76ChevyTrucker

She looks great man, she really does.

I tried to talk them into the Lucerne, but dad wants the standard dual zone climate control on the LaCrosse. I know that the W-body has a somewhat limited back seat area (remember guys I currently own an Impala), so I know what its like to sit in the back seat of it. My dad thinks that the Malibu is too small, he's saying that its smaller than my Impala (which I know that it is, but I'm thinking that the Malibu is better laid out and has more interior room). I'm going to do my best to go and sit in a Malibu, a LaCrosse and even a Lucerne if I can, that way I can give an impression to mom and dad on the car and how I personally liked it. Hell, I may even test drive all three of them and see what they might like based off my tastes, considering that I remember how the Buick rode, and how the Impala currently rides compared to the other vehicles.

Hmm, I'd still do a compression test on the engine, just to make sure you're not loosing coolant out of the exhaust side of things.

Hey guys, I just got informed that my parents are car shopping. I guess I should inform you of my parent's vehicle buying habits, the first car I remember them having is a 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity station wagon, they bought it brand new and drove it until April of 1997 when they bought their 1997 Buick Century, they kept it till June 2005 when mom got the itch for a truck. So they traded in the Buick and bought a 2005 S-10 crew cab ZR-5. Well its 2008 and dad is wider than he used to be, and mom's knee can't really take climbing in and out of the truck like she used to, so they're hunting for something new. Right now they have their sights set on a Buick LaCrosse, its similar in size to the Century they had, and it should perform like it too. The only option that dad is looking for is the lumbar adjust for the seat, he would like the premium sound system, but its not a necessity. Mom's pretty well set on either the Jewel Red Tintcoat, or the Blue, with the titanium interior color. Neither of them want leather seats, and the only other real requirement is the 60/40 split bench seat up front. So far I've only really seen one or two up close and they were nice, but did not meet the requirements that mom and dad are looking for. Any thoughts on this one guys? I'm pretty much liking the LaCrosse too, since it'll have everything they want, and it'll keep both of them happy for a while, but I want other opinions. I was personally thinking of maybe suggesting a new Malibu since its normally just them and maybe Heather (my daughter). Rarely ever does anyone else ride with them, but I know that sometimes people will, so I dunno about the size of the Malibu vs. what they want.

Cort, glad to see that you're still hale and hearty (no pun intended)

Yeah, and now the severe weather threat moves south today and tomorrow. Guys, y'all stay safe up that way, and I'll do the same today and tomorrow. Gotta love those mid-70, damn near 80 degree January days.....

I don't quite get this one either, but I can't see it being much different than a place enforcing a certain dress code.

The M3 was a good weapon, my personal preference is with the Thompson, but if I had to take an M3, I would be just as happy, just as long as its not an MP5...

Yeah, the rules with the fuel system are actually just like the deal with the emissions equipment on your car, its actually a federal offense to do something like take the catalytic converter off your vehicle and not put an OEM-like one back on. Although most people don't really follow that one.

Well in part, it is doing something with your fuel consumption. With the coolant level running low and with the temp running higher, the engine is going to run a little richer (since fuel is used as a coolant as it runs throug the fuel rail and until it goes through the intake valve and into the combustion chamber), which means you're not going to get the best mileage in the world.

I thought nothing WMJ, I thought nothing.

I'm pretty well certain that if I so decided to draft semis, I would get better mileage, I just choose not to.

Mom and dad normally got around 35 on trips to South Carolina when they had their '97 Buick Century. My Impala with the 3.8 gets around 30 with my rather spirited driving. Sometimes it seems that engines can get better mileage at higher speeds, I haven't quite figured out why, but sometimes they do.

That would have been interesting to have gotten pictures of. Since no one tests around here, there is also no point to keep a camera with me. I would have love to of seen pictures.

Fly, tis good to see you back sir, and I didn't know that there would be guns and drugs, youse guys should have informed me!

Yeah, I felt pretty good about the whole thing. Especially since I know that that particular ambulance is the ONLY one that specializes in infant transport. If it was another ambulance, I would have been less inclined to hand around and help since I know that they have at least three spare regular ambulances ready to go no matter what, but you know....this was different.

You really would want to check the oil level with the engine warm that way the coolant will have circulated through the engine, so if there is any kind of way for the engine oil and coolant to mix it will have started. The oil will be kind of a chocolate milk color and a sludgy kinda consistency (sp?). If you've got oil and water mixing, then you could have a blown head gasket, easy way to check would be to compression test the engine and look for the cylinder(s) that are leaking down.

Well guys, I think I told all of you about where I work. I work for an auto parts company, in fact its CarQuest. The particular store that I work at serves one of the two ambulance companies that operate from where I live. The ambulance company that my store serves has one particular ambulance that really hits a special place with me. Its called Angel One, and its a NeoNatal Transport ambulance. Its one of only two I think in the state and one of only a few in the nation that is specialized in newborn and baby transport. Anyway, my ambulance company gives me a call for a set of brake pads, front and rear, on a Ford E450, no big deal, they've got five of them, and another six are E350s, so we're used to sending those pads to them. Well, I'm a parts counter guy, but I'm also set up with a truck to drive and deliver parts, and we didnt' have any other drivers at the time. So I take the pads down to them, and when I get there, they've got Angel One up on the rack and are just getting the two inside rear tires off. Just as I hand over the parts, they get a call in. About twenty miles south of their location a 3-month old was reported having breathing trouble and they needed Angel One on the road. The ambulance crew hadn't gotten there yet, and they wheels had just been pulled off this van, and the pads were shot. I looked at the two techs that work there, got on my Nextel to my store manager and told him that'd I'd be a few minutes before I got back. He asked what was up, and I told him that they had an ambulance on the rack that needed to get on the road, so I was going to help them. Anyway, we each took a wheel, and got the pads back on the ambulance, got the wheels on, and dropped it on the ground, the ambulance crew got there right as we backed her off the rack and Angel One was on the way. Needless to say I feel like I was in the right place at the right time today, and the techs called me later and thanked me for helping them, and that the kid got to the hospital and was stabilized, doing fine. I don't normally jump into something like that, but as a father, and knowing what its like to see your kid hurting, I wouldn't want that on any parent, so I just felt drawn to help. I know that there are several of us here that are parents and like kids, so I just felt like this needed to be said, I'm really feeling good that I was able to be there and help when needed.

Really and truly unless you're running a killer sound system or you are subjecting your vehicle to massive vibrations and jolts from jumping it off stumps and the like, then an Optima battery is pretty much overkill for any "stock" vehicle.

There is probably a condenser somewhere around the alternator that's burned out and its allowing noise to come through.

PCS, you're so lewd....

she could always buy him a 5-hp Briggs&Stratton lawnmower engine and let him tear it apart.

I figure you would Camino, I would love it too, just gotta get the time and fund to provide for it.

I'm thinkin' more like a Chevy Nomad wagon!

All right guys, here's what I've decided as far as special tools/equipment for the shop (out of my handy-dandy tool and equipment flyer). 1/2-DR, 25-250ft-lb Electronic Torque Wrench (yeah, electronic!) $229.00 150,000 BTU Waste Oil Heater (there are bigger) $4,470.00 Strut Tamer w/ stand $689.00 Ball Joint Super Set $369.00 Hub Tamer $449.00 51-PC Torx Master Set $123.00 9-Way Slider Hammer Set $92.95 5-HP, 80-gal, 230 Volt, 175psi Air Compressor $1685.00 1/2-DR Air Impact $110.00 3/8-DR Air Ratchet $103.00 1/4-DR Air Ratchet $90.95 12,000-lb 2-Post Lift $5495.00 10-Ton Ratcheting $159.95 20-Ton Hydraulic Press $1239.00 Accessory Set $247.00 Genisys Professional Set (comes with everything) $4995.00 Roll-Around Battery Charger (6 and 12 volt, engine start, three charge rates) $260.00 I've got more information on everything above, if you want to know more, I'll do my best to provide it. This isn't counting the various hand tools, paint equipment, plumbing for the air and electrical outlets, and of course the cost of building the building. But otherwise, that's the general plan for all the various special stuff in the shop.