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Messages - Higher Caliber

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1
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: October 12, 2021, 06:27:21 PM »
So I ended up taking the side of the seat apart and I stuck my vacuum hose in there to clean out all the deteriorating foam. I then just used some poly pillow stuffing material and packed it in to the void. I spent a lot of quarantine hours cleaning 22 years of history out of this old girl. The wife and kids say she smells pretty decent now, so we will call the interior project complete!





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2
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: October 12, 2021, 06:23:52 PM »
You know, I have seen worse. Find someone to clean where it is or drive it to them.

Is new carpet that much?
More than I really want to spend right now I suppose.


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3
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: October 09, 2021, 05:18:37 PM »
How do you watch motor trend TV all day and not tinker… I figure my quarantine time will definitely be a lot of tinkering around. I’m happy enough with how the carpet turned out without pulling it. I just used commercial topical stain lifter and a rotary brush chucked in to my drill. This is only after two rounds of vacuuming, treating, brushing and vacuuming again.



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4
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: October 09, 2021, 01:44:03 PM »
Was feeling pretty decent this morning so I pulled the seats…. Don’t feel so decent now



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5
D.O.T. / Re: WDYDT (What Did You Do Today)
« on: October 08, 2021, 08:39:30 PM »
Tested positive for the Rona.

I got vaccinated as soon as it was available for first responders back whenever that was, during the first round. I’ve had multiple multiple positive contacts, working death scenes and what not. I guess it finally caught up with me.

Monday after shift I was feeling super tired in the gym, Tuesday I developed some cold like symptoms and just felt like crud. I went and saw the jail nurse and got an antigen test. I popped negative. Then last night i was feeling like crud even worse. I went for a two mile walk and afterward in the shower suddenly I noticed I had no sense of smell .

I went to my wife’s hospital this morning and popped a positive test. BOOOO. Luckily there was room in the infusion center so I jumped in and got the experimental antibody therapy.  I will keep y’all posted on how I fair. I walked two miles again tonight. My lungs feel pretty good, I’m just wiped out everywhere else.




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6
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: October 01, 2021, 02:20:19 PM »
Got all the door lock actuators swapped out. Next mechanical project will be getting a couple of the windows to roll up and down like they are supposed to. Then moving on to front brakes and new center caps, lug nuts, polish wheels. I’m thinking about spacers for the back wheels so it doesn’t look so bow legged up front.


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7
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 30, 2021, 06:27:53 PM »
I’ve never pressure washed it (I have home rugs) but nothing beats a commercial cleaner. I’d call a small local mom and pop company and offer to be flexible and see what they could do in their way home from another job etc.
I may do that. I have to take the driver’s seat out to get it re-done and we need our carpets cleaned at the house anyway so I might see if they will do my truck while they are here. Solid plan!


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8
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 30, 2021, 01:02:15 PM »
Looking good. Don’t think we got the back story on how/where you picked it up


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Facebook marketplace find. Since I traded my tundra off for the Subaru, I wanted to get an older truck from the “late 1900’s” to kind of fix up and tinker with. I really like the OBS and I miss my old white 98. The things I didn’t like was that it was only a 305, extended cab. It was way under powered for anything other than putting around in.

I found this money pit and decided it was a solid foundation to start from! I’m not going to modify it too much. Mainly I just want everything to work!

Has anyone ever pressure washed this kind of carpet? The more I clean on it, the dirtier it looks. It’s as if it just re-distributes the stains. I would like to try and salvage it.


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9
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 30, 2021, 02:52:29 AM »
Also found this!



My favorite part is “Been a good truck”


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10
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 30, 2021, 02:51:15 AM »
FYI, the door handles will pop off with just a screwdriver. They make a plate to prevent that if it is a concern.

They are such clean trucks, wish they had the LS motor in them. The 5.7 was OK, 4L60 was the weak link. 150k and boom (ask me how I know)
I’m not concerned. If they try the handle they will find it’s probably unlocked! As far as the 150k trans failure…. Lookie what I found in the glove box!



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11
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 30, 2021, 02:48:26 AM »
I didn’t put her back together tonight. Need to replace the door lock actuator and do not have that part on hand. I did however have an old grill and some turn signal housings on hand to clean the front end up a little! This grill is a Chinese aftermarket type from a discount auto parts store. I had it for the white 98 ECSB. It doesn’t fit right. But looks better than the busted up one that came with the truck.



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12
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 29, 2021, 11:50:12 PM »
That’s as far as we are going tonight. Going to get a new door lock actuator tomorrow before I put her all back together. This thing is a money pit, but she ought to be a swell rig when all said and done.


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13
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 29, 2021, 10:45:09 PM »
New external door handle. #chevythings





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14
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 29, 2021, 11:48:04 AM »
Rear tires today. I’ve never heard of Pathfinder A/T’s. I know they are made by Kumho and that’s what we used to sell at the farmers co-op. Don’t know anything about them other than that, but the front ones were same as new, so rather than buy 4 new tried and true BFG KO2’s, I opted to go with two of the Pathfinders to match the front.

Plus, Discount Tire went ahead and warrantied my front tires to tie up the deal.

Note- never buy anything from discount tire at their listed price. They have lots of room to wiggle and they will generally eat the tire disposal and throw in a warranty to seal your business. Plus, flat repairs are always free.





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15
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 29, 2021, 02:32:05 AM »
Oh… and the first hand calculated mpg, mostly city driving was 10.5!! Happy for double digits!!!


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16
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 29, 2021, 02:18:41 AM »
6 nuts and 6 hours later, I can check exhaust leak off the list! I really just took my time and can’t hardly believe I was able to get the exhaust flanges broke loose.

L for… LOOSE




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17
I’ve done it for many before!! I’m gonna need his address!


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18
If PFC Harward gets a suspicious post card with a picture of a submarine on it, and a message that says, “Private Harward advises drill sergeant has no smoke!” It wasn’t me


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19
Its the new army my brother!!!
I don’t know what to do with my hands so I’ll just throw them in the air.

I feel like if the new army has decided this is a better way to do it then us “old army” guys should be entitled to compensation.

This goes way beyond defective ear plugs.


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20
There’s stuff on the floor and the dirty laundry bags are full and camelbacks aren’t allowed. I have so much anxiety over this picture if SDS Carter saw this, the whole platoon would be deceased.


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21
This is OSUT infantry school?? At Ft Benning?? Who and how did this picture get taken? Why is there a kid in the kill zone wearing ear buds on a yoga mat? Who authorized the hoodie on the other fella? Why isn’t the floor shiny?? How is there time for these shenanigans?


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22
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 27, 2021, 02:34:53 AM »
Yes sir. It’s a MPFI Vortec 454. I can almost make it from one gas station to the next!


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23
Coffee Induced Early Morning Rant / Re: Hello friends
« on: September 27, 2021, 02:28:58 AM »
Blaine,
Love it that you're back
Always welcome here, always
Hey, my boy is currently in the infantry school at Benning. I was unsuccessful in trying to push him into a cockpit. He wants to be like you. I'll need your help looking forward...
Chief
I saw that! I can’t believe he’s old enough. Hard to believe most of us have been off and on between here and the old duramax forum for roughly a decade now.


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24
General Vehicle Related Discussion / Re: 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
« on: September 27, 2021, 02:19:14 AM »
For the record, I get it for all the reasons you have described and agree mostly. The only part I’d disagree with is the offroad capable as it’s limited and they get stuck often here in Colorado but probably fine where you’re located. People here just don’t know limitations or trail ratings and not isolated to Subaru owners either.

I drove my mom’s (just bought her one a couple months ago, the sport model in fact as it’s much easier/smaller to maneuver than her old outback) over to Eagle and back to drop her off at her sisters for the week. That car screamed up the pass to the Eisenhower Tunnel passing just about everything and wasn’t overworked doing it either, actually I was surprised.

I’ll do you a final solid & won’t mention what my teenage daughters call this car manufacturer in relation to the type of females who drive them here locally in hippyland.  :wink:
I know what you are getting at. I just don’t let my wife wear flannel when she drives it!

As far as off road capable. I’m speaking in the capacity of a 30+ mpg car. I made it all the way to the lookout on top of eagle peak in the tularosa mountains on a forest service goat trail of a road. I was incredibly impressed.


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25
General Vehicle Related Discussion / Re: 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
« on: September 26, 2021, 08:39:34 PM »

520 miles on 16gal lol


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26
General Vehicle Related Discussion / Re: 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
« on: September 25, 2021, 12:56:42 PM »






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27
General Vehicle Related Discussion / Re: 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
« on: September 25, 2021, 12:53:23 PM »







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28
General Vehicle Related Discussion / 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
« on: September 25, 2021, 12:50:37 PM »
Ok ok ok, hear me out…. I realize it’s not EMP proof, but here we have an AWD, highly off-road capable, powerful car that gets 30+ mpg and drives/rides like a cadi!




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30
Faith Discussion / Invictus
« on: September 25, 2021, 12:14:21 PM »
I took this photo along the Italianos Canyon trail outside of Taos, NM in the Carson Wilderness. This Aspen grove along a well traveled route is only a couple miles in and the general turn around place for most hikers. I wasn’t out hiking though. This was my last stop before I headed home and I had yet to find what I set out looking for. I continued up the trail and further into the wilderness where there was no trail, only a trickling stream up the middle of a canyon to keep my bearings. I traveled light, extra socks, Med kit, camelback, one MRE, bear spray and my Glock 19.

My intent was to find the source of the stream. I didn’t make that decision until I was too far to turn back. It sounds corny, but my name, Blaine, in old English is “the source of the River”. So I made that my mission. It was about 40 degrees, I was not dressed for the occasion, at all. I had one pair of dry socks left for the trek back to the car and I finally found where the water stopped trickling. About that time the weather changed drastically and snow began to fall in huge balls the size of my fist that stung my face when they hit me and melted almost immediately as they hit the ground.

My situation was not dire by any means, I don’t want it to sound like that, but it was pretty bad and momentarily I was scared. I hadn’t been scared of anything in a long time. That was my moment. At the source of the River. My middle name is Nathan. Translated as “He gave” (as in the big HE)

At the source of the River, He gave… Gave me my humanity back. It’s a weird feeling going through life as long as I have without -true- fear. How could it be that my gift from God was not comfort at all… it was fear? Crazy right?





“Invictus”, (Latin for invincible) A poem by William Ernest Henley written in 1875. Henley at the age of 16, had one of his legs amputated subsequent to an infection arising from tuberculosis. At the time this poem was written, he was undergoing experimental treatment to save his other leg. It has been referenced historically in speeches by many to include Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama. US POW in Vietnam, James Stockdale carried the last stanza, written with rat feces on toilet paper, with him while he was captive. In turn, this poem carries a lot of weight with me. I first analyzed it in a literature class in college and I have kept a copy close at hand ever since.


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31
Build Threads / Re: The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 24, 2021, 09:35:36 PM »
Glad you got the whole truck (longbed) pretty nice truck there.

Hope you are well Blaine.  Nice to see you pop in.


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It’s actually a short bed! Just the perspective of the picture. Lol


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32
Build Threads / The Grandpa Truck
« on: September 24, 2021, 06:31:34 PM »
This won’t be a “build” as much as it will be just a -fix- 200k miles worth of wear and tear.

1999 CCSB K2500 4x4 454





List of to do’s

Exhaust leak,
Fix door locks
Gas smell??
Rear tires
Grille, headlights, turn signal housings
Fix reverse lights
Led Conversion on white bulbs
Door pins, bushings
External door handle
Deep clean and detail interior
Driver’s Door window seal
Front LP
Paint receiver hitch
Spray in bed liner
Tint windows
Front seat


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33
Coffee Induced Early Morning Rant / Hello friends
« on: September 24, 2021, 06:00:19 PM »
I know it has been a minute. Life has been ridiculous and crazy. I just wanted to let y’all know I hadn’t fallen off the planet. I check through the forums every once in a while. There always seems to be something in here I was looking for whether I knew it or not.

I transferred to another agency after almost ten years when some things I didn’t have the patience for began to happen and it was a great decision. However it is a much larger agency and the faster pace/high call volume led me to realize I wasn’t as mentally healthy as I needed to be.

I traded the tundra for a little Subaru and with the blessings of my wife (sorta) I took off in to the desert and Mountains of New Mexico for a couple of weeks. I came back a new man. Something about the mountains… I have a therapist now and she doesn’t smell like 100proof. I’m working on myself a little more every day, unpacking years of trauma I packed away.

I know a lot of us old gun toters struggle more than we care to admit. I know a lot of us  “real men” struggle more than we care to admit as well. If you are here, reading this, chances are you are a shepherd of humans whether officially or unofficially and that is one of the highest burdens to bear on earth.
 

I think I would be remiss to not share my story. I’m still employed, married, and a contributing member of society, but this spring it could have been a whole different story had I not had my “ahaa” moment and got my crap together.

I had a bit of a set back when a local men’s group I was attending ceased operations due to COVID. I was crawling under my new project truck and thought to myself, I’ve had this group all along and I should check in. So here I am. I want y’all to know as well that I am here for you and I hope you guys are all doing well. I can’t always talk, but I can always text if you need to vent or just want to shoot the bull. 417-850-2882


My simple life-

As it may be, every day is borrowed and behind every frustration is a dream not realized. I got out of the habit of making long term goals and simply live every day by three rules. 1. Leave the world better than you found it when you woke up. 2. Make someone else’s day better. 3. Be better than I was the day before.


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34
Firearms / Re: Glock 45
« on: January 17, 2020, 12:03:34 PM »
So now that you've had it for awhile what's the opinion?

P.S. still waiting to hear more about the Higher Caliber concepts G17 of past.

I just can’t shoot better with anything else. This G45 is just amazingly fast and I just love everything about it.

The G17 was a fantastic weapon. It was never updated beyond what I had shown here before. It’s in another persons holster right now doing great things in Western Africa. I’ll ask him how he likes it next time he hits me up.


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35
Firearms / Re: Appendix carry (my experience)
« on: January 12, 2020, 09:09:57 PM »
Noticed the belt right off too, nice.

Lefty huh?
Mirror image.


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36
Other Weapons / Re: ZT 0223
« on: January 12, 2020, 01:25:21 PM »




Hard on them you say? They are tools. I rotate between a few different ones for my EDC knives. They all stay looking pretty good. But a well used knife that’s withstood the test of time is a piece of art in itself.


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37
Other Weapons / ZT 0223
« on: January 11, 2020, 10:53:21 PM »


I have been really jonesing for this piece since it was released and my people at the local blade shop came through for me. It is just flat beautiful, fits nice, transitions nice, so smooth it feels mechanically assisted! It is a work of art!


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38
D.O.T. / Re: WDYDT (What Did You Do Today)
« on: January 11, 2020, 09:41:28 PM »
Prep the palate with some 85% dark chocolate and roasted pecans. It’s fantastic!


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39
D.O.T. / Re: WDYDT (What Did You Do Today)
« on: January 11, 2020, 09:39:53 PM »
I do the straight on occasion. I’ve mixed rum with the Dr Pepper before. I love a knob creek old fashion. I have some hickory planks I use to smoke my glass and I like a lot of orange peel and specifically these cherries


44oz Black Amarena Cherry Tin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INYAAAU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MAOgEb4MPDZZ5

It depends on the experience I’m looking for.


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40
D.O.T. / Re: WDYDT (What Did You Do Today)
« on: January 11, 2020, 08:20:52 PM »




Lazy day. Got a great workout in. Chilling with my boys watching a “classic”! Knob creek and Coke Zero 75/25 respectively.


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41


I got this through Flaviar last month. It is wildly different. Than most scotch you will try. I’m not sure I’d buy it again but if you want something different I’d recommend it.


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42
Build Threads / Re: Tundra TRD Pro
« on: January 11, 2020, 11:23:28 AM »
I too like those Tundras, but also like the new Silverados.

They are growing on me... but so are the Rams. Only thing I’m not digging on the Silverado is the door mirrors!


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43
Firearms / Re: Appendix carry (my experience)
« on: January 11, 2020, 11:05:58 AM »
5.11 EDC APEX T-Rail Belt 1.5 " Wide Ergonomic TPU Coated B10 Webbing, Black, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJQKJPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RhFgEbQSAYMH4

I’ve had it about 4-5 years now. Looks like leather, feels like rubber. It is stiff and has no stretch.


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44
Firearms / Re: Appendix carry (my experience)
« on: January 11, 2020, 12:00:23 AM »


Still rocking the AIWB. I’ll never go back!


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45
Build Threads / Tundra TRD Pro
« on: January 10, 2020, 11:41:01 PM »
Well I have been silently drooling over these Tundras for a few years now so I sold the black Silverado and popped on one after my last contract. I’m really enjoying it actually!





Not really going to “build” this per se. just did some upgrades like LED bulbs and what not. This truck has about as many bells and whistles as a 90’s model Chevy truck with a fancy head unit radio. Doesn’t even have auto headlights. It just drives NICE though.



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46
Knob Creek small batch 120 proof... is just lovely

47
Firearms / Re: .35rem “brush gun”
« on: January 10, 2020, 11:09:18 PM »


I really really enjoy shooting this gun.


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48


Thanks, Don!


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49
Build Threads / Re: The Reclamation of Blue
« on: January 01, 2020, 08:14:26 PM »



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50
Build Threads / Re: The Reclamation of Blue
« on: January 01, 2020, 07:48:08 PM »


Just wanted to update with some pictures. This was right before we finished her up. She is on the road now! I’ll get some more pics up in a bit!


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