Roy's Garage: '90 2.4-4G64 5-spd D-50

[royster]

This morning, just before I closed the garage, I took a last look. It's going to be a while until I get out there again: there's no fighting 4-degree nights and 17 degree days with a mere kerosine heater.

I really enjoyed my nights out there, working on the truck. This view shows the parts truck gathering snow, and Pony tucked in for a Winter's rest.
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[royster]

Yesterday at Lowe's I spotted a VersaRack in the bargain bin for $100. I snatched it up without too much hesitation: this will allow me to carry my
24' ladder on the D-50. It's just the sides and cross members...none of the attachments seen on this ad photo, but these racks retail for $300. It was "missing bolts"...which they sell very cheaply over in the hardware aisle.

Score!

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[royster]

View from the garage Tuesday. Forecast calls for more snow tomorrow, and well-below-freezing temps into next Tuesday.
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It's a whole different world out in the garage, way away from the house, and all of it far away from even a little town. And now that my D-50 is running, it is even worse to not be able to go out there and fuss. MyLittleShitty is in a similar situation, as are many enduring this cold snap: we simply can't do what our hearts wanna.

Disgusting as it may seem, this has forced me to wash the dishes, sweep the floors of the house, and take out the compost bucket. All those domestic chores the garage~world allowed me to escape from have come back IN MY FACE like a stink bug on steroids. I even had to change out the cat litter box.

It reminds me of the Beach Boys song, "My Woodie's outside/ covered in snow".

[royster]

A slight break in the weather today allowed me to get a few things done I just couldn't in freezing weather. I got the Sable started and let it get up to operating temperature. The car had been sitting for a long time, and I wanted to keep everything in good order.

I went to the garage and fired up the kerosene heater, then went into town to get provisions. When I got back I started up the D-50. Boy, it runs GOOD! The problem is: it's blowing more smoke than I care to admit.

Obsessive as I am, I thought about this and came up with three ideas as to WHY the smoke. First, the oil is over-filled...1/4" beyond "max" on the dip-stick. Second, the PCV line could be sucking oil from the valve train. Third, I did not set the valve seals properly. I'm prone to think it's a combination of these factors. Though I replaced an intake valve, I don't think this was enough to bust an oil ring...I scruffed up the valve face a little before installing it, to match the wear of the other valves.

I didn't tap the valves seals down, I simply twisted them down by hand. As posted, I had trouble understanding the concept of installing them. I was also concerned about damaging them with too much tapping, pushing them too far down, etc. . The good news is that this means only taking the valve cover off, not the whole timing cover procedure. The bad news is that I have to do this with the head on the engine, but the experience will serve me well.

The REAL GOOD news is that the garage has some heat tonight, and I can go over there RIGHT NOW and fuss with th' Tin Can for a while: the cold snap is going to be with us another WEEK with no end in sight. Getting a D-50 fix in now might tide me over for a couple days: I'm tired of looking at pictures when the real thing is right next door. (This is the thinking that prompts many teenage boys to get telescopes, but that's another topic altogether).

At very least, I'd like to get the brake calipers off so I can order new ones. I don't want to order new ones until I'm absolutely sure of the model. Also, the core on these is expensive...almost as much as the caliper...so I want them in my hands for core when I pick up the new ones.

[royster]

Yesterday at Lowe's I spotted a VersaRack in the bargain bin for $100.

It's a Daws Better Built Quantum rack. According to their website, this is a $500.00 unit, though it's shown with all the attachments.
http://www.dawsbetterbuilt.com/shop/.../quantum-rack/

I mounted it on the truck bed last night. I'm sure the cats will have lots of fun climbing on it.

I've modified it in my mind 300 times, so far.