So my plans to replace the back steps of the house changed. My favorite hardware store closed its doors sometime in the last 2 months. That's where I got my lumber and paint for my past projects. So I will work on finishing the tiling project I started last spring. As such, I might have the opportunity to squeeze some time to work on the Crown Vic. My plan is to rewire the starter and siphon the old gas out of the tank. I hope I can accomplish that.

 

So I sourced stringers and paint for the back porch steps. I took last week off of work (put in the PTO request back in June) to do this project. But as usual with a 116 year old house; it escalated into a major project. After tearing the old steps down; I discovered some frame damage; that somebody attempted to repair several decades ago. There was a mushy spot on the side porch that had been there as long as I could remember. Discovered that the beam supporting that part of the porch separated itself from the cross-beam. There was just a couple stretched nails barely holding on. So, I was at my limit of expertise and consulted my Dad on what to do. He told me to support the beam and cut the nails. Then with a good amount of effort, we pushed the beams together. I spent Saturday night modifying stud connectors to support that beam and the adjacent beam which was beginning to separate. Sometime this week, I will leave work early and install those stud connectors.

The reason I made this post is because I had planned to work on the Crown Vic last week; and start another house project which was smaller in scope. As you can tell; I did neither. Very frustrating since I think I figured out the Crown Vic issues (with help from my Saturn community); but can't seem to get the time to work on that car. It will happen though, some day.

 

Well, you need a place to live more than you need a second or third car. You're getting to be like me. A carpenter, a mechanic, a plumber and an electrician even when you don't want to be. You're lucky in the fact that you can do these things. I know people that barely have enough sense to change a light bulb in a lamp! Good luck with the house AND the Crown.

 

That reminds me. I need to change a light bulb in my office. I really appreciate you not making fun of me in public like this.

Jk

Love ya man

 

Back atcha, Bro. We're off to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL this morning. Pray that they'll be able to help the wife with the terrible headaches she has.

 

Put the snow wheels/tires on my Grand Marquis. What a difference! The Nittos I have wrapped around the Saleen wheels were losing grip on the cold dry pavement; forget about it if there is dampness. There is really no reason for my car to spin the tires; tiny 4.6 + an over 2-ton car + relatively tall 2.73 ring & pinion, it shouldn't ever spin the tires, even with the mods I've done. Finally got time this past weekend to install the winter setup. With all of the water on the roads, they gripped the pavement like they wanted to punish it. With that out of the way, I will replace the heater blower motor and the blower resistor/module. That should do it for that car until the spring. Oh.........over the winter while everybody's windows are closed; I will paint the valve covers I got for that car and install them in the spring.

 

If you take them off and paint them over the winter, why wait until spring to reinstall them? I'd do it ASAP after painting. That way, the bolts are less likely to disappear.

 

My apologies. I failed to mention that I got junkyard valve covers several years ago (before the pandemic). They came from a fairly clean '09 Grand Marquis. I cleaned them up a while back and left them in the basement. I meant to find grade 8 versions of the stock valve cover bolts/studs; but lost track of that. My current stock valve covers are beginning to leak because of the synthetic oil I use (my opinion) and I am pushing the car a little more after the exhaust install (sounds so mean now). I really need to get that Crown Vic running so I can take that stress off my Grand Marquis.

And I really should go back to the junkyard if it's still open; and get the upper cowl off of that '09 GM (if it's still there) for my Grand Marquis. That way I can start using the windshield washer again (broke the plastic port when installing the wiper motor). I will also steal the bolts too, so I have extras. Also should find spindles off of a '98-'02 Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car to replace the current retrofitted spindles on the Crown Vic. I am going to refresh the bushings with polyurethane when I get back under there. Those are the plans for the spring. Will I actually accomplish that? Only uncle Murphy can answer that question.

 

There's no need for grade 8 bolts in valve covers. The torque on them isn't high enough for you to worry about them breaking. Grade 8 is more appropriate in heavier torque situations. And I seriously don't think the leaks are caused by your using synthetic motor oil. That's all I've run in my cars for the past 20 years or more and I've never had a valve cover leak. It helps if you snug them every once in a while if they need it. I check my oil pan and valve cover bolts every other oil change. So far, so good.

 

I only hunt down grade 8 upgrades (or higher for engine and suspension bolts) because I still have access to an old school hardware store that has been around since WWII. They have every bolt, nut, and stud imaginable. And my past experiences with snapping valve cover bolts and water pump bolts compels me to upgrade those bolts. Mind you, I didn't use the inch/pound ratchet because I couldn't find it at those times (found it a year ago and put it back in its proper place); so that probably would have made all the difference. For now, I will continue to compulsively get upgraded hardware. It's my neurosis that I am not willing to share.

On a sort of related note; I had a Scatpack Charger roll up to me this morning and rev his 392 hemi. I obliged and rev'd my little 4.6. We did that a few times in traffic until it broke up; then I let him take off into the morning horizon. We'll see how many other Scatpacks and 5.0 Mustangs I attract when I pull the plates off the cutouts for my Mom's therapy cruise. Such is life now in the Grand Marquis LOL