What Pleased You Today!

[A modeler named mike]

To my previous posts of my Love affair with the '65 Valiant signet, I unfortunately will not be bringing her home. Although I am a bit disappointed, I'm not suicidal..lol. I asked the owner, "What would it take to not put the car on the trailer and go to auction?" He said, "that it was already listed and far to many inquiries have come in." Also "That he was hoping to get $7,500. and the reserve was much higher." Well that leaves me out, I was willing to go $5,000. but he has higher aspirations than I. It's a nice car but upon closer inspection, it does have some bubbling going on around both rear quarters at the tire wells, which isn't a deal breaker. While talking to him I found it was a 2 owner car and garage kept most of its life. Someone will get a really nice car on Thursday, but it will not be me. Looks like I'll be resurrecting my 1994 Silverado shortbed instead. Thanks for all the good lucks and comments.. I do appreciate the forums community. ✌️😎

[TarheelRick]

Just recently came in possession of my invalid aunt's 2008 Kia Optima, don't laugh it gets better mpg than my 5.0 F-150. Anyway, the air conditioner does not work. Talked about it with a friend who knows all the good mechanics around and he turned me on to a local guy. I had purchased 6 cans of R-134 several years ago for use in my 2010 Ranger if I ever needed it, the Ranger was traded a few years back, so I still had the freon. Took the car in this morning, he ran a check discovered low freon and used two cans of the freon. I gave him the four left over cans, since I hopefully will not ever need it. He called it even, so no charge. Glad it worked that way since I only had $7 cash in my pocket and I don't think he takes plastic.

[A modeler named mike]

26 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

Took the car in this morning, he ran a check discovered low freon and used two cans of the freon. I gave him the four left over cans, since I hopefully will not ever need it. He called it even, so no charge. Glad it worked that way since I only had $7 cash in my pocket and I don't think he takes plastic.

Your stories end results are similar to mine yesterday. I was hearing a slight slapping/ thumping noise up front in my 2008 Equinox,so I had a friend who was a mechanic with 30 years under his belt. He replaced a wheel bearing that was bad but said all else in the front end was good. Still hearing that noise, I took it to a local reputable mechanic. He test drove it and one of his other mechanics drove it and found nothing wrong. I asked how much I owed before picking the car back up. He replied Nothing, I was floored since another shop I used to deal with wanted $70. Just to test drive it. Knowing that Rick owned a '69 GTO Judge, I took him a sealed Monogram '69 GTO Judge model kit for doing me the favor, He was more excited than I was about not having to pay. I still hear the noise so I rotated my tires today incase that was the cause, nope the noise is still present. I must be going nuts since no one else hears it.. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

As much as I tend to complain about the countless moroons all over YooToob, I've always been aware that there's also one helluva lotta great content too.

Being essentially chained to my computer chair until my ribs heal enough to do physical work again, I've been going down random YT rabbit holes.

So far this AM, I've learned a couple time-saving layout techniques for fabbing different jounts in rectangular and round tubing, and I've found a couple of templating tools that I've made my own cobbled up cardboard versions of in the past (for headers and roll cages) but are now available for purchase 3D printed.

I've also found some philosophy references I'll be following up on, a few great ethical and political quotes, and insights on physical-world engineering I previously had no knowledge of.

I'm trying to consciously focus more on positive aspects of life during this period of recuperation.

                           

 

Edited April 23 by Ace-Garageguy

[stitchdup]

4 minutes ago, A modeler named mike said:

Your stories end results are similar to mine yesterday. I was hearing a slight slapping/ thumping noise up front in my 2008 Equinox,so I had a friend who was a mechanic with 30 years under his belt. He replaced a wheel bearing that was bad but said all else in the front end was good. Still hearing that noise, I took it to a local reputable mechanic. He test drove it and one of his other mechanics drove it and found nothing wrong. I asked how much I owed before picking the car back up. He replied Nothing, I was floored since another shop I used to deal with wanted $70. Just to test drive it. Knowing that Rick owned a '69 GTO Judge, I took him a sealed Monogram '69 GTO Judge model kit for doing me the favor, He was more excited than I was about not having to pay. I still hear the noise so I rotated my tires today incase that was the cause, nope the noise is still present. I must be going nuts since no one else hears it.. 

does it have coil springs on the front? if it does check near the top for a broken coil. it can make a rumbling noise

[Falcon Ranchero]

1 hour ago, A modeler named mike said:

To my previous posts of my Love affair with the '65 Valiant signet, I unfortunately will not be bringing her home. Although I am a bit disappointed, I'm not suicidal..lol. I asked the owner, "What would it take to not put the car on the trailer and go to auction?" He said, "that it was already listed and far to many inquiries have come in." Also "That he was hoping to get $7,500. and the reserve was much higher." Well that leaves me out, I was willing to go $5,000. but he has higher aspirations than I. It's a nice car but upon closer inspection, it does have some bubbling going on around both rear quarters at the tire wells, which isn't a deal breaker. While talking to him I found it was a 2 owner car and garage kept most of its life. Someone will get a really nice car on Thursday, but it will not be me. Looks like I'll be resurrecting my 1994 Silverado shortbed instead. Thanks for all the good lucks and comments.. I do appreciate the forums community. ✌️😎

That's too bad about the Valiant. But like my Great Uncle told me after the aformentioned '66 Galaxie was sold to someone else; "Half the fun of buying a classic car is looking". And I have looked at quite a few both before and after; in order: 1966 T-Bird, 1982 Continental Mark VI, 1960 Olds Super 88, ['66 Galaxie], '92 Ford F-150 (classic enough) 1969 Nova four-door. And after looking at 6 vehicles still none of these unfortunately became mine. Though it was pretty fun gettin' up close to them and taking a test drive (only drove the '92 Ford ad '69 Nova). So I'm certain there will be more cars this year, as usual. Waiting in anticipation, looking through online listings or seeing something with a for sale sign in a driveway is always quite exciting. I'm sure you'll find something down the road as the months progress into summer. I'm sure hoping I'll find something soon. That '85 Parisienne I mentioned before turned out to be actually not the greatest.

[stitchdup]

Just now, Falcon Ranchero said:

That's too bad about the Valiant. But like my Great Uncle told me after the aformentioned '66 Galaxie was sold to someone else; "Half the fun of buying a classic car is looking". And I have looked at quite a few both before and after; in order: 1966 T-Bird, 1982 Continental Mark VI, 1960 Olds Super 88, ['66 Galaxie], '92 Ford F-150 (classic enough) 1969 Nova four-door. And after looking at 6 vehicles still none of these unfortunately became mine. Though it was pretty fun gettin' up close to them and taking a test drive (only drove the '92 Ford ad '69 Nova). So I'm certain there will be more cars this year, as usual. Waiting in anticipation, looking through online listings or seeing something with a for sale sign in a driveway is always quite exciting. I'm sure you'll find something down the road as the months progress into summer. I'm sure hoping I'll find something soon. That '85 Parisienne I mentioned before turned out to be actually not the greatest.

just think though,with  the longer it takes you can save up more cash and maybe end up with something better than you expected to get

[johnyrotten]

19 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

just think though,with  the longer it takes you can save up more cash and maybe end up with something better than you expected to get

The better you start with, the better the finished product. The difference between a two thousand dollar project starter and a five thousand dollar one is the five grand it took to get the two thousand dollar one complete/solid/or running.  You're money ahead in the long run.

 

Edited April 23 by johnyrotten
Spelling

[John M.]

I drove to the main VA center in Bedford Mass to pick up a prescription of blood pressure pills and my newly purchased 08 Corolla performed absolutely flawlessly on the Interstate. Even with 170,000 on the clock, it's far peppier than my old Accord that it replaced. Along with that, I'm getting better MPG and at idle, the engine is silky smooth not to mention it drove like it was on rails. I"M HAPPY. 🙂

Edited April 23 by John M.

[JollySipper]

5 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

trying to consciously focus more on positive aspects of life

Something that I sometimes struggle with....... I hope you heal back to 100%, Bill!

[JollySipper]

I don't want to jinx it, but my hammy, Boog, has been being super active the past few days! He's been running around here in his ball for 2 or 3 hours this evening, off and on. I put him back in his habitat for water or whatever, then he's ready to run some more....... His type can live up to three years if taken really good care of, but most folks can't keep one six months! He's over a year old, but hopefully he's just getting started........

Edited April 24 by JollySipper

[stavanzer]

45 minutes ago, JollySipper said:

I don't want to jinx it, but my hammy, Boog, has been being super active the past few days! He's been running around here in his ball for 2 or 3 hours this evening, off and on. I put him back in his habitat for water or whatever, then he's ready to run some more....... His type can live up to three years if taken really good care of, but most folks can't keep one six months! He's over a year old, but hopefully he's just getting started........

In our family, we call call them "Hangsters". Had a few as pets when the kids were little. Glad that era of pets is over with. They can be fun pets.

 

[TarheelRick]

23 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

I gave him the four left over cans, since I hopefully will not ever need it. He called it even, so no charge. Glad it worked that way since I only had $7 cash in my pocket and I don't think he takes plastic.

Continuation to this story. While there I mentioned the troubles I was having with my 80 Pinto. I had to remove the steering column to cut the factory steering wheel off in order to replace it with a GT wheel from one of my parts cars. When I tried to reinstall the column it came up 1" short of the mounting bolts. No matter how much I pulled, it would not move. He told me to jack up both sides of the front of the car to get the weight off the wheels. When I got home I dragged my floor jack and a couple of jackstands out to the Pinto. Sure enough when I got the front tires off the ground it took just a small effort to pull the steering column forward enough to engage the mounting bolts. Had the opportunity to drive it around the back roads for a short time after having it sit for more than two months. We also discussed some engine work in the future.

[Old Buckaroo]

After 8 years of renting this place we just signed the paperwork to buy it.  Now everything will go to principle, and we can make the place look like a loved home instead of a rental.  Its small but I have a hobby room!

 

[#1 model citizen]

12 minutes ago, Old Buckaroo said:

 Its small but I have a hobby room!

 

 

Well that’s all that matters! 😁

congratulations!

[TonyK]

Looks like a real nice home right now.

[stavanzer]

8 hours ago, Old Buckaroo said:

After 8 years of renting this place we just signed the paperwork to buy it.  Now everything will go to principle, and we can make the place look like a loved home instead of a rental.  Its small but I have a hobby room!

 

Great News! and you won't have to pay the Movers to pack and move your stuff!!

I like how it looks, but I can't do a Two-Storey house any more. Enjoy it!

[A modeler named mike]

Looks like home sweet home already Mr. D. and I Love the patriotism shown abound. Now to get busy and accomplish that list that the Misses penned for ya..😉

Congratulations from a Northern born boy with a Southern heart..😁

[A modeler named mike]

1.) Got up before be my alarm went off.

2.) Made it out the door on schedule. 

3.) Got the roofing guys tearing off the old roof and on with the new shingles, so far no damaged plywood. 

4.) At 10-ish head towards NJ for the NNL East show and contest.

🤔°°if only life was this good all the time..🤞

Edited April 25 by A modeler named mike

[John M.]

Just got through paying off my 08 Corolla with my mechanic. He's allowed me to make payments on it for the last 5 weeks. I'm happy and he's happy that he has more money to keep the lights in his shop on. 

[John M.]

21 hours ago, Old Buckaroo said:

After 8 years of renting this place we just signed the paperwork to buy it.  Now everything will go to principle, and we can make the place look like a loved home instead of a rental.  Its small but I have a hobby room!

 

You have yourself a nice house there. Very well maintained and the real estate it's sitting on looks quite roomy. My congrats to you. 

[A modeler named mike]

We made it to NJ to check into our hotel room on time. We had dinner at a great little family Italian restaurant "A Taste of Tuscany" on Valley road, Wayne NJ. The food was delicious and the portions were more than enough. Our waitress was great and she jokingly mentioned that she had been serving there for 35 years. Afterwards we hit the hot tub and pool for a good workout. We should sleep good tonight. Tomorrow is NNL East, so I'm very pleased. 

[Dave Ambrose]

On 4/24/2025 at 12:19 PM, Old Buckaroo said:

After 8 years of renting this place we just signed the paperwork to buy it.  Now everything will go to principle, and we can make the place look like a loved home instead of a rental.  Its small but I have a hobby room!

Congratulations! That's a great way to buy a house. We had the very good fortune to buy the house we were renting, and it's worked out very well for us. 

[John M.]

Just got through watching an hour of Karma Cop videos on YouTube. Some of the drivers are such morons. A couple even cut off the cops in their fully marked cruisers. A complete NO NO. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

A little less pain, a little more mobility every day...for which I'm very thankful.