Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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Comments

  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Dave: it didn't just happen last night! ;-)

    Ed (managed to avoid the NE blackout)
  • jlemolejlemole Member Posts: 345
    Congratulations Ed! By the way, my mom drove me around in a Mustang when I was a kid. But that was before child seats and all of the other gear that now accompanies the kids on even the most routine drive.

    Jon
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    Congratulations!! You will have plenty of company in 9 months (at least in the NE).

    Greg
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    I was in the 300mm building when the lights went out (along with everything else). It took 3 people to open the doors leading out of the fab due to air pressure. Definitely a safety issue. My electic returned at 2:30AM at home. Not too bad.

    Greg
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    ed and family ...
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Congratulations, and all the best to you and your's.

      Cheers Pat.

      PS we are part of that power outage mess.still rolling blackouts forcast for the forseeable future.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Congrats Ed to you and your wife! Now you'll have the navigator for future back road drives.

    Mike- I can't believe you drove into downtown! Didn't they try to stop you? We lost power at 4:11, left work at 5:30 then only took 3.5 hours to get home! At least the buses were running. I even camped out under the stars for a few hours (till my wife came home and woke me.) Not too bad though, we had power back by 2:30 next morning, and I even went to work. And to keep it Subaru related - I walked 1.5 miles to get back to my car, before driving home in the dark.

    Mark
  • jimmyp1jimmyp1 Member Posts: 640
    http://www.wrc-online.net/article.asp?stid=2379

    Jim
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I had a clean shot into downtown! Wall Street stops for no-one!

    We didn't get power back til sometime friday night I think, was already in WV when it came back.

    I was much better off at work, had AC, Cable, and internet! :)

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Wow, Ed the dad figure, interesting! :)

    -mike
  • earthwomanearthwoman Member Posts: 47
    The girls and I headed to Castle Crags State Park for four days of camping Thursday morning. It is in Northern California near Mt. Shasta and 75 miles from Oregon border. About 450 miles round trip. Weather was perfect, car drove like a champ up the mountains, and the hiking was knee wrenching!

    In our "loop" of 20 or so campsites I counted 10 Subarus! 4 Imprezas, 5 Outbacks and of course, my Forester. All of them tent camping. It is a great campground for tent campers. (Didn't think to take a picture of all the Subies. Darn.)

    Can I say it again? I love my Subie.

    Rebecca

    P.S. Congratulations Ed!
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Sounds like fun! One thing I always find cool about Subarus is how popular they are for active/outdoor lifestyles. Even though I'm not that active anymore, it's cool to come back from a hike or bike ride and see Subarus outnumbering other cars in the lot!

    Craig
  • xccoachlouxccoachlou Member Posts: 245
    I thought systems were going to get fried, but because of prudent foresight in acquiring UPS and backup generators, all of Stevens' main frames in the Computer Center were up. Which means if the kids had enough battery power on their laptops, they didn't lose connectivity with the outside world.

    Things are back to normal now, I think. :)

    - Lou

    P.S. to Fibber... Blame Ernie. :)
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Blame Ernie! Good one.... Someday you will pay for that!!! I heard his test center went down pretty hard.

    Steve
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    My daughter and I put the bikes on the back of the Subi and headed up into the hills for some light trail riding. And of course, a half hour into it, a thunderstorm rolled thru and caught us completely by surprise. We took refuge under stairs at an abandoned boat house, then carefully made our way back down between waves of storm squalls. Oh well, so much for quality daddy/daughter time!

    It has been the summer from hell....

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, it's musical chairs, but that's not a bad way to end up. Burns is back, and Petter is the best young talent on the circuit. Should be a good year.

    Steve: you'll look back and laugh, hopefully.

    -juice
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Question for the crew: Which Torque wrench do you recommend? I went to Sears to check them out, and they have 6 different types. Besides the 3/8 or 1/2 in drives, what else is needed for doing work on the car, in reagrds to ft/lb load?

    TIA,
    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I don't think I've ever needed more than 120 lb-ft. That was for the hitch, IIRC. The wheel lugs take 70 or so.

    I got a 3/8" inch drive. The thing to consider is the sockets you have. Some sets only go up to 19mm in a 3/8" drive. I actually bought individual sockets that were bigger, 20mm and 22mm IIRC. It's worked for me, I've never failed to get a bolt off, never stripped one either.

    You do want a long shaft for leverage, though. The catch is it can't squeeze into tight spaces. A hollow cheater bar is an alternative, only for when you need it.

    I got mine at Sears too, don't remember the model number.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Harborfreight.com has some for very reasonable prices:

    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=- 239

    Theoretically, the bigger the drive, the more torque it can take. Practically speaking, it's better to go with one that you already have sockets for.

    I need to buy one too!

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's a very reasonable price. Mine was around $40 IIRC.

    Mine's also the click type, you reach the specified torque and you feel it click, it's very easy to use.

    On mine, you spin the handle to adjust torque, then you lock it in place.

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Thank you all for the offers of congratulations - even yours, paisan ;-P.

    DaveM: We have two Fisher-Price convertible car seats, new in box, never used. F-P got out of the car seat biz last year even though these seats were the highest-rated by CR. Ironically, I dug through my back issues of Drive and found an article on installing child seats in Subies and the seat pictured is the same model that we have!

    I'm happy to report that my wife has taken the Honda Pilot off her list - too big, she says. Now if I can only sway her away from the Highlander...

    I have two Sears Craftsman torque wrenches, don't have them handy to give you the model numbers though. If I remember I'll check when I get home tonight.

    I'll try to join the chat on Thursday but may be too busy packing - we're going on vacation all next week.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ed: focus on safety. The Forester XT gets:

    * 5 stars NCAP front passenger
    * 5 stars NCAP front driver
    * 5 stars NCAP side driver
    * 5 stars NCAP rear passenger
    * IIHS top score in side impact, best tested so far
    * IIHS Best Pick

    and note that "Best Pick" was not good enough, they went and added collapseable pedals to make the score even better.

    Highlander only gets 18/20 from NCAP, so it cannot match the Forester's straight As even if it does do well in side impacts.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Why would you use a cheater bar on a torque wrench? I only use my torque wrench to check bolts after I've tightened them. I never use it to remove a bolt.

    -mike
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    I have two different beam type (3/8 & 1/2"), but I usually reach for the Sears 1/2" 'Microtork' (#44595) clicking wrench. List price is $69.99, but they run sales & coupons - I think I pad less than $50 for it.

    Important thing about clickers - always dial them down to under 20 ftlbs when stored. Accuracy goes to hell if the internals stay under strain for long periods of time.

    Steve
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    "Accuracy goes to hell if the internals stay under strain for long periods of time."

    As I do the same under long periods of internal strain...

    bit
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Thanks for the tip, Steve.

    mike - my other socket wrench is very short, it doesn't give nearly the leverage offered by my torque wrench, with its long shaft. Whatever floats your boat.

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    To the Crew's favorite M3 owner! :)
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Heh, thank you.

    nothing to see here

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Happy B-day to our VP of Performance Engineering.

    I always get myself a gift, what about you? :-)

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    at least we know what Colin looks like now. I guess I pictured you looking older as well.

    A virtual pint of Guinness I drink for you! Cheers and Happy Birthday.

    -Brian
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    >>Theoretically, the bigger the drive, the more torque it can take<<

    ok .. maybe it's only humorous to me .... while I'm driving in the Outback ...
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Happy Birthday Colin!

    -Dave
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Happy Birthday Colin!

    Torque wrench: I've had a 1/2" drive beam type torque wrench for ages. I'm considering getting a "click" type cuz it's much easier than trying to watch the beam when you're pulling on the wrench. The 1/2" drive usually has a longer handle and provides more leverage for getting the lug bolts to 70.

    juice, you can always get a 1/2" adapter for your 3/8" wrench. But then, you don't have a new toy (tool).

    Jim
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Ed - Congrats on the upcoming arrival!
    Colin - Happy BD, you young dude
    Bit - Me too - cracking, not just warpinging, under the stain.

    Steve
  • jlemolejlemole Member Posts: 345
    I bought a 3/8" drive clicker at Pep Boys for about $20. Only problem is having to convert ft-lbs into inch-pounds since my wrench is graduated in inches. I'm not sure they make a smaller wrench with ft-lb markings, but if they do I would get that one.

    Jon
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Happy Birthday, Colin !!

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Colin: you gotta come over for some grilled turbot and rally bread. Someone's gotta feed you, man! :o)

    Who is the lady friend? Beautiful green eyes.

    Jim: I've heard the torque on the rear diffy plug is so tight, I'm afraid the 3/8" drive might snap. Seriously.

    Well, Craftsman tools are guaranteed for life, at least.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I'm 6' 160lb and happy. I suppose I could stand to bulk up a bit, but not out. :)

    that's my cousin Rachael, and she's 17. LOL It's hard to see even in the original 3.1mp image, but my eyes are actually blue around the outside, green in the middle. hers are that lovely jade green just as they appear.

    Thanks for the kind thoughts, all.

    -Colin
    PS, I hate beam torque wrenches. I use only clicking ones, just be sure you click back to zero when done. have a 1/2" craftsman and use 3/8" reducer when needed, and also have a small 1/4" craftsman --mostly for motorcycles.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yours look green in the photo, too.

    Lemme know if you do a bid-ness trip out to the East, we'll feed you some MD Blue Crabs.

    -juice
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Happy Birthday Colin! Hope you had a good one.

    Thanks for all the info on torque wrenches. It sounds like 1/2" wrench is good, now I just have to make sure my sockets fit it:-) I have one of those "home repair kits" that have various sockets, along with screwdrivers, etc. I know I have from my Dad's workshop, I just have to find where he left them.

    I need the torque wrench for installing the rear diffy protector on my OB. Paul from Primitive sent me the wrong rear protector with the front skid plate, so I am now waiting for the correct one. The front plate went on with no problems -although there were no torque specs for the front bolts. It covers the entire front end. Now I can stop worrying about any backroad drives, or any type of road.

    Thanks again,
    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Use the same torque specs for the rear diffy protector.

    If you need to remove the front skid plate for an oil change, you don't want it too tight.

    -juice
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Happy birthday Colin, and I agree about the wrenches. The beam type go out of calibration very easily, and are hard to read. Clickers still need calibration every so often, but are much more precise.

    Craig
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Thanks Juice. I'll make sure to adjust them once I have the wrench.
           The one draw back to the front plate is I have to remove it in order to change the oil filter. There is a hole for the oil pan plug.

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So you don't want those overtorqued. Oil changes are routine, so you need easy access.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    joining in with the chorus, Happy Birthday!

    Bob
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    A belated Happy Birthday!
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Colin,
        Happy Birthday you youngin!

    -mike
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    IIRC beam type torque wrenches are rugged but less precise. The click type are more precise but can be damaged if you keep yanking on it after it clicks. And as someone mentioned earlier, should be set to a low range for storage.

    Jim
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    The one day I don't check Edmund's and it's your B-day. Happy belated birthday, man!

    Ken
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