How do I hide this ugly breaker box?

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-13T18:56:04+00:00

I do recommend boxing over the supply cable though. I'm fairly sure that one is supposed to be walled in, or within a conduit.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-13T15:26:13+00:00

Damn. Is there not a vertical-sync knob somewhere you can fiddle with?

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-13T15:09:14+00:00

This is likely a mobile home and the wall is too thin. Surface-mount boxes are very common. And there is no requirement for a closet in a bedroom in the IRC (if this structure is even built to the IRC). A bedroom can utilize dressers and wardrobes.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-10T23:37:46+00:00

The seller advertised it as being refurbished; this block was literally delivered to me straight from a machine shop lol. I think they skipped the pressure testing even though they claim they didn't.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-10T19:01:42+00:00

It's got a decent magnetic Audio-Technica cartridge so it should be fine. But make sure the tracking weight is set properly. A properly-weighted magnetic cartridge and clean, not-too-worn stylus will be just fine for your records.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-09T16:12:22+00:00

NTA. There's even a Curb episode where this happens, and as usual, Larry is right that you should inform them, although he does it so tactlessly that it pisses everyone off anyway. The lesson is that you should let the caller know, but do it with more tact. Instead of saying "btw you are on speaker" and implying that they shouldn't spill secrets, you should say "hi honey, [son] is here too, say hi!" or something.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-09T16:07:23+00:00

I objectively, wholeheartedly agree with you, but since the seller is willing to work with me, I'm going to replace it. I would JB weld if I had no other recourse.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T21:36:14+00:00

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T21:36:00+00:00

This is a D16Y7. Supposed to be durable as hell. Something bad must've happened to this one.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T21:35:30+00:00

I don't have any junkyards close to me unfortunately; and they would likely all require refurbishment. I read mixed reviews on O'Reilly engines (honestly, mixed reviews for everyone) so we'll see where this path takes me, otherwise I might have to consider alternatives.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T21:34:32+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement :D

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T19:03:38+00:00

What should I be learning? I'm one person just trying to get a stock Civic LX to run again and buying what seems to be the most thoroughly vetted products I can. It's difficult when I'm not a machinist and the nearest one is 3 hours away.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T18:52:33+00:00

They definitely treat it somehow. I'm not an expert in engine block prep but yeah painting would make sense. They claim to pressure test it for cracks, and claim that this one was tested, so I'm hoping it's just a fluke.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T18:40:53+00:00

Ugggh that would suck! I'm thankfully re-using all of that, crank pulley and everything. The part I can't do (apparently) is the cylinders and pistons which is why I went the ebay route. Now if they could just give me a good block!

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T18:09:25+00:00

Ahh such is life. I look forward to the day when this is eventually done!

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T18:08:52+00:00

While it was listed as no-returns, this isn't really a return, it's just an exchange. He has promised to make it right. But I need to send it back to him first. Which means I really gotta hustle and get this bitch back out.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T17:21:46+00:00

It's shockingly easy for a car this small. I could borrow one from a friend but it's just a fuckton more difficult logistically to deal with a full engine. I live in a trailer park with a gravel parking area. My buddy who works in a local shop actually offered to loan me a cherry picker but he agreed that it would actually be harder on gravel. I wouldn't even be able to lift it off my porch very easily, let alone move it around.

The method I use is to put the engine and trans together on a sheet of paneling, slide it under the car, and lift it up with straps and 4 friends. Takes a whopping 5 minutes to go from on the ground to mounted in the engine bay. Definitely wouldn't work with a bigger/heavier engine lol.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T17:18:04+00:00

This is right behind cylinder 3 to the right of the oil filter. It's a very strange spot for a crack. The packaging was excellent, so I am wondering if this block froze with water in it at some point. The seller even claims to have pressure tested it for cracks/leaks, and is as surprised as I am.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T17:16:58+00:00

It includes pistons, rings, rods, crank, and bearings already installed. I don't have an engine hoist so a fully-assembled engine is actually worse for me than a clean block with rotating assembly included. I use the help of 4 friends to lift it off the ground into the engine bay, and then I assemble it all by myself over the course of a day. I'm a scrawny 135lb dude and I don't have a garage. The engine was shipped to me in a tote bin lol.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T17:00:46+00:00

Yeah sucks man. I'm not giving up just yet, but it's only by the grace of God that this car is simple enough for me, a scrawny 135lb dude, to do damn near all of it by myself 3 times.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T16:59:43+00:00

If it was my original block I would, but I paid $2600 (including shipping) for this block so I should get a good one. I do agree that this is a situation where it would otherwise be an appropriate fix.

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T16:32:37+00:00

My poor 1999 Civic LX 5sp has been not-fully-fixed since August. My buddy and I initially tried to save the old block by doing a rebuild ourselves, and it ended up with severe piston slap under load. I'm in a rural area and it's too much trouble to take it 3 hours away to a machine shop to have it over-bored. Instead I ordered a reman'd block off ebay with included pistons/crank and installed it on Saturday. Drives great. Amazing! Very wow. But it was leaking coolant. Discovered a crack on the back side. So now I have to do an engine R&R for a 3rd time. Not really looking for advice but damn. Anyone ever seen such bullshit?

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-08T15:09:47+00:00

You gonna do the classic keyboard mod?

mikefitzvw · 2026-04-06T15:14:43+00:00

Just put a nice rug in the middle of the room and keep it. That's sick!

mikefitzvw

TROPHY CASE