Its soaking now with mmo thankfully, and moving the breaker bar definitely had things get a bit less tight for sure.
Just in case though I am gonna get a photo of buddies 5.3, that should scare it straight ctfu.
What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2021]
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Just in case though I am gonna get a photo of buddies 5.3, that should scare it straight ctfu.
Good idea, will grab starter fluid next time at the store. Also have a battery pack some where too.
This past weekend was spent working on Dad's 2006 Sierra. Sean and I got him a pair of Kenwood Excelon 4"x6" speakers for the clamshell doors, for Father's day. We had him come over so I could install them.
Dad also had a problem with the switch pod on the Driver's side door panel flopping around when you open or close the door. I started with pulling that door panel to investigate the problem. It turns out that the "chassis" or structure of the armrest has a slot in it for the clip on the switch pod to go into, like this.....
The front section of that slot on Dad's armrest was broken off. Sean fabricated a bracket out of sheet metal with a new slot that fits under the broken plastic slot, and fastens to the "meat" of the armrest with a small interior trim screw.
After closer inspection, we noticed quite a bit of cracking in the inside "corner" of the armrest structue that juts out forward of the slot. That portion of the structure fastens to the door. It was just a matter of time before Dad was going to go to pull the door shut and have the armrest break off. Sean made another sheetmetal bracket which reinforces that weakened area and mechanically ties the front section of the armrest structure to the rest. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. He did a beautiful job.
While Sean was fabricating those brackets, I replaced the rear speakers. A nice improvement for the truck.
Next, I moved on to replacing the cable for the iPod adapter. I put this iPod adapter in Dad's truck, probably close to 8 or 10 years ago. It goes inline with the FM antenna so it's compatible with the factory radio. Dad had worn the business end of the iPod cable out. The release buttons were held in place with invisible tape. He'd bought a replacement adapter a few months ago and had just been quietly waiting for me to install it.
I have next to no recollection of the first installation but figured I could just replace the cable. I dove into the dash. I had to pull the whole lower right half of the dash to get to it. Lack of recollection didn't help. I got in there and discovered that due to some design changes, the new cord wouldn't work with the old adapter unit, so I went to swapping them out.
Somewhere along the way I somehow blew the fuse for the cigarette lighter, which is where I was getting switched hot for the iPod adapter. This together with being tired at that point, the dead 9V battery in my multimeter and having no replacement battery on hand really kicked my a$$. Also, the power port and cigarette lighter are on different fuses, which I never would have dreamed. By the time I got it figured out, the unit was back on the front seat, the inside of the truck was a wreck and I'd had enough. Sean took Dad home. I cleaned up the inside of the truck, backed it out of the garage and locked it up.
Early Sunday morning I was back at it. It went together nice. Here's a pic of the adapter. I have it zip tied to the dash bar under the climate control.....
I wish I'd gotten more pics. On the previous install I cut a little slot in the top of that little pocket to the left of the ashtray on those trucks, for the iPod cable to drop through.
Around 11 I took Dad's truck home and Sean followed me to bring me back home. Dad's door panel got fixed, his new rear speakers got installed and his iPod adapter got replaced. It would have been easier to put a new head unit in but that's not what he wanted and he wouldn't have liked it. We gave him most of the weekend and improved his situation.
It looks like next weekend we'll paint the new to him dash top to match his. His dash top is badly cracked. Maybe we'll get it swapped out too.
Dad also had a problem with the switch pod on the Driver's side door panel flopping around when you open or close the door. I started with pulling that door panel to investigate the problem. It turns out that the "chassis" or structure of the armrest has a slot in it for the clip on the switch pod to go into, like this.....
The front section of that slot on Dad's armrest was broken off. Sean fabricated a bracket out of sheet metal with a new slot that fits under the broken plastic slot, and fastens to the "meat" of the armrest with a small interior trim screw.
After closer inspection, we noticed quite a bit of cracking in the inside "corner" of the armrest structue that juts out forward of the slot. That portion of the structure fastens to the door. It was just a matter of time before Dad was going to go to pull the door shut and have the armrest break off. Sean made another sheetmetal bracket which reinforces that weakened area and mechanically ties the front section of the armrest structure to the rest. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. He did a beautiful job.
While Sean was fabricating those brackets, I replaced the rear speakers. A nice improvement for the truck.
Next, I moved on to replacing the cable for the iPod adapter. I put this iPod adapter in Dad's truck, probably close to 8 or 10 years ago. It goes inline with the FM antenna so it's compatible with the factory radio. Dad had worn the business end of the iPod cable out. The release buttons were held in place with invisible tape. He'd bought a replacement adapter a few months ago and had just been quietly waiting for me to install it.
I have next to no recollection of the first installation but figured I could just replace the cable. I dove into the dash. I had to pull the whole lower right half of the dash to get to it. Lack of recollection didn't help. I got in there and discovered that due to some design changes, the new cord wouldn't work with the old adapter unit, so I went to swapping them out.
Somewhere along the way I somehow blew the fuse for the cigarette lighter, which is where I was getting switched hot for the iPod adapter. This together with being tired at that point, the dead 9V battery in my multimeter and having no replacement battery on hand really kicked my a$$. Also, the power port and cigarette lighter are on different fuses, which I never would have dreamed. By the time I got it figured out, the unit was back on the front seat, the inside of the truck was a wreck and I'd had enough. Sean took Dad home. I cleaned up the inside of the truck, backed it out of the garage and locked it up.
Early Sunday morning I was back at it. It went together nice. Here's a pic of the adapter. I have it zip tied to the dash bar under the climate control.....
I wish I'd gotten more pics. On the previous install I cut a little slot in the top of that little pocket to the left of the ashtray on those trucks, for the iPod cable to drop through.
Around 11 I took Dad's truck home and Sean followed me to bring me back home. Dad's door panel got fixed, his new rear speakers got installed and his iPod adapter got replaced. It would have been easier to put a new head unit in but that's not what he wanted and he wouldn't have liked it. We gave him most of the weekend and improved his situation.
It looks like next weekend we'll paint the new to him dash top to match his. His dash top is badly cracked. Maybe we'll get it swapped out too.
Took roughly 1000hp for ice cream.
Does this Hellcat make my @ss look fat?
No, but that banana split does.
Does this Hellcat make my @ss look fat?
No, but that banana split does.
It's wild seeing the size difference of a 3rd gen and a Hellcat! Dang tugboat and a dingy.
Seriously. The Camaro looks like it could fit between the wheels on the Kitty. Cannot wait until it's got 400+ ponies (the Camaro) it'll be a treat.
Here lately I've had absolutely zero motivation for the Cutlass, or tinkering in general. Not sure what the deal is, could be the swamp like humidity here in the Ohio Valley, maybe just need a break from the hotrod, dunno. So instead been getting honey-do stuff knocked out.
Got an old picnic table cut up and thrown away and in place got a deal on some patio furniture. Then got some patio lights and strung them up on existing 4x4's. Been working on landscaping you can see in right side of pic. Have plenty more to do, not enough time in the day.
Got an old picnic table cut up and thrown away and in place got a deal on some patio furniture. Then got some patio lights and strung them up on existing 4x4's. Been working on landscaping you can see in right side of pic. Have plenty more to do, not enough time in the day.
Oh yeah, yesterday my phone dinged and it was a family friend that grew up a few houses down. Her parents were friends with our parents, siblings, etc.
Anyways, she was going through old pics and stumbled across one of my dad and I from the street rod nationals last year. She has an Impala, dad and mom both have street rods. The national anthem was playing. That's one of the things my father taught me, respect the flag, respect the country, respect the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe! Pretty special pic tbh.
Also, after 5 months his headstone is finally placed at the Veteran Cemetery. Makes it more real I guess, not sure really. I miss that dude. That is all.
Anyways, she was going through old pics and stumbled across one of my dad and I from the street rod nationals last year. She has an Impala, dad and mom both have street rods. The national anthem was playing. That's one of the things my father taught me, respect the flag, respect the country, respect the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe! Pretty special pic tbh.
Also, after 5 months his headstone is finally placed at the Veteran Cemetery. Makes it more real I guess, not sure really. I miss that dude. That is all.
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