Precise1

No carrier, underslung spare... It looks like the hitch goes around it. Maybe I'll check out shipping on that... B

That is a nice deal!! Too bad it is so far away, shipping would probably kill it for me. Funny enough, the fitment chart doesn't include a 99 SE. I wonder if there is trim/bumper difference that would interfere... B

No, generally speaking the stock brush guard is not suitable for winching and by the time you have modified it to be acceptable, you could have just designed your own. That said, several people have come up with clever mounts for their trucks, so look through the Member's Rides section for ideas. I believe Smitty built make a brush guard with a winch mount buy they aren't common... B

I put Mobil1 5w30 (and a Mobil1 filter) in the wife's Matrix and R50, 95k and 160k mile respectively and change each every 5000 (seems like a reasonable interval) and I appreciate the stretched intervals as she can travel 1000-1500 in a month so I have to change it less. I buy the oil by the case on sale and the filters when I need them or on sale so the cost isn't too bad. My WD21 gets Castrol synthetic blend 10-30 (with a Bosch filter (Fram PH8a equivalent)) every 2500-3000 miles/6 months, what ever comes first. On the whole, over the last 30 years, I have never had an engine fail due to lubrication failure so the old adage of change it regularly and the filter too is probably the most important. I'll add a pint of Lucas Oil Stabilizer if I remember as I can see that it coats better and has greater cohesive tension/viscosity but how much that matters in the long run, I have no idea. (In trannys or diffs, hell yes!!) I see oil claiming 10-15 thousand mile interval change and can not comprehend how that can be right... B

Yes, you read the codes by counting the blinking lights on the ECU and then looking them up on a chart. Not the most convenient, but you don't need any tools or equipment to do it, just the code list. That is the best place to start most of the time... B

I just wanted to say I'm sorry you lost her like that, you certainly took good care of it. That said, I'm glad not one was seriously hurt!! That's what really matters, steel can be replaced... Sounds like you knopw what you are doing and will have the new one set up soon. Make sue to post pictures of the progress!! B

^ he pretty much covered it, but how many miles on it? One thing to consider, why is the head gasket blown?? That is not a normal problem for the VG30 and VG33 motors, quite the opposite actually... B

I have to say, I have two of the POS cast aluminum adapters on my truck and other than being fairly cheaply made, the threads and sealing surface are machined and perfectly suitable. I have no problem with sealing or cracks, etc. If you are on a budget, the cast units should work for you too. B

As for the Q Industries MV50 SuperFlow Hi-Volume Air Compressor... http://www.amazon.com/Industries-MV50-SuperFlow-Hi-Compressor/dp/B000BM8RT8 Read this... http://www.parksoffroad.com/prodreview/inflatortest/mv50/mv50.htm It performs as well as the Quick Air 2 but at 1/5 or 1/4 the cost. Only question is how long it lasts. B

I have one of these, a portable Quick Air 2. It is a midline mini compressor and performs fairly reliably and well for the price. Here are a few general reviews that should help you compare... http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/62758_12_volt_air_compressor_guide/index.html http://www.parksoffroad.com/prodreview/inflatortest/inflatormain.htm B

I'm at work and haven't seen the video, but.... This part is what took me the longest since it needs to be a permenant, leak free installation. In hindsight, I would have cut the time and frustration at least in half using a set of crows foot wrenches. Beg, or borrow or steal a set, this is literally what they are made for... B

*snort* B

You may have some air in the lines still or you could have ballooning of one of the soft lines. Check the lines with someone stepping on the brake (truck running) and try bleeding it again... B

x6 or so. Check that first... No, the teflon tape just seals the gaps in the threads. As long as it is applied and torqued correctly, there is plenty of metal to metal contact for conductivity. B

Just going by what the web site and Adam said... B

Damn, that is the tow story from hell!! I cleaned out the spark plug wells on the wife's R50 with a shop vac and a home made reducer line, but it was oily acorn husks, not dirt that would blow out. I did that years back in the parking lot at work with my machinist top box. That was both a mess and embarrassing. B

Just like Nunya said. WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement formula #40. Pretty cool name and a handy product, as long as you don't use it as a penetrating oil... It is very light weight, more like water than oil in viscosity. B

Yep!! This is my favorite... B

Damn, now I'm confusing your trucks... Carbon Dioxide is plant food and is released in our every breath. Yes, it contributes to the green house gasses but I think it can be shown that we ourselves (and all of our pigs, sheep, dogs, cows, etc) contribute significantly as well. Because the cat doesn't stop it doesn't argue not to use one... Damn!! Ok, I did not know those numbers but I have to question how much is produced by the cat? Is it more or less harmful in relation to the amount of HC without the cat?? What is the effect before and after 100 years?? I am going to try to find out and will post it. Mining is bad news, definitely bad news for the environment, but... but this material can all be recycled so what damage has been done need not be repeated. What did you do with the old cat?? Keep it? Throw it away? Get paid for recycling it?? I do understand what you say though. For example (IIRC this correctly), the nickel for the Prius battery is mined in China (killing minors and gods knows what), shipped to Japan for refinement, shipped to Europe to be turned to nickel foam, shipped back to Japan to be assembled, then shipped (to the US??) to be sold. Sure, it uses less gas when it is on the road but how much energy and resource was needed to make it?? I really do understand the hidden cost principle... Yeah, special interest groups and media campaigns virtually control popular conception. I can honestly see it as someone who doesn't watch TV and popular media... I have to throw numbers at you now though... California has a population of 33,871,648 people and an area of 163,695.57 miles for a population density of 206.92 people per square mile. New Zealand has a population of 3,862,000 people and an area of 103,733 miles for a population density of 37.23 people per square mile. One other pertinent factoid... California general coastline length of 840 miles New Zealand general coastline length of 9,404 miles I dare say you are a bit better ventilated down there, eh?? Seriously though, I don't think you have ever driven to the Sacramento area (state capitol area 1.5M people) and seen the brown haze that sits above it on calm or 'bad' days that obscures the snow capped Sierra mountain range beyond it. That is only the 6th largest urban area in the state and the stain it leaves is disgusting and unhealthy. This is why I support reasonable and effective smog regulations for vehicles, but maybe... hopefully it is not that bad where you live. But still, even if it isn't, does that mean you shouldn't care? We are all on the same rock... B

That's not exactly the same though. WD-40 has a low flash point (harder to catch on fire) and WD stands for Water Displacement. It's a trick to use on wet electronics to make them work sometimes, especially things like distributors and ignition components. It may help with the alternator and is a cheap, easy attempt. B

Yes, I think the real info comes when you have driven it 500 miles after the cleaning and fluid replacement and then 5000 miles later. Keep us informed please... Yeah, $25 is expensive, but it should last for a year at least?? Mine are $13 IIFC and I only plan to change it when I change fluids. No problem with pinning. Where though?? Product reviews?? It's not really a How To... B

I put Mobile 1 5w30 with the Mobile 1 filter in/on the wife's 1999.0 Pathy and change it every 5000 miles. B

You and UNCCP have a good point about swapping back and forth, I'm just not sure I want to deal with that. I'm somewhat Nunya... No, that won't work. California stopped the rolling the date along every few years. Smog exempt 1975 and earlier has been capped for almost a decade. I bought a 1978 VW back then thinking I would only have to smog it once or twice and then be home free. No, they announced the exempt year freeze a year later. Yes, true and good point. As I said though, I'm not sure I want to deal with that. Why?? Lazy! I already have more work than I can do... What does this have to do with no motor in Dog?? If you did remove the cat, yeah Bud, I think that is pretty lame and irresponsible. It is your choice, but that also my opinion. The cat is there for a reason and it does work. Would you like independent sources as to how and why? Hey now, I didn't know where you were going so I gave an honest answer... As for being Redneck, that is not limited by state or even region. Redneck is a way of life (often dictated by a cap on intelligence and/or education)!! Arkansas?? Hell, check out Warshington, the damn place is crawling with Rednecks!! B

Good tip!! I'm considering doing this, replacing my external filter and replacing the tranny fluid... I like the way you disregarded the directions with the 'more is better' attitude. Were you Americanized some on your road trip??? B

I'm not implying a single thing Bud, I'm stating simple fact based on accurate numbers. If people out here weren't held accountable to how clean their car/truck runs, they would let things go to sheit and it would quickly become unpleasant/unhealthy to live here. Maybe people there are more socially responsible with the environment and their vehicles and don't need monitoring but maybe is due to the 25% relative population pressures that keeps things clean. All that said, I firmly believe anyone who cuts their cat off/hollows it out is a serious arsehole in my book, regardless of state or testing. Yes, there are loop holes, but I think you have a simple understanding of them. For example, a smog test can be failed due to a visual inspection. If they say "hey, this doesn't have a SC option on it" and you don't have paperwork that shows it is allowable, it fails. You never started the vehicle... B