Author: Okierover

I'm just your average former United States Marine, married to an awesome woman, with amazing kids...and the cutest grand kids. My Profile.
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December 23rd, 2002 (Post #16)

December 23, 2002
First Real Snow of the Year
The first real snow has fallen. I am not sure how much but it is there tempting me to drive in it. The Ditchfinder is “going wheeling” tonight. So a recovery call is probably inevitable.Inappropriate Matt gave me one of the funniest Rover stories today. He also has fueled a rumor that there is a G4 in town. I hope to see it to confirm, but I will have to take his word for it for now. He said, “that’s the truck” when I showed him a picture.

Silverado Taunted, By Silverado Matt
I drive a 2001 Chevy Silverado. The rear tires were a little wore but I didn’t think anything of it.
Driving along I-44 by MLK in Oklahoma City I started to move to the right most lane where the on ramp is for I-35. While changing lanes my truck started sliding. I turned into the slide but ended up doing a 180 across the middle of I-44 to the left side of the road. Luckily everyone was able to safely avoid me and keep on going. I ended up in a ditch on the highway’s median “Stuck”. I tried unsuccessfully to get out but had no luck. There was no traction whatsoever. So I started to walk across the highway and noticed a Progressive insurance vehicle had stopped for me. The girl that stopped let me use her phone. I called my dad to pull me out.

While waiting a Land Rover pulled up, about 100 ft in front of my truck. It drove forward and backwards in the median as if to taunt me by showing “see what I can do”. I thought it was just messing with me and would soon leave. Eventually he drove to my window and asked “Do you want out?” Of course I said yes. When we were hooking up his winch (Silverado Matt actually typed “wench” here which makes this an entirely different type of story) to my truck I told him I have a friend that I give a hard time about his Land Rover that breaks down all the time. I also told him I would never give my friend a hard time about his Rover again. Needless to say he pulled me most of the way out as my dad arrived to finish the job.

Another convert is born. Silverado Matt said, if he had the money he would, “buy one of those, no question.”

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December 10th, 2002 (Post #15)

December 10, 2002

Garage Day Success

Garage Day was a success.

The Land Rover Bomber Jackets were a big hit.

Got the bad brake fluid changed. There were a great many bits floating in the recovery bottle.
The fluid is translucent now as opposed to the tea colored fluid we removed. There will be a
right up soon. Look for it.

See you at the next one.

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December 3rd, 2002 (Post #14)

December 3, 2002
The Joys of Urban Living and Good Thing He was at the Garage
Garage Day is Saturday. With that in mind Friday after Thanksgiving was a crummy day. I went out to the curb to return the trash cans to the side of the house and there on the ground was my right rear lens protector and some red plastic. I looked at it an thought that’s strange. Then I looked at the truck, long scratch, and a torn quarter panel (with hole). Seems the City of Norman trashman put the retrieval arm of his large trash truck down the side of the Range Rover. Boy was I steamed. I called the City and they came out and assumed full responsibility and the driver returned and apologized.
Monday I went to get estimates for repair. Surprisingly the damage was anywhere from $1200-1400(US). Good grief! In the good ole days my Dad would have said lets pound it out and fill it with Bond-O. Well on a steel car maybe, aluminum who knows. We would have been out $200 with paint. I will have it repaired but the process to be paid by the city is tenuous so I will have to wait until they approve the repair at the City Council meeting someday in the future.
My arrival at work was greeted by several jokes. A sign with pictures of trash trucks and dumpsters from FordShortBed (a new evil woodworking superhero) that says “Stay away from these!!! They are dangerous!!!” stubbornly taped to my monitor. Also Titanium Hitch came in and said excitedly “come on, quick we gotta move the Rover there’s a trash truck in the parking lot!!” I almost got up and went out there. Ha Ha. I will keep you apprised and I will post some pics when I can get them back.

Almost a recovery…
JagGuy drove his Range Rover to Cajun Country (Baton Rouge) over the long weekend and back home. 1500 miles round trip. And after stopping at the Garage to pick up some stuff he came out put his truck in gear and a lound “BINK” came from under the truck. He had a CV joint fail. Wow, what luck that he was at the Garage when it happened. He called me on Monday and told me he had already taken it apart and was heading to Rover Cannibal to pick up a spare. He promised pictures and a write up for all of us. I will post it when he finishes it. It will give him a good reason to buy a digital camera if he didn’t already have one.

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November 15th, 2002 ( (Post #12)

November 15, 2002

Garage Day is coming (see below). I will work on one of two projects at Garage Day. Either the “Great Brake Fluid Replacement” or the “Gosh, a light here would be really cool” project. The brake fluid swap is no big deal. Replace the brake fluid whoopee. But the light project is better, more nerdy. The Ditchfinder has a light under the hood of his Chevy that has a real long cord and can be used as far away as the back tires. I went to a junk yard and got one for $10. I plan to install it under the hood. Thusly providing a very nice light for those dark nights on the side of the road.

On the board I have been inquiring about a dual battery setup. In the coming months I will be investigating that possibility. I have a concern about my alternator at this point and it’s ability to charge the batteries. But I will find out more and as always I will let you know what is found.

I am coming around to the final design for the Rover Cupholder (what no reverb). I am pricing lathes and will be to turn some samples out of pine or other cheap wood to work out the bracket to holder relationships. JagGuy had some great input as we blazed along in Edmond to the garage last week and with that advice I think I am ready to “Turn some wood baby”. I have never used a lathe so I may have to have another friend give me a primer first.

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November 5th, 2002 (Post #10)

November 5, 2002

Yea sun. The “bouncing lock” problem is still there. But this is just in (teletype sound here), I have been locking the truck from the driver’s side. But when I lock the doors with the key, just as before, from the passenger side they bounce! So I am going to look at the passenger side first in hopes I will see an obvious problem. More to come….

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