Black ale

I think I need to add a category for brews that I’m particularly fond of- like this one;

Its made in Quebec by Unibroue and is listed as a strong dark ale on the lees.  I often find that beers and wines left on the yeast have a depth and flavor that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. That could also be the higher alcohol I’m appreciating but regardless this one will become a regular for me.

Great black color with hints of vanilla and just the right amount of hops/ bitterness.

A little less slip

Snow season is coming, I can feel it even if it is unseasonably warm up here. Last winter with my truck, I spent most of my time in intersections spinning a single wheel while waiting for the inevitable horns of fury from behind me. I think there should be bumper sticker that says; ‘We don’t slow for snow’. God help you if you haven’t nailed the throttle by the time the light has turned green. Even though Canadians are thought the world over as ‘nice, ‘ just hold one up at an intersection in the dark of winter from their morning pilgrimage to Tim Horton’s.

This year,  I’ve been proactive. I pulled the open differential and replaced it with a limited slip or ‘posi’ as otherwise known.  Last winter, it might have helped to have had real snow tires but I offset that concern by dumping a bunch of bricks and gravel in the back. It didn’t help much since only the one wheel was spinning, but this year I’ll have two. I might still have to add the gravel or bricks though I shouldn’t have to endure any more horn blasts.

Here it sits prior to installation.

It wasn’t that much work dropping the differential. I just placed stands under the frame rails ahead of the axle. U bolts holding the axle to the leaf springs required generous doses of penetrating oil and a 3 foot pipe extension to my breaker bar and socket to break them loose. The leafs stay in the shackles, the shocks stay in the upper mounts, only one brake line needs to be removed atop the dif. I’d do it again but I don’t think I’ll have to.

I did have to get a cross joint though to make the drive shaft fit the different rear axle but that was easy enough. While I was at it, I changed the back brake cylinders since its way easier when fully exposed. Reversing the order of removal, it went back in quickly with no issues.