This may not be an appropriate time to mention this. But I just upgraded the entire family to iPhone 5's. Gave my son my old iPhone 5, then got the wife and my youngest a 5c and then finally I got a 5s for myself on the next program so that I could be one of the first to get the new iPhone 6.

I am impressed with the iPhones and I am thinking of making it my defacto desktop if I could find the hookups to do so. Its fast as hell and it comes with all kinds of helpful software that Microsoft wants to charge me for the year to use. The only problem so far is that I should have gotten the 64 GB version for myself since I seem to use more storage. I think later today I will call and tell them I want the 64gig version in gold before my 14 days are up. For the money I have to pay per month they should be more than happy to make it happen. 

I am sure the first bill is going to be insane, so I have prepared accordingly.

Truth is the whole plan with the new phones is only $80 more than I was paying per month with the kids on Go-Phones, even then they had no internet, .20 cents per text and old phones. My oldest sons phone went out 6 months ago and I been making him go without while paying a go-phone account for a phone-less number. AT&T gave him credit for his unused time, so everything was awash in terms of getting everyone else a new phone. Still, it's a big investment but the kids seem real happy. There goes another $80 per month extra! On a positive note, I saved $60 per month on my insurance by combining my home and auto policy! LOL! Now I only have to whack $20 more off my bills and I can be about where I was at before I lost my fucking mind.

PowerStroker wrote:

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I always imagined Rex's desk would look something like that.

Gerry only drinks blue label and smokes Cubans.

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Yeah the desk has seen its better days but it still works great. I'd imagine from day to day my desk could see greasy hands, parts, ashes, paperwork, and yet no guilt. Yet some people have fine furniture and treat it like shit,

I myself have never had blue label Johnnie Walker because that stuff is way too expensive. I havent even tried the black label yet either but I can tell you that good Scotch goes much faster than the cheap stuff. Awhile back I picked up some Lauders Scotch and found it had sulfur like aftertaste. I also dont smoke cigars, although I am sure Gerry has a box of Cubans in his mahogany desk with a special humidor drawer. I have no doubts that a man like Gerry would turn his nose up at Blue label Johnnie Walker in favor of his Remy Martin Lewis the XIII Cognac. See -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIII_de_R%C3%A9my_Martin

What, between Gerrys McMansion, his Rolex and Mercedes he still finds the time to travel by rail; at an amazing discount no less!

Hey SELLC,

I'm pretty sure that what we get here in Oz is NOT the cream of the available barrels of fine Bourbon...But it's still pretty damned good, if you're prepared to pay the extra LOL ! For me though, Makers Mark, Jack Daniels - ( Gentleman Jack ), & particularly the "Bottled in the USA" Wild Turkey are really good drinks straight-up, on the rocks, or with a mixer for a very reasonable price, - typically around the $40 - 50 dollar mark, for a 700ml bottle. However, our wonderful tax system over-hear means that the distributors / wholesalers / importers have to water the alcohol down to meet regulations / taxes for the size bottles etc etc...Apparently a lot of Bourbon actually comes over here in syrup-form, & then they add water to the correct alc-per-vol requirement, usually in the 37 - 40 % range for the above mentioned drinks, or if you rather 74 - 80 proof.

However,.....Spend a little more ( say an extra $20 dollars ) & you get the real-deal that apparently "is" what actually comes from the barrel. All this varies of course ! Now, as for myself, ( I'm not a big drinker at all either, but quality counts LOL ), I LOVE the formula No 12 Jim Beam "Barreled in Bonds" 100 proof Sour Mash Bonded Bourbon. qt"Milk from the gods" !!! It used to come in a 1 litre bottle for about $70 dollars & would put you to sleep after 2-3 drinks...Not for parties LOL ! Now-days though, you can only get it in the regular 700ml bottle for about $55 dollars, & it's still pretty good, but it's NOT the same drink anymore sadly.

But any of that "small batch" Bourbon from Jim Beam is top quality to me, eg, Knob Creek, Bakers, Bookers, Basil Hayden etc etc. Though these drinks are pricey at around the $80 odd dollar mark. Apparently you folks CAN'T BUY the Bonded Jim Beam any more in the USA, so BAD LUCK there LOL ! I'll have to send you one for Christmas LOL ! - Except that I don't think you can actually mail alcohol ? I'll find out !

Cheers,

Rastus

-- Edited by Rastus on Tuesday 19th of November 2013 07:37:58 AM

-- Edited by Rastus on Tuesday 19th of November 2013 07:39:01 AM

That's real kind of you Rastus, however I would not feel right putting you thru the hassel of having to send something I could just as easy buy down at the corner. I realize the Bonded edition may not be native to this market, but I still havent even tried regular Jim Beam yet, so it would be a waste considering I have nothing to compare to as of yet. Next time I am in the mood for a few shots I'll give the ole' Jim Beam a go around and report back.

On another note...

AT&T made good on the swap out for the Gold 64 gig. So now I'm all good until next year when they send me my iPhone6 as per the next program.

PowerStroker wrote:

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 I gave your site a "unique hit" once. 

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And one of my moderators was very happy to hit ya right back, then tell me about it.
I approved.

gerryvz wrote:

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We're up to more than 2,800 members and around 4,000 unique hits a day.

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 I gave your site a "unique hit" once. 

Rastus wrote:

Be sure to nip-up the trans-pan again gerryvz, as they can weep a little if too-tight, or too-loose. I think the torque setting is pretty light at 7Nm, so set the wrench for 10Nm & it should stay clean. Never ever use a sealer on the rubber pan-gasket, it reacts with the trans-fluid, & may block your filter & oil galleries inside.

I can't remember how the strut mount fastening bolts secure to the inner-guard, ( I've worked on too many different cars ), but it always pays to mark one of the studs with chalk etc., so that it goes back into the same position, as this will prevent strange-noises appearing & ensure that your wheel-alignment stays as it was.

Use the best torx-bits money can buy when removing your cyl-head bolts, & clear the head-bolt of all oil, then tap the tool / socket gently into the cyl-head bolt with a hammer, as the bolts round-out very easily, & some have been known to break away at the shank. New head-bolts are a good thing, but if your old-ones measure up to specs, it's up to you. Stud-kits are available I think, & though expesive, they'll potentially save a lot of heart-ache & stress at some-point-in-time !

I have great confidence in OEM cyl-head gaskets, but since they can be prone to leakage of oil over time, you can ( over here in Oz at least ) buy a can of "Copper Coat" spray paint that's specifically designed to ensure the permanent sealing of you head-gasket. A light coat is all that's needed before you install, & it should save you ever having to do the job again, for that oil-leak issue at least.

I'm pretty sure that your cams will be fine, just remember to moly-coat them when you re-install. Apparently on these & some later engines ( the 32 valve 6.3's ), if you do have worn out camshafts, the problems actually caused by the bucket / hyd-lifter, as its bleeding down at engine shut-down, & hammers on your cam-lobes at start-up etc etc. The material that they're made of is harder than the cam-lobes. If you have no strange noise now, everything is looking good. I'd also write down your valve-lash figures now with the engine cold, & re-check them once your heads back from the machine shop. In fact, number the buckets as you remove them for each valve.

You've got lots of work ahead gerryvz, have fun !

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Yo Rastafarian,

No worries, mate ... this is my third ATF R&R in 6 months ... my magic number is 9 ft-pounds torque on those pan bolts. Sort of the same deal as the valve cover bolts on an M117. No sealers (particularly RTF)  for me man ... if MB doesn't specify it, I don't use it.  I HATE that shit, and the "dingleberries" it creates inside motors (sort of like the dingleberries in SELLC's ass crack when he hops into the shower to clean up)

The 124 upper strut mounts only fit one way ... three studs attached by nuts. Hard to mess that one up.

Dude...I've already DONE the strut mount and ATF change jobs, LOL !

The M104 (and M119 for that matter) are NOT hex or Torx bits. The M117 uses hex-head cylinder head bolts. Rather, they are XZN.  I've ordered two of the MB factory XZN (triple-square) sockets for the head bolts. MB makes a stubby and a longer one, both are around $20 USD apiece.  The long one is part number 617 589 00 10 00 and the shorty is 119 589 00 10 00. They are Hazet or Stahlwille, so real fair dinkum tools, not like the Chinese-made AutoZone tools that fill SELLC's tool chests !!

New cylinder head bolts are on order.  There are 14 of them, and they are cheap. The spec for stretch is <3mm, but I'm not dicking around with them, they're only $2-3 apiece for new ones. About the cost of one-half of a decent Cohiba cigar....LOL.  I'll bet the closest SELLC ever gets to a Cuban cigar is the smoke that I exhale in his face !!

Cylinder head gasket.  Well, I ordered the factory cylinder head gasket kit, which also contains intake and exhaust manifold gaskets. It's all Elring stuff, so it's top notch.  I try to stay away from Victor Reinz if I have a choice.  The M104 gaskets have been redesigned at the front corner several times, and have been reinforced. What happens is the "Bermuda Triangle" where the block, head and front timing cover meet, the head gasket recedes back over time, and oil starts to seep past the edge of the U-shaped seal at the bottom of the cover. Soon it turns into a major leak, and it's not a fun job to reseal it. The head gaskets also often leak at a place in the rear on the passenger side, where the oil passage is very close to the edge.  Sometimes it goes into the coolant, but probably on the M104 it more often leaks externally (weeps), as mine has been doing.

I'm not going to put anything on the head gasket. The first startup of the car after the job is done is critical so that the gasket develops a proper seal.

The big deal with these things (and a common rookie mistake) is the intake cam. It's an adjustable cam, and often, mechanics (yes even ASE-certified mechanics) forget to advance the cam timing (turn the sprocket clockwise) while keeping the cam in position when installing the chain. The car will run fine with a non-advanced cam, but it will store some mighty codes.  No valves hit the pistons or anything, the engine just won't come up on the cam when it's supposed/expected to.  Every professional MB mechanic I've ever known has made this mistake at least one time on an M104.

Don't worry, I'll use plenty of assembly lube on the cams and moving parts when I reassemble everything.

Cheers
Gerry

Listen to Mr. Dingleberry's whining !!! Boo-fucking-hoo !!

This is some epic Cascade-level whine!!

PowerStroker wrote:

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Gerry only drinks blue label and smokes Cubans.

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You do know that sarcasm is totally wasted on Gerry, right?

LOL

Some of the best vacations are the ones that are last minute. I would imagine the weather down there in Oz is starting to get a lot better, as I sure know it's gone to hell over on this side of the pond. 18 degrees the other night and I had to get a fire going so I didn't freeze.

I pick up a pint every now and again, after two you are feeling it... But I usually take it an extra 4-5 shots because I'm at home screwing around on the computer not having to drive or be stumbling around in public. Sounds like good times and with you guys now in spring/summer there will be lots more of that to come!

FAZ

Thanks PowerStroker!

But I just won a battle... I still have to win the war!

O Fortune,
like the moon
you are changeable,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
first oppresses
and then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty
and power
it melts them like ice.

Fate monstrous
and empty,
you whirling wheel,
you are malevolent,
well-being is vain
and always fades to nothing,
shadowed
and veiled
you plague me too;
now through the game
I bring my bare back
to your villainy.

Fate is against me
in health
and virtue,
driven on
and weighted down,
always enslaved.
So at this hour
without delay
pluck the vibrating strings;
since Fate
strikes down the strong man,
everyone weep with me!

Them bastards at AZ are going to buy me a bottle of blue label if I win! We should know next month.

Yes, my youngest son Skyler's class visited an "old school" on their class trip a few years back. Each student had their photo taken with a dunce cap that was then pasted to a wooden paddle as a keepsake. lol

On another note, I took a nap this afternoon after clearing the first wave of snow, only to wake up and find my wife all but polished off my bottle of black label. lol

I guess it's true.... Good scotch don't last!

Thanks Rastus, the old gem was built in the 1950's and it needs some work. Trying to get things paid down on the place before I do anything in the ways of improvements. It helped that the place was pretty well outfitted from the start. Most of the exterior and interior remain the same as the day I moved in, which was a little over a year ago.

I have not painted since I moved in, and the den area is my area, or as some say "the man cave". It badly needs a coat of paint because I have a nice wood burning stove that I heat the area when the temps dip into the teens and single digits. Really the whole house could use some new paint, and some rooms need flooring. I also have a massive list of things to do but can never seem to find the time inbetween working to pay for it. I imagine at some point I'll get it all sorted.

Yes, it is a fact that I can not have a bar of any sort as my wife is not one to let things sit around and age. Or pehaps at this point I am unable to keep a well enough stock to permit such a thing LOL, I am sure she would say the latter. I swear I have purchased half the nappa valley's grapes and yet to date I have only drank very few glasses of wine, none of which have been in the past 8 years. Stuff just gives me a head ache. It's for women and pussies like Gerry I guess. Anyway... I am trying to keep whats left of the JW Black for a keepsake given it's 12 year status, but I don't hold out hope it's going to make it past the weeks end. You are right that it wasn't wasted and I was amazed my wife turned her nose up to the wine and was nipping on the Scotch all day... But it has been cold and they were in charge of the 2nd wave of snow. Seems there is just something better about drinking an aged drink, as I think 12 years is the oldest I have ever owned. Others have poured or puchased me older stuff over the years but thats about the most expensive bottle of booze I have ever owned outside of the Courvoisier V.S.O.P. my uncle Bob got me at the Heathrow duty free 11 years ago.

Still the snow for the Christmas Holidays is really awesome! The past few Christmas there has not been much snow. I think the deeper the snow the better for the holdays but come the day after New Year I wish it would just go back to spring. Too bad it's 3 more months of cold weather and snow! It's more work when you got to spend two hours a day clearing snow on top of your regular work. 

Seems I have been on a mission..

To date I have completed the "Red", the "Black", and the "Double Black". I can say that in my taste the Black label is the best tasting yet, as the Double black resulted in me getting rather sick, and in the process of swearing to the porcelen god that I would never drink again, somehow the toilet seat became detatched and whacked me in the head... leaving a rather large goose egg... Or so I am told anyway?? This all leads me to think I may have had too good a time but it did answer my kids question of why the toilet seat was in the hallway. Seems the Double black is a bit too much for me, good but a little too bold, although that night I was mixing Red with the Double black towards the end there...

I got this bottle of JW platinum from a customer, so @ $116 + Tax I'd say it was quite a score.

Anyway, here's to trying to hold out for the green label, or the now NLA "Gold" label before having a taste of the 18 y/o!

LOL!

Yes it seemed the double back really got ahold of me. A friend and I threw down on that bottle. 

The Platinum made you slap your hand on the table and stomp your foot each shot, while screaming gosh damn! But it set you back down gently so really you can't ask for more than that.

All in all, I'm done sampling booze until next winter. the temps are making a turn for the better and it's supposed to be 60 tomorrow! I also might get some closure soon on a problem job, so  I'm excited about that!

Sometimes it seems the old saying of taking a photo because it will last longer is true. Especially when it comes to expensive scotch! LOL, as certainly there is none left and I'm in no position to acquire more! LOL

I have only had one vacation myself this year, even then it was only a weekend. I've got no big travel plans either, so I guess it's better than being slow!

And just moments later

Ah, the good ole' days! 

lol