DanD

Your dice, you throw them. Dan.

I agree there are some very good savings to be had; just make sure you declare them at the board. There's no duty If they were made in North America because of the NAFTA agreement; just the HST. But lets say they were made in China, there will be 7 or 8% duty along with the HST. Don't get caught not declaring; if you do, there are some pretty big fines and they could confiscate your vehicle and all of its contents. Dan.

Buy the tire you want/can afford, after doing price comparisons between the different dealers selling that brand of tire. After the third season, Kijiji them while they still look like they have decent tread. After you've worn off the first 4/32" of tread (new 11-12/32") they are no more then a pacifier; they make you feel good that you have snows on. IMHO a snow tire worn done past 6-7/32" is no better then a new all-season tire at 9-10/32" thread. Dan.

I've been a licensed automotive tech (Mechanic) for 39 years; owning my own business for the last 33 years and still mostly love coming into work. Why I say mostly is that people can be very difficult to deal with, when they don't understand or care why somethings cost so much to have repaired these days. That being said I love the way this trade keeps changing up things; things that were the norm 5 years ago, isn't heard of today. It's a constant learning curve that sends me back to school 2 or 3 times a year. I've slowed down in the amount of work I can produce during the course of a day; but that's why I have two very knowledgeable young techs that can bust their ass for me. I am looking forward to retirement; but I'm not going to stop working on cars. I have a plan of building a "hobby" shop at home or moving to a place that has a shop. This will be my domain where I can work at my own pace, on what I want to work on. Namely this old girl Dan.

I know this isn't dumping in the woods; but it's bad here in town as well. People see a business's dumpster and they think it's a free for all to put their crap in it or more times then none all around it. I got so fed up with these people leaving all this junk here; I started opening up the garbage bags (gross) and looking for addresses. People that do this cannot be all that smart; because there is almost always an address or a phone number to be found in this garbage. I would call the people and ask when I could deliver a package that was dropped off here accidentally or asked if they'd like to pick it up? More times then none they'd be here within a half hour to collect their package; I loved the look on their face when they saw what the package was. LOL Dan.

I agree 100%. I've pulled engines down for things like a head gasket change. While the heads are out for planing and pressure testing (maybe 24 hours); there will be a film of rust starting on the cylinder walls. This film will just wipe off but what would it be like after 4-6 months? Pulled a 5Lt motor out of my 85 Caprice; good motor but I was pulling a 28 foot house trailer at the time and needed a bit more power. That motor sat warm & dry on my shop floor for approx 5 months. A family member needed an engine so I put the 5Lt in their car for them. Fired right up ran just as well as it did before I pulled it. Within a week or so the engine started burning oil; a motor that never did before its 5 mount sit. Pulled the engine down to find #2 & 5 cylinder's oil control piston rings seized. So yea any motor that's going to sit needs something to protect the combustion chamber and rings. Dan.

Wouldn't fishing with this mink be the same as hunting with a ferret? Don't know where this guy is from; I'm asking about here in Ontario. Dan. http://www.outdoorontario.net/AskMNR/mnrfaqgame.html Question 165: Is it legal to use ferrets for rabbit hunting in ontario. I've heard alot of people say there illeagal but there are a few that say you can use them. I was wondering if you could clear this up. Asked August 20, 2003 Answer from the MNR It is illegal to use a ferret to hunt in Ontario.

Again make sure you check the specs on the battery you're buying. Just because it has a bigger case size, doesn't always mean it has more lead that make up the plates. It could only mean that there's more plastic case and an extra cup of acid. Dan.

For all the 4 stroke owners, seafoam can also be used in the crankcase. I've had it help with noisy/dirty lifters; just by the cleaning it does. Follow the directions; more is not always better. Dan.

If anyone in the London area is interested, I've got the 16oz cans of SeaFoam here at the shop. Members of the board can have it at my cost of $8.00 tax in; I regularly sell it for $14.85 plus tax. I'm not making anything on it; just thought I'd throw it out there for you guys. Let me know 519-681-3844 Dan.

Yea maybe or it could be the in-service date? The date the battery got wet down with acid and its first charge. Dan.

Kirkland batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls, which is a well respected company; that manufacture batteries for a number of different labels. These batteries are not built to Cosco's specifications; but to their cost point. In other words Costco tells Johnson Controls we want X number of batteries and are only willing to pay you this. From there Johnson Controls builds the best battery they can too meet that cost point. When you see a Kirkland battery on sale, make sure you check a few things before you buy. What is the CCA/MCA, the amp hour and the reserve capacity of this battery, compared to their regular priced battery. If not sure pick up each one of the batteries the heavier battery is the better one; more or thicker lead plates. The other thing too check is the date code that is heat stamped onto the top or around the top edge of the battery. Johnson control battery's date code reads like this. It'll likely be a 4 digit like 2B1A. It's the first 2 digits you want; the first is the year number 1 - 0 repeating every 10 years. The second is the month code. A -M skipping I. So the code on the battery above would have been made in Feb of 2002. You wouldn't want to buy a 3 - 8 or 10 year old battery, especially that they've been on a shelf wet with acid. Just know what you're buying and almost any of today's batteries will work well for you. There's only something like 5 lead acid battery manufacturers here in North America Johnson Controls: Interstate Batteries, Motorcraft, Sears Diehard, Wal-Mart Everstart, Auto Zone Duralast, Pep Boys Prostart, Costco Kirkland, Advance Autoparts Autocraft Delphi: AC/Delco, Delphi, Freedom, Voyager, Walmart Everstart, Professional, Platinum Exide Technologies: Exide, Champion, Stowaway, Nascar Select, Nautilus, Wal-Mart Everstart, Tractor Supply Traveler, American, National, Power Breed East Penn: Deka Douglas: Douglas, Climate Master, Farmland, Legacy Platinum, Omni, SafeGuard, SurePower Dan.

If the room is not always being used, you could do a redneck fumigation. Take lawnmower, fill with gas, remove blade, bring into room, start the engine and leave room. Allow the mower to run until out of gas; next day air out room. If the noise doesn't chase them away, the carbon monoxide will get them. LOL Dan.

I guess you could say no; but I bet you'd be given a court order to release the vehicle to them as soon as they got a judge to sign the order? Dan.

Bobowski ask a question the other day about Baycrest lodge; that caught my interest for an ice fishing weekend. Did some searching on the place and I think it might fit the bill for you? They claim too have camp sites to handle RV's. http://www.quintefishing.com/baycrest/baycrest.htm Have a look. Dan.

DanC I apologize if you took my post as knocking your new truck; I wasn’t at all. I was just trying to explain that if any vehicle checked by the MTO shows too be unsafe; they will pull the plates. Then it’s the responsibility of the vehicle’s new owner to have it brought back up to standards. I have had many customers over the years that I’ve found things with their new purchase that should have been repaired during the safety. They’re first response is I’m going to the Ministry and get them to make the garage fix it. Sorry it doesn’t work that way; as I stated in my first post. Again I meant no disrespect toward your purchase; it sounds like a real nice truck. Dan.

One of my friends is an MTO officer and yea they do a lot of spot checks, after they receive complaints from consumers of a certain shop. DanC as far as “this could only go in my favor”; that’s true as in finding safety issues; but you wouldn’t have been pleased if he did find something during the spot check. Depending on what he found, he could have pulled the plates right then and there. If it were something minor but worth doing a complete inspection; he would have asked you to make an appointment with a licensed safety inspection facility of your choice or they may recommend one for an inspector to check the vehicle. The MTO would pay that facility the cost of the inspection. Again if they found more unsafe issues during the inspection, off come the plates. If this were the case the MTO would then go to the people that issued the certificate and hand them a summons to appear in court to face their charges. You are now the proud owner of an un-plated un-certified vehicle; that it’s up to you to get it back on the road. The Ministry cannot force the dealer or the people who originally certified the vehicle too repair the vehicle. Your only recourse if they refuse to pay for the repairs is to pay it out of your pocket and then take them to court. A safety certificate is not a warrantee/guarantee. I’ve been doing safety checks for over 30 years; I have also done these MTO inspections with the investigators and believe me, I have seen a lot of pissed off people calling a cab to get home because their plates were pulled. Dan.

Great report. I've been trying to talk my wife into going to BC too visit her brother in Richmond for years now; but she knows I have ulterior motives that has nothing to do with visiting him. Thanks for the post; great picture of the sturgeon! Dan.

I know what you mean by spending that amount of money for a one time experience; but man we only go around once, pull the trigger and go for it. Even if it doesn't work out with this Danny guy; ask him for his recommendation for the next best guy. My brother and I always spoke about going on a fly-in trip together; but the money always held us back. It wasn't that we couldn't afford it; but did we want too afford it. When my brother was diagnosed with cancer; we both said it's now or maybe never. After reading the report on Eddie;s place on the Attawapiskat by Mike Borger; it was to hell with it we're going. Best money I've ever spent towards this sport; we loved every minute of it. Plus for you, you've got your boss's permission so there's no repercussions when all said and done. LOL Enjoy your wife's birthday(?) gift too you. Dan.

If everything is supplied, I don't think $450.00 for a full day is out of line; is it? Dan.

Back in the mid 70's, we lived on a tobacco farm, that backed onto the Thames River. My Dad had bulldozed a ram to the water's edge for the irrigation pump; which also doubled as a boat launch for a lot of the locals. After it got known that my dad allowed people to use it as such; the garbage came with it. So Dad took the dozer down to the access road that lead to the flats and piled the 5 foot mound of dirt on it. People could still walk in; the garbage left behind was less; but eventually the flats were all fenced off and no trespassing signs went up. Dad didn't like too do it, it cost him a chunk of money; but it was the only way to stop people from throwing their junk on the property and sorry to say but most of it came from the fishermen. Dan.

GVWR on a factory completed vehicle cannot be made into anything more then what the manufacturer has rated it at; no matter what is done to the vehicle. If the vehicle leaves the factory incomplete’ like a van with no rear body or a pick up without the box. They can have their GVWR altered using manufacturer’s recommendations or by the use of an automotive Engineer’s blue-prints that are approved by Transport Canada. As for who can do this work; any garage that has licensed mechanic(s) at the place of business and if the garage owner is willing to jump through all the legal hoops that are required. There is a mountain’s worth of paper work too get these vehicles registered; but no special license for the places that build motorhomes, aftermarket cube van box, stretch limo or whatever. Dan.

Went to leave for work this morning and noticed the interior light was on in the wife's Envoy. Yup the driver's door window frame was pulled/bent out and they were likely able to reach in and hit the power lock switch. We never keep anything of value in our vehicles but the Envoy was ransacked with maybe a few CDs missing and a couple bucks worth of change. Our neighborhood seems to go through a monthly cycle, where we all get hit once or twice on our street with some form of break in. It usually happens shortly after a new family moves into the subsidized rental townhouses at the end of out street. It only took 4 days this time since the moving trucks left and all the new tenants moved in. Dan.

Anything in decent condition, you'll be looking at 10-12 grand would be the norm. Not saying you won't find a rare gem in a barn somewhere; but they're far and few in between. Something less then that expect to put the purchase price back into it again within the first few years. Like the old saying you get what you pay for. Dan.

Vertical splitter?