techimoto

We started Project Code Yellow by searching for a proper donor vehicle, we wanted a Jeep Cherokee for this project as we have lots of previous experience with this model Jeep.  After searching Craigslist and other online sources for a cheap Jeep we found one that was about 100 miles away, the advertisement stated that it ran good and that the transmission slipped. The seller preferred to sell it to someone that would fix it rather then dismantle it, so we had priority in the sellers mind. After looking over the Jeep we discovered that the torque converter was bad and the transmission condition was unknown, the seller did not allow us to test drive it as he was afraid it would not make it back in the driveway. 

While looking over the vehicle we where constantly making mental notes on the condition of different systems and what would be needed to get it to a running state. Read the rest »

Since Obama’s election, it’s been very quiet here at Techimoto. In truth, we’ve had nothing much to rant about! Bush has evidently found himself some other hobby than trying to run a country, most likely trying to figure out how the Dewey Decimal System will work in his presidential library and hitting neighborhood yard sales on weekends to pick up a few volumes for the shelves. Cheney still rears his ugly head now and then, uttering some bitter ferocious nonsense regarding how the new guard is ruining everything, but in general, he’s also fading away from our collective 8 year nightmare.

Of course all is not perfect. Republicans still engage in some media spectacles, usually accompanied by shooting themselves a nice collective hole in their foot. The economy stinks for sure. Obama may not have THE answer, but so far, it’s the only one that makes much sense. So forge ahead we must (besides, if Obama’s economic strategy doesn’t work, computers and “blogs” will be a thing of the past; in 10 years we’ll all be busy outrunning howling gangs with painted faces and Mohawk haircuts, intent on robbing us of our precious gallon or two of petro.)

So, where do we go from here? Well, we’ll likely continue to write occasional rants, as we said, the world and our country are far from perfect. And, we’ll continue our “ecological” bent, but with even more with a focus on how it’s applied to modes of transportation (boats, cars, trains and planes). In fact, for the foreseeable future, we will be writing a number of articles on how you, the budget conscious and/or out-of-work average person, can save money by doing-it-yourself when it comes to “pimping out” (now, in these economic hard times, translated as “making into basic transportation”) your boat, car, train or plane.

Author Max Wilson will be doing a series of articles accompanied by useful “how to” pictures and videos about reviving a once DOA Jeep Cherokee. Also soon to come for those of you that can be described as “nautical escapists”, articles from Captain Jimmy about transforming his 1984 41 foot ketch into something that can actually be used as an “escape pod” (that is, escaping in style, without danger to life and limb). Since The Captain is basically professed escapist himself, it will also include some techniques and projects that might contain just a hint of survivalism (example: “Jerry Cans that can Catch Rain Water”).

So, when all is said and done, “moto” means “motion”, so “motion” it is!

techimoto has been hard at work the past few months rebuilding a 1990 Jeep Cherokee Laredo giving it a second life. The project started with a search for the right donor vehicle, after a few weeks of looking we came up with a $500 broken down junker that was soon headed to the junk yard for recycling, we saw something in it that the previous owner had not. The Jeep had a working 4.0 inline six motor with a blown transmission with 173,000 miles on the clock, the body and interior was dirty but rust and dent free. This provided us with a good foundation to build off.

Some of the appealing factors for this purchase were:

1. Laredo edition, this means the Jeep has power windows and locks.
2. NP242 transfer case, this transfer case provides 5 different modes of operation (2WD, 4WD Part Time, 4WD Full Time, Neutral, 4WD Low Part Time) this makes it ideal for highway and off highway use. 
3. The 87 – 90 use the same transmission, we already had one from an 88 Cherokee that we rebuilt. 
4. Body was in good shape with only a few minor dings, paint on the other-hand was in horrible shape. 
5. Dana 30 High Pinion front axle and Dana 35 rear with LSD, both geared at 3.73 gear ratio.
6. Factory Tow package prewired with class III hitch. Read the rest »

Over 75% of Americans see the Bush years as a disaster. However, to the NeoCons, he has been a huge success, and has advanced their long-term agenda significantly. The organization that embodies the NeoCon movement is called “The Project for the New American Century” and their agenda can be summarized as follows:
1) Increase an already enormous military at the expense of domestic social programs
2) Toppling of regimes resistant to our corporate interests
3) Forcing democracy at the barrel of a gun in regions that have no history of the democratic process

Read the rest »

If “Joe the Plumber” only knew that the Republicans he so admires really hold him in disdain. His only value to them is good old reliable fodder to fuel their war chests. He’s a believer OK, and a fool.

If their exists any doubt that the Republican party is dominated by the NeoCon philosophy, John Dean, in his new book, “Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches” puts it to rest. In a recent web article Dean remarks:

Republicans’ authoritarian rule can also be characterized by its striking incivility and intolerance toward those who do not view the world as Republicans do. Their insufferable attitude is not dangerous in itself, but it is employed to accomplish what they want, which it to take care of themselves and those who work to keep them in power.

The NeoCon primary directive is to “rape and pillage”, figuratively if not literally (although some of the literal does take place as “collateral damage” to their agenda, i.e., endless war). The organization that embodies the NeoCon movement is called “The Project for the New American Century” and their agenda can be summarized as follows:
1) Increase an already enormous military budget at the expense of domestic social programs
2) Toppling of regimes resistant to our corporate interests
3) Forcing democracy at the barrel of a gun in regions that have no history of the democratic process
4) Replacing the UN’s role of preserving and extending international order

Their exists a mentality amongst certain people who are terrified of choice, they consciously or subconsciously want life choices made for them. Many prisoners are or become like this, and would rather stay in prison than have to face an existence in the outside world. Are the majority of Americans of this frame of mind? How about you “Joe the Plumber”? We’ll find out in a few days if Americans want control of their lives, or to be controlled by an increasingly authoritarian government.

In a recent commentary on CNN, by Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, he suggests that we need to support people like “Joe the Plumber”, and provide the climate in which such entrepreneurial ventures can grow and prosper. Although he doesn’t say so directly in his commentary, I suppose this is an indirect attack on Obama’s tax plan. He also advocates supporting “employer based health insurance” (which is a huge mystery to me. What about all the people that work for themselves, or are out of work altogether? Where are they in such a plan? Answer: without health insurance at all. Aren’t people running a one-person operation “entrepreneurs? My understanding is they wouldn’t qualify for health insurance, or it would remain prohibitively expensive .) But if Joe were smart, he would not only vote for Obama, but he could easily capitalize on some of Obama’s initiatives.

if Obama is elected President, he would funnel needed support to “green” business, such as solar, clean coal, and other companies that will do their best to get us out of our OIl Habit. Maybe a better move for Joe the Plumber would be to reinvent himself, and become “Joe the Solar Guy”. I should think plumbing skills would transfer nicely to such businesses. We don’t need another plumbing business, we DO need something that will help Joe as well as help get America out of the Oil Ditch. With Obama’s plan Joe would likely get the “tax break” everyone is so excited about, AND probably some low-cost federal “start up” funding to boot.

Read the rest »

If you want to scare the H__ out of everyone this Holloween, dress up like “A Socialist”! For some reason, this seems to terrorize Americans like few words do. McCain is now using this as his new “scare” tactic, accusing Obama of “socialism”.

I have two words for McCain: “Who Cares!!”? A number of third countries, the majority being allies of the U.S., including Canada, France, and England, have what most would consider “socialist” programs. And guess what, they work, they work well, and they have worked well for decades.

The obvious example is Health Care. While our health care system is coming apart at the seams, the countries sited have a reasonably smooth running, decent quality, and relatively inexpensive health care program. If you don’t believe it, ask their citizens. Better yet, ask an American that has been living in one of those countries for a number of years. In interviews I’ve seen, they of course miss America, but they LOVE the ability to get good local quality health care without having to hoc the house. Our system isn’t working. Theirs is. It’s a no brainer.

Read the rest »

Sometimes I think our political leaders read too much Ian Fleming, or worse, indulge in the faint-within-faint-within-faint political tactics implicit in the whole “Dune” series. If the recent insinuated allegation recently filed by the Obama Campaign is true, then we have nothing short of a full fledged conspiracy to undermine the very fabric of our democracy.

Yesterday the Obama Campaign registered a request for investigation with the Dept. of Justice. They are requesting that the White House, the DOJ, and the McCain Campaign be included in an investigation regarding the whole “ACORN voter fraud” allegation.

Basically, here’s how it works:

1. A number of Republican officials send in letters to the DOJ suggesting that ACORN is committing voter fraud. (NOTE: some theorize that the whole “firing” issue within DOJ has to do with certain folks not willing to go along with this scheme. Read on)

2. The republicans cry “voter fraud” within the ACORN organization, then try to associate ACORN with the Obama Campaign (remember McCains pointed accusation about ACORN during this weeks presidential debate?)

Read the rest »

It turns out “Joe the Plumber” (real name is Joe Wurzelbacher) isn’t really a plumber, and has no real plans to buy anyones business in the near future. In addition, he currently makes about $40,000 a year, and if he did manage to buy the business he has his eye one, he might, if he’s lucky, make about $100,000.

Exactly. Based on the reports, the profits of Wurzelbacher’s small business are well under $250,000, so Obama’s proposal wouldn’t adversely affect him at all. He’s apparently concerned that he may someday have those kinds of profits, though, which is obviously his prerogative. In the meantime, depending on some of the details, Wurzelbacher would probably get a tax break under Obama’s plan, and if he’s like most of the middle class, his break would be bigger under Obama than under McCain.

Read the rest »

Conrad, who appeared before the crowd before McCain had arrived, offered a prayer that seemed to urge divine intervention to prevent Barack Obama from winning the presidential election — and cast the outcome as a referendum on differing religions.

The Times’ Maeve Reston was at the event, and she passed along the key passage from Conrad’s words:

Read the rest »