It's why I am the manic mechanic

[greatbear]

Ah, the life of a gearhead. I sure loves it.

On Saturday, I headed up with a buddy of mine to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for the huge annual Spring car show/swap meet. It's been a couple years since I have been able to make it, since at this time I am usually in North Carolina with hundreds of Mini Cooper owners tearing up the Tail of the Dragon and other twisty, picturesque roads in and around the Smoky Mountains. This is the first time that the timing of the two events was such that I can partake in both. I headed out before the crack of dawn, picked up my bearish straight friend John, and I immersed myself in the smells of gasoline and exhaust fumes, the sounds of engines, the taste of unhealthy fairgrounds food, and all things car related. I took along my tiny Pentax digital camera and shot dozens upon dozens of pictures of classic, unusual and unique cars and bikes. These did not turn out as I hoped, since apparently I was shooting most of them through a smudged lens. The aforementioned greasy food and my sweaty pocket conspired against satisfactory photographic endeavors.

Many of you will also be happy to know there was no shortage of hot gearheads and burly bubbas. Lots of them.

I picked up quite a few specialized tools and kits, a 'clean-kit' for my blast cabinet, a billet aluminum grille for the Silverado, a huge assortment of stainless steel hardware for various uses, electrical ditties and few more odds and ends. At one time I was saddled with a backpack filled with almost 50 pounds of our goodies that I trotted for a couple miles before unloading into the truck and going back for more. We spent more time there than either of us initially expected, which was okay, but it also kept me from coming home until it was too late to start work in the garage.

Which brings me to today. I had some goodies and parts to fit to the MINI before heading down to the Dragon. I figured I could get most if not all of it done during the weekend. I got off to a sluggish start, with cold, dreary weather and lingering tiredness from the day before. In fact, a nap suddenly happened and I did not get out to start the car flog until about noon. And I got rather involved:



New silicone coolant lines, new Denso iridium plugs replacing the beat Berus that had worked themselves loose, new belt, new coolant, oil change, lots of adjusting, tuning, detailing, inspections, and so on. But, the weather eventually shooed me in before I could finish, so hopefully I will be able to get finished tomorrow after work. I want to be able to drive the car to work and back on Tuesday, since I leave for the Dragon on Wednesday morning. Yeah, anyone who is a car nut like me knows that in order to have a decent trip with lots of fellow car nuts one has to have everything in pieces until the last minute.

Comments

[jrjarrett.livejournal.com]

Um Phil -

Where's the front end of your car?

Yeah, anyone who is a car nut like me knows that in order to have a decent trip with lots of fellow car nuts one has to have everything in pieces until the last minute.

OMG how true is this. I remember the year I had to have my convertible towed home because the starter shorted out and burned out the battery - the day before driving it to Waterfest '00 in New Jersey. We were up all night diagnosing and fixing the wiring on that.....and I still ended up going without a working speedo.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Can't you see it? It's all over the place. ;)

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Watch out, I may be working on the AC in the truck next. ;-) I was able to ascertain that the compressor was good, so it simply needs to be recharged, seals assuming to be OK.

So this coming month it's replace the accumulator and the schrader valves and then pump it with 134A since the truck was built in '92, they were still using R-12 in the system.

Cold air may finally be at my disposal when driving. :-)

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I noticed where one of my a/c lines had gotten chewed on by some critter. It's not punctured, but it's not pretty either. a/c still works fine though.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Well, for me, it was I think due to a lack of being used. I found out how to jump the compressor and it clicked on like it should so all *should* be fine.

I may even be in the position to take Boris on a road trip or two after all. :-)

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Holy crap!

But iridium is good... I like iridium. ;)

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Iridium is hot. And it resists melting!

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

Holy cow! You don't screw around, do you??

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Trust me, this is minor. I should find some of the pictures from some of my past major projects. I didnt think anyone would be interested in them.

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

Oh, heck yeah! Find 'em and throw 'em up here. My mom's got a great picture of me after my first head gasket/valve job. I'm covered in grease from head to toe.

[md-mancub.livejournal.com]

Phil, why does it look like you are holding up the front in of your car with a plastic toolbox? :)

BTW, spigotmd bought a grill kit for his MINI, which never got installed. If you are interested in it, I'll sell it to you for next to nothing (or even nothing, because I've had no luck selling the thing on eBay).

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely like to look at the grille set, and make a deal if it's one I can use. Thanks!

Many people who saw the photo said the same thing. The box is actually holding one end of the 'modular front end' up. The radiator, a/c condenser and fan, along with the support, it made to swing away to allow access to front-mounted engine components. The bumper cover and the underlying aluminum bumper beam come off, then the structure swings out without needing to disconnect any radiator or a/c lines. Sounds (and looks) involved, but it really isnt.

Jack stands are holding the car up, they are hard to spot. I like the illusion though. :)

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

"The bumper cover and the underlying aluminum bumper beam come off, then the structure swings out without needing to disconnect any radiator or a/c lines."

My God, you gave me a little chubby there. Why doesn't EVERY manufacturer do that?!?

[md-mancub.livejournal.com]

We should talk about the grill kit. I'll sell it to you for a dance and a song (or maybe even less than that to get it out of my house!). :)

[normalcyispasse.livejournal.com]

Damn, now that's torn apart! Did you keep meticulous account of each nut and bolt? Because that's usually where I screw up, and then I end up with extras.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I am fortunate to have a photographic memory which comes in handy in these cases. I can tear something apart, leave thw pieces spread out everywhere and still be able to put things back together with no missing pieces. I do make things easier for myself though by keeping assemblies together. For instance, if I take an intake manifold off, I keep the bolts in or near the holes they fit in. Same with other bits that come off in groups. In cases where there are lots of similar pieces that must go in specific places (like lifters and other valvetrain pieces which become mated to their positions, I either label, mark or lay the parts out according to their positions.

If for some reason parts get pulled off and they will remain in limbo for a while or my workspace is crowded, I will put the hardware back into the holes they came from then group the parts together But for quick thrashes like what is picured here, I spread the stuff out in piles all over. trying noot to step on the stuff too much or drag the air hoses through them too much. lol

[liftinmoose.livejournal.com]

ok where's a picture of you all dirty and greasy? :P I demand to see it!