerVet]

Stop at Macinaw Island for a day or so. Granddaughter Sam works in the gift shop at the Grand Hotel. Tell her Gramps says HI!

 

[jelinski]

A little saying I read, a few months ago:
"Every 10 minute project is one broken bolt away from a 3 day ordeal."
Sounds like your little adventure.

Regarding seats, the cloth 60/40 split bench seat in my 1994 Mazda B4000 was terrible.
I scrounged around some local junkyards and came across a similar-year Mercury Mountaineer, which has power-adjustable high-back leather-faced bucket seats.
Same seat mountings, but VERY nice seats!
Bought 'em, bolted 'em right in...... best money I ever spent!

 

[racsan]

our escape is a 2011 and a very comfortable road-trip vehicle, might be the best riding car since my heavy ‘72 olds cutlass, odd thing is after a long trip I cant hardly stand up after getting out of it, Im fine for the drive but once I get out its like Ive aged another 30 years. My ranger had a horrible drivers seat, I swapped in a passenger side seat from another ranger and it made a big difference, not near the “butt hours” on a passenger side seat. The hhr is horrible, low profile tires and too much spring rate for the weight of the vehicle, its only redeeming qualities are cruise control, great heater and reasonable gas milage.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

our escape is a 2011 and a very comfortable road-trip vehicle, might be the best riding car since my heavy ‘72 olds cutlass, odd thing is after a long trip I cant hardly stand up after getting out of it, Im fine for the drive but once I get out its like Ive aged another 30 years. My ranger had a horrible drivers seat, I swapped in a passenger side seat from another ranger and it made a big difference, not near the “butt hours” on a passenger side seat. The hhr is horrible, low profile tires and too much spring rate for the weight of the vehicle, its only redeeming qualities are cruise control, great heater and reasonable gas milage.

I just dont get what happend to seats. Every newish vehicle ive been in is uncomfortable as hell.

Most comfortable seats ever IMO was a tossup between a 74 Camaro with those side hugging deep, vinyl covered buckets or the 88 F250 i had with the captians chairs.

Nowadays its like they take two pieces of plywood, lay down 2 inches of padding and call it good

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I pretty much only road trip to travel, and now just rent. It actually saves a few bucks in the long run, but more importantly lots of time and stress. After all the prep work, maintenance, post trip work, and odometer miles you wont get back, I just rent. Plus you can drive it like you stole it, and if it breaks down or even just messes up, its not your problem, and wont ruin your trip. At worst you will have to wait for a tow truck and a replacement rental.

 

[cbxer55]

Really? I will pass that along. Im not good with that kinda stuff i had no idea either way.

I had to drill some holes in two hardened steel parts of my Magnum Powers blower due to the rear part didn't have a good press fit any longer. It drilled a lot easier than I thought with tungsten carbide drill bits. Tapped easy as well. I don't know if it's stainless, but it's still hardened steel. I also work with stainless at work, it's not that bad. I usually don't use any oil at all, drilling or tapping. If I do, just plain old motor oil or Marvel Mystery Oil.

The part with the three pins turns the rotor on the driver's side of the blower. iT was slipping on the drive shaft. Drilled three holes 120 degrees apart, threaded the three pin part. It now turns the blower real nice.

As to the main subject. Yeah, happens to me a lot. Set out on some simple project that may cost nothing, and it turns into a two or three day nightmare that sets me back $100 or more. Such is life. I now know better and always expect the worst. Wisdom comes with age. LOL!

 

[pjtoledo]

Yup. Oil (the right oil) can make all the difference when drilling and tapping hard metals. Tap magic 70016T is super thick high sulphur oil, it reeks but it lets you shred through things like butter that would just snap the tool off if you tried to do it dry. I use that stuff for titanium stainless and weird hard steels like leaf springs and I do not use special bits. Regular HSS.

that stuff sounds similar to hypoid gear lube. have you ever tried it? I'm thinking synthetic without friction modifier.


now we resume our regular on-topic posting, maybe.