Cool Small Spaces
Small, Cool 2010 Contest presented by Apartment Therapy
Hundreds of entries hit our inbox for the sixth annual Small Cool Home contest. With over 500 submissions, our editors picked the top 165 spaces from around the world to share with our readers. Each entry got a chance to gain "thumbs up" votes to make it into the final rounds. Thousands of "thumbs up" and votes later, the readers' two favorite Small Cool spaces were announced — the US winner, Chris's Furniture Tetris and the international winner, Maria's Pockets.
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What the hell??




OK, well the basics; the engine is in my 78 bronco, its a 351M or 400, honestly I don't know, but its not a 351C. (while the pan is off I'm gonna look for crank shaft cast numbers and see for sure what it is.)
Pulled the oil pan because of a growing oil leak, was pretty sure its the pan gasket because slightly tightening the pan a couple weeks ago made it stop leaking for a few days(Tightened them for that very reason, Dad had had the rear pan bolts loosen and leak before). But I went in prepared to do the rear main bearing seal. (Might still do it since I'm in there anyway.)
Nothing else wrong with it other than needing a tune up(my gas mileage is pretty bad) runs smooth, no ping, no knock, slight valve tap but only when it leaks enough to be more than 1.5 quarts low
Oil pressure is good, even with the leaking... Has great power, etc.
So if this thing has come out of something, its not causing any problems with the engine running...
It is the pan gasket leaking BTW; looks like someone had it apart and didn't get a new gasket, just put in a huge bead of gasket maker and torqued it back on... some strips of gasket material are loose in the bottom of the pan too..
Anyway, enough rambling and background, I found this in the oil pan along with the rubbery chunks of gasket maker...
Only thing we (my folks and I) can think of that it resembles is a valve spring retaining ring... but is a little small in diameter for that IIRC(been 8 years since I had an engine apart- not this one) But one of those should be about 1" in Dia. And I don't recall those having a hole accross them either. I also don't recall the oil return passages through the heads being big enough to pass this into the crankcase.
I've rebuilt one of these engines before, and my folks have done a few, so its kinds baffling as to WTH? it is... if its soposed to be in the engine we should know it...
It was a one piece ring, the two big pieces go together making a great fit at the crack/seam and for about 3/4 of a circle, I think I could piece it back together(no need/reason to obviously... just a point to prove it was one piece not halves), seems the chunks I have are 95% of it.
The big piece is a bit more that a 1/2 circle and can be measured; the inside diameter is a couple thousandths over 1/2"
Only idea I got, and it is Dads idea; That it might be something to do with the oil pressure relief valve on the oil pump, since the hole on the pump for that is about the same size, and has a cross pin in it holding things in, that could go through the cross hole in this thing...
I dunno. I've never loolked close at an oil pump in these engines before, just took off and put back in a engine re-build; wasn't anything wrong with the pump so didn't look at it that close.
I'm going to take these pieces back out to the truck first thing tomorrow and take a good long look at that oil pump though..
But the oil pump works. Or at least if it had blown out that valve or a piece of it, there would be no oil pressure and the engine wouldn't have lasted long..
So the thought is, that someone replaced the pump or fixed the release valve and didn't clean the pan out, so the old broken bits are still in it.
Or is it just something thats not off the engine at all, that some idiot dropped in the oil pan when he had it off?
Gonna run it by a buddy of mine thats a long time mechanic... Granted he's a long time Chevy mechanic(a genious when it comes to most mechanical stuff really; he was a Chevrolet certified dealer mechanic for 10+years) but to a certain extent, all engines are the same inside, just arranged a little different, so the odds of him knowing what it is are pretty damn good. And at this point, I can use all the help i can get...
G.
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A kiss.
Summer 2004. by G. Blessing
A taste of your sweet soul, flowing in the night.
Rolling, twirling, prancing on a never ending flight.
A fire dancing bright within the never ending night.
Whirling, turning, writhing, burning, a spirit soaring.
Spinning through an endless fall, now seeing the ending wall.
Slowing, rolling, softly stopping. Resting, breathing, wanting, needing.
Longing for the flight, needing it for all to be right. Needing to burn into the night.
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almost 6 years ago…
My POV-Ray art is there, and some other stuff... I think some of my poetry and song lyrics too.
ID card from then..
And my desktop then, kewlpad,winamp,pov-ray,rainlender,sysmetrix, and win2000 skinned in lite step
skinned with nondisjunction. and a wallpaper I did in apophysis.
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Interesting.
Seems that several things that people claim as USA constitutional rights, are in fact a right granted herein by the UN. The USA being a memb
er of the UN, those rights seem to be doubly garenteed.
Then again, some of these are God Granted Rights, provided to all men by Him and your Bible several thousand years before the USA or the UN...
Too bad so many of them are not actually in practice in real life in this country-- or in countless others.
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
PREAMBLEWhereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 1.
* All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
* Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
* Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4.
* No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5.
* No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6.
* Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7.
* All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8.
* Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9.
* No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10.
* Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11.
* (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
* (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.Article 12.
* No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13.
* (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
* (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.Article 14.
* (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
* (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.Article 15.
* (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
* (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.Article 16.
* (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
* (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
* (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.Article 17.
* (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
* (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.Article 18.
* Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19.
* Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20.
* (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
* (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.Article 21.
* (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
* (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
* (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.Article 22.
* Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23.
* (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
* (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
* (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
* (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.Article 24.
* Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25.
* (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
* (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.Article 26.
* (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
* (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
* (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.Article 27.
* (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
* (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.Article 28.
* Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29.
* (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
* (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
* (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.Article 30.
* Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
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Trucks, smog pumps, and emissions.
Sorry for the longish rambling post, but I was doing my research while I started this post, and it sorta evolved from "WTH is this thing?", to "what is that called?", to this.. And now I just want to talk it out as I go..
OK, so I finally got my truck titled as I said before, when I got the new body, I got a title with it- a little parts swapping and paperwork and my truck is now legal enough to register.
Getting ready to go do the emissions test and register it, checking all the EGR vac lines at the carb and intake, and find out that I've got a plugged off hose and fitting on the front of my intake manifold. Nothing like I've seen before, my 78 250s 400m ain't got it. A lot of research here, google, some other ford forums, and apparently its soposed to have a line on it to do with the smog(A.i.R. pump or thermactor?) pump.
The truck was soposed to be a 78 when i got it, so I thought I'd avoid all this crap since i gathered that 78 was just before they added it. But, the new title says 79, so the emissions computers will list it as such. And apparently at least the engine is from a 79 since it has this thing on it. The engine is a 351m. (as far as i know..) Its either the 351 or 400, its definetaly that block.
If I can't find out what and how to add the pump etc back on, I'll fail the visual inspection at the test.
Kinda an ironic pain really, our Emissions testing program is soposed to end on Jan 1st 2010.. in 2 months. But I need the bronc as a daily driver ASAP... so I get to buy and route all this crap, and then only need it once. :banghead
So,
I found these at JeffsBroncoGraveyard.
http://broncograveyard.com/dia/7/engdiaehahustrecirculation.jpg
http://broncograveyard.com/dia/7/engdiathermactorsystem.jpg
so now I know where everything goes... I kept thinking there should be lines run to the exhaust manifolds for this to work, thanks to
http://www.broncolinks.com/index.php?index=417
I found this page;
http://web.archive.org/web/20041111233432/home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/parts/parts05.html
What idiot at Ford thought this up? every other thing I've seen has lines run from the pump to the exhaust valves at the exhaust manifolds... Ford decides to run it through the intake, and heads to the exhaust valves? Oi.
In the lower right of that JBG diagram, it shows the only part I have as 9A487, and the tube that mounts it to the intake. I got about 6" of the hose too, plugged with a stick.(looks like 400 year old driftwood) I'd like to smack the last owner of this truck...
according to the other site, what I have is the check valve. I'm missing the pump, the diverter valve and all the hoses. And the mounting brackets for the pump and diverter valve.
Diagrams are great to have, although I would prefer pictures for the mounting.... I'm working on that, just asked at full size bronco forums.
G.
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What I’m up to..
And to the point,
It looks like my car has died for the year, an electrical short-somewhere- that has it draining the battery at all times... Auto electronics is not something I am good at, especially on that new of a car(1990) So the bronco has to become
a daily driver before snow fall. All the better since I gain the 4x4
anyway, I guess.
Haven't got anything done to the Bronco since last fall, not even any wheeling/off roading.(only got to drive it maybe 4 times all year actually).
So, I advertised on craigslist ''wanted bronco body'', and surprise of the year, I got one! Complete tub and topper, straight rear quarters, front fenders, and doors... hood ain't bad either. Glass is perfect, including the rear window. Amazing for here, there is only a little rust in the drivers side floor boards, otherwise she's solid bottomed- no wheel well rust either. Interior has been bed linnered/coated on the doors and dash, but its got all new carpet and imaculate front seats(their even red, to match my interior!)
All for $200.
Spent two evenings with the seller un-bolting, un=plugging, it from the chassis, and trailered it home. An adventure in itself that involves a body hoise that was too narrow to fit over the trailer I rented.... So the body was set down crossways on the trailer, the hoist lifted(by hand by 3 guys) over the body and trailer too, off to the side. Then the body spun by hand on a stack of pallets under the body, to be parrallel with the trailer then lowered to the trailer with jacks and blocks.
Getting it off the trailer was a lot longer, and a lot more hassles since I don't have a body hoist, and dearly tried the patience of my self and my good friend Weston(sorry again!) But it came off. Eventually.
But, I now have a donor body, for all the body parts and interior that I need.
It had a seized 400, and i got the edlebrock intake and carb off it for $50 too... (retail of that intake is $300, the carb $200 or more depending on exact model)
Unfortunately I don't have the equipment(or time) for a full body swap right now, so I'm swapping front clip, doors, t-gate, front glass, and interior with what i already have, and trying to keep the new tub as buttoned up with the rougher doors, t-gate, topper etc. as I can for the winter, so it don't acquire any rust. Next summer I can decide whether to swap the tubs or not.
So, the project for the rest of this week is strip the truck('Blackie') of doors, front fenders/grill, and interior, and clean the interior. (this is the one thats spent the last decade outside without the topper so I got lots of moss and dirt, but surprisingly little rust- compared to what I'd expect).
I have to go tomorrow and transfer the title for the new body; The VIN plate is o n the drivers side door of all places instead of the body like most vehicles, so when I swap the doors, I have to have the title that matches them in my name and register the truck with those numbers. So, after tomorrow and the door swap, his will be a '79 Bronco. OK, technically it'll be a '78 with '79 body parts...
While the front clip is off, I can get at fixing the heater blower motor, and buttoning up some plumbing problems-- like the missing re-circulating heater and the cut/plugged coolant lines for it. And a good carb tuning so hopefully I can pass an IM next week.
Need to finish my bulkhead and rear wall, since its still going to be a half cab/pickup. Gotta pull the glass from the new straight tailgate, and find a way to plug the gap/top so it don't just fill with water and rust out.
Good thing here is leaving the topper on the donor tub will protect it.
I just ordered the angle wedge blocks for the rear end from JBG, since mine are missing, the pinion angle is killer right now. I am Not looking forward to putting those in... gotta scrounge up some bigger jack stands to set the frame on when i drop the axle... or just support it with my cherry picker/engine hoist. Maybe.
Need to pull the rear brakes apart at the same time, see whats wrong there, hopefully just a good cleaning and adjusting-- no fluid loss in the system, and the pedal play is fine, fronts work great, there's just no grip at the rears.
Hopefully after the wedges are in, the drive shaft is no longer too short, and I can get more that 1" of the slip yoke slid together when installed. if not, I'm gonna need recamendations for a drive shaft dealer/builder where I can get one with the double u-joint on the upper end..
Blackie as he is now;

And 'The donor';





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A bit of me, faith and God.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
In my own way, I'm a believer.
In my own way, right or wrong.
I don't talk too much about it.
It's something I keep workin' on.
I don't have too much to build on,
My faith has never been that strong.
There is a man there in that buildin'.
He's a holy man, they say.
He keeps talkin' about tomorrow,
While I keep strugglin' with today.
He preaches hellfire and brimstone,
And heaven seems so far away.
I do believe in a higher power.
One that loves us, one and all.
Not someone to solve my problems,
Or to catch me when I fall.
He gave us all a mind to think with.
And to know what's right or wrong.
He is that inner spirit,
That keeps us strong.
In my own way, I'm a believer.
But not in voices I can't hear.
I believe in a lovin' father.
One I never have to fear,
That I should live life at its fullest,
Just as long as I am here.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Highwaymen, I Do Believe Lyrics
The Highwaymen, comprised of Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson .Wikipedia.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The only part of that song that disagrees with me is; "But not in voices I can't hear." I do believe in a 'voice' of God leading me. Audible? not necissarily. But a voice none the less. Also, "That I should live life at its fullest" to me is that life is only at its fullest as it was meant to be, and it was meant by him to be full in only certain ways... Not its fullest of certain secular practices, nor modern mind sets. Life is only sat its fullest if your fulfilling it by following Him, and His commandments.
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Nice poem, with a moral…
The Sin Of Omission
by Margaret SangsterIt isn't the thing you do, dear;
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts to-night.The stone you might have lifted
Out of brother's way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time nor thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.The little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be angels
Which every one may find
They come in night and silence
Each chill, reproachful wraith
When hope is faint and flagging
And a blight has dropped on faith.For life is all too short, dear,
And sorrow is all too great;
To suffer our great compassion
That tarries until too late;
And it's not the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.Margaret Elizabeth Sangster was an American author, poet and editor who lived from 1838 to 1912.
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Dag-nabbit!
Those that know me personally know that I have, and have had various back and hip problems, have had them for a while, some is permanent pain that I've learned to live with, and some of it things that act up depending on how stupid I am...
Did a stupid one again late last week, moving some things around in the new garage, and tweaked my right hip again. It was just getting back to 99% fine again after the last time too. Sigh.
So, if you don't see me for a bit, its because I'm having a hard enough time standing, and walking around the house, let alone going anywhere. my years of experience with this(a little over 10 now) tells me that it should be manageable without pain killers putting me to sleep,--and allow me to walk-OK without them-- by Tues. or Wed.
Hope(and pray) my group doesn't come up in jury duty before then(honestly, I hope and pray it doesn't come up at all).
Ahh well. Gives me lots more time to study(still trying to pass a example, or 'test' version of the GED/HSED test, on history/social studies, before I go in for the real thing. More time to work on my novel, and other writings too. Only problem is that I have work-- as in physical, get it done in good weather, needs done NOW-- to do;
--- Wood shed to build, tool shed to build, garage to insulate, washer/dryer to install, 4 cords of fire wood to split and stack... not to mention a CV axle in a car to replace. Granted, I have the whole summer left for this, but time wated is just that, wasted. The sooner its done, the sooner I can start looking for a 'go to work' job, so I might have some sembance of money started to be put away to start a college cours I want to take thsi fall sememster.
Otherwise, I just plain HATE doing nothing. I prefer to be moving, and working, not sitting/laying and idle.
Gah. Meh.
GRRRRRR.
OK.
Rant/vent over.
G.
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