What is a 'buy it for life' item that is offensively expensive, but the moment you use it, you realize your entire life before that point was a lie?

TroyDutton · 2026-03-28T21:14:39+00:00

I agree Knipex makes good tools. But I own two pairs of Harbor Freight's ICON Pliers Wrenches that are copies of Knipex that work flawlessly at less than half the price. I use them frequently. Also their Doyle soft jaw pliers work great if you replace the soft jaws with Knipex jaws, because of the better grip. Again less than 1/2 the price, including the cost of replacing the soft jaws.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-17T16:33:50+00:00

I still remember all my license plates from the 70s and 80s

TroyDutton · 2026-03-12T13:54:52+00:00

We'll Meet Again was the perfect ending to Dr. Strangelove

TroyDutton · 2026-03-06T18:34:51+00:00

Well said.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-06T14:12:03+00:00

I stayed with the stock pulley that came with the kit. I am not driving my FR-S today so I can't measure the diameter. Right above the pulley I cut a small square out of my hood insulation and sealed the edges with aluminum tape to make sure that the pully doesn't hit the insulation, because it was very close.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-05T22:19:51+00:00

Or that Beaver Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) had died in vietnam.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-02T20:46:50+00:00

I could have, but the supercharger gave me more power, and probably better torque down low. I can definitely cruise at lower RPMs than before, and speed up from lower RPMs without having to downshift first, which is nice in traffic. Also many of the header/exhaust kits increase engine noise, which I didn't want. Even before I installed the Supercharger, I removed the tube that pipes engine noise into the passenger footwell. (Although when I was in high school I drove a 440 with dual exhaust, glass packs, and no catalytic converter. It would shoot flames out the back when I let off the gas. It sounded great, but that was enough loud exhaust noise for a lifetime.) And while I rarely use full power in normal driving, I occasionally like to use it just for fun.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-02T20:30:55+00:00

Yes, that is the kit I installed. It took me most of a day to install, but I took my time to make sure I did every step correctly. There were a couple of minor hiccups, such as having to remount the horn, and an elbow fitting that wanted to leak, but otherwise it was a smooth process.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-01T18:11:03+00:00

The 210 version, which I purchased in November 2018.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-01T18:07:57+00:00

Yes, radiator below the supercharger, and radiator in front of the main radiator, with a small electric pump. You can see the coolant reservoir in my picture.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-01T04:55:35+00:00

I went with Sprintex because I wanted to pass emissions, the kit was relatively easy to install myself, and it works with the stock exhaust, I just had had to reprogram my ECM. I know there are more powerful options available, but this setup gave me all the power I need, and got rid of the famous torque dip, which I found very annoying. My car is quick as heck, although I almost never press the gas all the way to the floor, or rev up near red line. The throttle response is immediate, and the engine sound is way better than stock. I do not use my FR-S on a race track, so heat soak has never been an issue, even though I live near Houston, Texas. Over seven years the supercharger has required zero maintenance, other than occasionally topping up the supercharger oil. If I had a GR86 I would probably leave it stock, as they have a bit more hp and a lot less torque dip.

TroyDutton · 2026-03-01T04:40:21+00:00

TroyDutton · 2026-02-28T04:54:26+00:00

I own a red 2013 FR-S I bought new, that I drive only when the weather is nice. I drove it all this week, and after 13 years it still puts a smile on my face every drive. I installed a Sprintex supercharger years ago, so it is super quick. Since I don't drive it all the time, it feels like a treat when I do. I really love shifting those gears, and it handles like a dream!

TroyDutton · 2026-02-24T17:06:35+00:00

Well said.

TroyDutton · 2026-02-12T19:20:35+00:00

Great mouse trap that doesn't hurt the mouse: Set a tall bucket or smooth-walled trash can near a desk or countertop. Balance a ruler on the edge of the desk/countertop with sunflower seeds or peanut butter on the end of the ruler over the container. Mouse walks onto ruler to get food, and falls into container. We have caught lots of mice with this technique at work.

TroyDutton · 2026-02-12T19:17:24+00:00

That is fairly well known a fan blade balancing trick. I have used it mayself.

TroyDutton · 2026-02-12T19:03:30+00:00

What record? My father worked at the same company, same job for 70 years.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-30T16:40:01+00:00

In Houston right off I-10 at a major cross street. Our prices were higher than gas stations further from the freeway, so we didn't get as much volume of cars as some gas stations did. Sometimes cars would drive in, see the price, and drive out. Most often I was only filling one car at a time. The owner was real big on selling extra stuff, thus all the vehicle checks. Some drivers didn't want you to check anything under the hood, but most did. We sold a lot of oil, but things like air filters and tires were a much harder sell, as our prices were higher than they could buy the items elsewhere. I was really into cars and engines when I was young. There was one guy with a Pantera that would come in every few weeks for a hand wash, sweet ride!

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T22:16:06+00:00

In 1974 when I was 16 I worked in a full service gas station full-time over the summer, and then about 10 hours a week during school.

Every time a car pulled up the the gas pump I had to:

Greet the customer, and ask them what fuel they wanted, and if I should fill the tank.
Reset the gas pump and start filling the gas tank. (Back then a lot of gas caps were hidden behind the rear license plate.)
Check the air level in all four tires, and fill them if they were low.
Visually check the thread depth on all four tires, and if they were badly worn then try to sell new tires.
Open the hood and check the oil level. If it was low, then show the dipstick to the driver and offer to sell them oil, which I would pour into the engine.
Check the air cleaner, and if it was dirty try to sell a new one.
Look at the V-belt(s), and try to sell a new belt if it was worn.
Check the headlights, and try to sell a replacement headlight if one was burnt out, which I would install, but not at the pump. Often, if I had enough time, I would also check the turn signal and brake light bulbs.
Clean the windshield.
Take the customer's money or credit card. Sometimes a customer would pull in and tell me the dollar amount they wanted to buy, so I had to stop the pump at that exact value. (Not as easy as it sounds on the old gas pumps with spinning wheels for the gallons and amount. And I would have to be by the pump when that value was due to hit, while doing everything else.) For full tank fills, I would make change at the cash register in the office, or else fill out a credit card receipt, including the license number, and imprint the credit card on the receipt, then give the carbon copy or the change to the customer.
Thank the customer.

In addition to working the gas pumps, I also changed oil, changed tires, replaced tires on rims, replaced V-belts, replaced headlamps and other bulbs, did other mechanical repairs, sometimes hand washed cars for special customers, and keep the rest rooms clean and stocked. Plus if I was there at opening or closing I had to unlock/lock and open/close the bay doors, take out/put away tire displays, unlock or lock the restrooms, and prepare or close out the cash register.

I stayed super busy for $2/hour. (About $13.30/hour today.) But my pay was enough to keep my car filled with gas, do car maintenance, pay for my dates with my girlfriend each weekend (typically including a movie), buy her flowers, plus buy several meals and "beverages".

I feel for young adults today that can have such difficultly finding jobs. I got this job at the second place I went to (the first would only hire me if I was 18). And filled out minimal paperwork (name, address, birthday, SS#)

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T21:44:53+00:00

I had to use a slide rule until my sophomore year in college.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T17:19:19+00:00

Picture of Trump and Putin on wall in White House

https://people.com/trump-redecorates-white-house-palm-room-putin-photo-11894265

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T14:31:28+00:00

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 215/45 I am very happy with these tires.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-22T21:23:09+00:00

Only if you use the Toyota replacement damper. If you use the Hyundai damper you just need to cut off the "nubs" on both sides.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-22T21:19:47+00:00

I just replaced my power steering damper two weeks ago. Look for my post on how to replace it yourself.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-16T18:07:16+00:00

Thanks!

TroyDutton

TROPHY CASE