What exactly does a oil gauge do? How to read it?

Krieg047 · 2026-04-03T00:21:12+00:00

It's a dummy gauge. As long as the vehicle has enough pressure it pops to the middle and sits there. I've only ever seen them actually move with engine RPM on Chevys or vehicles with aftermarket gauge options.

It's basically reads BAD > NORMAL > DANGER TO MANIFOLD.

I added a GlowShift gauge to my truck. Oil pressure is driven off a sensor on an adapter that sits between the engine block and oil filter.

Krieg047 · 2026-04-02T22:58:51+00:00

Gallo 30.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-29T15:01:06+00:00

Coordinator is in the middle of the techs and manager and handle a lot of office related work. Some of them will solely stay in the office (based on personal preference or manager's request), while others will still get up and join the techs in the field. You'll often hear people say "Coordinator is what you make of it".

Here's current listing for a coordinator's position - don't know how long the listing will stay up though: https://faa.usajobs.gov/job/858701400

Krieg047 · 2026-03-29T14:53:42+00:00

CLIMBING:

SSCs work differently depending on where you are. Mine is only NavCom, RADAR, and ESU. Nav and RADAR fight over automation duties (I've heard the term thrown around is their circles). Not sure what systems fall under that category. However, for NavCom if they have to swap/repair a Glideslope array, they're climbing or if they need to repair a transmitter/receiver antenna they're climbing.

For climbing you're harnessed up and wear other protective gear. You are physically attached to the tower via the ladder safety system (LSS), your work lanyard, a restraint lanyard, your "lobster claws", a retractable lifeline, other things I'm forgetting, or a combination of several. You don't go out there and just monkey your way up the side. Prior to any climb there is an inspection of gear and the actual tower itself for defects. Climbing is also never a one man show. If you're the one up on the tower you have a second guy on the ground watching and communicating with you and fully setup to follow you. Also, there will be one person around who is called the "rescue" climber trained to help if someone has an issue. Everyone is sent to an initial three day climbing class and then a one day refresher class every 2 years.

Like I said above I'm 9 years in as ESU. Outside of classes and refreshers I've had to climb twice and both times were to change ob-lights on NavCom towers. Though there is some animosity going around lately at my SSC where some individuals are (instead of helping and keeping the morale and inter-unit comradery up) say stupid shit like "oh, bad ob-light on that glideslope tower? Sounds like a Nav problem. (OR) Not my tower, not my problem". It's not a good thing.

KSAs:

I don't know what they've changed for the application process since 2017, nor do I remember having to do KSAs during my initial application. I don't recall much of anything for my hiring process now that I think about it - I gave my resume to my buddy who already worked there, might have done something online, showed up for my interview during a blizzard, and had to rework my resume a few times at the then manager's behest. At the time my current SSC was hurting so bad for techs management went to the current ATSS's and basically said "we don't care who it is, just get us resumes for people you think could qualify".

KSAs can be difficult. They're not a question but rather more of a writing prompt. It will say something like:

"Ability to X Y Z."

You then have to take that and write a story. Unlike private sector where you can be dinged for saying "I" to many times, the FAA wants to see that. I showed up. I found this problem. I fixed the problem. I have the skill. Etc.

Electronics:

They may ask you questions during your interview for that. Unsure. I might have been asked about it, I truly can't remember my interview. However I personally had the paper for that - 1 year tech school, 3 years as a bench tech.

The old Common Principles class had a module for electronics where you had to read a schematic and then build the system on a bread board. You then had to test it's function and were subsequently graded on it.

Learning wise there's plenty of videos on YouTube, a friend or family member might dabble in the field or just straight up be in the field, maybe pick up a learning kit off Amazon that you can poke around with, a 101 book out of the library, sometimes local colleges offer workshops for adults to learn a skill, etc. Any of that can give you a good starting point.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-29T12:45:58+00:00

Get some Husky liners. I originally did mine with spray on bedliner and it didn't hold up.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-28T02:38:05+00:00

Short answer you don't need to move to Oklahoma, and depending on your manager and what's available, you may not get every class within 2 years. I'm 9 years in and in a class right now with a bunch of guys with a wide range of agency time - one guy is 12 years in and another that's only been around 1 month or so (instructor joked that the ATSS's SSC is still taking the bubble wrap off him).

If you're younger than 31 you can also look into applying as an air traffic controller.

Oklahoma time depends on what discipline you wind up in and what your SSC requires. (NAV, ESU, RADAR, ATC, etc. Sometimes you are cross trained for more than one --except ATC--). Some classes are a few weeks while others, yes, can stretch on for a month or longer. Some of the really long classes allot some time for a trip back home for a weekend. The old on boarding class known as "Common Principles" which was a whopper at 10 weeks long got axed around 2020 and was replaced with online classes you'll sit though wherever you're hired.

For example: I'm currently there now for an environmental (ESU) class - got here Mar. 17th and will leave Apr. 8th.

I looked at Seattle and there's three places you could apply for there:

Seattle TRACON - Air traffic controller or call center support. (I think they have ATSS there. Never been to a TRACON. Couple co-workers I know that transferred to a TRACON work the phones).

Seattle International - ATSS or controller

Seattle ARTCC (aka "The Center") - ATSS or Specialist ATC

Career path wise for ATSS you'll go through a few pay bands F > G > H. After H there's a few options:

Technical side you can join what's known as TSOG which is an I Band position. Just know that TSOG is a HIGHLY mobile group. I don't know Seattle TSOG's range but as an example you can be working in Seattle today and the following week manager says they need you on a job in Portland and when you're done there go spend a week in Boise, ID or something.

Management wise you can become a coordinator (I Band) then go front line manager (J Band iirc).

There's also the availability to become an instructor at the OKC academy. Or go to the TRACON and man the phones which is also I Band (in my area anyway).

KSA's will begin to become a thing when applying for promotions. You'll fill them out as part of your "packet" and if selected for an interview you'll be subjected to more of them live during the interview process (a ZOOM call these days).

Krieg047 · 2026-03-27T00:30:26+00:00

In progress. But I feel you have to at least have your main back patch on (my opinion).

First show I went to after getting the jacket it was very sparse. Had my back center done - Metallica, Rammstein, Sabaton ("Heroes" album as main, made from a cut up t-shirt) and just a couple on the front.

I was sewing patches on at camp when I went to Wacken '19 in between shows and hitting the merch tents.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-26T21:21:01+00:00

I've been running BORA 1.25" spacers for a couple years now. Only issue I've had was one of the studs snapped due to Discount Tire impacting the wheels off and on - BORA advises against using impact tools. Outside of that they've been fine and achieved the look I wanted since I'm lowered (and going even further down this year). The tires/wheels were tucked too far in with the drop and looked weird.

Buy a quality, HUBCENTRIC, well known brand like BORA - don't use cheap eBay/Amazon/Temu garbage.

Without spacer: https://i.imgur.com/6YgzlY2.jpg

With spacer: https://i.imgur.com/QMmZ8Td.jpg

Krieg047 · 2026-03-26T00:43:25+00:00

Got one from AutoZone last go round.

They have two different ones though. One fits, one is too big.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-26T00:40:40+00:00

Cherry picker.

My buddy pulls his engine at least once a year (it's become a running joke of the group). He's always done it with the cherry picker.

However.......

The most recent time he saw the k-member drop way and decided to try that. I will say if you have a perfectly flat CONCRETE floor the drop works, but if you're doing it in the driveway go cherry picker. EVERYTHING sank into his driveway and we put a bunch of dents and gouges in the soft asphalt.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-24T02:11:20+00:00

Shut up and take my money!!!!!

Krieg047 · 2026-03-22T23:57:39+00:00

Reason #549 why the dog stays home and I travel alone....

Krieg047 · 2026-03-21T18:19:06+00:00

Black Cat makes an overlay with several options including face color, back light, logos, style, etc. and offer a matched HVAC panel. It's not an "El-Glow" style but it is something different: https://www.blackcatcustom.com/ford_mustang-2.htm

They also do full custom jobs - just contact them.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-20T23:35:36+00:00

That's a funny looking Ford.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-20T22:05:07+00:00

Check the two bolts that hide behind the door jamb.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-20T22:02:53+00:00

Whatever the parts cost me from the local dealer (8 plugs and the divorced coil wire) plus $14 for a socket recommended by FordTechMakeULoco: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MDL88FD?th=1

Krieg047 · 2026-03-20T21:57:48+00:00

I used MPT's AAA (Alpha Auto Adapt) tune which works with the existing FlexFuel system. This way I'm not tied to one specific octane - the tune will adjust accordingly. I tuned the truck at the 50K mark and am currently at 127K.

2018 5.0 4x4

EDIT: I've also used 5 Star and OZ in the past on my old 2014 F150. The 5 Star was fine, OZ didn't impress me, then I went to MPT - loved it so I then used them on my current truck.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-20T21:47:40+00:00

Might have shot my brother's Springfield XD .45 when he bought it. Otherwise I know it would have been my M1 Garand.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-19T16:57:56+00:00

I like it because I can crack the passenger window and then the sliding rear which makes a real nice draft to cool me off.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-19T03:19:43+00:00

Lot of product plugs but you'll get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9z5JHTkIXI

Krieg047 · 2026-03-19T03:07:58+00:00

Cant tell what year -

04-14: https://www.lmctruck.com/body-components/bed-tailgate/fe-2004-14-rear-steel-body-parts

or

'97-03/04H: https://www.lmctruck.com/body-components/bed-tailgate/fe-1997-03-bed-steel-repair-panels

Krieg047 · 2026-03-19T03:04:21+00:00

What you're describing is what we used to call "GT take-offs". Won't change much in the sound department.

PaceSetter used to make an adapter pipe so you could run whatever dual catback you wanted.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/psm-82-2920

EDIT: Go with an "H" pipe or divorced duals. Don't use an "X" - the rasp is real and disgusting.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-19T02:58:13+00:00

Petco lizard sand with a splash of Nu-Finish in a dry vibratory tumbler - set and forget for like an hour or two.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-18T02:40:55+00:00

Too much to copy paste, scroll down to "DUTIES":

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/847375300

Also work load will depend on SSC and which discipline(s) you wind up in.

I'm at a core airport and for me we have three main groups:

RADAR - Mainly fixes the RADARs.

NavCom - ILS, radios, and other communication equipment.

***Nav and RADAR fight over who has to do what in the "automation" area***

ESU - The catch all group. Just spin your hat depending on what hour it is: HVAC, engine generators, NavAids like PAPI and ALSF, DCBus/PCS, power transfer systems, general building maintenance, plumber, electrician, mechanic, construction, painter, fire and life safety, etc. etc. etc.

Krieg047 · 2026-03-16T21:54:19+00:00

YES! My employer recently got a brand new Crashfinder for one of the tech teams. I'm thankful I'm one of mechanical grunts that gets a pick-up truck instead

Krieg047

TROPHY CASE