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ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

A

aka Larry

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Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
7,996
Location
Eastern, NC
zmotorsports said:
As the saying goes Vincent, there's an *** for every seat and those colors are very popular around here, but they're just not in my taste is all I meant.

My black Jeep is more of an anomaly in Utah, and the flashy and vibrant colors are more the norm.
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Absolutely, to each his own.

For me, I want something different so if I really wanted "Gecko" yet there were 25 others like it in town, I'd have to pick another color...any color...other than Electrical Panel Grey. Damn I wish that trend would die, but it's still popular after the last 5+ years now.
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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aka Larry said:
Absolutely, to each his own.

For me, I want something different so if I really wanted "Gecko" yet there were 25 others like it in town, I'd have to pick another color...any color...other than Electrical Panel Grey. Damn I wish that trend would die, but it's still popular after the last 5+ years now.
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In 2007-2008 they had one called Steel Blue that I really liked. I also liked one called Rootbeer that was a metallic rust color, not orange and not brown. I found a Steel Blue 2008 but it was freakin' hammered and I couldn't even bring myself to make an offer on it. I also wouldn't have minded a silver one or better yet a charcoal gray one, but those were really the only colors I was looking at, until we drove past this black one for sale.
 
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M

madison069

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Joined
Nov 5, 2010
Messages
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Location
Monroeville, PA
Jeep looks sharp! As it’s been repeated several times, black looks sharp til it’s not. As an owner of two black vehicles, I know the pain.

I dig those tie down tabs, the pain of crawling under the rig to place the straps in the correct spots are just a pain in the ****.
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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Messages
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madison069 said:
Jeep looks sharp! As it’s been repeated several times, black looks sharp til it’s not. As an owner of two black vehicles, I know the pain.

I dig those tie down tabs, the pain of crawling under the rig to place the straps in the correct spots are just a pain in the ****.
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Thanks Cody. I only wish I would have installed such tabs prior. The open trailer won't be bad, but I think about all those miles I hauled the Jeep in our enclosed trailer and how much easier it would have been. The few times we hauled my son's LJ it was a breeze to attach the tie downs and strap it down. Not sure why I didn't do it earlier to be honest, just time gets away from us I guess and we put off those little details on our own stuff. :unsure: Well, that's gonna have to stop.
 
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madison069

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Nov 5, 2010
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Monroeville, PA
zmotorsports said:
Thanks Cody. I only wish I would have installed such tabs prior. The open trailer won't be bad, but I think about all those miles I hauled the Jeep in our enclosed trailer and how much easier it would have been. The few times we hauled my son's LJ it was a breeze to attach the tie downs and strap it down. Not sure why I didn't do it earlier to be honest, just time gets away from us I guess and we put off those little details on our own stuff. :unsure: Well, that's gonna have to stop.
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I was wondering if there is a specific style of hook that you would prefer to use on those tabs? I wondered if the t hook ends that I see the tow truck drivers use to attach their chains to the frame of some cars would work and be more secured in that tab?
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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madison069 said:
I was wondering if there is a specific style of hook that you would prefer to use on those tabs? I wondered if the t hook ends that I see the tow truck drivers use to attach their chains to the frame of some cars would work and be more secured in that tab?
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Cody, the Mac's Tie Downs that I prefer to use have this style of captured hook on the end of the 10k pound kit. Sorry, I just did a quick search for the picture, the connection at the strap is different however.
hook.jpg



I believe this is the style of hook that wreckers use as well as delivery services. I am not sure if this would work in these style of tabs or not.
wreckerhook.jpg


This is the style we used on my son's LJ and they seemed to work well also.
axlebracket.jpg
 
R

rattle_snake

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Jun 25, 2015
Messages
5,124
Location
Chandler, AZ
Tiedowns on the axles are slick.

One trend I find amusing now is brightly colored recovery and tow points. Even from factory, painted bright contrasting color, because ******** offroader.

Also amused at those who drive around with at least four, large, brightly colored shackles, all the time. Or bright isolators because they won't take them off for daily commute. Everyone has there own style....
 
N

ntsqd

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Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
934
Location
Lower left coast
I see a JK 3-5 times a week with a shackle whose cross-pin is slowly unscrewing itself. Trying to catch his attention got me snubbed. I've found freebies before, maybe I'll get another one....
 
M

M.Brane

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rd65 said:
Lets talk about the rig poking out of the garage in the background
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"62 Ranchero my paternal grandfather bought brand new. Cheapest one you could get 170 I6 3 on the tree radio delete. He put 20K on it in the 10 years he owned it before his passing. It got passed through my father, and older siblings before ending up with me. My older brother trashed the original 170, and replaced it with a ******* 200 block, milled 170 head, and a solid lifter cam. It's like 12:1 compression so still pings on Premium with the timing retarded. He's old school. It was my only ride for 10 years, and has been mostly stored since '97. It needs a lot of rust repair, and a complete driveline/brake/fuel system replacement. Hopefully I'll get to it before it turns to dust. Too many other projects, and too little room/time.
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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rattle_snake said:
Tiedowns on the axles are slick.

One trend I find amusing now is brightly colored recovery and tow points. Even from factory, painted bright contrasting color, because ******** offroader.

Also amused at those who drive around with at least four, large, brightly colored shackles, all the time. Or bright isolators because they won't take them off for daily commute. Everyone has there own style....
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I don't get the bright colors Justin, but then that's just me.

As for having the shackles left on the recovery points, I'm not a fan. Number one, they rattle and to keep the pin from unscrewing they are usually tightened very tight, then when needed they are hard, if not impossible, to remove in an emergency. I have struggled to remove so many off-road because the owner put them on so tight. I tried to explain that they are supposed to be threaded hand tight and then backed off a quarter to half a turn when actually using, but it falls on deaf ears.

The other thing I don't understand is the rooftop tends, 2-3 Rotopax and Hi-Lift jacks all on their Jeeps or Toyota's for their daily commutes. I could go into our work parking lot and take a picture of at least 4, maybe 6, right now that are in full trail trim each and every day. Hell, they probably never see any dirt even on weekends. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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Northern Utah
I shoved and wheelbarrowed 2 full yards of rock last night. I keep telling myself I'm done in the yard this year, but after putting 6 yards in the yard about a month ago, 2 in the front to level out existing and 4 in the new rock beds I kept looking at a couple of low spots under the deck and just couldn't let it go. I was hoping to surprise the wife, but she got home and I still had several wheelbarrows to haul, so she changed, grabbed the rake and helped me. I was losing steam by this point, so I welcomed the assistance. At least it is done, concrete swept, trailer swept and parked and everything is right with the yard again.

yard1.jpg

yard2.jpg

yard3.jpg

yard4.jpg

yard5.jpg


Thanks for looking.
 
S

signcrafter

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May 9, 2012
Messages
12,294
Mike I never noticed in previous pictures but looks like they wrapped your deck board and posts to match the house finish. That's a pretty neat detail.
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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signcrafter said:
Mike I never noticed in previous pictures but looks like they wrapped your deck board and posts to match the house finish. That's a pretty neat detail.
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Thanks Scott. Yes, I had that work done when I was having my shop built. The original owners just had the exposed timbers which I didn't care for so when the company was doing the stucco for my shop I had them quote me an option to do around my deck and the columns and I separated that out from the shop construction.

They did a fantastic job of matching it, but my whole thought process from the beginning was to make the shop, house and yard all look like they were built at the same time and nothing was an afterthought. I think I nailed it. ;)
 
N

ntsqd

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Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
934
Location
Lower left coast
I think that you did too.

I'm a fan of the brightly colored shackles after having lost the pin to one in some snow.
However, I'm in the middle of sorting out ordering some bumpers for my DD (which is NOT a project!) and I've been asking the potential vendors if they can leave the shackle tabs off entirely. I've well past done with whacking various body parts on the tabs that I've had in the past and this truck doesn't need them. Future projects won't be getting them either. Not when I can design in a spot to attach a soft shackle instead.
I normally carry a 6" crescent wrench close to the driver's seat in every vehicle except for hers. A rare earth magnet or two makes a great mount for them. Just the thing for tight shackle pins. In my race-chase tools I carry two sizes of Construction Wrenches, which I'm coming to prefer over 'normal' Crescent wrenches.
 
R

rd65

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Joined
Sep 29, 2017
Messages
2,676
Location
Granite Falls, WA
M.Brane said:
"62 Ranchero my paternal grandfather bought brand new. Cheapest one you could get 170 I6 3 on the tree radio delete. He put 20K on it in the 10 years he owned it before his passing. It got passed through my father, and older siblings before ending up with me. My older brother trashed the original 170, and replaced it with a ******* 200 block, milled 170 head, and a solid lifter cam. It's like 12:1 compression so still pings on Premium with the timing retarded. He's old school. It was my only ride for 10 years, and has been mostly stored since '97. It needs a lot of rust repair, and a complete driveline/brake/fuel system replacement. Hopefully I'll get to it before it turns to dust. Too many other projects, and too little room/time.
Click to expand...
Several years back I bought another 67 mustang thinking I would have time to work on it. The more I read, the less I wanted to work on it. Sold it to a couple of kids a couple years ago. So many cars I would like to do, but not enough time or talent to do all the body work needed on older Fords. Current 80 F350 has been in the garage for 5 years. Finally starting to get back into that project.
 
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ntsqd

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Jan 22, 2005
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934
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Lower left coast
So, Foam Cannon. Pretty sure it was here that I read about them. Never heard of such a thing. Looked into them and found one at the TS local to me, figured worth a try. Wow!!!! A couple short trigger squeezes and I'd foamed the Wagon's whole engine bay with purple cleaner!
Recommended.
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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bigdave_185 said:
@zmotorsports just an fyi I would maybe treat your jeep fenders again, in a few weeks. Something about jeep plastic and being super dry. I think a second touch will help you get more longevity out of it.

The jeep repaint area looks too notch as well!
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Thanks Dave. I let my fenders go almost an entire year without treating because I wanted to ensure the 303 had gotten out of the pores before I used the Solutions Finish. I treated them once then let the dye soak in for quite a while before applying another coat, but I think you may be right, as bad a they were I think I'll give them another treatment in about a few weeks or so.

I appreciate the recommendation, so far the Solutions Finish has brought them back and doesn't appear to be gummy or sticky. First trip off-road will be the test to make sure it doesn't attract dirt like a magnet.
 
B

bigdave_185

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Feb 14, 2021
Messages
422
Location
Utah
zmotorsports said:
Thanks Dave. I let my fenders go almost an entire year without treating because I wanted to ensure the 303 had gotten out of the pores before I used the Solutions Finish. I treated them once then let the dye soak in for quite a while before applying another coat, but I think you may be right, as bad a they were I think I'll give them another treatment in about a few weeks or so.

I appreciate the recommendation, so far the Solutions Finish has brought them back and doesn't appear to be gummy or sticky. First trip off-road will be the test to make sure it doesn't attract dirt like a magnet.
Click to expand...
For sure!
If you buffed them off go it should be as if nothing was applied at all.
 
P

PugetDude

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Messages
22,154
Location
Superstition Mountains, AZ
zmotorsports said:
I shoved and wheelbarrowed 2 full yards of rock last night. I keep telling myself I'm done in the yard this year, but after putting 6 yards in the yard about a month ago, 2 in the front to level out existing and 4 in the new rock beds I kept looking at a couple of low spots under the deck and just couldn't let it go. I was hoping to surprise the wife, but she got home and I still had several wheelbarrows to haul, so she changed, grabbed the rake and helped me. I was losing steam by this point, so I welcomed the assistance. At least it is done, concrete swept, trailer swept and parked and everything is right with the yard again.

yard1.jpg

yard2.jpg

yard3.jpg

yard4.jpg

yard5.jpg


Thanks for looking.
Click to expand...
Keep spreading all that gravel around and pretty soon your property will look like mine. 🤣
 
M

moab11

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Joined
Nov 22, 2015
Messages
546
Location
Thunder Bay, Ontario
ntsqd said:
I think that you did too.

I'm a fan of the brightly colored shackles after having lost the pin to one in some snow.
However, I'm in the middle of sorting out ordering some bumpers for my DD (which is NOT a project!) and I've been asking the potential vendors if they can leave the shackle tabs off entirely. I've well past done with whacking various body parts on the tabs that I've had in the past and this truck doesn't need them. Future projects won't be getting them either. Not when I can design in a spot to attach a soft shackle instead.
I normally carry a 6" crescent wrench close to the driver's seat in every vehicle except for hers. A rare earth magnet or two makes a great mount for them. Just the thing for tight shackle pins. In my race-chase tools I carry two sizes of Construction Wrenches, which I'm coming to prefer over 'normal' Crescent wrenches.
Click to expand...
Look up Miners Wrenches, even more handy if you aren't specifically needing the spud handle.
 
N

ntsqd

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Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
934
Location
Lower left coast
Similar to a scafolding wrench, which has both the striking surface and the spud. Some of those are a fixed size racheting socket and some are a "Crescent" wrench. I've seen guys using both, but never really looked for a source.
I started using the spud wrenches when crewing on desert racing trucks & buggies because sometimes getting a bolt back in while in the middle of BFE during a race was taking too long.
 
M

mercracing

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Feb 14, 2015
Messages
156
Mike, I picked up a new to me Jeep. I need to degrease the motor. What do you use? Thanks for your advice.
 
D

d.mcfarland

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Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
6,553
Location
Western PA
mercracing said:
Mike, I picked up a new to me Jeep. I need to degrease the motor. What do you use? Thanks for your advice.
Click to expand...

Koch Chemie Green Star (GS) is the answer followed by their Motorplast for an almost new appearance.

Safe, effective, and long lasting. These products were seemingly designed for this specific task.

The cleaning job is probably 50% product 50% user so to be honest a lot of products will degrease satisfactorily.
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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I'm still kickin' around. Just got extremely busy in the shop and didn't feel like documenting it or posting the work. Some of the work I was posting seemed an awful lot like bragging or boasting and I don't like feeling that way, so I took a little time to reflect on life and some other things, and yes, took some time to spend with the grandchildren. Then the wife and I took off last week for a few days to southern Utah as a recharge.
 
C

ctandc72

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Sep 19, 2020
Messages
1,083
Location
VA
zmotorsports said:
I'm still kickin' around. Just got extremely busy in the shop and didn't feel like documenting it or posting the work. Some of the work I was posting seemed an awful lot like bragging or boasting and I don't like feeling that way, so I took a little time to reflect on life and some other things, and yes, took some time to spend with the grandchildren. Then the wife and I took off last week for a few days to southern Utah as a recharge.
Click to expand...
Keep posting the shop stuff.

You can stop posting all those pictures of that perfect lawn and landscaping though. That is bragging. I can't look at your posts sitting next to my wife, it's shameful. It's why I moved to the woods in the first place.
 
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PugetDude

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Messages
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Superstition Mountains, AZ
ctandc72 said:
Keep posting the shop stuff.

You can stop posting all those pictures of that perfect lawn and landscaping though. That is bragging. I can't look at your posts sitting next to my wife, it's shameful. It's why I moved to the woods in the first place.
Click to expand...
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I felt an exhilarating sense of vindication when he started spreading gravel....🤣
 
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Z

zmotorsports

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Thanks guys. I think it's something personal that I am working through. Although I am proud of what the wife and I have been able to accomplish in our life together, I've felt kind of filthy lately, like I am taking the skills, talents and abilities that the Lord has blessed me with and perverted them for personal gain, and I don't like feeling that way. I think it may have something to do with looking at my grandchildren and the legacy I want to leave behind, and with everything I've posted online, I don't ever want them to read through this and think their grandpa was prideful or boastful.


The wife could sense that I have been struggling lately and we were able to have some nice long talks and discussions pertaining to this during our short trip last week and I really think it helped. She reminded me of the parable of the talents in Mathew 25. Each of us is blessed with some sort of talent or skill and what we do with those talents and skills is up to us, but we should use them to continue to serve the Lord. We are not to serve false idols, and money can be an idol if we allow it. Although money is necessary in our life, we shouldn't worship or love money, but rather use it to better our lives and family. I also think there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and I don't ever want to cross that line to the arrogance side.

I have been extremely blessed in my life, and I don't take that lightly or for granted. I recognize the Lord's hands in my life daily and when I start to drift towards stacking the shop with work and becoming fixated on earning money rather than sharing knowledge, it really starts muddying the waters of my mind. My goals for so long have been two-fold; I want to continue learning each and every day, but I also want to share what I have learned as well as to share my passion with others. There is so much negativity in the world right now and so many with the victim mentality and if they could only see they have the ability to steer their lives in a different direction rather than stay stagnant in victim land, they could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It really seems like in the mechanical industries or fields in particular, or maybe I am just more in tune with that field, but it seems like you can't open YouTube or any other platform without seeing someone complaining about how terrible the mechanical environment is and why they're leaving. It doesn't give our younger generation much confidence nor willingness to step into the world of mechanics. Which is sad because there are so many opportunities, more so today than in the past but it isn't easy work nor is it a way to "get rich quick". Nothing worthwhile is quick anyways. Anything worthwhile requires time and dedication to grow and develop, but the reality is in this world we are living in, people think everything should be instant and learning a trade and becoming proficient is far from quick, hell, I'm still learning and I've been at it for 4 decades now and will never know as much as I want to.

I appreciate those who have reached out via PM to check on me and inquire. I'm still here and reading most of the same threads that I have participated in, just haven't posted much lately.
 
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