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  #16  
Old 12-22-2003, 11:12 AM
The Bob
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My car stories and challanges are much more a joy than a disapointment.

What got me so upset was the fact that I thought of cutting the old booster line so that I could get a socket on it so that I would not brake anything. But, as usual, I did not listen to the calm inner voice of reason.

My passion for cars does come from my father whom could not resist fixing and overfixing all of his and his son's cars. He had five son's. He was a curious and excitable man with a very bad temper when he broke things. He was also a big guy, 6'3" and around 250 solid. The old joke was that every holiday, always on christmas, he would be underneath some ones car.

He was famous for just checking things out and braking stuff that he didn't need to be touched. His temper often got the better of him. He would blow up the lawn mower If it would run and has attacked several cars with sledge hammers as a last resort. He defined fix it with violence.

I used to think that he was out of his mind but now I understand why. I may not be able to describe it in reasonable words but I understand his passion. Of the five sons I am the only one whom inherited this passion for black oil and saturdays under a previosly working car. I do not have the temper as bad but sometimes I can tap into it fairly well I see it as a life skill.

So usually I do not get much sympathy from my family as they see their father in me. I enjoy telling others about my problems in hopes that it makes them feel better and if I ever complain on this forum it is not sympathy that I am looking for but providing an opportunity to learn from my mess ups and to share a bit of humor at a situation. The fact that I fix up these old cars and enjoy being covered in black graphite oil is funny.

So in conclussion, my pursuit of perfection is not rational it is genetic. ANd even though at times I am challanged to change I my ways It is not going to happen. Not because of a vacuum pump. And act on the inner voice telling you things. Unless it says Kill Kill Kill..


Thanks again.

Merry Christmas


bob c

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  #17  
Old 12-22-2003, 12:30 PM
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DIY's can be classified into 2 groups. Those who admit to making plenty of mistakes and those who don't. Members of the first group gradually develop good judgement which only comes from experience which only comes from bad judgement. We get better as we age, like a good scotch. The second group is comprised entirely of BS artists who will never understand the satisfaction obtained by relying on oneself to knock off one project after another.
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  #18  
Old 12-22-2003, 01:58 PM
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Bob, I know the feeling, that hollow in the pit of your stomach when you feel the threads give way, the "Oh *****" when the sparks fly. Hey, if you're not breaking something you're not trying hard enough. I do all the work on my 62 190sl (parts not cheap) and am looking forward to taking care of my 95 E300D (if it ever shows up on the delivery truck). Seems like the disasters have gotten to be smaller and more recoverable with time and experience. The great thing is I am 'intimately' knowledgable about what makes it go and what doesn't. I can't chime in about the saved money as driving a 42 yr old gasser ain't cheap.
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  #19  
Old 12-22-2003, 02:26 PM
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i agree with VAdude.

This would actually be a good poll.

But I work on it myself because...

1. I'm poor.

2. I like to go against the general sentiment of getting a new car.

3. I like the idea of knowing that although my car is old, I have a better chance of accident survival than in a new Kia.

4. I need protection from the SUV's.

5. I think it is the ultimate anti-SUV

6. I like the look I get from women who play the "i'm helpless" tune when I say I change my own oil.

7. I like the look of the parts guy when I ask for specialized parts.

8.Did I already mention that I'm poor?

9. I don't trust mechanics. They may have the skill but I don't think they have the "it's-my-own-car" fervor that is required with older cars.

10. I think 20 years from now, these cars' design will still look "fresh"

just some of the reasons.....

Jen Taylor
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  #20  
Old 12-22-2003, 03:19 PM
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funny stuff

Ok, I'm done laughing now

humorous in retrospect, no doubt the same desire to take that sledgehammer to the sheet metal in the moment...

this morning, to restore the full flow of washer fluid to my dash, I went under the hood to pull the nozzles and clean them. of course, one of the nozzles had had a full life with the barbed fitting, and apparently the hose wanted that fitting more, so it broke off of the nozzle. shattered plastic. I uttered a small four letter incantation, and continued to pull the nozzles
the nozzle is held in place with a plastic clip that snaps it in to the top of the hood. Well, 280k miles later, that plastic is unwilling to bend. So, it happily broke. Not to be outdone, the other nozzle chose to end its life as well.
Change job: no more cleaning nozzles, now need to replace.
fortunately, we've got the FastLane, and overnighting is only $7. This is still faster and cheaper than any dealer or parts places here could deliver. Yeah!

I find that each time I experience one of these frustrations, it's more because I had a hidden hope/expectation that whatever component it is I break/damage/ruin would continue to provide service beyond reasonable expectation. Original washer hoses leak? GawdDahmn Stupid Piece o'Crap.... or, yep, should have done those before.... but these are things to take secret joy in... and probably why I like messing around under the hood in the first place. fixing things that eventually do work does bring that good sense of accomplishment, even if I've wrecked half a dozen other things in the process...

Cheers!
Kevin
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  #21  
Old 12-22-2003, 03:57 PM
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ROFL, good one Kevin

I took one look at my original nozzles and opted for a little compressed air and acetylene torch tip cleaners...
Hey they all work now except for the one that washes the window of the guy behind me. Damned convenient I say.
Just in case the guy has used up his washer fluid trying to get the oil that is dripping from under my car off his windshield.

Remember that squeaking belt thing...
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  #22  
Old 12-22-2003, 04:00 PM
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This is not me btw-

But I'm pretty close.

You might be a redneck,
if you use the container that you put under the car to catch the oil from the leak to top it off in the morning before heading to work.
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  #23  
Old 12-22-2003, 04:28 PM
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I'm no redneck, but I've done way worse than that. When I lived in Michigan, I drove a 62 Imperial that had a bad leak around the steering box input shaft. Fluid would flow up the column housing onto a dash shroud and then on my right ankle so it would go into my shoe. So I duct taped a plastic funnel to the underside of the dash and a hose from it into a 2 liter soda bottle. Every morning I would empty that bottle back into the P/S reservoir. I drove it like this for so long I sort of forgot that others might find this noteworthy. When I moved back to CT and tried to register it there, the inspector saw it. He absolutely threw a fit and demanded my license. He wouldn't give it back until he brought 4 other inspectors out to see it. Just goes to show, give people a little authority and humor and creativity goes right out the window.
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  #24  
Old 12-22-2003, 09:22 PM
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Tis the season! Loved reading and identifying with the mounting number of threads. As with most, I have already run into some as a newbie to the MB diesel world. A cam cover removal taking over a week to decide how best to remove it w/o breaking it! Also, I didn't want to marr the aluminum for fear of leakage! Minor though in comparison to one that happened years back when I owned and operated a full-service station in my hometown (pop. 4,500+/-). Nearly Christmas and a customer had left his Honda for a long list of repairs. This fellow was one of the Local Union Reps. Finished the list of repairs and called him with the good news. I did tell him that I wanted to take the car out for one more road test before deeming it ready for him to come and get it. Told him it would be ready by closing time. One of my part-timers stopped in to see how things were going. I asked him if he would take the car up to one of the townlines and back. Sure, mind if my friend rides along? Okay (second mistake). They took off and I went back to work on another vehicle. Plenty of confidence in this youth since his uncle was our chief of police. Phone rang about an hour later. Local PD informing me my trusted lad and his pal had just stuffed the customer's Honda in a corner while trying to evade one of the local officers.eek: Told me the car appeared to be totaled yet they were not certain. That was not a near Christmas call I enjoyed making.

You might guess I didn't have any hopes of charging for parts & labor!

Happy Holidays to All and Keep Wrenching
Steve :
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  #25  
Old 12-22-2003, 10:27 PM
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Ok, I'll 'fess up with ONE of my screw-ups! My '93 Suburban needed a radiator. Called up and ordered a brand new plastic/alum. job. Installed radiator and was attaching fan w/clutch to pulley finger tight. Will torque down once fan belt is on and pulley holds still. Attractive next door neighbor comes out and gets into her car. Dues to understandable distraction, breaker bar used to hold back belt tensioner slips and I mash fingers. (I am getting good at keeping curse technology to a minimum, but bones in fingers are no longer round.) Short while later I return to scene of crime and button up the truck, fill with antifreeze, etc. Daughter takes truck to school next day. Calls me few minutes later and says, "Truck is leaking antifreeze, lots of it!" Dad to the rescue. Local police have stopped to aid female motorist with disabled truck. Very impressed that she tells him what is leaking and seems to know what she is talking about ( this is the girl who wants a cordless drill for Christmas!). Of course you know what happened. Bolts on fan never got torque'd down. Steel fan blades made neat crescent shaped gouge in radiator. Another new radiator (and $350) later, all is well as its going to get. I think I got $10 for the gouged radiator at the recycling joint.

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