Tech Session in the Groj - Aug 5

[Loren]

It's been over 2 years since we've had a Groj Day! Let's do stuff.

So, come help keep me motivated! Come work on your own stuff. Come learn stuff. Come hang out. Come help me eat lunch (the most important meal of the day).

Who: Me. You? Whomever.
What: Wrenching on various cars. Doing groj stuff.
Where: Loren's place in Safety Harbor (PM me if you need the address)
When: Saturday, August 5, 9am-4pm.
Why: Well, it's not nearly as much fun if I pay a shop to do it!

On my list of things to possibly do:
Install lowering springs on the Smart
Check/Adjust alignment on the Smart
Bitch about what a mess the garage is, but not really do anything about it
Maybe fab/weld a bracket to mount a hose reel on the wall

Who's coming? What else do we have to work on?

So far:
Me - springs & alignment
Steve - Miata stuffs
Andy LaChance (maybe) - whining about the heat
Dan Dejon (maybe) - front control arm bushings
Ben Wheaton (probably) - eating cookies

[Native]

I'll be there.
Will bring a car.

[Loren]

Need to do anything on your car? Wrong question. ARE we going to do anything on your car?

[CaptainSquirts]

I do need to swap a bushing on the front control arm, but I have an autocross event the next day. Hmmmmmmmmm

[Native]

Need to do anything on your car? Wrong question. ARE we going to do anything on your car?

haha. The Accord needs an oil/filter but I'll probably do that tomorrow or Sunday.
I've got a laundry list of stuff to do to the Miata, so I'll probably pick something simple to plan to do. Maybe the steering rack boots. Dunno...I'll see.

Once Dan swaps that bushing, I wonder if he'll need someone to test-drive the car for him?

[Loren]

Dan's Mitsu is the only car I ever set an FTD in. Which is weird, because everyone knows I like lightweight, simple and non-turbo cars! His car just worked.

Anyhow... be sure you've got something to press the bearing out with. I may not be equipped for that. Or, you could see if Joe Brannon is going to be around, he lives fairly close and has a hydraulic press. Could run it over there and make quick work of it.

We got all day, anybody else got anything to work on?

[Native]

His car just worked.

It does. I once coned-away FTD with it. He's got it set up quite nicely.

[CaptainSquirts]

If it goes according to plan then sure, you can test drive. My only concern is that could replacing the bushing affect the alignment. I’m thinking it shouldn’t since it’s just going from rubber to poly, and I’m just unhooking the ball joints, sway end links and pulling the control control arms.

How far does Joe live from you Loren? I’ll bring a propane blower torch and a saw zaw but if he’s available I may then do a quick stop after pulling the arms. The new bushings don’t need a press to put em in so just need to bang em out .

[Loren]

Joe is maybe 10-15 minutes away, over off of Keene near Tampa Rd.

Bushings shouldn't affect alignment much unless... old bushings are worn, or new bushings are offset (intentionally, or otherwise). If you're not having to loosen anything that would adjust the alignment, you're probably okay. You could do a quick check before and after to see if things obviously change.

[CaptainSquirts]

Looking at the weather looks like their may be rain. Keeping an eye on it but if it does rain, what’s the plan. If it does straight up look like a rain day I’ll have to skip. Also tools, do we need to bring all the tools, or just certain ones?

[Loren]

If you're just working one end of your car, I can put my car towards the back of the garage, it's only 9 feet long. You (and Steve, for that matter) can work in the front half of the garage.

I've got basic hand tools. Bring anything "special" that you might need. Or, if you think I may or may not have something, just ask.

Oh, and I think Ben's coming.

[Native]

Just the front of the car for me. Gonna do those boots. One, anyway, not sure how fast I am (I'm not). And I'll hit someone up to help me check, and maybe reset, toe.

[Loren]

I'll have a cooler of water (thanks to Steve) and I have a variety of diet sodas around the house. (yes, I've become one of those people) If y'all want anything else, bring it!

We'll figure out lunch when hunger sets in.

I'll be out in the garage about 9am. See y'all when you get there!

[CaptainSquirts]

If you’re doing your toe Steve do you need Toe plates?

[Native]

I wouldn't know what to do with them. I was gonna use a tape measure. But if you think you'll have time to teach, I'm open.

[CaptainSquirts]

I’ll bring plates then. It’s easy to do

[Loren]

So, we ended up with Me, Steve, Ben, Andy, Mustard Dan, and Andy's friend. It was HOT! But, no rain. We stayed hydrated. Sugared up on cookies. Went out for some Mexican food. And got stuff done!

Springs on my Smart
Bushings on Dan's Evo
Steering Rack Bushings on Steve's Miata
Minor alignment (front toe) on Andy's Mustang (GT 5.0, yo)
Some Megasquirt troubleshooting/tuning/education on Andy's friend's Miata

Didn't do anything on Ben's car. He was going to change the air filter, but apparently, Lexus owners never change air filters, thus nobody stocks an air filter for a Lexus.

It was a good day hangin' out in the Groj!

[Native]

It sure was a good day. Really nice to catch up with a few folks I hadn't seen in various durations of forever.
It was also good to knock something off the MIata list, as opposed to adding to it.

And cookies. OMG.

[Loren]

[CaptainSquirts]

Was nice seeing some old faces. The bushings passed the autocross test. The cookies and pickles were full of swagger