The Black Hole

[CDW6212R]

Very cool and shiny, reminds me of a bike with a water bottle strapped to it.

BTW, does anyone upgrade the steering for the 2nd gen Explorers? I've got a whine that today I flushed the cooler line and refilled, and it's louder now. While disconnecting the cooler line I imagined adding an extra cooler up front, and wished I had room for another filter. I'm sure my heavy use is rough on the pump and fluid, cooling it and adding capacity is the easiest to do. I have read on a Mustang forum that they have modified an Explorer bracket and used a Saginaw PS, which are the best OEM units. Has anyone done that on these trucks?

 

[gmanpaint]

Don,
Search tbars threads, he made one for just that. A few people have followed what he did, with mixed results.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'll look again, I found lots of 1st gen threads, and I have read a couple of them, years ago. Thanks,

 

[gmanpaint]

Ted's 95 ranger is obd2 ohv, and the same setup as 2nd gen ohv x. Not sure about the sohc. Never had one of those, and know nothing about them.

 

[CDW6212R]

Thanks, I'll find that and check it out. The PS pump is kind of an odd unit on the 2nd gens, I thought the OHV V6 used the same one as the SOHC. I've read the SOHC and 302 use different pumps, but they look like the same thing glancing at them. If the Saginaw pump would bolt to the bracket, I think it could work for any 2nd gen.

 

[gmanpaint]

Remember back when I was complaining about that stainless steel brake line purchase?

WRX ( Deerfield Precision) has still not answered any calls from me. I called twice a day until last week, and they never picked up. Guess they knew my number on the caller ID by then. lol Either that, or they went belly up, and walked with my funds.

So I opened up a claim in the PayPal resolution center for this. They ask that you attempt to resolve it with the seller by email first, and they monitor the communications. they give the seller time to respond. It has been a week, and nothing. I have to wait 3 more weeks, before I can escalate it into a full blown claim against them, for a review, and resolution.

So from the time I hit the "Buy" button, to the time PayPal resolves this, a whopping 3.5 months will have passed..... just to start over. ACK!!

On the flip side of the coin... I ordered a bunch of parts from RockAuto (no longer a vendor here?) 3 days ago, and one item showed today. Shocking!!

Edit:
Paypal sent me an email, saying Deerfield has paid up in full. They never bothered to reply back to my letter to them thru the resolution center. Live & learn. Now to source another company for the SS lines.

 

[gmanpaint]

Some already know this thanks to Facecrook, but for the rest of ya...

New tool to keep me busy this winter, on projects that have been piling up lately.

It's set up for .030 solid wire MIG, with C25 gas. One day I will get the Plasma cutter on that cart too. The welding table is just a HF special. They had it on sale for half as much as the Northern Tool table. I modified it by raising one side 2.5" with some wheels. The other side, I haven't bothered to mess with yet, and just have some rubber skids on a board (no slide) for now.

Lot's of cool things happening to the rig this winter. I will share all of it in due time, and most likely after most of it is finished. This thread is getting too big for it's own good. lol

 

[KurtECV]

thats still impressive. now as soon as you get those steaks (for some reason you call them cheeseburgers) me and the kid will come up and help you fab some stuff up.

 

[gmanpaint]

thats still impressive. now as soon as you get those steaks (for some reason you call them cheeseburgers) me and the kid will come up and help you fab some stuff up.

Thanks, there will be some items that might take an extra set of hands to make. Appreciate the offer, and I cook some great Cheeseburgers!

 

[CDW6212R]

I like it too, now come help me figure out how to weld. I got a Eastwood welder last Spring, still yet to try it out.

 

[gmanpaint]

Be like me Don, and become a Youtube certified welder.

I'm practicing my Cursive "e" oscillating beads right now. Not sure how long it will take to get it down, but like anything, the more you do it, eventually you get the hang of it.

 

[traveler]

When you're done there I could use some welding instruction. I plan to buy one soon. I priced what some work on the camper is gonna cost and realized I could buy a welder for what one job costs.

 

[CDW6212R]

When you're done there I could use some welding instruction. I plan to buy one soon. I priced what some work on the camper is gonna cost and realized I could buy a welder for what one job costs.

My thought exactly. My neighbor is an on call welder for a big company that does state work, he gets huge pay per hour when he gets called in. I'm glad for him, he's a great guy and neighbor, good family man too. He is a Chevy guy though, but I ignore that.

Gotta go, time for supper, Pizza Hut is 50% off this week.

 

[gmanpaint]

When you're done there I could use some welding instruction. I plan to buy one soon. I priced what some work on the camper is gonna cost and realized I could buy a welder for what one job costs.

Like I'm ever done. Have you seen the size of this thread ?!?!

I put getting one off for too long. I have bothered more people with want's & needs, than I ever intended too, over the years.

Just start gluing 2 pcs of junk together, and keep doing it until it doesn't look like junk anymore. That's what I'm doing.

 

[KurtECV]

That's a start Gman.
For my upper coil buckets we used our dealership body shop (that is now out of commission).
We used a millermatic dvi with a 6 foot tall bottle.

It really helped having Jacob there and using a good helmet to watch him lay beads down and watch his speed and movment on the weld. Some stuff YouTube cant help with, like the sound of the arc (but it's close) and the heat trail the weld puddle leaves. Having a good welder (person not machine) helps a lot especially when you have an odd/stupid question to ask. Or if you have the gun and they can tell you what you're doing right/wrong.

 

[gmanpaint]

There is a welding supplier here, that actually has classes I can attend. I have always been able to get the hang of things if I apply myself. If I feel I need some help, or get stuck on something, that is an option for me.

 

[KurtECV]

Right. Me and Jacob can always come up for the weekend and help out. Too cold to fish every Friday night so we need to get out of town

 

[vroomzoomboom]

you have a welder and rockers that need to be done.
i need a all expense paid road trip

 

[gmanpaint]

If I was rich enough, that would be cool to have ya visit. Doubt we would get much work done tho. Lol

 

[vroomzoomboom]

its only 16 hours away, however i wouldnt bring evil, i would bring 007. then we could also go bug turdle!