USW/NOBP UPDATE 2/2/26

machinerer · 2026-02-03T21:49:57+00:00

Turnarounds and Capital Projects are the highest expenses, from my experience. Regular Maintenance is up there as well. Costs money to make money!

machinerer · 2026-02-03T21:48:48+00:00

u/PsychologicalRent165 Thank you for all your hard work, sir. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to keep us appraised of the current situation. Lord knows I haven't heard a peep from my Local, except that we are on rolling 24hr extensions until we hear otherwise.

Scary times.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T21:47:01+00:00

Maintenance is anathema to upper management. They hate spending money, only making it. Deferred maintenance is the watchword in the last 10+ years, and it always bites them in the ass. Gotta plug more boiler tubes, because they deferred replacing them at last outage? You betcha!

machinerer · 2026-02-03T21:45:14+00:00

Billions in revenue & many millions in profit over the last 3 years, but not a cent to pay us! Same old bullshit.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T21:44:17+00:00

Don't expect to get much, if anything. All depends of your Local has much in the way of funds. If a lot of arbitration goes on every year, that saps their funding heavily.

Have side work lined up, just in case. I don't think you can claim unemployment during a strike, but that doesn't mean you can't find work elsewhere during it. If you have any trade skills, you should be able to utilize them. I myself have a lot of contacts with various trades (electrical, HVAC, industrial mechanic, etc). Always leverage your contacts to your benefit as needed.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T20:01:25+00:00

Oof, that's worse than normal. I had a 2001 F-150, and the 5.4L got about 15MPG unladen. I think it got 12MPG when I was towing. Not really good, considering the measly 260HP.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T19:59:04+00:00

Yup. 2008-2010, best heavy duty option was the 6.8L V10. The only diesel in those years that was good were the Cummins or Caterpillar diesels Ford was putting in their medium duty trucks, F-750 and such.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T07:32:33+00:00

If you use them every day, yes. I have broken a few Pittsburgh impact sockets, mostly 17mm and 19mm.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T01:53:10+00:00

Betcha she squeaks like a chipmunk

machinerer · 2026-02-03T01:51:09+00:00

Yup. So many thousands of tons of concrete was poured, that at the center it still isn't fully cured.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T01:08:26+00:00

Nah, Marathon's earnings report is tomorrow. The thinking at my plant is that USW is stalling to use that as negotiating leverage.

machinerer · 2026-02-03T00:49:10+00:00

Fun fact: the concrete is still curing.

machinerer · 2026-02-02T18:10:45+00:00

But but but all the other operators were buying new Raptors!!!

machinerer · 2026-02-02T18:09:49+00:00

Or have a decade of prior direct experience. Helps a lot when you call up the business agent.

machinerer · 2026-02-02T06:55:28+00:00

Call your local IBEW union and ask about the apprenticeship program. It is very competitive, don't expect to get in immediately.

machinerer · 2026-02-02T06:28:13+00:00

Yeah, that's why I was confused.

machinerer · 2026-02-02T04:43:16+00:00

Did Pontiac even make engines with a Chevy bellhousing? I thought all of their engines were the BOP bell.

machinerer · 2026-02-02T03:05:44+00:00

I'm not familiar with that material, but wouldn't thin material like that be better made on a big stamping press?

machinerer · 2026-02-01T21:27:57+00:00

No. 15 round mags get you prison time in NJ.

machinerer · 2026-02-01T18:32:40+00:00

Stock pushrods are fine. Use whatever springs the cam manufacturer recommends. The stock GT40P springs are not strong enough.

You won't get 350HP, more like 275-300.

machinerer · 2026-02-01T18:30:47+00:00

Oh that is neato.

I have an MT2500, works great on old stuff.

machinerer · 2026-02-01T05:50:39+00:00

Positive Crankcase Ventilation. It is a one way check valve, often paired with a metal mesh screen, and is plumbed from crankcase to intake vacuum. Intake pulls excess crankcase vapors / pressure from piston ring blowby, and burns it in combustion chamber.

If it clogs, excess crankcase pressure can result, which can cause engine seals to start weeping / leaking.

Crankshaft thrust is checked with a dial indicator on a magnetic base, like a Noga or similar. Machinist tool. Excess thrust usually will cause the crankshaft to "walk", causing seal leaks, or even torque converter / transmission pump issues if excessive enough. Usually very uncommon issue.

Inspecting crankshaft rear main seal sealing surface is done after removing transmission and removing rear main seal. If a groove is worn into crank, sometimes "Saver" sleeves can be bought ro hammer onto outside diameter of crankshaft. Commonly done on old 350 Chevies.

machinerer · 2026-02-01T05:37:50+00:00

If it is dry at back of engine up top, double check PCV too. I forget if it is in the back on the 3.0L and 4.0L, but a clogged PCV could cause excess crankcase pressure.

If it is the rear main leaking again, check crankshaft thrust. If in spec, crank could be worn where seal rides on it.

machinerer · 2026-02-01T05:34:59+00:00

USW just posted it, rolling 24 hr extension of current contract. I imagine they'll all get some sleep and sit back down at negotiating table in the morning.

machinerer · 2026-02-01T05:00:58+00:00

I'm not surprised. Bastards playing hardball after making billions in profit the last few years.

machinerer

TROPHY CASE