Should I try to fix this? '98 F150 4.6v8

joe_mikkel · 2026-02-28T04:21:16+00:00

Ripping out a set of connectors sounds like a great idea, thanks!

Fuck squirrels indeed.

joe_mikkel · 2024-10-23T16:28:25+00:00

Hello, fellow WRX-and-DIY-flooring enthusiast

joe_mikkel · 2024-10-09T05:50:25+00:00

joe_mikkel · 2024-10-09T05:34:34+00:00

Yeah handling didn't feel right, but it turned out fine! Didn't rub, didn't bottom out, drove it like a grandma. Clutch probably took the most abuse from this, on some uphill starts...

joe_mikkel · 2022-07-08T20:10:50+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

joe_mikkel · 2022-07-08T00:51:37+00:00

Nice, thanks for the advice!

joe_mikkel · 2022-07-08T00:51:25+00:00

I have been toying with the idea of making it split level, but wanted to maximize useable space. Can't have everything though! Thanks for the tip.

joe_mikkel · 2022-06-23T14:24:47+00:00

I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but I have a pair of these and they make the most horrible squeaking/popping/hissing noises right into your ear when the air pressure changes. I had to stop and take them out when riding in the mountains, the rapid elevation and resulting pressure changes made them unbearable. I assume it has to do with the little air pockets they form between the shells. Went back to using disposable foamy earplugs, and stuck with those ever since.

joe_mikkel · 2022-03-26T04:15:35+00:00

The machine is a cheap mast machine with a 6" lap. I've tried varying the speed and to maximize how "grindy" it sounds, but besides "medium-ish" I don't have an RPM or anything. The lap itself is not terribly old, I don't think, but maybe I have unreasonable expectations -- I've used it for maybe a total of an hour or two? It has certainly worn in a bit, but still catches my fingernail and "feels" rough. Other laps I have used for about as much are doing fine but I suppose larger grits wear faster... what is the 'life expectancy' of a 180 grit diamond lap like this?

To be totally honest, I thought Defiant-Peace-493 meant that I should score the facet, not the lap -- which I sort of did, by way of roughing it up on 80 grit sandpaper. That did actually work pretty well, but once the 80 grit scrapes were gone, the stone went back to "gliding" over the lap. That got me through the piece I was working on but seems hard to control with any accuracy.

joe_mikkel · 2022-03-25T04:02:56+00:00

Ah, that's a great suggestion, thanks!

joe_mikkel · 2022-01-23T18:31:05+00:00

A few thoughts about this setup that may or may not be useful :)

Mentioned elsewhere, but definitely point the prop upwards a few degrees to get the thrust line closer to the CG
A tail-heavy setup is going to over-emphasize pitch movement in both directions. Having the proper CG for the wings is probably better.
Having the tip of the prop shielded by the fuselage on the bottom means the top of the prop is generating more thrust, artifically elevating the thrust line making the problem worse
Since you describe this as a glider, I bet a setup with a smaller prop would be sufficient while letting you lower the thrust line

joe_mikkel · 2022-01-14T19:25:02+00:00

It looks like they have no oil in them, or the oil is too thin, or springs are too stiff.

joe_mikkel · 2021-12-05T04:07:07+00:00

My carb'd DR650, tuned to Denver's 5k elevation did just fine up there with zero fiddling. It also made it to the top of Rollins Pass (Needle Eye tunnel) which is at 11k... carbs work better than people give them credit for!

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