The "Whatever" Thread
- Thread starter JK Knives
- Start date
mykel m
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,132
Wait a minute, your exhaust manifold cracked?
Mine too.
Hmm, something smells fishy here, or more like exhaust fumes.
Did you replace the manifold yourself?
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,324
No - it was the week before Christmas - truck started running poorly - engine light etc - so I took it to a buddy who owns what used to be a Meineke shop - it was almost $1K and he said he had two guys working on it all day. The part was $500. I have 160K miles on the truck, and when that happened it was 140K, so I have my use on it for certain. That casting is pretty impressive, but thermal cycling and the thin walls and complex shape all worked against it. I wish there was a good header pipe - maybe if it happens again I'll have my friend custom fab one, although that would be worth more than the truck at this point.
Still runs like a top and has no (apparent) rust issues....
best
mqqn
mykel m
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,132
Thanks for the reply Andy. It took 2 experienced mechs all day? Sounds daunting, but I'll be giving it a go myself cuz there's no way I can have the dealership do it.No - it was the week before Christmas - truck started running poorly - engine light etc - so I took it to a buddy who owns what used to be a Meineke shop - it was almost $1K and he said he had two guys working on it all day. The part was $500. I have 160K miles on the truck, and when that happened it was 140K, so I have my use on it for certain. That casting is pretty impressive, but thermal cycling and the thin walls and complex shape all worked against it. I wish there was a good header pipe - maybe if it happens again I'll have my friend custom fab one, although that would be worth more than the truck at this point.
Still runs like a top and has no (apparent) rust issues....
best
mqqn
I was thinking of trying some good old JB Weld to patch it up, not sure if it would hold up though.
Your Z71 is looking good for all the miles it has.
Mine is under 70k so I was surprised to learn of the cracked manifold.
Never heard of an exhaust manifold cracking on any vehicle before mine.
Camped over the weekend with family and friends. It was a trip we had planned for several weeks, Even though there were a couple last minute cancellations we had a great time. During the course of the weekend I received a text message from work offering overtime if I wanted it. I turned down 32 hours of time and a half pay and had no problem doing it. When my wife told her father he couldn't believe it. She told him that my family meant more to me than his did to him. I feel sorry for people like him who don't appreciate the little things in life.
mykel m
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,132
Yup, I always turned down overtime when I could and hated it when I couldn't get out of it.
Loved the checks, but not the infringement on my time.
Now I don't have to worry about it and my time is mine!
mykel m
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,132
OK, so I moved.
Got it done and I am settling in and getting to know the new area and I found a cool park to wander in thanks to my sister.
We went there last year and I posted a couple a pics then, but we didn't walk the whole trail then so today we did.
Not real long, but it's a good walk up and back with plenty of side trails to the river.
Last year we saw a beaver swimming along in the river and this morning we saw a fawn on the trail.
So cute and it just had to check us out so it got fairly close before getting a snoot full of our sent and boogieing on outta there.
The trail.
Beaver chewed tree. No idea why he didn't finish the job.
and the end of the trail.
Neat bunch of roots.
river shots.
Sis enjoying the cool water.
There's a great big field at the park.
and we spotted something out in it.
Looks like the fawn's ma out there.
The fawn again in a cropped pic.
So friggin' cute.
Got it done and I am settling in and getting to know the new area and I found a cool park to wander in thanks to my sister.
We went there last year and I posted a couple a pics then, but we didn't walk the whole trail then so today we did.
Not real long, but it's a good walk up and back with plenty of side trails to the river.
Last year we saw a beaver swimming along in the river and this morning we saw a fawn on the trail.
So cute and it just had to check us out so it got fairly close before getting a snoot full of our sent and boogieing on outta there.
The trail.
Beaver chewed tree. No idea why he didn't finish the job.
and the end of the trail.
Neat bunch of roots.
river shots.
Sis enjoying the cool water.
There's a great big field at the park.
and we spotted something out in it.
Looks like the fawn's ma out there.
The fawn again in a cropped pic.
So friggin' cute.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2012
- Messages
- 12,786
Thought I'd pop in and say "hey". Work has been kicking my butt lately and haven't had much down time. Looking forward to the weekend. I will probably work on my HC.
Starting on my second pot of coffee while my wife and son sleep in. I don't get up as early as John does every morning but a lifetime of going to work early makes it difficult for me to lay in bed. A friend asked for my help cutting trees around his camp this morning. I have no problem helping out but hate starting late. He said we would start around 10(the forecast high today is only 90
). In my opinion we should be several hours along by then.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
). In my opinion we should be several hours along by then.Hope everyone has a great weekend.
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2010
- Messages
- 1,099
Heck yeah. Mine is at my feet as I type.
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2010
- Messages
- 116
In the middle of trying to start a career change, Ive been in the law enforcement/emergency management field since 21 Becoming an officer around 4 years ago. I hate to say I'm burnt out already, but Im just not happy in the field anymore.
Looking to change things up, but all my education and experience is in this one field. I'd love to learn a trade such as plumbing, electrician, etc. But for whatever reason there are absolutely no trade schools around me. Either way Im excited to be actively working towards a change. Id even settle for a steady decent paying manual labor job. A big plus if I could spend most of my time outdoors! No real reason for the post, just nice to write it down somewhere to remind myself that I'm not stuck where I'm at. Something will come along.
Looking to change things up, but all my education and experience is in this one field. I'd love to learn a trade such as plumbing, electrician, etc. But for whatever reason there are absolutely no trade schools around me. Either way Im excited to be actively working towards a change. Id even settle for a steady decent paying manual labor job. A big plus if I could spend most of my time outdoors! No real reason for the post, just nice to write it down somewhere to remind myself that I'm not stuck where I'm at. Something will come along.
mykel m
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,132
Good luck with the new career hunt Mark.
Have you thought about being a Game Warden?
Still LEO, but you'd be helping fish and game vs those damn humans.
JK Knives
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2001
- Messages
- 27,928
My youngest daughter also gave up her career as a police officer after 13 years. Said she was fed up with the politics of it all.
For the past several years she has worked part time as a dispatcher for a small department. She has now been hired full time for Will County, who dispatches fire and police for 32 communities, including ours.
For the past several years she has worked part time as a dispatcher for a small department. She has now been hired full time for Will County, who dispatches fire and police for 32 communities, including ours.
mykel m
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 12,132
More park pics.
These first few are from Sunday.
I hiked the continuation of the river trail but came at it from the other side of the park further on up the road.
Tree growing out of a stump.
Two trees growing out of a stump. I'd never seen a twofer before.
Super white fungi growing out of a tree.
Deer Mouse that ran across the trail in front of me.
And todays pics...
I got out early and there was no one on the trail but me.
I went down to check out the river and spied these three youngsters getting a drink.
Pretty frigging cool.
All bucks.
I continued on my way, as did the bucks and further on up the trail I spied two of them walking across the river.
No idea where the third went.
I guess the grass is greener on the other side of the river.
They eventually climbed up the slope into what I presume is a field.
Nice big burl on a log.
Probably Cottonwood.
So I left the river and started walking up a gated road that leads to other trails in the park.
Only trouble is I was too pooped to continue so I turned back and on my way back to the truck I run into another deer that crossed the road/trail after I had passed a bit ago.
A doe this time.
Thats it for now.
Have a good one.
These first few are from Sunday.
I hiked the continuation of the river trail but came at it from the other side of the park further on up the road.
Tree growing out of a stump.
Two trees growing out of a stump. I'd never seen a twofer before.
Super white fungi growing out of a tree.
Deer Mouse that ran across the trail in front of me.
And todays pics...
I got out early and there was no one on the trail but me.
I went down to check out the river and spied these three youngsters getting a drink.
Pretty frigging cool.
All bucks.
I continued on my way, as did the bucks and further on up the trail I spied two of them walking across the river.
No idea where the third went.
I guess the grass is greener on the other side of the river.
They eventually climbed up the slope into what I presume is a field.
Nice big burl on a log.
Probably Cottonwood.
So I left the river and started walking up a gated road that leads to other trails in the park.
Only trouble is I was too pooped to continue so I turned back and on my way back to the truck I run into another deer that crossed the road/trail after I had passed a bit ago.
A doe this time.
Thats it for now.
Have a good one.
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2014
- Messages
- 964
Great pictures! Thank you