A few quick updates while it's on my mind and I have a minute to document.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Decided to mount it here for now:
So far this location has worked out great. My criteria for scouting a location was:
1) Like we mentioned, it needed to be readily accessible
2) Subjected to minimal forces like vibration, impact, etc.
3) In the event of an unforeseen and possibly catastrophic event such as unintentional discharge or vessel rupture, collateral damage should be mitigated as much as possible.
Possible alternative locations where:
- Under the rear seat: Satisfies condition 2 and 3 but definitely fails at #1. Especially since I have a car seat in my back seat still, so accessibility sucked bad.
- B-pillar (back side): Fails at #3 as anything happening could directly effect my sons face.
- B-pillar (front side): Fails at #3 as well as the think no matter where on the B-pillar I put it (expect maybe rear side lower) it would impede full range of the driver seat. Also, removing that B-pillar trim piece to get to the back side seemed trickier than I wanted to mess with at the time.
- Rear of the console: This location was decent. Could still mess with my kids, as well as could get kicked by people moving around back there and could make taking the floor mat in and out challenging.
- Driver door: Fails at #2. Also, I couldn't find a way to mount it here that was pleasing to me, but having a door open and shut repeatedly with this mounted there didn't really appeal to me.
Why I like this location? Meets all of criteria. My only knock so far, which is and isn't a knock, is that it barely fits here. So the door card actually does come in contact with it ever so slightly when closed. Bad because of that, but also good because of that. The seat panel gives when the door comes in, so it holds nice and tight. No vibrations or slop. So yeah, I'm happy with it so far. Have had it here for almost a month and haven't found a reason to re-locate it so far. Also, the spot was easy to reach the back side for mounting, so I could us washers and nuts instead of just drilling screws into plastic.
MORIMOTO XB HEADLIGHTS
Still having my issues with these guys, which are now hopefully behind me now that I've replaced the passenger side headlight socket. I've already replaced the driver side. Update can be found
here.
RADIO
Got
this cheap VHF radio in anticipation of our upcoming Raptor run, since they require them. I wanted a stealth install so placed it in the console:
Already had issues with it. It worked fine in mock-up, but as soon as I hard-mounted it, the LCD screen stopped working. Radio still functions, but no display. Could have possibly happened with I wiped a fingerprint off of the display. I'm working with the supplier and they have dispatched a new LCD display for me to swap out. So far, I would not recommend this unit. Customer service was very meh to work with (Chinese company obviously). Hopefully I can get it squared away. Still need to run my antennae.
NEW MEATS
Not my first choice in tire (not even top 3), but I came across a deal on some KO2's that I
could not pass on. Size 37x12.50x17:
Very satisfied so far. They ride SO smooth and quite compared to my Ridge Graps. D load so they're actually lighter than the E load 315 RG's, so gas mileage hasn't taken a noticeable hit and might have possibly improved slightly. Zero rubbing issues so far. They look like they belong there. The 315's always looked small to me, even before the Eibachs.
ENGINE
Did a little engine work on the spare over the weekend. Took a crack at re-surfacing the block and was about to fit piston rings until I hit a snag. Update
here.
continued onto next post...
