Dun dun dun.... another one bites the dust..... (since taking this job, I've replaced 3 failed SSD's - all of them are Intel's)

 

I don't miss those days. I remember the old DeathStars (IBM Deskstars)

 

The nice thing about the IBM's was the 3 year warranty... I am personally a WD guy though. I haven't had the best of luck with Seagate or Toshiba drives. I've got a 4TB Hitachi in my home file server right now that is doing well. It's my first Hitachi drive.

 

My Bro came over last night for me to replace the front wheel bearing on his Edge. Without knowing what to expect, it took me about 45 minutes.... then we got in it and went around the block. Still the same sound.... but I could feel the vibration under my feet on the passenger side. Turns out he guessed the wrong side. The new Edge's use the same bearing on all 4 corners, so I hurried and swapped the passenger side. Got it down to 20 minutes the second time.

 

20 minutes sounds about right....only IF there's no corrosion to deal with. The removal is easy enough. I use a 3 hole puller to the lug nuts, I swear it's the best tool for removing old worn WB's locked in place. Once the puller is in place, wack it hard with a 2 lb sledge....nail it, done. Unfortunately, when they are corroded bad enough, the new one will not set in place without taking down the corrosion first. I attempted a cupped wire wheel first, then a barrel sander but it was taking too long. Loaded up a burr and cut through the corrosion enough to switch back to the barrel sander to finish it off. But yea, If there's is no corrosion and you have a 3 hole puller on hand, it's easy and quick.

This was done on a 06 G6, you could most definitely tell which side was on this one...165,000 miles.

 

30% done removing studs on the driver's side and starting on the 4th stud. Was going to rain today supposedly so didn't start till after lunch !#@41. Ah well good times all around. So far cutting the nuts to the manifold with the dremel and then getting them as hot as possible then spraying them down with freeze off (after removing as much rust as possible) seems to be doing the trick. I hope I never do this again.

 

It's a 2015.... so not much corrosion to deal with. They also literally came out by hand. That was a first for me. I had to use the method you are talking about on my parents old Explorer. They were "nature welded" in place.

 

So my Buddy gave me a hood scoop today. We met at Utah Motorsports Campus.... when I got there, I had to flip around because the side gate that I usually enter was closed. As soon as I turned around, I received this text.

 

Also today... got the bottom end all cleaned up, put the new oil pump and pickup tube on. I went to put the oil pan on and the brand new bolt kit I got off RA had bolts that are entirely too short. Probably only 1/4 inch of thread on them. I didn't even look at the damb things when they came.... just tossed them with the rest of the parts. So, I went to Cal Ranch and made out like a bandit. I got all 22 pan bolts with and all 12 intake bolts and also the washers for under 7 dollars they are grade 8 zinc plated too.

Here's the aforementioned hood scoop....

 

That's going to look really good white.