Rebuilding Your Auto Engine - A Wise Choice for the Car or Truck Owner
Is the engine in your car or late model truck worth rebuilding? Is the time , trouble and expense worth it or should you check one of other alternatives available to you such as a used engine , a full or partial professional rebuild or a factory service like rebuild - many of which now are being done offshore and being shipped back to U.S. automotive consumers ?
The do it yourselfer is faced with these options to evaluate when it comes to the dreaded time of a potential engine overall. Most likely you have gotten a good number of relatively trouble free services from your automotive engine and are now faced with the prospect of an engine overhaul. The decision to replace the engine bloc, piston, connecting rod assemblies as well as crankshaft depends on a number of factors, with the number one consideration being the condition of the engine block. Other considerations are cost, ready access to machine and auto shop facilities, parts availability, time required to complete the project and finally the extent of prior mechanical experience on the part of the do-it-yourselfer home auto mechanic.
Next consider the value of the vehicle. It has turned out that frequently the total end cost of the parts required to complete the task of rebuilding the engine is greater and more than the actual value of the vehicle. It can be said that often ego and pride of ownership gets in the way of a fair and true evaluation of the situation, its costs and reasonable conclusions on the suitability of the project at all. As a case in point one proud owner of what might be considered a truck that was long past its prime and in great need of repair convinced himself that expensive repairs were in order by himself when a quick tour of local area junkyards should of convinced that the truck itself could be replaced by any of the similar vehicles that were laying about these auto parts recycling facilities.
In such situations where the cost for a full engine overhaul is greater than the cost of a full and proper engine rebuild one option to consider is a used engine from one of above auto junk yards. True the engine may not have the full engine life of a rebuilt engine but there may be more than enough lifespan in one of these replacements which come at a much lower cost and may indeed outlive the body components and lifespan of the vehicle itself. In addition most of the professional auto parts recycling shops will both have tested and warranty the engine for a reasonable initial automobile test and evaluation time period.
It can be said that the vehicle may seem to have great value to you. The question to ask is "If I sink in this money and time of a full rebuilt engine will anyone pay me more for my vehicle or if I sell this vehicle will I get my money back?" The answer is usually "Probably not". However it can be said that devil you know is better than the devil you do not. You will have a vehicle whose history and maintenance background is well known to you. You will know the quirks and characteristics of the vehicle - of what to expect and what repairs as well are upcoming. Thus said sinking money and time into rebuilding your engine or engine block may make good sense to you overall in the end.
Pack Silencer no packing in 2 stroke muffler silencer hurt my bike 2006 yz125?
my packing blew out of my silencer muffler on my 06 yz125 last summer n i have noticed my throtle response isnt what it ust to be and it cuts off when hot when i pull clutch in n brake sometimes n wont idle like it ust too i thought it just would lose a lil throttle response from no back press but its getn worst do you think it messd the rev valves up or what ? thanks
Your bike will not perform as well with the packing blown out, but no engine damage can possibly occur from it. Your problems have nothing to do with the muffler. What are rev valves? Are you talking about reed valves? Unless you had it apart and damaged the reed valves when touching them, there is nothing wrong with your reed valves. The first thing you need to do is a compression test. Being a four year old 125cc 2 stroke motocross bike, it is highly likely it is due for a top end overhaul.
Something I Said - David Daniels Silences Talkin' Roots Crew
Something I Said - David Daniels Retires Talkin' Roots Crew
Dwight Hobbes - Twin Cities Daily Planet archives
There's bad news and there's good news. Rasta Bard David Daniels is pulling the plug on the Talkin' Roots Crew—but he's going to keep writing and performing solo and, possibly, as Reggae Ensemble Theatre.
Daniels has done his damnedest to defy convention and not come up too badly. He keeps running out of venues to play (because you never know when he'll break out with some herb on stage) yet he keeps finding new ones. He can't make the mainstream press to save his dreadlocks, but soon as word gets around that he's performing somewhere, it's standing room only. Forget about finding his solo CD, Talkin' Roots. It's sold out of two printings. However, he moved on to record 4:20 Report as David Daniels and the Talk Roots Crews; you can find that record at shops around Minneapolis.
With him for the upcoming Talkin' Roots Crew farewell show are Van Nixon, Nate Stevens, Ike Russell, and Dan Boldt. Should prove to be a lively night. Daniels's grassroot-spawned popularity has never been greater; he packed the Acadia Café to the rafters late last year. Why, then, is he shelving the band? "People evolve and artists evolve," says Daniels. "In that evolution, sometimes one realizes that the form used in the past doesn't quite fit where one is at today. This is the case with me with the Talkin' Roots Crew."
Okay, fine. David Daniels is still David Daniels, whether it's with these guys or not. For the past few years, he's been woodshedding, coming up with a solo piece he calls Kowtown. "It's a series of vignettes set in 1980s Denver, Colorado. One departure from previous works is that Kowtown contains no reggae music and no references to marijuana. It's progressed to the point where I expect to present it in Denver sometime this year." That ain't all. "In addition to Kowtown, there's been another play in the hopper and I have various storytelling projects in the works. I can't say at this time when the public will see them." So, making it down to this show would be a smart move.
I'm sworn to divulge any possible conflict of interest. Accordingly: I've opened for David Daniels a couple times and he's doing liner notes for my in-the-works CD. The Talkin' Roots Farewell Show is Sunday, April 19th, 8 p.m. at the Acadia Café. No cover. Do you need to be told to get there early?
About the Author
Coming: "Angels Don't Really Fly" EP by Dwight Hobbes & The All-Star Hired Guns featuring Alicia Wiley. The crew: Me, Alicia Wiley, Stanley Kipper, Chico Perez, Jeff "Boday" Christensen, Aaron "Orange A.C." Cosgrove and Yohannes Tona. Singer-songwriter Dwight Hobbes recorded the single "Atlanta Children" (BeatBad Records) and gigged 10 years in the Long Island/NYC area, including The Other End, Kenny's Castaways and My Fathers Place. Fronted the Boston blues band Midlight. In Minneapolis, Hobbes opened for David Daniels at First Street Entry, James Curry at Terminal Bar, sat in with Yohannes Tona, Alicia Wiley at Sol Testimony's Soul Jam, The New Congress at Babalu, Willie Murphy at the Viking Bar and Wain McFarlane & Jahz at Lucille's Kitchen. Dwight Hobbes still drops in at the occasional open mic around town. Dwight Hobbes has written for ESSENCE, Reader's Digest, Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, City Pages, Mpls/St. Paul, MN Law & Politics, Pulse of the Twin Cities, Twin Cities Daily Planet, Women & Word, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Circle, to Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (where he contributes the commentary columns Hobbes In The House and Something I Said. He's spoken his mind over National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio and KMOJ in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Was regularly featured as guest commentator on NewsNight Minnesota (KTCA-Minneapolis/St. Paul) and Spectator (Minneapolis Television Network). His monthly column "Hobbes In The House" in MN Spokesman Recorder comments on domestic abuse and rape. His plays are Shelter - produced at Mixed Blood Theatre by Pangea World Theater, Dues - produced by Mixed Blood Theatre, University of Southern Illinois in Point of Revue, selected for Bedlam Theatre's 10-Minute Play Festival and published by Playscripts, Inc. You Can't Always Sometimes Never Tell - produced by Theater Center Philadelphia, Long Island University, reading at The Kennedy Center and published in the anthology CENTER STAGE, In the Midst - produced by Long Island University, starring Samuel E. Wright. Hobbes spoke on the panel "Farewell To August Wilson" at the Guthrie Theater, broadcast on Conversations With Al McFarlane (KFAI, KMOJ). Twin Cities Daily Planet articles archived at www.tcdailyplanet.net/dwighthobbes
I bought a 96' Yamaha FZR 600 as a starter bike and I think I want to sell it this summer. The only thing really wrong with it is scratches and big chips in the plastics/fairings from I guess dropping it by previous owners. I payed $1300 and I'm wondering if it's worth it to replace the fairings, its mainly the left and right side main fairing idk what its called but the part that covers the engine and stuff.. What do you think, replace the plastics or sell it how it is?
Thanks everyone, the only thing is it's not just cracks in the plastics, its big pieces missing, Ill prob just sell it as is though.
For a $1300 bike, it would probably cost more for new plastic than the bike is worth. It would be less expensive to take it to a local auto body shop and get an estimate for repainting, but again... The bike isn't worth that much. Just sell it as-is and let the new owner fix it up if he wants to.
It can be intimidating walking into a career fair...all of those employers waiting for YOU to come and meet them. However, if you're armed with the knowledge and confidence that you need, this could be the beginning of a new - or - better career.
Do Your Research
Treat the career fair as a bunch of mini interviews. Find out beforehand what companies are going to be there and which ones you're interested in talking to. For those organizations, do your research just like you would for a 'real' interview. Your enthusiasm will be apparent to the employer, and that is a good thing.
It takes a lot to stand out in a career fair. By showing your knowledge about the company and/or industry, you prove that you might just have that extra something they're looking for in an employee.
Dress the Part
The first impression you make on an employer is extremely important. Don't make it a negative one. Dress as you would dress for an interview. Yes, that may mean uncomfortable high heals or hot suits and ties, but you want to be sure you don't dress too casually. Employers may think you're not taking the career fair seriously and that you're just wasting their time.
Act Like You're 'On'
It can be difficult to remember while you're walking around at a career fair that employers could be watching you. Especially those you have already spoken to. So be careful what you do while deciding your next step, so to speak.
Try not to do anything that might be construed as negative. Watch your facial expressions - grimaces, rolling your eyes, exasperation - all things you want to avoid. If you just spoke with an employer and then as you were walking away, sighed and rolled your eyes, you might want to cross that company off your potential list.
Be Prepared
Whatever you do, be sure you have several copies of your resume and cover letter. Better still, for the companies that you know you're going to speak with, write a specific one for them, just like when you apply to job postings. You might not be able to be as specific as you would in that situation, but bringing some non-generic job search documents along with you can serve as a great start to a conversation with a company.
In addition to your resume package, you may want to have a few copies of your references. Even though it's not common for an employer ask for references at a career fair, you never know what they may throw at you.
Remember, a career fair should be treated as a real way to network and obtain job leads. No matter what kind of career fair it is, that one event could be a key to making connections that can help you get a job now or in the future.
About the Author
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end. For resume services reviews, interview and job search advice, go to http://www.ResumeLines.com
