man on the moon

Not sure where the pictures are 'hosted' (facebook, picasa/igoogle, photobucket, etc), but generally speaking there are two ways: 1. Most sites will have a 'share' option either to the side, or at the bottom. It may also say "let others see this picture..." etc. Copy the URL it gives you there and paste it into the mini-window that opens when you click the picture share button at the top of the box you type into to make a post here. 2. If that doesn't work, what I do is this: open the picture online in whatever service you are using to host it. Then right click and choose "copy image location" or its equivalent (the exact wording will vary depending on your browser). You will not see a copy screen, but a different URL from the #1 option I describe above WILL copy to your clipboard (you won't see it, though). Then come over here and click the picture share button and click/hit 'paste'. The URL should then appear in the image share box and it should appear in your post after you save the post.

Out of fluid?

I thought those were tie downs but now that I look closer they do resemble Honda badges. Odd. I'll keep an eye out for him again. I was thinking Ford, too, I have a couple more pics I'll try to upload when I get home. Why would anyone spend all the time and money to build that machine and label it as something it's not? Or two things it's not--afaik, Honda doesn't make a full size truck, either; though I don't exactly keep up with what Honda does.

So yesterday I was sitting at a stoplight, waiting to get on the freeway, when I did a double take: I checked subaru's website, and briefly googled, but they only agreed with my memory: Subaru doesn't make a full size truck, do they? At least not for retail markets? It was built like maybe it's an offroad or rally support vehicle, but...? Anyone have an idea? If the image doesn't show, here is a link: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s0DS9pFGE2E/TsuwdG5HzqI/AAAAAAAAA4M/7lSLXEuz3tM/s400/2011-11-21_08-01-14_506.jpg?dc=gorganic&source=mobileproducts

If it's really bad (the pitting) you can slather the gasket with a thin layer of RTV silicone (I used the gray) when you put it together. So far no leaks! Just be sure to let it cure before you turn her on, again.

Now that she's running again, I'm paranoid as hell about all these perfectly normal noises my car is making, so I decided she's joining a band. And having done 99% of the work myself, I'm nervous as hell that she'll die on the road and I'll have no idea why (it wouldn't be the first time). So far so good, knock on wood. But yeah, I've been paying attention to the noises: --Percussion: sewing machine/lifter sound keeps time. --Bass drum: downshifting gets a quick bass note occasionally (need to snug up the exhaust) --Vocals: There is occasionally a faint screeching noise under load. This one actually bugs me since I'm not sure what it is. It varies in pitch with engine speed (in the narrow range in which it occurs). It doesn't occur when I'm stopped and just revving the motor. Maybe the pilot bearing? Did the clutch, among other things. The bearing was in straight, but I could have bumped it ever so slightly putting the motor back on. --Guitar: Transmission winds up like a solo riff --Harmonica: The engine purrs and sings as we roll along --Backup singers: The tires vary between humming, singing, and growling depending on the road surface and speed.

Crossing my fingers it's not a thrown main bearing. Doesn't sound like a blacksmith hammering in his forge, I hope? If your wife can hear it, it's probably the exhaust manifold...here's hoping!

Unless I have a freak car, Loyales will run and drive with the battery removed. Don't ask how I know (I found out by accident). Much more likely the alternator or a vacuum problem.

I'll rephrase my first statement, as I was understating how low my tach reads. I idle at 0 (zero, yes) if the tach is right, and I'm pretty sure that's not the true idle speed. It did this with both engines and both transmissions I've had in the car, so I think it's something with the gauge and not the sender. I do have a five speed (was push-button, now is d/r), but it is four wheel drive afaik. I mean stock--I'm pretty sure the 4wd wasn't swapped in as an aftermarket thing. I suppose I could check the VIN to be sure.

I have a thought on the snow-in-the-radiator issue. The deepest snow I've plowed through was only bumper deep, so I have no experience with it, but I do have an idea after some consideration. Could one slip a piece of fine mesh (somewhere finer than chicken wire, but not window screen fine) wire or metal 'fence' in front of the A/C condensor, or whatever you have where the condensor would be if you had one? This would catch the snow and still leave a small gap for the fans to push air into/from for the radiator. It would be easy to clean out, too, if you rig it right.

I'm pretty sure the tach in my Loyale has read low since the day I bought it. It says I idle under 1k and do 70 (in fifth) at about 2300 on a flat road. Around town I shift out of first and sort of coast in second or third at idle/light throttle, but getting on the freeway I've hit 4k a few times (with the probably miscalibrated tach), and hit 50 in third more than once. I haven't hooked up the speedo yet after my recent 5d/r swap, but now I'm motivated to put the speedo back in place and figure out how to calibrate the tach...curious. Especially if I can get that d*mn ticking to go away, too This should be fun as long as it doesn't kill one or both of us (the car and I).

I hope so! I should clarify: the shop I took her to in June was one I'd never been to before, but the one I went to this time is one that has done a couple other minor things for me, and I've seen him work on other cars--he's pretty good, or at least trustworthy. I suspect the other shop was just trying to get me back when their 'fix' failed, or something. Anyway, after I drive it for a few days and adjust the timing, idle, etc I think I will be a very happy owner

Get it to where it runs and has minimal deflection. The tensioner will only get so tight before it hits its stop. Get both bolts snug, make sure the car will run. Turn the car off. Back out one bolt. Put lock-tite on it. Put it back in, snug it down (but don't crank on it, you don't want to strip the threads). Repeat with the other bolt. Repeat with the tensioner for the other belt.

Brought her home from the mechanic today. It turns out I just needed a new disty cap, rotor, and he replaced the wires too. I had this done back in June when I asked shop to check my crank angle sensor (on the disty in the EA82), but I guess that shop didn't do it. I ended up dropping a new disty in myself, but swapped over the cap and rotor without a thought--they seemed clean enough so I put them on...guess the guy didn't actually do anything, maybe? Besides wipe them down/spray some cleaner on them???? Anyway, car is home now. I'll take it as a compliment that the mechanic only commented that my lifters are a bit noisy--didn't say anything about the shiny new heads, the new clutch, the new transmission, or the new axles. Just said it drove well when he took it out and that I need to think about a new oil pump in the near future. As for the injector, there must have been another problem--battery just a bit too low, or a connector in the harness needed cleaning (I cleaned out all the connectors before I sent her to the garage), or I forgot the key when I was trying to start from the starter...or it will die on me AGAIN and I'll discover the problem was intermittent.

There are plenty (well, a small but regular supply anyway) of 4wds out here in Colorado land. If you find one you want I'd be happy to bring it your way (my folks are in Michigan, so you're more or less on my way). It would probably not be tomorrow, but I could do it in the next few months I think. I'd just ask for a ticket back to Colorado in return!

I have a spare alternator if you want one in the next few days. I'm in Denver. It's from a parts car I had a while back and no longer have. The alt is from a Loyale, but I think the two are close enough for government work.

SO...after much ado about, well, pretty much nothing (though that 'nothing' involved a lot of lost hair and bad words), the mechanic called me tonight. The lost hair and words were mine. After exhausting the basic options and finding no solution, I took it to a professional mechanic (I have street parking, and for this particular job was parked at my local grocery store! Didn't want to tear her apart in the store parking lot). He called me tonight to let me know the car was ship-shape and ready to go... "except when you start the car, your valves are really loud!". He tried to convince me my oil pump out. No, I told him, I was getting oil shooting out all over the place--in fact, I just had to hose down the hood because the PCV hose split and shot oil all over the place. "But your oil pressure shows low!"...I considered trying to explain the gauge reads low ALL THE TIME, but just told him I unplugged it recently (had the motor out to do the d/r swap) and hadn't plugged it back in. Should I feel guilty? Anyone else have adventures trying to explain quirks about your car to someone else/shop/friend who is working on the car? (Assuming you don't do all the work your self). PS--if my oil pump DOES fail...well, I've probably jinxed myself now.

Doh I have a couple non-pressing repairs coming up I won't be able to do, I'll give you a ring in a few weeks maybe! It's not like I've modded the car to the hilt. Yet. But it's enough to throw off the average mechanic. We'll see what happens

on the ea82 there is a short pipe that runs from atop the water pump to the top radiator hose. Check that the seal is good, and it is seated and snugged down properly before you go to the trouble of taking everything apart. If this its the legacy, I'm not sure.

YES! Assuming any of them are small enough.

You will need a pipe extension, or a creative way to brace the wrench (you may be able to wedge a bar in place somewhere on top of the engine to brace the wrench). Leave the covers off after you're done, it'll make the whole mess WAY easier the next time you have to do it, and won't harm much in the meanwhile.

My Loyale was stolen when I lived in California. I was supposed to register it as salvaged, but moved before I did. I will not even begin to tell you the nightmare I had getting it registered in Colorado. It involved a lot of money in tickets (expired tags) and a trip to California to re-register it there despite having moved. Then it still took three more trips to the DMV here, and two trips to the emissions tester (I passed) and talking to the office manager at the DMV before it was registered. Now it has a clean 'rebuilt from salvage' title, though.

That makes sense. After I reread your earlier description I was picturing it as sort of a switcher in a train track, where it can turn on one of two circuits, but not both at the same time. For example, I could wire two sets of lights--one on my bumper, and one on a the roof. I could have one or the other on depending on the switch position.

Keg handle was on my mind (minus not having a keg), or a beat stick, then I thought I might try it in the car. A good idea if it doesn't work out, though!

@miles: nm, just read your post again, it makes sense now. Loyale 2.7: that is what I had in mind. That or a clanking sound so no I've wants to steal it. Or a really loud siren or horn. Or a dog whistle for animals. I can get a differential switch from an xt and mount it on my console if I decide I want two toys.