20 years of incrementalism or Blackjacks 98 SE

Well it’s not Fairbanks but it is a bit brisk this morning. Fun fact an SE at this temperature with the heater on full blast will not get warm enough to open the thermostat.

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Finally got some shop time in. Front driveshaft needed grease and replace the muffler.

Muffler first. Not sure if it is part of four popper life or something about Dynomax and how they stamp their cases but this is the third one that has cracked like this. I thought it may be too close to the heat shield from raising it up with the belly but I had rotated it so there was more air gap than previous.

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While I had the belly pan down taking care of the driveshaft I installed a used cable shifter a friend was kind enough to hook me up with. Since I was using an AA bracket I started with the floor plugs.

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This is what the AA bracket looks like installed. It gets rid of the tub side bushing mount so that things stay in alignment regardless of belly pan position or if you are running a body lift/motor mount lift. If anyone wants to give this bracket a shot shoot me a message and I will pay it forward.

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No need to go in to detail over the cable install but here are a few pointers. Yes you can try to install this without dropping the belly or driveshaft but things will go much better if you do. It is a lot easier to get the cable adjusted properly if everything is out of the way. Also if you play in the wet make sure to put a bead of silicone where the bracket mates to the tub.

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Driveshaft properly greased. I will say it and keep saying it. You cannot over grease a ujoint. You need fresh grease coming from each cap to get the most life from them.

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Normally I do this in the fall but fall was interrupted by the vid. But it warmed up enough I can have use of the shop again so time to paint the footwells.

So out comes the grinder with wire cup wheel. Followed that up with a Black an Decker Mouse. It’s not just for restoring antique furniture for the misses. Top it off with a shot of primer for the night.

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Normally I just paint with some rattle can like hammerite but I can say with certainty that is is not overly durable. So I talked to my local paint mixer and was surprised when he handed me a rattle can of POR 15. I have used the original stuff (non aerosol) in the past but only with mixed results if you did not use all the parts together. He assured me it would be fine with the self etching primer I used so we will find out in the morning.

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And between primer and paint coats it is long overdue to pretty up the extra wiring I have added over the years. While it was sound electrically it just looked like it was rushed. In some ways it was as it always seemed like it was done when preparing for a weekend run or event. Add to that all the zip ties (best friend when you are in a hurry) it is time. So I started with the front lights. While they are not very showy Adel clamps are far cleaner than zip ties.

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Just came across your thread, Black. Late to the party but in for the ride.

I did not know you were in Portland. My wife hails from there, and we still have a bunch of family in that area.
 
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So while the battery is out to clean up wiring I started with the battery cables. They are original and the clamps are about worn out. So I converted them to lug ends and made an upgraded PDC cable.

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Just came across your thread, Black. Late to the party but in for the ride.

I did not know you were in Portland. My wife hails from there, and we still have a bunch of family in that area.
I moved to Portland from Spokane in 1999 to work for the company I wanted to retire with only to be downsized out in 2001. In a way now I am glad it happened as I got to to see Portland at its best. No way you could get me to live there now.
 
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I moved to Portland from Spokane in 1999 to work for the company I wanted to retire with only to be downsized out in 2001. In a way now I am glad it happened as I got to to Portland at its best. No way you could get me to live there now.
Yeah, that's definitely the buzz.
 
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