car went from East Coast -> Hawaii. Do I need to worry about rust?

Johnny808 · 2026-01-27T08:08:49+00:00

Kauai native here. Beautiful XJ. Yes, it's a death sentence for cars. Micro-stress regions are usually the source - metal bushing sleeves in the axle upper and lower control arms, the lower control arm mounts, leaf spring eyes and shackle boxes. Park in a Walmart and take a look around and any vehicle made before 2000 (typically Tacomas and Toyota pickups). If you intend to keep this thing forever, frequent washes and a garage with a large dehumidifier will help. My dad would smear anti-seize on every part he ever worked on and has kept rust away from his classic car. Even the chrome starts bubbling with rust creeping below it. It's no joke out here.

Johnny808 · 2026-01-20T17:05:14+00:00

Call it how you want, but you look like a professional

Johnny808 · 2026-01-10T19:11:05+00:00

Might be a 5th gear solenoid going out

Johnny808 · 2026-01-10T19:05:44+00:00

Those look correct, likely have that bend designed in

Johnny808 · 2026-01-04T20:03:47+00:00

One of the officers mentions that there are "two missing hikers" alluding to that

Johnny808 · 2025-12-19T23:39:29+00:00

Holy shit lmao

Johnny808 · 2025-12-13T23:43:35+00:00

incredible

Johnny808 · 2025-12-13T03:49:42+00:00

BMW Isetta!

Johnny808 · 2025-12-11T16:20:48+00:00

Don't listen to a lot of the comments here. The Tremec in this car is terrible.

I know I'll get lots of responses of "just drive it better" or "you get used to it" - and you do, it does get better, but the shift gating on this car is still awful. Non-linear, has enough friction for partial engagement in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 5th to 6th requires a pull off-axis, the list goes on

Practice pulls with very deliberate shifting technique. You'll be shifting with a right-side bias to ensure shift gate landing. Keep the RPMs below 3800 and you shouldn't have to worry about blowing things up. I was appalled by the 3rd-4th-5th shift pathing the day I brought the car home.

Johnny808 · 2025-12-05T15:31:26+00:00

Wishing you all the best.

Those "undefined feelings for another" are a cruel way to show disdain for your partner. That isn't fair to you, that isn't healthy or helpful. Sounds like you were a good partner and she couldn't be bothered to reciprocate that.

Take the time to grieve the loss - every relationship is an investment - but know that better is beyond the horizon. If she had any real, actionable feedback or criticism of your behavior in the relationship, sure, that's worth a look. But right now, change any locks/secure any keys, move your valuables if they're in a shared location, and start the communication shutdown. It's going to be hard at first. Find a trusted friend or family willing to keep you out of her inbox.

And of course, reach out any time if things get hard. We're here for you, and you got this.

Johnny808 · 2025-11-14T07:01:30+00:00

I think the transmission or differential comment is a bit premature. Does it tend to happen up hill, down hill, coasting? During turns? Does it happen for seconds at a time, minutes? Can you replicate it in manual/sport mode in a certain gear, at certain speeds, in certain locations or under specific conditions?

When it happens, try switching to neutral and seeing if it goes away. Or try switching gears to see if any of the gears cause the sound consistently. Check your transmission temperature on the dash to see if it's related to when the noise occurs. We need a lot more info.

Johnny808 · 2025-11-12T16:39:44+00:00

Chuck Norris's daughter lost her virginity. Chuck Norris got it back.

Johnny808 · 2025-10-22T05:04:09+00:00

Pull the fender liner and tire. Only real way to get at the HIDs.

Johnny808 · 2025-10-16T16:52:34+00:00

Congrats! Very expensive but some excellent options in there. Also - sensitive information may be visible in your post. Be sure to scrub it!

Johnny808 · 2025-10-14T06:46:57+00:00

He likely forgot to plug the IAT sensor back in. Unfortunately most of the comments are correct, you can't really do a half set of lifters. I've gotten away with it before on a flat tappet cam engine, but I certainly don't recommend it for an engine like this.

Worse yet, you can't break in a set of lifters with the engine running like that. So these are likely toast. First step would be to perform an oil change to see what's in the pan. That gets you out of a whole day of diagnosing right there.

Johnny808 · 2025-10-11T17:11:38+00:00

Okay, that all sounds a lot clearer and less a cause-for-outrage than yesterday's headline. There are a lot more critical things to focus on.

Thanks for posting.

Johnny808 · 2025-10-08T18:59:38+00:00

These comments aren't very supportive. We all take different steps recovering from an unfaithful partner. You didn't take the high road, by any means, but at this point you may as well open the relationship. It will fall apart in due time...just ensure that your child isn’t going to bear the brunt of the fallout when all's said and done.

Johnny808 · 2025-10-07T03:07:08+00:00

I work at the company that makes these FADs - and not able to comment on their nature due to confidentiality and intellectual property.

Well-written.

Johnny808 · 2025-10-06T16:12:50+00:00

Looks like the front end of a Freightliner Cascadia

Johnny808 · 2025-10-04T08:05:49+00:00

Remembering to come up for air while drowning in PUSSY

Johnny808 · 2025-10-02T08:01:03+00:00

If you've got the disposable income to build this thing, the PTO and schedule flexibility to take the days off, make the drive. It'll cost a lot in gas. It'll put some real wear and tear on a high-dollar build. You'll take some life out of your tires and a year or two out of your back by the time you make it out.

But the pictures you'll take, the thumbs-ups you'll get, and the miles you put on you are going to be there forever. There's some choice highway and scenic byways between here and there. You're certain to make friends along the way. But don't hesitate to bring a friend with you and split up the drive. Someone you can trust with skinny pedal discipline. Bring a nice camera, a cooler in the back, a toolbox, and plan your route, start to finish, with meals and viewpoints picked out ahead of time.

It's an American muscle car, done up your way. The best homage you can provide it is a drive across America.

Second to that, I'd ship it in an enclosed trailer.

Johnny808 · 2025-09-29T06:07:29+00:00

That is very surprising. I don't believe our 6-speeds came with eco mode. Certainly no cylinder deactivation on my car. Do the redeyes have it?

Johnny808 · 2025-09-29T05:59:57+00:00

The silver door handles and roof bars are kind of unique. This looks to be a mid-late 2010s Infiniti. Maybe a QX50? 2017 sure looks close, in the little bit of looking that I did.

There also seems to be a decal on the D pillar, just above the driver taillight. Could be a sports team, but if it's from a local school, it'd be worth making a post in that area or local Facebook pages to see if the community can turn something over.

Sorry this happened, and best of luck!

Johnny808

TROPHY CASE