Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Almost there!

The Buick now has a brand new exhaust system and it is very quiet. After bleeding the brakes, 3 of the 4 wheel cylinders were found to be inoperative, so replacements were ordered. Two have arrived and been installed, just waiting on the 3rd, hopefully tomorrow.

A person is also supposed to look at the charging system tomorrow and hopefully a cheap fix can be found for that, at least just enough to allow driving this weekend. I left my dwell meter at the shop and that should be set, along with the timing tomorrow as well.

I also snagged a rebuilt carb on Ebay last night and that should be here on Friday. Hopefully I will have it back in Vevay for the long weekend so I can do some other work to it and drive it around town a bit as well. Very cool...

Sunday, June 12, 2011

I need a coffee can

You could look virtually anywhere and find one of these laying around in the recent past, but now they are not to be found at all.  I need one to make my exhaust quiet enough to drive the Buick to Carrollton to have the new exhaust put on.

I tried on Saturday to break loose the nuts which secure the Y pipe the exhaust header, but it's gonna take more than what I have to do this job.  I even used the new 1/2" drive breaker bar I bought, but they would not budge.

While I was under there I found that if I had a small coffee can, I could cut out both ends and then cut the side so that I could form the can around the old Y pipe where it connects to the exhaust pipe.  Then use a couple of large radiator clamps and that should make it quiet enough for the trip.

Probably would not last for much longer than the 30 minute drive over the river, but that is all I need to get the car over there.  While they are at it, might as well see if they can determine what's wrong the charging system and bleed the brakes, etc.

I have an alternator and brackets to change it over, but I figure if it's just a matter of replacing the voltage regulator I might give the old generator a try first.  This car only has 60,000 miles on it, so I would think the generator should still be good.

Heck, while they have the car up on the lift, might as well do the oil change and lube it as well.  Stuff like this is just much easier with the car raised on a lift instead of me rolling around in my yard trying to do it.  I really need a garage.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Heat is Back!

What happened to the good ol' summertime, when it was nice and warm in June, hotter in July, and mostly unbearable in August. Somehow that has gotten mixed up as here it is the first part of June and we are sweltering from the heat already! I suppose weather patterns do change, but I'm not sure I like how this one is going.

At least a semi-pleasant weekend is forecast, whether it comes true remains to be seen. Sunday looks to be the best of the two days, but I plan to get outside on Saturday and do the exhaust work on my Buick come hell or high water! This is getting ridiculous.

Another flat tire on my lawn mower, is there now a set time that lawn tractor tires are good for? First the front one went flat and now one of the back ones has a hole in it also. The front one was not repairable so I just purchased a replacement at Lowes.  Got a new tire and wheel for about the same price as I could have bought a replacement tire.

Ivy has once again taken over my house and mailbox and most everything else around here. It's even growing inside the house where the window a/c unit is in my bedroom. That has to go, it's creepy.  I can see the headlines now, Man strangled in his sleep by killer ivy, film at eleven.

Finally got my second video camera up and running so I hope to post some 2 camera videos soon on YouTube. Maybe if I'm really energetic I will do one of the exhaust work. Don't count on it, I'll be lucky to actually do the work, much less video it.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A great day!

Spent the better part of today with my wayward family up from Arkansas. Seems the only time I get to see them is during special family events, which is my oldest granddaughter's (Jordan) graduation tomorrow.  I understand my son has to provide for his family the best way he knows how, but I sure wish it involved something closer to home.

It was hot as hell out there today, but I didn't mind a bit getting to spend it with them.  I miss and love you guys a lot and will sure be glad when the day comes for you to return to this area.  Until that time I guess I will just be grateful for those few minutes we get to be together.