Growing up doesn't have to suck

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iamdub

iamdub

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Reposting this from another thread:

Christmas Eve night, around 10:30-11:00, on the side of the road in 36° temps with 18MPH winds, I swapped the spare onto the right rear corner.

Back story: Coming back from my brother's house, some jackasses in mildly lifted crew cab trucks blew past us, weaving around the other cars. There were very, very few cars on the road, but they made it a point to fly up on them, ride their bumpers for a few seconds, then zip around them and swerve back in front of them with just a foot or two of bumper clearance. Really, just the typical Louisiana-douchebag-in-fullsize truck stuff they all do to assert their ****** superiority. They were obviously following each other. One had a rocking horse in the bed and the other had something that I couldn't identify due to the short viewing window. They sped off into the dark until their tail lights vanished. About a minute later, I rounded the blind corner under an overpass and my headlights hit the back of both trucks parked on the roadside with a couple of the Louisiana ********** standing at the tailgates and watching traffic. Right then I noticed something in the road and swerved, but was too late. Whatever it was, it immediately flattened the right rear. I pulled to the side of the road and, as I was getting the girls situated, the two trucks blew by me again. Makes me wish I had a spike strip on hand.

The other truck that wasn't hauling the rocking horse lost whatever it was when they took that corner too fast. Part of it was still hanging over the side of his truck. I don't know what it was, but it was wooden and obviously had some sort of metal brackets on it. Now that I think of it, I'm wondering if it was the frame for the rocking horse and the horse itself was in the other truck. When I hit the stuff in the road, I heard a metallic sound that was very much like a spring or springs on concrete.

It's a lefthand turn that is sharper than 90°, and the turn begins as you're still under the overpass. Due to the embankment, you can't see what's ahead until after you've made the turn. There's also no street lights. They have oversized guard rails cuz people that don't know that curve are always going too fast. There's all kinds of junk and car body parts piled up against the rails.

Thinking back on their stopped positions and where the debris was, it looks like they took the turn too fast and whatever large wooden framework-type thing they had rolled out, hit the guard rail and skid back into the road. It had already been hit by another truck and car since they were ahead of them on the side of the road. I was lucky number three and caught whatever remnants just right to slash my tire. The drivers of the first two vehicles looked to just be checking their tires and were fine so they left.

Right after I rolled over the stuff, they picked it up (or just kicked it to the roadside) and hauled ass.


I'm pissed that their stupidity caused me the trouble, but found a little solace in that the tires were near their end of life, anyway.

IMG_4330.JPG



Theses tires are OEM equipment and are all over Facebook Marketplace in singles, pairs and full sets in varying tread depths. I'll try to find one similar in condition for cheap and replace it, then roll on 'em for a little while. With how little I drive it, even low tread tires will last me. I'm sure I'll be getting different wheels and new tires this year, though.
 
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iamdub

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Today, since I was on the spare and I'm not a fan of mismatched wheels, I swapped the 22s for my race wheels.

I call 'em that since they're basic and 11 lbs. lighter each than the 22s.

2019 OEM Tahoe RST 22" with 285/45-R22 Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza:

IMG_4338.JPG


GMT900 Sierra OEM 20", de-cladded, with 275/55-R20:

IMG_4339.JPG



I really wish I had painted them black. On a positive note, they ride a little better due to the taller sidewall. But, also due to the taller sidewall, they're a lot more squishy in the turns. Another positive is that the TPMS warnings are gone. I put 34psi in them, according to my digital gauge/inflator tool. After a few minutes of rolling, the warnings turned off and the DIC indicated 34psi for all four. They've been stored for over a year and were all around 22psi at first, so they're all holding (and losing) air evenly.
 
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Speaking of TPMS, the guy I bought the 22s from said they had the sensors in the tires. I thought they did since I was seeing pressures in the DIC, but realized later that was just cuz I was still in the shop and the Tahoe was reading the 20s I removed and stacked in a corner. I never could get the 22s to register and assumed it was because they were from a 2019. Since this one was busted, I popped the bead to see if they actually had sensors:

IMG_4342.JPG



They don't:

IMG_4343.JPG
 

Tonyrodz

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Speaking of TPMS, the guy I bought the 22s from said they had the sensors in the tires. I thought they did since I was seeing pressures in the DIC, but realized later that was just cuz I was still in the shop and the Tahoe was reading the 20s I removed and stacked in a corner. I never could get the 22s to register and assumed it was because they were from a 2019. Since this one was busted, I popped the bead to see if they actually had sensors:

View attachment 266043


They don't:

View attachment 266044
I hate liars. The tpms valve stems look different then regular stems.
 
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iamdub

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Being on the roadside to change the spare using the factory equipment made me realize I should invest a little in this area for convenience and safety.

For starters, I found out that the factory jack is supposed to go into this round recess under the axle:

IMG_4331.JPG




I'm considering getting a hydraulic bottle jack. I started by measuring the factory jack.

Minimum height is 7.25":

IMG_4335.JPG



I don't know if it's supposed to be a two-stage jack. If not, the maximum height is 12.5":

IMG_4333.JPG



If it is a two-stage, then the second stage/maximum height is 17.5":

IMG_4332.JPG



That looks pretty sketchy. I'll have to measure the ride height of the front since it is jacked up by the frame, meaning it'll have to come up higher to lift the tire off the ground. I want to carry a piece or two of 2x6 to be used as footing for the jack in case I'm not on a hard surface. The minimum height of the jack will be determined with this in mind.
 

Sam Harris

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Reposting this from another thread:

Christmas Eve night, around 10:30-11:00, on the side of the road in 36° temps with 18MPH winds, I swapped the spare onto the right rear corner.

Back story: Coming back from my brother's house, some jackasses in mildly lifted crew cab trucks blew past us, weaving around the other cars. There were very, very few cars on the road, but they made it a point to fly up on them, ride their bumpers for a few seconds, then zip around them and swerve back in front of them with just a foot or two of bumper clearance. Really, just the typical Louisiana-douchebag-in-fullsize truck stuff they all do to assert their ****** superiority. They were obviously following each other. One had a rocking horse in the bed and the other had something that I couldn't identify due to the short viewing window. They sped off into the dark until their tail lights vanished. About a minute later, I rounded the blind corner under an overpass and my headlights hit the back of both trucks parked on the roadside with a couple of the Louisiana ********** standing at the tailgates and watching traffic. Right then I noticed something in the road and swerved, but was too late. Whatever it was, it immediately flattened the right rear. I pulled to the side of the road and, as I was getting the girls situated, the two trucks blew by me again. Makes me wish I had a spike strip on hand.

The other truck that wasn't hauling the rocking horse lost whatever it was when they took that corner too fast. Part of it was still hanging over the side of his truck. I don't know what it was, but it was wooden and obviously had some sort of metal brackets on it. Now that I think of it, I'm wondering if it was the frame for the rocking horse and the horse itself was in the other truck. When I hit the stuff in the road, I heard a metallic sound that was very much like a spring or springs on concrete.

It's a lefthand turn that is sharper than 90°, and the turn begins as you're still under the overpass. Due to the embankment, you can't see what's ahead until after you've made the turn. There's also no street lights. They have oversized guard rails cuz people that don't know that curve are always going too fast. There's all kinds of junk and car body parts piled up against the rails.

Thinking back on their stopped positions and where the debris was, it looks like they took the turn too fast and whatever large wooden framework-type thing they had rolled out, hit the guard rail and skid back into the road. It had already been hit by another truck and car since they were ahead of them on the side of the road. I was lucky number three and caught whatever remnants just right to slash my tire. The drivers of the first two vehicles looked to just be checking their tires and were fine so they left.

Right after I rolled over the stuff, they picked it up (or just kicked it to the roadside) and hauled ass.


I'm pissed that their stupidity caused me the trouble, but found a little solace in that the tires were near their end of life, anyway.

View attachment 266039


Theses tires are OEM equipment and are all over Facebook Marketplace in singles, pairs and full sets in varying tread depths. I'll try to find one similar in condition for cheap and replace it, then roll on 'em for a little while. With how little I drive it, even low tread tires will last me. I'm sure I'll be getting different wheels and new tires this year, though.
Absolute douchebaggery! Wow. Glad you’re ok. Merry Christmas! Here’s to 2021! [emoji1634]
 

Sam Harris

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Speaking of TPMS, the guy I bought the 22s from said they had the sensors in the tires. I thought they did since I was seeing pressures in the DIC, but realized later that was just cuz I was still in the shop and the Tahoe was reading the 20s I removed and stacked in a corner. I never could get the 22s to register and assumed it was because they were from a 2019. Since this one was busted, I popped the bead to see if they actually had sensors:

View attachment 266043


They don't:

View attachment 266044
Further douchebaggery! Blast!
 

George B

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Being on the roadside to change the spare using the factory equipment made me realize I should invest a little in this area for convenience and safety.

For starters, I found out that the factory jack is supposed to go into this round recess under the axle:

View attachment 266047



I'm considering getting a hydraulic bottle jack. I started by measuring the factory jack.

Minimum height is 7.25":

View attachment 266050


I don't know if it's supposed to be a two-stage jack. If not, the maximum height is 12.5":

View attachment 266049


If it is a two-stage, then the second stage/maximum height is 17.5":

View attachment 266048


That looks pretty sketchy. I'll have to measure the ride height of the front since it is jacked up by the frame, meaning it'll have to come up higher to lift the tire off the ground. I want to carry a piece or two of 2x6 to be used as footing for the jack in case I'm not on a hard surface. The minimum height of the jack will be determined with this in mind.
A while back someone on here did some research and found they needed the jack in the link below. I never checked to see if the use of a taller one was possible. It may be with the 22” tires provided the spare doesn’t get a flat too.
 
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iamdub

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I hate liars. The tpms valve stems look different then regular stems.

I can't really peg the guy as a "liar". He's a detective and not really a "car guy", as in, he buys and doesn't build. I think he really wasn't sure on what I was asking when I mentioned the sensors. I don't really care- I got them for $500 and I have a spare set of sensors.

Not all the TPMS valve stems look differently. The stems in the 22s have the brass threaded part to mount the sensors. The ones in my de-clads look like regular rubber stems, but have sensors. I know because I bought them new and installed them myself.
 
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George B

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Thanks for the link. I like the strength but stubbiness of that one. I'll have to add it to the list of comparisons. It may be too short and/or too wide, though. I also would like whatever jack I get to fit in the area (not necessarily the same mount) as the factory jack.
I am looking for the same solution as you. My replacement jack must also be able to service both my trailers. I used to travel with the harbor freight mini trolly jacks but they take up so much space. Never tried to fit one in the jack storage area.
 
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I really like those wheels on the Tahoe. I’m not a fan of black wheels at all but those looks great on it. Sucks about the tire though:(

Thank you. They weren't my first choice but they popped up for sale right as I was beginning the lowering project. They were just a couple of miles from me and for a great price, so I had to.
 
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I am looking for the same solution as you. My replacement jack must also be able to service both my trailers. I used to travel with the harbor freight mini trolly jacks but they take up so much space. Never tried to fit one in the jack storage area.

I'm sure there are trolley jacks small enough to fit in the factory storage space. But, they'd either be too small or just barely big enough to work. I keep some nice (big gauge) jumper cables in there, so the jack would have to accommodate those as well.

I'll pretty sure a small bottle jack would be ideal. I'll get a container of some sort, maybe cut the lower half of half-gallon milk jug to keep the jack in, just in case it leaks. Some PIG mat would help to absorb the fluid as well as act as movement and noise cushioning.
 

89Suburban

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Since I finally got the all hose clamps I needed from the salvage yard, I was able to install the heater hose connectors. I definitely wanted this to be done before the engine was back in.


3/4" heater core connectors and 1/2" rear heater core connectors. The hoses to the two nipples on the water pump are 5/8":

View attachment 248936


About 12" each of 3/4" and 1/2" heater hoses and box of 3-way Ts and factory hose clamps (factory from GM, Ford and Honda :D)
View attachment 248937


Semi-comfy seat on cross member in engine bay:
View attachment 248938


The 1/2" tubes were too close, so I trimmed them down:
View attachment 248939


Minimal, but adequate gap and perfect alignment:
View attachment 248940


This is awesome thanks brah.
 
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Prompted by some recent posts by @Dantheman1540, I wanted to see how it would do with a cold start, in cold weather and after it had been sitting for a while. As of this morning, the Tahoe had not been started in about two weeks. I got out at 7am to take advantage of the 32° weather and make a video.

I shot the video from straight ahead to be able to hear both sides should either one have any noises. The cranking was noticeably slower than normal, but that's probably mostly due to the cold battery. I'll have it parked back in the shop soon, and I'll keep it on the maintainer. There were no odd noises upon startup- no lifter ticks, no exhaust leaks, no dry pulleys, etc.:



Made a warm idle vid, just cuz:

 

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