Northern Virginia Roll Call

I am going to pick up my ARB this Friday and need to install it this weekend. I will also need to adjust my bilsteins to compensate. Did you guys decide on a wrench party last night?

 

Quick recap about last night's meet/greet/meeting

Topics included everything under the sun.
*Ford Crown Victoria annihalating the rubicon trail
*Police experiences
*Glock vs Springfield
*Concealed carry vs Open carry
*Wife/girlfriend stories
*Army vs Marines vs Navy
*The Toyota Tacoma and mods
*Potential future meets to include a tailgate shooting day and a camp out meet.
*Wondering if DoubleD has put his bed back on his truck

We have such a broad range of topics that anyone can get involved in something and just shoot the breeze with the NOVA guys. This was my first meet here in the area and it was a welcoming experience. If anyone hesitates, I'm sure you won't regret coming. It was a blast.

Oh. and the beer. we all like beer. if you like beer, thats reason enough.

 

I got no idea Chuck, but the stealerships will rip you off around here. DoubleD might be able to do it, or know somewhere that can.

 

Let us know if you need a bunch of drunk assholes with trucks to show up and liven up the reception!

Congrats buddy.

 

Congrats & good luck!

 

Anyone down for some cutting and banging this week/ weekend?

 

I should have my suspension by this Tuesday if you wanted to wait until next weekend and I could help you then with any cutting and banging...unless you need to get those tires on by a stricter deadline in which case I think I could come this Sunday around 1-ish if you wanted some help.

Matt

 

I have to pass inspection by the end of the month. Don't want local LEO to have any excuse for interaction with my vehicle. will see how the weather is later today. Thats when all the rest of the parts are scheduled to show and I have enough disks for the grinder.

 

Ah gotcha...just let me know.

Matt

 

I was thinking of trying to get my rear shocks and hood struts on next weekend. I have family coming up this weekend so I won't be able to do anything this weekend.

 

Skygear, are you available to help with my suspension next weekend? Preferably Saturday? John and I could come up and we could have a mini-wrenching meet if it's cool with you.

Matt

 

I gotta do front and rear shocks plus AAL soon.

I know clear how to do the rear and AAL, but the front's I am not sure about.

I am re-using the factory spring, so should I get that assembled at a shop or try to do it myself?

 

You can rent a spring compressor from Auto Zone...impact is helpful. Something like $55 that you get back once you return it.

Matt

 

Gents, I'm in Alexandria and have a bunch of tools in the back of my truck, including a 1/2 in cordless Milwaukee impact that can make light work of your shock, strut, suspension bolts. I'll be glad to show up and help out with an extra hand if someone needs it. I'll be free this Sunday but unavailable through most of April.

 

The compressors from AZ work just fine. Ive used them a couple of times to do struts on Mustangs and they are perfect (OEM brand). I actually hit them with the impact to compress them even though some say its a no-no, but after compressing them by hand with a ratchet, I think otherwise.

 

Skygear and I used one from AZ to compress my 885X's with an impact and it was fine. Probably not as safe as a wall mounted, but it was ok

Matt

 

If you can get it done ahead of time it would be easier during install. Less work to do.

Those things just look like death waiting to happen though. Kinda scary.

I have a 1/2 cordless impact with variety of metric and SAE sizes for it as well and can bring along. I also have a floor jack and four jack stands.

I am unavailable this weekend (29-30) but would like to get it done the following weekend, april 5 or 6. I can probably host at my house if it were only a couple trucks with minor stuff to do, but the driveway is way too steep to be lifting trucks up and swapping suspension parts so the garage would be the only place I would feel comfortable lifting up a truck and setting it on stands.

 

Ive used them numerous times, they work absolutely fine and safely. You would really, really have to work at it (by being stupid) to hurt yourself using these. Just hook the top and bottom on both sides of the spring, compress them relatively evenly and you're good.

The hysteria about spring compressors is super over blown.

 

Oh I have seen them used before but just how unstable they look would make me want to use one of the full sized ones. Mine luckily came pre-assembled so I didnt need to worry about any of that.

 

I can host a wrench day as well at my apartment. I have a driveway/garage and the complex does not care if cars are worked on in the lot as long as no one spills oil.