Looking to learn more about residential construction, framing, insulation, air sealing, moisture control, and building science.
I’m starting at a beginner level and would like books that are easy to understand and practical.
What are the best books you’d recommend for someone who wants to learn how houses are built correctly and eventually build a high-performance, energy-efficient home?
2019 Silverado LT Crew Cab 4WD here. The factory Rancho shocks are blown and being replaced under my extended warranty at the dealer.
Since the truck is already there, I’m wondering if there’s a genuine GM shock I could upgrade to that would provide a smoother, more comfortable ride. I’m not interested in aftermarket options (Bilstein, Fox, etc.) since I need to stay with OEM GM parts.
The truck never tows, never hauls, and spends almost all of its life on the highway and around-town driving. Ride comfort is my top priority.
Has anyone swapped from the Rancho/Z71 shocks to another OEM GM setup such as Z85 or Premium Ride (ZW7)? If so, what did you use and how much of a difference did it make?
Bonus points if you have GM part numbers that bolt right onto a 2019 Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD.
Thanks!
For those who have had a GM dealer remanufactured 8L90 installed in a 2019+ Silverado, how has it been holding up?
How many miles have you put on it, and have you had any issues since?
Did you also have the radiator or lines replaced?
Trying to get a sense of whether the current reman units are generally reliable or if people are still seeing problems. Thanks.
After getting several quotes last year - and even hiring a fence contractor who later backed out - I decided to tackle my first fence build myself with some help from my father-in-law.
The fence is about 175’ long. We did our best to follow the grade and keep everything looking consistent. Instead of digging holes and pouring concrete, I used a post driver to install the PostMaster posts directly into the ground, which saved a ton of time and labor.
Overall, I’m really happy with how it turned out, especially considering it was my first fence project. The cedar is currently unfinished, but we’ll probably let it dry out for a few weeks (or maybe a couple of months) before deciding on a stain.
I’m into the entire project for roughly $4,700, which was significantly less than the quotes I received.
Any recommendations on stains or things you’d do differently are welcome. Thanks for looking!
Materials List (for anyone interested):
Cedar pickets:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Outdoor-Essentials-19-32-in-x-5-1-2-in-x-6-ft-Cedar-Dog-Eared-Wood-Fence-Picket-327357/314521365
Postmaster Metal Post - had to use Home Depot Pro Dest to order; 10’ were $76ea, and 8’ were $50ea.
https://www.masterhalco.com/postmaster-plus
1-5/8” Stainless Screws:
https://a.co/d/00h3taYU
2” Stainless Nails:
https://a.co/d/012iUVZN
Post driver adapter:
https://www.acmetools.com/rhino-tool-gas-post-driver-adapter-301159/400011002947.html
Looking for strut / shock input -
This car is basically a highway commuter, so ride comfort is my top priority over handling or performance.
The suspension is still completely original at 210k miles, so I’m planning to refresh front/rear shocks and struts, mounts, and related components.
Honestly, I’ve been pretty happy with the factory ride quality. From what I can tell, Sachs appears to be the OE supplier, but I can also get Bilstein B4s for slightly less money.
For someone mainly looking to keep a smooth, comfortable OEM-style ride, would you go Sachs or Bilstein B4?
Any other brands or components worth considering while I’m in there?
Bought these Metabo stainless steel nails off Amazon and something seems off. The actual product I received looks different than the listing photos (attached both).
Has anyone run into this before—did I get a swapped/returned item, or do these just come looking different sometimes? Trying to figure out if I should return them or not.