What are you working on?

[paddlenbike]

Things are a little slow on the forum, so what home or automotive projects are you currently working on?

I am taking a break from working on the house and just got started on some 4Runner projects that are lining up. I am currently in the middle of stripping the clearcoat and paint from a set of 17" Sequoia wheels. I will paint them graphite gray and go up one size tire--my current 265/75R16s look a little small with my 2.5" lift.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YLGun3AI-VQ/UbPrcEHnepI/AAAAAAAAKHY/KABF8MKSHcE/s640/DSC_0306.jpg

And you?

[Seanz0rz]

I am trying to find a job still, so I end up dedicating a couple of hours every other day to that. Otherwise, I am trying to finish up all the heavy landscaping at my parent's house. Installing retaining walls, landscape drains, paver patio area for the bbq. Not to mention planting a new hedge after ripping the old one out with my winch, planting a new tree in the front yard, and then the front yard needs some TLC, not sure what to do with it yet, but I will have to wait on that until after I run a great big trench through it for the drain system.

Hard labor, hot sun, and bad back and shoulders are preventing me from getting it done quickly, not to mention digging in the city's namesake clay/concrete soil.

[4x4mike]

Lately it's been a lot of stuff that comes with a family of 4. We've had 2 camping trips, 2 mini road trips, hiking, birthday parties, swim parties, zoo, children's museum, swimming, reading, eating, etc. Both kids start summer swimming lessons tonight and soccer for Maggie starts Friday.

Home has been neglected other than gardening, yard work and general maintenance.

I did break out the welder last week to build a pull up type bar to help strengthen my back and shoulder, both seem to be reoccurring problems. Having a younger sister that is a physical therapist is both a blessing and curse.
I'll tell you gravity is a biotch, who invented pull ups anyway? My back is feeling better but if I rip this thing out of the ceiling of my garage I'm going to have a new host of problems.

This are some 'day in the life' (of Obi era) pics of late. The kids are pretty much my life so they are included.

Max is 14 months old, pushing out 6 additional teeth and he is a Tasmanian devil.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RFBQKjyAlfs/UbT89djEvLI/AAAAAAAA5rM/feoGq8P2R3A/s640/DSC_2182.JPG

Maggie is 4.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4A-7KnravW8/UbYQNx27bII/AAAAAAAA51o/k88SPyWn64s/s640/IMG951953.jpg

May saw a lot of bike riding miles (1002 miles). Half way through I noticed this on one of my bikes.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0jq_Qgsv6jQ/UZPw3mJYu0I/AAAAAAAA5ek/uIMaZ0uJ3PE/s640/20130427_213608.jpg

Called in a favor to a childhood friend that's high up with REI and got a really nice upgrade, frame and fork.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lQBGjDz04NQ/UZPxbd_UvrI/AAAAAAAA5fU/CqT3d0W-RgU/s640/20130514_195027.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zzE9rbtHf60/UbY0qDFQpOI/AAAAAAAA54Q/p8CGo9c7WmA/s640/20130525_104748.jpg

I built my Dad an LED array with battery, solar panel and controller for his new Tuff Shed. Turned out really nice.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O2lKgs_H-vQ/UXYTk7isE3I/AAAAAAAA4Ao/xQCtfrQOVDo/s640/20130414_210454.jpg


Spending some time in the backyard.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RkWp3QSi8iA/UbY03qhR7jI/AAAAAAAA55w/PmR4S6PnC7M/s640/20130602_204951.jpg

Test driving a tortoise.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YEFJBYHU5zA/UbY05P97wkI/AAAAAAAA56A/FmqjXQYSe8Q/s640/0607130911.jpg
My wife is a wildlife biologist and works with a bunch of people that are really into reptiles, birds and all animals come to think about it. As a result we have access to all kinds of exotic animals as two of them are breeders of all things wild. Maggie wants a new pet and the cat hasn't died so for some reason we're considering an animal that will out live us (100 years) and if over fed can get to be 100 pounds. Our friend currently has 5 or 6 eggs with baby tortoises coming soon and Maggie is addicted. We go over to their house where they have geckos, turtles, tortoises, fish, carnivorous plants, snakes, etc. On the plus side they are quiet, take care of themselves and can be left alone (complete opposite of children).

[DHC6twinotter]

Aside from the ongoing job search, I've been house sitting for my uncle down in Temecula, and I"ll be house sitting for my cousins for a week or two as well. I've also been working on a video of our Whole Bernadino run (been slacking on that lately though), and I've been working on a new LEGO project.

Not really a whole lot else going on.

[paddlenbike]

Sean, I feel your pain on the drainage work. My ground is also hard clay and I dug up my entire yard adding drop inlets where I had drainage problems and replacing 4" pipe in places where tree roots clogged them.

New drainage:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XyvyZ_3d5kQ/Tssyyq1kiuI/AAAAAAAAGP4/A9Uh7EEWLnk/s640/IMAG0704.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nss9A9tGSE4/TsszT3X1CHI/AAAAAAAAGQQ/DqplYY-WDQM/s640/DSC_0569.JPG

And you will like this hack--had to tunnel under a tree root to replace some root-bound drainage pipe:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-omWS4v5SFjo/Tss1Fv-kZ-I/AAAAAAAAGQ8/H9fbSkEsXUY/s640/DSC_0566.JPG

While I was at it I completely re-landscaped from grass to native plants, replaced all of the leaky solenoid valves and ditched the 16 year old worn-out sprinkler heads for high efficiency ones.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sB0hTniEUuA/Tss-YHIZ9uI/AAAAAAAAGTE/RPGmoDNXyxE/s640/IMAG0429.jpg

Who plasti-dips their irrigation valves?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z0doaudaWuI/Tss-S54N3fI/AAAAAAAAGSs/mqjPujV_dg4/s640/IMAG0456.jpg

Isn't it amazing how one stupid project leads to another?

Now I have a combo fence/retaining wall that needs to be replaced. When are you coming over?

[Seanz0rz]

When you pay me! ALOT!. I have to do about 100 feet of drain. the problem is I am not sure that I lose enough elevation from the back yard to the front yard to have it properly drain! I thought about building a dry well, but it would have to be HUGE!

when they did the pool and patio, they put a drain under the slab, but where it ends, it is 12 inches below the slab already. I figure over 100 feet, i can drop it a minimum of 1%, or 1 foot. so all of a sudden I need to be 2 feet lower than that point. probably more. I'll probably end up shooting a laser to see if I can even do it before I go digging. Otherwise, I will have to either put a pump in or dry well that area and direct the rest of the gutters and such to a drain with a higher starting point.

This is the portion of the retaining wall along the green house. It doesn't retain much, just really there to finish off that spot between the green house and the patio slab.
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/IMAG0312_zps371a01eb.jpg (http://s955.photobucket.com/user/hamiltonfabrication/media/IMAG0312_zps371a01eb.jpg.html)

Here are the steps I am doing up to the top level of this area. There will be one more course, with another step, above what is here. at the top of this terrace will be a small patio built from pavers for the BBQ, plus a ring around our lower-than-grade plum tree, and a place for the dog to do her business.
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/IMAG0311_zps8ef7b6f6.jpg (http://s955.photobucket.com/user/hamiltonfabrication/media/IMAG0311_zps8ef7b6f6.jpg.html)

That large amount of gravel at the bottom covers a french drain, as all the water from the patio flows to this point. It drains down to meet up with the drain the pool contractor installed last summer. That is my starting point for the 100 foot run to the front of the house/driveway.

[paddlenbike]

Looking good Sean! I don't have a complete grasp of the distance and slope you are dealing with, but the bottom of my drainage pipe to the pop-up emitter on the street only has 1" of vertical drop. When water starts to pool up, it creates enough head to push the water out of the system. It's ridiculous I have photos of this, but I went out in a heavy storm and took pictures because the neighbor's backed-up drainage is what causes flooding on my property.

Property line--my property on left, hers on right.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l0CYqy47noI/UNOGiSJ1oXI/AAAAAAAAIhs/CYl9RN6en6o/s640/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg

The area that now has the green inlet grate used to flood a foot deep. And even though the drainage pipe is nearly flat, pooling water creates enough head to pop up the emitter at the street and drain really well. (Hard to tell but the pic below is where water exits to the street)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MUVymp7Lu6A/UNOGoCsXppI/AAAAAAAAIh0/RtbPwmCB6Gc/s640/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg

I added the drop inlet there because it flooded so often it was causing the concrete walkway to subside and fail.

[Seanz0rz]

looks good! I think I won't have too much of a problem. In a storm, this drain line will get about half of the roof area going through it, plus the patio and terraced area will feed into it, along with our 60x10 foot side yard. In the summer time, the drain will get bleed off water from the swamp coolers as well as water from hosing off the patio/splashing out of the pool.

Since I'm not doing anything right this moment, I might set up the laser level and see if its even doable!

edit:

Ok, set up the laser level, I measured a 16" drop from the back patio slab to the end of the driveway (where I would put the emitter). Since the bottom of the existing drain is already 12" below the slap, that gets me 4 inches of drop. But i suppose with those pop up emitters, the bottom of the pipe would be about 4 inches below grade anyway. I don't think in the summer time It will have the pressure necessary to pop up that emitter very often, but I am really looking to shed the storm water, so it should be ok. What do you guys think? ~8" drop over ~100 feet?

[paddlenbike]

Better to have it then not. Use perforated pipe for all or part of it, then there will not be standing water in the pipe.

[Seanz0rz]

I could dry well the portion I have and start anew with the rest of the landscape and downspout drains. Our soil is so terrible. I think perf pipe with a doubled up sleeve should do well to allow the water to soak in though, and then only expel what the soil can't take.

/total hijack

[4x4mike]

A sleeve or double is necessary if using perferated pipe. I went with fully enclosed because I don't want to have to dig it up to replace it. Sean I have a near level lot and drainage was an issue about 30 feet from the street. I plugged in a down spout to my 30 foot line to give it some flow. It seems to work quite well.

In one location I dug a dry well and it only works so well. After a couple of days of heavier rain I get a bit of back up. The hole I dug could fit about 3, 5 gallon buckets. It's got river rock and gravel in the bottom. I loosen up the bottom real well as it was solid clay down there. I had a lot of roots, completely level ground and plants in the way of laying drainage pipe to the street.

[Seanz0rz]

on 2 sides, our lot drains towards the house, and the front yard is overall level between the house and street, and across it is sloped about 12 inches over 50 feet. They did a terrible job grading the lot. We also currently lack any sort of a gutter, so the water from the roof pretty much lands next to the foundation. We haven't had problems in the 55 years the house has been here, but that is no excuse for not fixing it now.

I imagine the pipe will have to be dug up in 5-10 years. Just part of owning a home I guess! Hopefully either that job will be hired out or it will be someone elses problem!

[CJM]

Lets see:

-Planned t belt on the t100, the hydro tensioner (I think) sounds pretty loud when fully warmed up. T belt is overdue by like 30k anyways. Truck just keeps on running and running. Im probably going to buy something else in the next year, probably chevy b/c the damn fords have horrible engine and trans problems. So far the chevys seem more reliable. Id like a tundra but the 1st gen rust problems scare the crap outta me-also people seem to want 8k for 200k truck

-Sold my honda 400ex and have been working on my honda 450r. Just sent the head out to be ported, new valves, valve springs, etc. Also new high compression piston, tires, general overhaul. If plan goes accordingly over the winter is total tear down and Im going to turn it into a retro cr250 white/gold/blue setup. Amazing how much money you can spend on these stupid things lol.

-My shoulder has been bothering me for eons now, chiropractor appts, exercises, heatingpad, etc. Trying not to injure it more. Some of it is from flipping off my atv a few times, most of it is repetitive use injury.

[paddlenbike]

Last night I decided I wanted to drill holes in my roof, so I might as well add a ham radio antenna base.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O-q8AL52MjE/UbczmZ1aiFI/AAAAAAAAKL8/Tg5q3D9wH9s/s640/20130610_210715.jpg

Which also involved tearing apart the interior. Pulling the panel allowed me to route the coax away from the existing wiring to prevent interference.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-48x2xiXFuRg/UbczoX90OsI/AAAAAAAAKME/5F4hVZHQ0BY/s640/20130610_214328.jpg

It is difficult to see but the coax is ziptied to the rear washer fluid line, then makes a 90-degree turn at the floor and is routed under the carpet to keep it as far away from wiring as possible.

All CB-related garbage has been removed, now I just need to remove that temporary magnet mount antenna in the center of my roof.

[YotaFun]

Weathers has been getting warmer but at the same time worse around here, both hot, humid, and wet....
I have just been working to pay off bills and keep my vehicles running (not including normal maint, which add to the debt)

My recent project was on my now stock 4Runner (the anthracite metallic one a.k.a Tess) which decided on the first gorgeous day of the season to overheat -_-, turns out the Radiator that came in the donor truck that looked all nice and shiny was the cheapest of cheap that you could get and failed, new Rad, Thermo, and Rad cap and she is off and running again for now.

Next project for Tess after other priorities are done, will be doing the Tundra Upgrade (still on my old frame and staying there since 33s on up with stock brakes are scary), Trans Cooler, Trans Temp Gauge, Brake controller and a 7 pin plug in the back, and a e-locker that I scored off a Tacoma from work that needs to be rebuilt, so Tess will be going back to 4.30 locked soon, and my white trail rig will be going 4.88 locked.

Tess will now be my DD/tow rig and my white 4Runner (which I have yet to find a suitable name for) will be my designated trail rig with my old frame under it and all the suspension components still on it.

My Camry need a steering rack soon, plus lower control arms, and a battery, this will be taking priority over anything else since I have been driving about 83 miles one way for work (slowly relocating my life -_-)

Enough with my sob story though, got a line on a job closer to home and where my life is heading, my truck is finally running right, and I am happy and healthy, projects will start getting done soon *fingers crossed*

[Seanz0rz]

Haven't been able to work on the drain, but we did get most of the heavy construction done!

Steps are "done":
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/IMAG0393_zpsd105bd26.jpg (http://s955.photobucket.com/user/hamiltonfabrication/media/IMAG0393_zpsd105bd26.jpg.html)

Wall along patio, will also double as a bench:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/IMAG0394_zpsdfcecbf0.jpg (http://s955.photobucket.com/user/hamiltonfabrication/media/IMAG0394_zpsdfcecbf0.jpg.html)

Wall along the front of the green house/ entrance:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/IMAG0395_zps63c8e9c9.jpg (http://s955.photobucket.com/user/hamiltonfabrication/media/IMAG0395_zps63c8e9c9.jpg.html)

Today we started and finished this wall along the pool. The higher spots will be benches:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/IMAG0398_zps99a34031.jpg (http://s955.photobucket.com/user/hamiltonfabrication/media/IMAG0398_zps99a34031.jpg.html)

Still have much back filling, grading, planting, and a few paver paths and patio. Finishing the heavy block work is a huge step! The rest is relatively easy!

[CJM]

Lets see:
-T100 Timing belt job is gonna get done in next 2 weeks.
-Windshield for T100
-New master cyl for T100, Im having a temperature related seal issue I think. When it gets cold pedal travel is poor and so is braking power, when hot pedal travel is short and good breaking power. Either the master is internally leaking or the boosters bad. booster is 3x as much as master soo
-Honda 450 atv is almost done, head is coming back from port job.

[paddlenbike]

Sean, looking good. Be sure to post more pics. I have some re-landscaping to do when my schedule slows down a bit.

[Seanz0rz]

Thanks! I will post up tons more pictures as we progress. Still have a few hundred square feet of brick pavers to lay down, TONS of plants, probably going to have to bring in a truck load of good top soil. Also, the patio cover needs permits and lumber, then we can build it. It is a ton of work, but it is finally getting there!

[fenrisx]

No real 4Runner projects around here. Rotated my tires, changed my oil, changed my air filter, and painted my rusty rear drums on Father's Day. Went to take off my rear wiper, but ended up busting the part the two little screws through. Also just listed my ToyTec adjustable coilovers FS :( .. It's for a good reason though, I'm converting over to a Polaris employee, effective Monday, so I'm going to be without a paycheck or two during the transition (I've been there 2 years as a contractor through another company..paid weekly..and Polaris is biweekly.) So, it sucks I'm selling them because I need the $$, but going fulltime at Polaris more than makes up for it. :)

Just moved into a townhouse 2 months ago, so enjoying the single father thing right now with my 2yo and 3yo daughters.

Also been perfecting cooking a steak on a cast iron skillet while I don't have a grill..
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9119569229_d3165cbcda_c.jpg

[paddlenbike]

mmmm.....steak

[Good Times]

mighty fine piece of meat there! :) makes me want to get some steak for lunch now!

[4x4mike]

So I ended up needing surgery for a back issue on August 13th. I never thought I had a back issue as I didn't have any pain and never hurt myself. My lower body went numb and I was told to go to the ER.

I had this: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a serious neurologic condition in which damage to the cauda equina causes acute loss of function of the lumbar plexus, (nerve roots) of the spinal canal below the termination (conus medullaris) of the spinal cord. CES is a lower motor neuron lesion.

Ended up getting emergency surgery for this: Laminectomy is surgery to remove the lamina — the back part of the vertebra that covers your spinal canal. Also known as decompression surgery, laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

I've been home and it seems there is always somewhere here watching me making sure I don't do anything. I feel pretty good and want to get out and do stuff. The wife went back to work and the kids at daycare so I spend a few hours a day getting stuff done around the house. I pretty much do the dishes and pick up really quick to leave more time for fun stuff.

I made a flag holder for Pismo. Had my roof basket, factory tracks and cross bars removed so I could clean them up and paint them. I clay bared and waxed the 4Runner (I mean I had someone take it somewhere and paid someone do the work). Re-coated the rear wheel wells, painted the receiver, replaced a couple broken clips on the drivers door panel, added some frequencies to the HAM radio, clean and lubed the sunroof tracks, removed and adjusted my short shift kit, cleaned nooks and crannies as well as tightened up my driver seat. Seems I had the loose bolt that results in the hollowed out hole, thanks Dan for the heads up.

There area few more odds and ends with the 4runner but I'm glad I've had time to address them. With work, family and kids I have near no time to do this type of stuff. I hadn't washed the truck for almost 3 months and the last wax was 4 years ago (50,000 miles ago).

[4x4mike]

Something seems to be up with the edit function of the forum. When I click it the post goes blank. Any modifications don't appear when saved.

Anyways, I was adding pics.

Rail less
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FsZiQmeaCPY/UhU9TU-RO1I/AAAAAAAA6vk/1sICbj_pDg4/s800/20130820_145511.jpg

Door pieces
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YJiO7FYA3Ko/UhU9Utv-MEI/AAAAAAAA6vs/axymBxhhsXQ/s800/20130820_161624.jpg

Wheel wells
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DaItlweuhVQ/UhU9WmwCOcI/AAAAAAAA6v0/n3FNmtXAdrA/s800/20130821_092615.jpg

Short shifter. Oh yeah. I did some soldering on my aux radio speaker.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lntEIyo1-mI/UhU9YJN3DmI/AAAAAAAA6v8/mVw4wdwXMKk/s800/20130821_095732.jpg

Port and polish
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7S3Rw5ppcyU/UhU9bZ8Gf9I/AAAAAAAA6wM/6aT6jtZYpVg/s800/20130821_101318.jpg

Took it for a spin to pick up the kids from day care
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1JHlZLeq32k/UhVxn2EFOlI/AAAAAAAA6ws/KxAa3xSr0MQ/s800/20130821_162332.jpg

[paddlenbike]

That is a good looking 4Runner, my friend! It has to feel good to get some of those little things off the list.

Did you find anything out of adjustment on your short shift kit? I remember a little allen key holding it all together and it wouldn't be a bad idea for me to check mine either. Did it make any difference in the shifting?

Glad to see you aren't doing anything too hardcore. You don't want to mess up the first month after surgery.

[4x4mike]

Thank you.
I'd say ladder climbing, lifting over head, bending and reaching isn't too hardcore. I did decline doing somersaults with Maggie yesterday, just sounded like a bad idea.

I've had a few people drive the 4runner lately and they act like the shifter won't even move. It is bad and notchy but I wanted to make sure it wasn't the URD kit. There are two allens, two little clam shell pieces and the extension. The extension had definite wear marks but smoothing them out didn't make anything better. I clocked the extension 90 degrees as well. I think my issue is weak armed drivers or in the tranny.

[The_Josh]

Wow mike that sounds rough! I'm glad to hear your up and about at least and I'm sure it helps with your sanity

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[4x4mike]

It's all about my sanity and to keep me off my bicycle. I want on bad and think I'd be fine as I wouldn't over do it. If I got caught on the bike I'd be dead meat. As it is every other neighbor stops and gives a short lecture when they pass by. I was outside all day the other day. I saw two neighbors leave to work and return after a full day. I pretty much only went inside to poop and eat.

I made sure I was inside and clean with the TV on when my wife got home from work.

[Seanz0rz]

Awesome Mike! Nice to see you up and around, and as long as you aren't doing injury to the area, being mobile helps the healing, physically and mentally. Having a positive outlook really helps get better!

I am currently sorting out why our CR-V chuggs and overheats. Found a bad fan motor for the radiator (it also had a "condenser" fan, even though both suck through both pieces). Amazon and Saturday delivery (an extra 13 dollars) later, I should have it on Saturday. It will take me an hour total to fix, so no big deal. Have to get it up and running because the 4runner is still down due to the bad vibes and need of new TRE (inner and outer) as well as an alignment and spin balance. It is fine to drive local, but it is scary on the freeway.

and I'm STILL looking for work :(

[04 Rocko Taco]

I've been working on a kitchen remodel, complete with new vinyl flooring, new sheetcok and paint, custom (home made) concrete countertoops that turned out fantastic. I'll post pics soon.

I've done a little work on the crawler, but not much, I've had my winch sitting in the shop for almost a year now, with no install.

Been fixing up little issues on the FJ80 we picked up for Cort at the end of last year, and am afraid I am about to have to do the headgasket. *sigh* always something.