61
General Discussion / Do they have RFTH?
« on: December 30, 2020, 09:44:04 am »
This is Tianmen Mountain in China. I wonder if they have RFTH over there?
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62
General Discussion / MERRY CHRISTMAS!
« on: December 24, 2020, 10:03:10 pm »
The stars in the sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.
(Hubble image of the center of the Milky Way galaxy)
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.
(Hubble image of the center of the Milky Way galaxy)
63
General Discussion / The Great Conjunction
« on: December 21, 2020, 04:30:38 pm »
This picture was made using a backyard telescope recently. Planets and moons are labeled for your convenience. (The real sky doesn't do that.) The picture is reduced in size from the original, but I think you can see everything. This is for those who can't climb Stone Mountain tonight (including me) to see it for yourself.
64
General Discussion / My last two years
« on: December 14, 2020, 10:04:11 pm »
Some of you don't know that for the last two years, the woman in the picture below lived in my house. I had known her for a long time, and she and Linda became best friends.
In recent years, she disappeared from our lives and we didn't know what happened to her, but in September 2018, not knowing that Linda had passed, she contacted me saying that she had terminal cancer, and needed a place to live. After telling her about Linda (wasn't easy), I invited her to come here.
I rented a trailer and brought her and her things here, arriving on October 4, 2018.
On December 3 at 3 AM, Marisha Ann Huskey lost her life to cancer.
The picture below is the last one I have of her in good health. Linda and I were with her in a restaurant in Boone, NC, where she lived at the time. Linda did something to make her laugh, and I snapped the picture.
In recent years, she disappeared from our lives and we didn't know what happened to her, but in September 2018, not knowing that Linda had passed, she contacted me saying that she had terminal cancer, and needed a place to live. After telling her about Linda (wasn't easy), I invited her to come here.
I rented a trailer and brought her and her things here, arriving on October 4, 2018.
On December 3 at 3 AM, Marisha Ann Huskey lost her life to cancer.
The picture below is the last one I have of her in good health. Linda and I were with her in a restaurant in Boone, NC, where she lived at the time. Linda did something to make her laugh, and I snapped the picture.
65
General Discussion / LED headlights done rigfht
« on: November 30, 2020, 08:31:04 pm »
I have somewhat poor night vision, so I put LED headlights in all my cars. But until now, I have not been entirely happy with them, until the new ones I found recently. The following pictures will explain things. This discussion deals with H4 bulbs only. They are used in the housings you can get to replace the sealed beam bulbs in a Fiero,, and they are also mused in my Ford Escape.
The picture below is a closeup of an H4 bulb. The two spring-like things are the filaments that light up when electricity is applied. The filament closer to the front of the bulb is the low beam light source, and the one closer to the base is the high beam light source. The little metal shield below the low beam filament ensures that it light goes only upward, where it strikes the surface of the bulb housing, and is reflected forward and downward to light the road but not blind oncoming cars. The result is a wide, flat beam. The high beam filament is allowed to shine in all directions so that it's light is reflected off all parts of the bulb housing. The result is a rounder beam that lights everything in front of you.
The picture below compares the H4 bulb to the kind of LED bulb I have been using. It has 4 LED elements, two that shine up for the low beam, and two that shine down for the high beam. The low beam elements are so large that the resulting beam is not nearly as precise as with the H4 bulb, with the result that sometimes oncoming cars flash their lights at me, because they think I have high beams on. When I turn high beams on, the bulb actually lights all four elements, since high beam needs light in all directions. But the low beam elements are not at the proper focal plane for high beam operation, and high beam just doesn't look "right'.
The below pictures shows the kind of LED bulbs I now have. These are BeamTech brand LED bulbs, and, as you can see, their LED elements are more closely positioned where the filaments are in the H4 bulb. Not only that, but there is a shield on each side to prevent the low beam element from shining downward. And in high beam, only the high beam elements light up, just like the high beam filament in the H4 bulb. The result is both low beam and high beam patterns that look correct. And there is another plus side of the BeamTech bulbs
The older style LED bulbs have a cooling fan on them. This is a potential source of trouble, and, in fact, the fan quit on one of the bulbs in my Ford Escape. The result was that the bulb would shine for a while, go out for a while, and repeat. Evidently the bulb has a thermal protection circuit that turns it off if it gets too hot, and back on when it cools down. The BeamTech bulbs only have a heat sink.
When I lived in Texas years ago, cars had to undergo an annual safety inspection. One of the tests involved shining your headlights into a gizmo to see of they were aimed correctly. I don't think the older style LED bulbs would have passed that test, but I'm sure the BeamTech bulbs would.
I drove my Escape some after dark tonight for the first time since replacing the bulbs, and i really like the patterns for both low and high beam. And no one flashed at me while I was in low beam.
The picture below is a closeup of an H4 bulb. The two spring-like things are the filaments that light up when electricity is applied. The filament closer to the front of the bulb is the low beam light source, and the one closer to the base is the high beam light source. The little metal shield below the low beam filament ensures that it light goes only upward, where it strikes the surface of the bulb housing, and is reflected forward and downward to light the road but not blind oncoming cars. The result is a wide, flat beam. The high beam filament is allowed to shine in all directions so that it's light is reflected off all parts of the bulb housing. The result is a rounder beam that lights everything in front of you.
The picture below compares the H4 bulb to the kind of LED bulb I have been using. It has 4 LED elements, two that shine up for the low beam, and two that shine down for the high beam. The low beam elements are so large that the resulting beam is not nearly as precise as with the H4 bulb, with the result that sometimes oncoming cars flash their lights at me, because they think I have high beams on. When I turn high beams on, the bulb actually lights all four elements, since high beam needs light in all directions. But the low beam elements are not at the proper focal plane for high beam operation, and high beam just doesn't look "right'.
The below pictures shows the kind of LED bulbs I now have. These are BeamTech brand LED bulbs, and, as you can see, their LED elements are more closely positioned where the filaments are in the H4 bulb. Not only that, but there is a shield on each side to prevent the low beam element from shining downward. And in high beam, only the high beam elements light up, just like the high beam filament in the H4 bulb. The result is both low beam and high beam patterns that look correct. And there is another plus side of the BeamTech bulbs
The older style LED bulbs have a cooling fan on them. This is a potential source of trouble, and, in fact, the fan quit on one of the bulbs in my Ford Escape. The result was that the bulb would shine for a while, go out for a while, and repeat. Evidently the bulb has a thermal protection circuit that turns it off if it gets too hot, and back on when it cools down. The BeamTech bulbs only have a heat sink.
When I lived in Texas years ago, cars had to undergo an annual safety inspection. One of the tests involved shining your headlights into a gizmo to see of they were aimed correctly. I don't think the older style LED bulbs would have passed that test, but I'm sure the BeamTech bulbs would.
I drove my Escape some after dark tonight for the first time since replacing the bulbs, and i really like the patterns for both low and high beam. And no one flashed at me while I was in low beam.
66
General Discussion / Happy Veterans Day
« on: November 11, 2020, 11:46:02 am »
Happy Veterans Day to all who served.
Here are some pictures of my time in the Navy...
My Navy boot camp picture
The "island" of the USS Ranger (CVA-61). i worked on the two large air search radars, represented by the large black "dish" antenna, and the "bed spring" antenna.
The flight deck of the Ranger
We often had a destroyer escorting us.
A view from the "fantail" of the Ranger. The destroyer is trying to keep up.
A helicopter carrying cargo
A tanker version of the A3 refuels a Phantom (F4).
Here are some pictures of my time in the Navy...
My Navy boot camp picture
The "island" of the USS Ranger (CVA-61). i worked on the two large air search radars, represented by the large black "dish" antenna, and the "bed spring" antenna.
The flight deck of the Ranger
We often had a destroyer escorting us.
A view from the "fantail" of the Ranger. The destroyer is trying to keep up.
A helicopter carrying cargo
A tanker version of the A3 refuels a Phantom (F4).
67
General Discussion / Looking for an app
« on: November 01, 2020, 04:35:38 pm »
I'm searching for an app, for either Windows, Mac, or Linux (I have all three). I want something that can restore a faded color picture to what it should be. Below are examples of what I mean. These are pictures of my sister Kathy from about 1975. The greenish one is from the actual picture (a Kodacolor slide), and the other one is my attempt to restore it. The restoration is far from perfect. Is there something out there that can use AI to figure out a better restoration?
What I'm thinking of is something that can somehow figure out that the dark part of the dress should be navy blue, the hair should be dark blonde, etc., and get the skin perfect.
What I'm thinking of is something that can somehow figure out that the dark part of the dress should be navy blue, the hair should be dark blonde, etc., and get the skin perfect.
68
The Market / Free 1985 Helms manual
« on: October 05, 2020, 01:19:07 pm »
Come get it at the next meeting...
69
Club Events / 25th Annual Run for the Hills Pictures
« on: September 27, 2020, 08:09:25 pm »
Here are the first set of pictures -- taken by me.
Gas stop
Lunch stop
Scenic overlook. My car had broken down before this picture. It may have filled that gap.
Gatlinburg from my hotel balcony (7th floor)
This beautiful car...
...has the coolest intake.
I had a little fun on the curves before my car broke down.
Gas stop
Lunch stop
Scenic overlook. My car had broken down before this picture. It may have filled that gap.
Gatlinburg from my hotel balcony (7th floor)
This beautiful car...
...has the coolest intake.
I had a little fun on the curves before my car broke down.
70
General Discussion / Free non-automotive items
« on: September 21, 2020, 09:08:47 pm »
I am, slowly cleaning out my garage, and have the following things to give away if you come and get them, or $50 if I must ship (each listing).
Handicap shower bench
Two sets of take-down kayak paddles.
Handicap shower bench
Two sets of take-down kayak paddles.
71
The Market / Free Steering Rack and Seat Slides
« on: September 21, 2020, 08:50:26 pm »
The slow cleaning of my garage is continuing, and I have found the following, free to a good home. No shipping -- you must come and get it, or I can take it to RFTH or the next meeting.
84-87 steering rack, complete with damper, tie rod ends, and steering shaft. Everything feels tight -- no play.
Driver side seat slides in good condition.
84-87 steering rack, complete with damper, tie rod ends, and steering shaft. Everything feels tight -- no play.
Driver side seat slides in good condition.
72
General Discussion / War's End
« on: September 02, 2020, 04:16:39 pm »
Today is the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Thanks to all who served then, including my dad.
73
The Market / WTB Passenger side non-power rearview mirror
« on: August 14, 2020, 04:50:17 pm »
I need a passenger side rear view mirror -- non-power. All I can find in the barn are driver side mirrors.
74
The Market / FREE STUFF
« on: August 10, 2020, 07:33:53 pm »
i am going to attempt to clean out my garage, with the hope of getting at least one car in there. Anything good I find, I will attempt to give away before i dump it. I WILL NOT SHIP -- you must come and get it.
First up is a wide mirror set for a 97-03 F150 truck. Will also fit 04 Heritage models. I used these when I had a travel trailer, and put the regular mirrors back on when I sold the trailer.
Next up is a patriotic theme coffee pot set. Includes creamer and 4 cups. New in box.
More stuff to be listed later.
First up is a wide mirror set for a 97-03 F150 truck. Will also fit 04 Heritage models. I used these when I had a travel trailer, and put the regular mirrors back on when I sold the trailer.
Next up is a patriotic theme coffee pot set. Includes creamer and 4 cups. New in box.
More stuff to be listed later.
75
General Fiero Discussion / My brothers and their Fieros
« on: August 03, 2020, 02:11:30 pm »
It seems like they have a lot of car shows in Texas. This past weekend, my brothers showed off their Fieros in a car show in Graham, TX, where my younger brother lives.
My older brother's car won 2nd place in the 80's modified category. My younger brother's car is my old 86 SE, but doesn't have the same engine. It only has the same intake and valve covers. It's not a 2.8 or even a early 90's 3.4. It has roller rockers, and he tells me that the current displacement is about 3.6. And it's turboed. And it will spin the tires.
My older brother's car won 2nd place in the 80's modified category. My younger brother's car is my old 86 SE, but doesn't have the same engine. It only has the same intake and valve covers. It's not a 2.8 or even a early 90's 3.4. It has roller rockers, and he tells me that the current displacement is about 3.6. And it's turboed. And it will spin the tires.