Oaken Gearbox

The simplest way to buy new tires or wheels that fit your car is to look up the current ones and buy ones the exact same size. If you don't want to do that for whatever reason, you found a deal on craigslist on similar sized ones, for example, or you want to up-size your wheels for looks, it starts to get more complicated. I'll start by explaining the different important dimensions on wheels, and then move to tires. Wheels: Wheels have five important measurements: Image cortesy of sizeitup.com Diameter. This is the one you're probably most familiar with. It is measured in inches and is usually somewhere between 14"  and 19". Width. Pretty self explanatory. This is also measured in inches. Bolt Pattern. This is measured by the number of lugs and the diameter on which they are drilled. It can be measured in either inches or millimeters. This is both important and difficult to measure. The easiest way, if possible, is to find out what car the wheels ca...

 I was recently given a 1st Gen Nook Simple Touch by  Barnes & Noble. Since used books are relatively cheap and I only read 3 or 4 a year, I've never seen the need to own an eReader. That being said I love a good gadget, and the NST is simple, easy to customize, and surprisingly capable given its age and limited intent. Essentially, the NST is a very simple tablet running Android 1.2.1. Although many apps in the Play Store are not compatible with such an old version of Android, many still work and often old .apks can be found and side-loaded to your Nook (including the Kindle App, where ebooks are generally cheaper that from B&N). Below are various steps I took to set up my Nook. 1. Connect to my home WiFi network. Oddly enough this took longer than anything else I did. Due to its older hardware, the Nook Simple Touch is not compatible with Wireless N at 5GHz. When I first tried to connect, it showed my network, allowed me to type in my password, even connect...

Although conventional wisdom (or at least a window salesman) would say that replacing will always save you money, that isn't necessarily true, and depends on a lot of factors, including the condition of your windows,  the cost and type of fuel available in your area,  and not least your climate. Read on for the actual results I've gotten from both new windows and rebuilt origin My suburban Minneapolis story and a half, like many thousands of others that popped up during the post WWII baby boom was built with the traditional double-hung, single pane windows and removable wood-framed screens and storms, each one custom fit and labeled in neat black sharpie for its parent window, NE Bedroom, for example, or Kitchen Sink. Although it is well documented that low-e glass, double pane windows allow less heat to escape your home and don't require the screens and storms to be swapped every spring and fall, that doesn't necessarily mean they are the best energy invest...

I recently finished reading the biography Eisenhower in War and Peace . Before reading this book, I knew little more about Eisenhower's presidency than that he built the interstate system. After reading this biography, I'm inclined to think he is the most effective modern president we've had. In many ways his success seems to highlight the more recent lack of leadership in Washington. A few of his accomplishments Ended the Korean War within 7 months of being inaugurated Avoided entanglement in Vietnam Not only balanced the budget, but reduced the national debt from 100% of GDP to 56% Accomplished this while engaged in an arms race with the Soviet Union and without massive cuts to social programs or increasing taxes Avoided a recession after Korea by building the interstate highway system (unemployment when he left office was at 5%) Only president in the twentieth century to preside over 8 years of peace Began desegregation of the South while avoiding major...

I completed this job on my 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon (stock) in about 8 hours. That included a lunch break and a trip to Autozone for a 24mm deepwell socket. The vast majority of my time was spent on my back in the driveway trying to reach the bolts around the oil pan, several of which are located up under a frame member. RTV vs Gasket There seems to be some debate about whether RTV or a premade gasket makes a better seal. Most people I talked to advised using RTV, and since that is what Subaru used originally, that's what I did. I was not able to get as clean a bead as I hoped because of the awkward position under the car and I still had no leaks, so I'll add my voice to the opinion that RTV is a good option. Finding the Oil Leak A piece of advice: If you're looking to fix an oil leak, take the time to find out where your oil is leaking for sure and don't just assume its the oil pan. In my case I was pretty sure, because I damaged the oil pan drivin...