SOLVED! Post 2853 Leaking Injectors, Dealer Techs Rock! Extended Cranking after Engine Swap 3.4L 5vz

Oops. Realized we can't use the cedar from the neighbor, because we need full 2 x 4s rather than 2 x 3s, for the way it's designed. Of course we realized that AFTER we bought more cedar thinking that would work. Just exchanged those for the PT 2 x 4s that we should have gotten in the 1st place, and NOW the gate building begins.

 

And..............

now we are both starving.

Subway break.

Here's hoping we get at least some cuts made for framing the gate today.

 

I've heard Jimmy John's are better than Subway, haven't been to either recently but I'm gonna try Jimmy John's next time.

 

Have you done this before? It does sound like a ton of work. I think if we sank them into our clay soil a bit then threw some gravel around on top we could skip the concrete - what do you think? Our soil is rock solid clay soil, so it tends to hold things in place pretty snugly. I want to avoid pouring any more concrete surfaces anywhere near our house for now, because we have so many drainage issues around here. I'd want to be sure all that rain water can easily get into the ground until we are ready to install proper (& expensive and PITA!) drain lines around an area we'd potentially pour concrete.

 

I like Jimmy John's except for the bread. It's kinda hard so all your sammich middles schwish out of the end of the bread when you bite into it!! It launches the sammich innards across the room projectile like!!

 

Compacted clay won't drain either. I can't comment until I see the hydrology of your site, both suface and subsurface flow.

Howard

 

Exactly. Well, sort of. The clay soil won't drain WELL. It does take in and hold a ridiculous amount of water but it drains slowly and poorly. But that is better than zero drainage through concrete. And some gravel is even better. Aerating this darn clay soil should be an annual task for us, but unfortunately it's a PITA and renting tools always sucks, so we've only done it once in 10 years. We are definitely due to do it again now. I think it helps. We sprinkled lime around last time we aerated and thatched, and it seemed like our lawn and drainage improved for a few years.

We've been battling this soil for some time now, so I feel like I am getting a good understanding of what it can and can't do. I suspect that if dug correctly and positioned correctly, some boulder type stones would stay put in that soil, even on a mild slope. It is literally a very firm, dense Play-Doh consistency. I honestly think we could be skipping the concrete around the posts on our entire fence remodel because that clay soil is so firm and strong. But no shortcuts when it comes to sturdiness!!

You guys should have seen us when we rented an auger to do these super deep, super wide post holes for a section of taller fence. It was called the "little gopher" or something like that. We quickly realized we'd (well, I) would never be able to handle the traditional 2 man auger with the 2 handles for each person. So we found this gopher thing for hourly rental, and was a pretty serious piece of equipment. That clay soil was so tough that this massive auger bit on this super powerful machine kept getting stuck in the hole. And I mean STUCK. Eric eventually got desperate and tried using his freaking farm jack to move it even a little bit, but it was just wedged in there for dear life. I don't even remember how we got that damn auger bit back up. This soil is a real joy for digging.

 

So excited!! Finally got some serious work done on the big gate. It just needs hinges installed, a couple more fence boards, and the little lattice squares installed. Then it's ready to go up. Hoping Tuesday evening maybe!! Pics coming for sure in the morn.

In fact, I got so excited about our progress that I accidentally danced on the new gate We had a rough patch in the project this afternoon, where we were both suddenly starving and cranky. So, naturally I had the brilliant idea to go for a J & B and gingerale with my Subway. That led to another. J & B that is, not sub. Hey man, they were weak drinks, what can I say? Which led to tipsy balance. So while Eric was installing the first few carefully chosen fence boards, I cleverly tripped/danced my way across the whole thing - meaning, clumsy tipsy feet were landing on the delicate fragile freshly installed cedar boards. Managed to knock a knot out of one board (bright side = cool new peephole!), and split the board he'd just installed. But it was only a small/short split



Happy Sunday evening TW!!

 

Holes are dug, ready for posts!

 

Bye bye weird little fence panel on top of a mannerstone rose bed!!

 

And..............gone! Well, mostly. Left the old post up to use for bracing the new ones.

 

Concrete ready, Taco did her job!

 

That is one deep hole. That post shouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.

 

And.........

they're up!!

 

Big gate is being framed up.......our side of it (the side facing the backyard) will have a big ol' X made of cedar. The other side will have the "face" of the fence boards, all framed in with PT and lattice on top.

 

My lovely fence boards. Had some good ones stashed in the shed from where we left off with fence remodeling last summer. Was thrilled to find that we had enough ready to go for this project!!

 

The spoiled princess in "her" lounge chair, waiting to be served a martini

 

Worked past sunset last night, and managed to get this far. Will probably finish boards tonight when Eric gets home, and install the lattice squares and hinges. Then it will be time to start the smaller gate!!



PS: See the little peephole on the left side of the gate panel fence boards? Yep, that's where I accidentally "danced" on the gate. Oops. First board got a knot knocked out, but the second board took a little split at the top of it. It was only a couple inches long though, so I'm calling it good anyway.

 

Looks great!

Not to thread jack, but I just got an email letting me know my gazebo has been delivered to Lowe's! On the neg side, I'm stuck at work for the next 8, 12 hr days. I don't see myself getting to putting it up for another week and a half

 

Gazebo!!! Call in sick!! I wanna see pics ASAP!!!