July 11, 2006

I'll take "Potpourri" for 200, Alex...

Good morning--here are some items sent in by loyal readers for your amusement and enjoyment!

First, from the lovely green-thumbed and raven-haired Jordana Adams, a touching way of showing your team spirit. Rest assured that although I have occasional bouts of school boosterism, I have left explicit instructions that money not be wasted on me in such a manner, and that my remains be buried in a small basswood coffin purchased from Michael's, which is to be decorated with a variety of bright and colorful acrylic paints, and possibly with some glitter, and some wiggly-eye stick-ons.

Speaking of the afterlife, Dr. Jim Smith, noted Episcopalian deacon and pratfallist, sends along a link to a handy chart that gives an overview of the various world religions. As Jimbo notes, the chart's not particularly deep, but it does provide a quick and handy comparison, and there are other parts of the site that do provide more detail.

Georgia dirt kicker and graphic technology guru Dave Helton sends a note mocking me for falling to #3 in the Google rankings for "moron project," having been usurped by some sort of garage band of the same name. In order to reestablish my bona fides, I will note that the tool I have been anxiously awaiting in order to hold the sprocket on the front of my engine arrived yesterday! It's a nice piece of work--sturdy, heavy, and well made. Got home with it, and found that the two cylindrical pegs on the end of it that are intended to fit in the holes in the sprocket are too big. Meaning I will have to get out my grinder and attempt to reduce their diameter. ::sigh::

HOWEVER, not to be outdone, I did go ahead and do some other necessary work on the ol' lump of iron yesterday, installing a small plate on the rear of the cylinder head to prevent the rear seal from popping out, and installing a flame trap relocation kit. I am going to do a more detailed post on this over on Revolvoblog (in order to keep you from slashing your wrists in despair from having to read about car repair) but the short version is that the flame trap is a little bit of plastic in the crankcase vent system. In the original version, this is located way down beside the starter, underneath the intake manifold, stuffed between three inaccessible metal objects, turned sideways, and guarded by a dwarf with a battle axe. Meaning it's nearly impossible to get to it, which is bad, because the thing can get plugged up with oil, and if that happens, it can cause the pressure inside the crankcase to get real high, and it can cause the engine seals to pop out and leak oil everywhere. Which is exactly what happened to me.

I wasn't sure it was a plugged up flame trap, though. But I figured I would go ahead and check it, and also install a kit to move the hateful thing up onto the topside of the engine where it will be easier to change out in the future.

After much wrestling and mild oaths, I did manage to get it free, and sure enough, the thing was nearly completely blocked. The photo below shows the old one on the left, and the new one on the right.

flame trap small.JPG

The old one used to be the color of the new one. This shows just how blocked up it was--I have a feeling it hadn't been changed in about 100,000 miles or so. And to be something that only costs about five bucks, it sure has wound up costing me a ton of money.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at July 11, 2006 08:33 AM
Comments

I need new shocks for the Dodge. Could I drop it by your place Saturday AM and maybe get it back that afternoon all properly unbounced?

I am almost sure no special tools are needed.

If you have the need for a Mercedes special tool to remove a bolt from the transmission to replace the rear seal, I have one.

I'll include the Mercedes along with the tool although the tool is for an automatic and the Mercedes is a manual.

Posted by: Larry Anderson at July 11, 2006 09:10 AM

But, if you prefer cremation, you can arrange for this: http://www.eternalreefs.com/

Posted by: steevil (Dr Weevil's bro Steve) at July 11, 2006 09:14 AM

Terry, don't you feel better now, all manly and expert-like for finding a real defect that caused the problem? Its much better than trying to fix faults that are the result of bigger but hidden defects without getting to the source.

And Larry, when I changed the shocks on my truck- I never would have gotten the job done without compressed air and a air hammer to drive out a froze bolt. So sometimes even the easiest task really does require special tools.

Posted by: Nate at July 11, 2006 09:22 AM

Yeah, bring 'er on by early Saturday, Larry. Of course, I won't be there--we have eye doctor appointments, but it can sit on my driveway and keep the Volvo and my new free Mercedes tool company.

Steevil, cremation gives me the creeps. I have to say though, that on first reading that URL, I thought it said something completely different. But the idea of an eternal reefer probably would sell well amongst a certain demographic. Dude.

AND yes, Nate--I do feel all manly again now, although my hands will need some extra moisturizing due to having to use some of that Purple Power industrial degreaser to finish getting the grime off of them. Boy, that stuff STINGS--it's like putting your hands into a vat full of jellyfish.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 11, 2006 09:38 AM

Speaking of hands, what do manly men use to soften their cuticles after using tough cleaners?

Or womanly women for that matter?

I had let my hands go until last week when I bought orange sticks and cuticle lotion. While the cuticles are properly back now, they need treatment.

Anyone?

Posted by: Janis at July 11, 2006 10:51 AM

Cuticles? What's that?

I don't mess with my cuticles, although after I got through scrubbing my arms and hands with Go-Jo Orange Flavored Cleanser with Pumice, then dunked them in the industrial degreaser, then took a shower and washed my hair (which helps get your fingernails clean, too), I use some Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion.

The bad thing is, all that scrubbing and degreasing doesn't seem to be very effective. For some reason, the grit and grease on this car is an order of magnitude more tough than any other car I've ever worked on. I don't know why, but it seems the dirt is much more fine, and gets down into my skin much worse than anything else I've worked on. Nothing seems to work at getting that deep dirt out.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 11, 2006 11:01 AM

I asked that question here because several of your readers are mechanics and office workers.

A little research showed that a lot of people are satisfied with Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, so I hightailed it over to the salon and bought a can.

Posted by: Janis at July 11, 2006 02:28 PM

My dad's parents were very much old school, and my grandfather didn't usually help with housework. My grandmother told a story that there was a time when my grandfather would volunteer to wash dishes after dinner. This went on for a while, until one night after dinner he just went to the living room to read the paper. My grandmother asked if he was going to wash the dishes; he said no. She asked why not; he replied that they now had a new car.

So, Terry, get your hands into warm suds for 20 minutes or so. You'll make Miss Reba (and probably a certain sulky teenager) very happy.

BTW, my paternal grandparents were really old school. Usually, the first my grandmother knew that they were getting a new car was when my grandfather drove it home from the dealer. He went through cars fairly quickly (he was partial to Buicks) because he traveled for his job, which was with these guys: http://www.lileks.com/institute/orphanage/orphans/cudahy1.html

Posted by: Steevil (Dr Weevil's bro Steve) at July 11, 2006 09:31 PM

You assume too much, Steevil--1) we usually use the dishwasher instead of handwashing 2) if there ever IS any sudsy sink work, I usually wind up doing it, and 3) Oldest? HELP!? It is to laugh!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 12, 2006 11:12 AM