Ray!

I just watched a repeat of the titled program on ABC iview: http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/abc1, and it really is a very interesting look into today's products and marketing strategies. The first episode covers Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Google. Some very interesting observations indeed. Cheers Ray

A steampunk G60 would be ideal. Cheers Ray

Actually, what you apear to do with oil conversion is pretty impressive. I'll bet that with a few tweaks and cosmetic changes to some of your setups, you'd have not only a practical device, but an intersting looking one as well. Some people do just make things for appearance sake, but others make working devices that look like they came out fo the 19th century. Google steampunk house and you'll see some examples where people have gone the whole hog, some decorative stuff and others fully functional. Here's one link to images: http://www.google.com.au/search?q=steampunk+house&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-Address&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PxC4T46lCoPAiQfM9sj9CA&ved=0CGUQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=978&sei=QxC4T_a4GPCTiAfW5vz5CA. Cheers Ray

I don't really know how hot it gets, but I think plastic would likely distort and move, and cause all sorts of issues. As I pointed out in another post, I've developed some small cracks at the cooling tube/header tank interface and I think that's because I wasn't careful enough with tensioning everything up. With a plastic frame, I don't think you'll be able to tension things well at all and the entire assembly will be able to flex an aweful lot. An aluminium sheet provides the lightest weight and highest rigidity for this purpose. Cheers Ray

I went through both flanges so that it balanced the weight top and bottom, but clearly I didn't tension everything evenly and created stress. At least that's my guess, but these pressed type intercoolers are prone to having problems anyway, so it may only have been a matter of time regardless. Cheers Ray

The 40K service is always the big one. Here is what it should cost: http://www.nissan.com.au/webpages/owning/pdf/Patrol.pdf. Cheers Ray

Yeah, I've been through the same crap with having to talk to the account owner. They wouldn't have a clue who is actually on the other end of the line, but are happy if they hear a male/female voice depending on which one is required. On one occasion, my wife simply called to query how a bill had been read and they couldn't provide an answer due to privacy regulations. What a load of crap. Cheers Ray

It shouldn't be too difficult to fix, but whether it's cheap is another thing. It should be pretty easy to work out which plug is gone, by taking each one out and measuring the resistance, you can even pass some current through each one and see which one/s warm up. Cheers Ray

At my last service, Nissan used Castrol Magnatec Pro 15W40. Cheers Ray

That's the stuff I use. Stay clear of electronic contact cleaners, as some incorporate an additive that is designed to provide a protective layer to the electronic components, which is the last thing you want for a MAF. Cheers Ray

Recently, I started to hear odd whistling noises under the bonnet when the engine was relatively cold and under high boost, and also when warm and under high boost. After a bit of investigation, I discovered that my intecooler was affected by cracks where the cooler pipes attach to the header tank. This is not uncommon and mine has probably been exacerbated by my intercooler fan attachment. This is probably due to not being entirely careful as to how I tensioned the bolts attaching the fan to the intercooler, causing stress, as evidenced by the fact that the cracks have occurred at opposite corners of the intercooler. Here's a shot of one crack, just visible where you see the darker mark: Anyhow, I wasn't in a position to get a new intercooler at the moment, so I sought ways to fix the problem as best I could. As it turns out, I had a tube of Loctite Metal Magic 98853, which had never been used and after some internet searching, found out that it might just do the trick. So after letting the intercooler cool down fully, I removed it and found the offending cracks, one on top (as in the photo) and two underneath, which required removal of the fan assembly. The Metal Magic is a two part epoxy resin that comes in a roll inside a plastic tube, all you do is tear off a small piece and start kneading it vigrously for a few minutes until is turns dark grey. You need to use rubber gloves for this, as the stuff will stick to your hands like the proverbial and is near impossible to wash off. Once ready to use, you have about 3 mins to work it into place before it sets and after about 10 mins, it's almost rock hard. Before I filled the crack with the Metal Magic, I cleaned the area with liberal use of contact spray to get rid of any oil and muck, and then followed up with MAF cleaner to remove any residue left by the contact cleaner. By rolling the Metal Magic into a very thin roll, I used a tooth pick to push the epoxy into and around the cracks and once finished, left the intercooler overnight before starting the Patrol the next day. This is what one of the repairs looked like: After about three or so weeks of driving around, the fix has certainly worked. I can still sometimes hear just a slight whistle when cold, but that could be a crack that I've missed. But as the whistle is so minor, I will probably live with it unless it gets worse and by that time I might look at a replacement intercooler. If there was a more 'liquidy' sealant about that had similar properties to the Metal Magic, then it would have been very easy to fix these minor cracks. That said, I would heartily recommend carrying a tube of Metal Magic if going out bush etc, as this stuff is able to reapir many things that may break or leak when out and about. Cheers Ray

Yesterday I received a phone call from someone asking for my wife. I said that she's away for a few weeks and said may I ask who's calling, so that I can let her know you called. The response that I received was 'I'm afraid I can't reveal that due to privacy laws.' WTF? What have privacy laws got to do with saying who is calling? The world is just going completely insane. Cheers Ray

Nah, there's all sorts of hidden talent here and I was interested in what things others have put their skills/interests towards. One can always learn something from the unusual, even if it has no immediate bearing on 4WDs and the like. Cheers Ray

Defeinitely sounds like glow plugs. I had one defective glow plug in my MQ and on cold, winter's days, it would blow white smoke until it warmed up a bit. Cheers Ray

Choices, choices: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/mk802-beats-cotton-candy-to-market/ Cheers Ray

Getting a carjacked would clearly not be a fun experience, any more than getting beat up should you be walking along King St Melbourne at 2:00 am. But why set yoursellf up? What I was alluding to was the fact that she would have been somewhat clueless to think that she wasn't setting hereself up as a target with such a car. There have been quite a number of carjackings in Sydney recently and they have all involved expensive luxury cars. That's why I simply couldn't show much sympathy. Yes, one should be able to safely walk the streets, drive a car etc, but that simply isn't the case nowadays; however, it just takes a while for some people to reasilse this. Cheers Ray

I'm not jealous one bit, sad in a sense, that I'll bet what was going through her mind every minute she was in the car was 'Look at moi, look at moi!' And she probably didn't even appreciate what she was driving, other than that it cost a mint and was one of a kind. Cheers Ray

Datamancer is probably the king of Steampunk. The stuff he puts together is utterly mind boggling. Cheers Ray

You have no idea how this all came about. All I wanted was a can of paint to coat the slab of steel I'd bought and went into Bunnings for something suitable. While wandering around I saw a big sheet of copper on sale for $13, which was less than the can of paint, and that was the start of a 3+ month project (that slab of steel was wrapped in the copper sheet and more left over for the other bits and pieces). I started scouring second hand and reproduction stores for all types for bits and pieces that I had in mind, including Bunnings for copper tubing etc and the silver sphere is an Ikea candle holder. The most interesting part is the black material lining the curved piece of copper and the copper tube, which I use for other things as well, is called Protostar material, it absorbs 99% of all visible light that falls on it (it's used by astronomers). The controller is something I got from the US and it's basically an intervalometer that controls a motor attached to the platform, and moves the plaform in very small increments while firing the camera shutter to take a series of photo slices of the subject. The camera bellows end has a microscope lens attached. Cheers Ray

I've seen some examples of pretty neat bar work etc, so there has to be others who like to work with their hands and raw materials. Cheers Ray

Checking weapons, IEDs, chemical repository. What have I missed? Cheers Ray

http://www.heraldsun...n-1226359333450 I just can't seem to generate any sympathy whatsoever. I'm sure all of the mirrors are turned in so she can see her face at all times. Cheers Ray

Metalwork and the like is my forte, but give me a piece of timber and I'll return you some firewood. Cheers Ray

Forums are only as good and valuable as the people who contribute, and who maintain the desire and energy to keep contributing. I wonder why so many are happy to contribute to this pub? Cheers Ray

Just as an addition, for anyone who hasn't ever heard of Steampunk, it's a bit of a sub-culture where people make things and enact a world akin to Jules Verne, H.G. Wells etc. The movie Wild, Wild, West was a Steampunk style movie and there was a TV serial that followed the theme as well, even Dr Who has elements of Steampunk. Some of the stuff made in the name of Steampunk are just objects that do nothing, like: and others actaully work, like: Some of the craftsmanship that goes into making a Steampunk device can be truly astounding and the computers can sell for way more than what they are actually worth. Cheers Ray