I renewed online last time. I tried again this time but it kicked me out every attempt. Appointments are min. 3 months out. My license expires today so that wasn't an option. I won't have to do it again for 8 years now and can do it online next time. So it should be 16 years before I have to go back.

Dave, I let my CDL expire because I was sick and tired of having to get a physical every two years and stand in line just to drive a school/activity bus for churches and sporting events. My kids weren't participating any more and I had kept it to help out but after a while it became a real pain in the butt. I was also a state certified high school official for 6 years. With testing every year. When my kids went off to college I kept doing it as they had very little help. But eventually I got tired of that as well. Felt weird doing all that stuff when my own kids weren't involved.

John, Sorry you got clobbered in a street race. Cops see you doing that even for fun they will pull you over and you'll be lucky not to get some expensive awards.

Dave, Hope things go well for your kid and the house.

My kid moves from the mountains this weekend. We went shopping for furniture yesterday. She'll be back in Raleigh. Looking forward to having her closer.

 

On the CDL when I was working they kept telling me I could put it on hold and not give it up so when I retired year ago June that is what I did but the way the NC rules are you cant have tanker endorsement so had to drop that.
If for some reason I want to drive again I just have to get the medical and because of my eye a waiver and I can get the CDL back in service.
I dont think I ever will but new rules if you want a CDL you have to go to school and have so many road hours before you can test, both yard work (pre-trip and different driving skills and if pass that then road test) and I cant see doing all that again if I already have a CDL.
I also think if I ever get pulled over if they see "CDL" they may give a little break and let me go with a warning

John next time have the other mustang and see who wins

I hope for my son all goes well with the signing.
Since Kenda & Logan been down here I have not talked to my son, not that I did a lot when he was under my roof, as he is in the hotel with them.
Also his work hours he was going out the door between 1pm and 2pm and sometimes would hear him come in between midnight and 4am.
Dont know if he was working over time or what? but he is a big boy and if he gets into trouble it is on him as he should know better.

I also think they are wanting this done soon besides a place to live but things got to be in place before Logan can sign up for school that I was told starts on the 28th.
Fun time for sure.

I have been looking at CL (junk) and FB market place for lawn tractors as he is going to need something to cut the grass as he has almost 2 acers.
Something not a lot of money that will last a few years till they get on their feet. Thing is I have nothing to move anything around on so cant take mine back and forth.
Need to talk to him to see what he thinks as it will be his to use.
Dave ----

 

James I checked the mirror to make sure there was no PoPo around first

I am not looking forward to having to renew my license it will be due in 4 months.

Been looking at disc brake kits, stock style kits are around 500-600 and Baer has a kit that is about 900. Nice stuff, drilled & slotted rotors, high performance calipers. But then the stock disc stuff should be more than adequate right?

 

Maybe by that time Smithfield office will be open. On the news last night they said it was shut down for repairs. Did not say what repairs or for how long it would be closed.
What gets me is they are only open 5 days a week and it is only during the weekdays. In CT they are open half a day on Saturday when most people dont have to take a day off from work.
Both plates and Lic are done at the same place, no need to run all over, and it is state run not farmed out like here.
I did find that Wednesday's about 9 or 10 was a good time to go. You did not have the rush of people from before the weekend that could not get there on Mon or Tues and the rush on Thr or Fri before the weekend.


I would go with factory disc even https://www.scarebird.com/ set up for the street.
Now if road racing that is a whole different story and where bigger is better.
When I was drag racing I ran factory disc just like you are then again we are not going that fast and the shut down is pretty long at the tracks I raced at.
Yes factory should be good enough.

I did the grass cutting yesterday and it only took 3 hours
It was pretty high but not as high as normal when I got out to cut it. At first I was not going to cut the full yard but it just would not look nice if I left the "back 40" so guess I should cut it every week.
A week or so ago I did a home mix of weed / grass killer and got to say I am not happy with the job it dose. It is also over $40 to mix 2 gallons and I sprayed 4 gallons and need maybe 4 more to do everything I want to do.
Going to have to price out normal killer and if cheaper I will have to sneak it in as the wife dose not want me using it because of the dogs but it is crazy to spend the money for stuff that dose not work.
Maybe I can mix normal and my mix 50 / 50 to make it go farther?
Dave ----

 

It will save you a big headache if you go ahead a set an appointment now. If yours is due in 4 months and they are three months out you're in the window of getting an appointment. And you may have to get one at a different DMV. Search within an hour radius. Seriously. The folks that had appointments still had to wait to check in but after were in and out in 20 minutes. It's definitely worth it.

 

James I think I can do it online this time since I have never done it online before. But I guess I gotta figure everything out sooner rather than later as we have a vacation planned for November and that will involve flying, so if they only accept the newer style drivers license I will have to do it.

Dave I am familiar with Scarebird and have his webpage saved already in my list. His kit uses the stock drum brake hubs that are on my car (which have to be machined slightly so the rotors fit over them), along with 10" Toyota Previa rotors and GM metric calipers. That kit is $213 but only includes the brackets and hardware, the buyer needs to get the rotors & calipers & hose etc from the hardware store.
https://www.scarebird.com/shop/mux-s...=Mustang#attr=

Another low cost alternative is this kit from Speedway Motors. It uses 11" Granada rotors and GM metric calipers, but includes all the hardware. The Granada rotors are a 1-piece design so my original hubs aren't used. That kit is $488 but it includes the rotors and calipers and hoses and all hardware. So it's probably roughly equal to Scarebird once you factor in the rotors and calipers cost, and I'd have 11" rotors instead of 10".
https://www.ebay.com/itm/388197014424

I was trying to shy away from the factory Ford 1966 setup because I thought it was an old design and probably not as good as the more modern 70's & 80's stuff the swap kits use, but a little googling has changed my mind. Apparently the Ford disc brakes were a very good 4 piston design made by Kelsey Hayes, and the customer paid extra for disc brakes during those years (lets say 1963 to 1967??). Then starting in 1968 Ford wanted to make disc brakes more or less standard on a lot of their cars, so they took the design work in house and came up with a low cost setup, and those brakes (lets say 1968 to 1973-ish??) are the ones that people don't really care for. They're single piston design and lots of complaints that Ford was just saving money not so much worried about stopping power. But the Kelsey Hayes 4 piston design from earlier is supposed to be pretty good, except for when a piston sticks which apparently has happened often enough to people over the years.

So given that I rethought my upgrade and decided to go with a all-in-one kit that uses original style 11" Ford rotors (I can buy replacements at Autozone), original style 4-piston calipers (again, available at the auto parts store) and my original hubs. I will have to have the drums pressed off and the rotors pressed on but otherwise no work done. And the kit has vacuum booster and master cylinder as well so a day of work, badaboom, I will have power disc's. But that kit was $855.

 

John and James I hope you all are staying afloat with all this rain. Yesterday and today it started raining after I got home from the gym at 6am but Mary had to go out both days and got wet

On the Scarebird I did not know there was machine work needed for that setup to work.
In that case and not having shops I would trust I would only go with it as a last resort.
It has been a vary long time but I thought the 68 Mustang Fastback GT I had had the 4 piston disc up front, I know it had disc.
They also worked pretty good as I chased a Firebird on back roads one night for about 5 miles running stop signs and getting off the ground over hills till I said to self WTF!
Young and dumb

I dont see any problems with the single piston calipers as they have been used on a **** load of cars & trucks over the years.
My pickup and a 76 E350 van I used to pull a 2 car trailer had that setup. Even AMC used it in the late 70's along with the GM single piston calipers.

I take it the front rubber hoses are changed to fit the calipers and a new master is needed too.
Being the system is open I would change out the rear rubber hose from the body to rear axle and depending on how old the rear wheel cylinders are might change them too this way you know the system is new other than the metal lines and the system would be flushed when bleeding.
I did all that to the pickup before it was put back on the road so I know it is only 6 years old.
Dave ----

 

It could be that the Mustang GT in 68 got the 4 piston caliper as an upgrade, and the base model with disc got the single? Or could be that I read the years wrong and the change was in 69? And yes single has been used forever, probably just about every car I have owned has been single piston. Simpler and easier design. But I take the multi-piston has the ability to put more clamping force equally over a larger surface area.

As for the rear rubber hose and wheel cylinders, I almost said "not worried about those, those are good as I already replaced them". But I have to check myself, because it was 1992 or 1993 when I replaced them. So maybe it is time!

I did a little truck work. Very little! Just roughed it in with the 4 inch flapper disc and got some primer over it. Will go back and do a better job of sanding / leveling and a skim coat of bondo before primer and paint. But at least the corner piece is on and welded in and no longer bare metal.

 

If you don't already have the "Real ID" You will have to go in person with all your paperwork. If you already have the "Real ID" and haven't used up your one time online renewal you can do it online.

If you do have to go in make damn sure you get the proper documentation together. I saw way too many people getting rejected for not having the proper documentation.

 

Well James this is a fuster cluck, trying to set myself up an appointment. Literally page after page of this "no appointment available" until I get to Kernersville 103 miles away and Charlotte 131 miles away. Sherry says "oooh make an appointment in Charlotte, we can go together and spend the day". uh no.

 

Oh, believe me. I tried over a month out to get one and no luck.

You should use the contact us page and submit a ticket. I think you can call your local office but not sure they take appointments over the phone but they may be able to tell you how to do it online.

Another option is to go into the office in person after lunch when the lines are gone. I'm pretty sure you can set up an appointment in person. But if you go in the morning you will have to wait with everyone to get checked in. Usually around lunch they are turning folks away so you should be able to walk in and speak to someone at the front desk.

My buddy had to check online every day, several times a day to finally fine one available and it was over an hour away.

Dude, it's chaos. Good luck.


Oh, and the body work is looking great.

 

Hope everyone is doing good.
Put 1000 miles on the Vic, went up to Jersy shore for the weekend.
Friends have a house a block from the water on Long Beach Island to celebrate a birthday and 39 year anniversary.
Got a little sun the first day while in the heated pool they have, thinning hair you have to watch for sun burn
10 of us went out for dinner to celebrate had a nice time.

Sunday we hit the beach, I am not much of a beach person but we had shade and the breeze was nice.
Really could not go in the water as the storm coming up the cost made the rip currant really bad.
Mary went in just over her feet and a wave knocked her down as it would take the sand from under your feet as it went back out, at least it did for me and I only went in to my feet too.
By the time we were leaving the wind kicked up and was blowing the water & sand so it felt like you were getting sand blasted walking across the beach.
Spent another few hours in the pool before dinner.

When we got to the beach JP, who we were staying with and wife lost his phone so he was bummed and looked all over for it.
We also looked from the beach back to the house, he took Mary & I in the car as mary has a hard time walking, so I checked the car again, nothing.
He was in the garage before we left so I checked there and still nothing. I remembered just before we left he was on the couch on his laptop and I figured lets pull the cushions off and I reached down to pull and hit something?
Yep his phone just as his wife was going to check the garage again. The phone was kind of brown and so was the couch and if you gave a quick look like JP did you would miss it.
After that all was good with the world again as I know JP was bummed. He also needed his phone as he had to go back to Edison NJ for a doctor appt and Xrays as he fell a few days ago and hurt his knee and everything is now done with moble phones. We had a great time just wish it was closer as it is a 10 hour drive, we did this drive back in April and stayed with them in Edison when we saw other family & friends in NY.

In 2 week we drive down to Charlston for a long weekend with other friends.
Need to get the oil changed on the Vic before then as its been 3000 miles since April's trip and had it changed when we got back.
Last time I took it to one of our club sponsors and think will do the same. No need to get oil & filter, craw under the car and then need to get ride of the old oil that I got a lot of for other changes.
I also got to cut this damn grass again. I cant believe how fast it has grown this year. Most of the time I can go every other week but with the heat and rain it is crazy!

John the truck is looking good hope the finger is doing good.
James I think you are on the cost? and if so hope you are safe from the storm surge. I hear they have told people from the lower cost, not sure on the outer banks up here to move inland.
Dave ----

 

Dave, sounds like you're enjoying the crown vic and having some good trips.

Yes, Im on the coast but on the sound side. We're expecting some gusty winds Wednesday evening. But nothing out of the ordinary. Not even tropical storm winds.

I'm pretty sure they are evacuating several parts of the outer banks due to high surf and erosion. I have some friends on the ocean side and they are preparing for minor flooding and gusty winds.

I think we got lucky with this one as it's pretty far off the coast and not even bringing much rain.

 

I saw a story on Monday from (I think) Wilmington, saying the Coast Guard had already been called out to rescue 50 people. The rip tides were terrible.

Sounds like the Crown Vic is a nice cruising machine! Which I know is the exact reason you wanted it, to be comfortable on long trips. Hey regarding the friend who's phone was missing, why didn't someone just call his # and listen for the ring tone coming from the couch?

My finger seems to be doing fine, it is starting to itch which I know is a sign of healing. I am planning to go back Friday to get the stitches removed. It's already been 2 weeks and I don't know what the point of keeping them in so long is. I thought usually they come out after 7-10 days? Last time I saw the doc it was Saturday the 9th and he said "healing good, come back in 2 weeks to get the stitches out". That was 4 days after the crunch already at that point.

I didn't understand why he sewed the fingernail back into place, but yesterday when I changed my bandage I took this pic. Clearly white at the end of my nail which to me says the nail is growing. Now how is that possible?


Tom somehow got roped into making a pig cooker for his neighbor. He doesn't really know anything about actually building one, which means that Wayne got roped into it by Tom, and I got roped in as well by association. This was the only picture I took, it was about an hour (maybe more) just to cut in half. First using Wayne's plasma cutter which mostly did good but at certain points wouldn't quite cut through, then burning through some sawzall blades until I brought my cutoff wheel over to finish up. Both of them complained about lack of safety (cause the blade cover is removed) and I had to agree, I am my father's son (first thing my dad did with any tool he bought was figure out how to disable to safety precautions, lol!). 5' x 3' fuel oil tank:

After cutting it we welded in angle iron around both edges, top and bottom, and that was the end of the day. So now it sits until Tom's next visit, when we will figure out a hinge for the top and then mount it on a trailer.

My finger was throbbing at the end of the day from working, it was the first time I really used my hand to lift or do actual work since my injury. But I figure as long as I am not stressing the tip of the finger where the fracture is I should be ok. So yesterday I worked to replace the door in my shop, age (the door is 1989 and made of wood) water damage and termites took a toll on the door, one day last month when we had enough dry days for the swollen wood to relax the bottom panel just slid right out! So I got a used metal door from someone on marketplace and installed it. The hinge locations did not match but it only took a few minutes to zip the edge down and drill new holes.



Feels good to be out doing stuff again. My 66 Mustang disc brake upgrade kit came in the mail yesterday, I made plans to do the swap on Monday the 25th, Bailey will help and since he's only 21 or 22 I figure if he can do the under-dash part he will have saved my back from a week of aching.

 

John, glad your finger is healing up. Having lost a few nails and even part of a finger, my guess is they wanted to keep the nail and nail bed intact so you wouldn't lose it permanently.

New door on the shed looks good.