Yes, Järn LIVES!
Got home yesterday and got on my greasemonkey duds and went outside to hopefully finish up my month-long subproject (submoronproject?) of the "I Am A Moron" Project.
Wedged in the new fan shroud, bolted on the fan blade, tightened up the alternator and the A/C compressor, fixed a secondary problem with the fuel injection fuse, hooked up the battery, filled up the crankcase with oil, and got ready for the fateful moment.
I put the key in the ignition switch and took a deep breath. Turned the key--bzzutt-zut-buruhhh-pudda-pudda-pudda-pudda-pudda-pudda.... IT WORKS! IT WORKS IT WORKS IT WORKS!!
There is very little in the world that gives you that nice warm feeling all over as when you've torn something up and put it back together again and it works right the first time. Especially when it's a car. Seemingly so simple--fuel, air, spark--but so fiendishly full of hidden evils that can come up and ruin everything. All that jimmying I had to do, all that moving and tightening and loosening and turning and twisting--for such a little bitty engine, there was a lot I could have messed up on. But didn't. It's like Churchill's quip about there being nothing in life as exhilarating as being shot at without result.
The only nervous moment was right after I cranked it and nearly a quart of water started spewing out the tailpipe. My first inclination was to have a heart attack and think I'd developed a cracked engine block, but apparently it was just water that had accumulated in the muffler as it sat. I took it for a slow drive around the neighborhood to see if anything cropped up. Not a thing, other than him feeling a bit more arthritic in his suspension than usual. Back home to the driveway, and clambered underneath to check for leaks.
Not a drop.
And not a drop this morning, either!
Before, he could be reliably counted upon to soil his parking spot with a nice circle of oil every time he was parked for any length of time, but it seems we've conquered that bit of ill manners, too.
It sure is good to have it running right again--I even stopped and bought him a bath this morning at the gas station.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at July 14, 2006 10:05 AMCongratulations. You done good! Next, you may want to tackle the transmission. I don't know if the special Mercedes tool will work or not.
Posted by: Larry Anderson at July 14, 2006 10:33 AMI'm jealous. Won't have any time to work on the Spit since we're going out of town (RI) now that Kathie's finally been released from servitude. Yesterday I called the seller to meet him and give him his sunglasses back; he was determined to come up this weekend and help me fix it. I told him--1. I didn't want to take up his time when I hadn't yet put any effort into it, 2. I'd be in a whole lot of trouble telling Kathie we had to hang around B'more this weekend so he and I could work on the car.
Posted by: Steevil (Dr Weevil's bro Steve) at July 14, 2006 10:55 AMThank you, Larry. Actually, the next project is to swap in a small block Cobra engine from a Mustang. I think the special tool would work just great!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 14, 2006 10:56 AMAnd Steevil, you're doing the right thing--happy wife, happy life. The nice thing about Moron Projects is that they are quite happy living in neglect for long periods of time.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 14, 2006 10:58 AMI think it is time for you to tackle the Mercedes project. You could film it and it could become like a moron “Blair Witch” type of thing.
Posted by: jim at July 14, 2006 12:59 PMThe only thing holding me back is waiting for Larry to bring it to me.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 14, 2006 01:06 PM