Progress - Logic Puzzles


Starters, pedals and the triumph of the busted knuckle

A brief update. I've pretty much denuded the intake side of the engine, including the starter. I snagged the last bolt of the started just moments ago, raised the hoary beast by its tail over my head, and then feasted on its warm dark flesh. Its tight fitting 15mm bolts will mock me no longer.

The intake manifold did not come as easily. Each bolt was dutifully liquid wrenched (two kinds), tugged and coaxed out of place save for the stubborn one under the thermostat. As I found out after several days of gentle taps of the rubber mallet, and repeated soakings, the stud had become one with the manifold and only surrendered when I whacked it good and it snapped off. So I could epoxy a stud in, but that would be gouging, and I gouge not (at least not anymore). Got the helicoil all ready to go. The operation would be easier if I pulled the head, but that would open another raft of insanity that I'd rather not deal with at this point in time. The head gasket will leak on its own soon enough.

Pulling the old pedal assembly was a true logic puzzle, like one of those things you'd get for Christmas made of a block, a steel ring and a rope that have an elegant solution but reaching that elegant solution is beyond the capacity of your attention span so you dump it in your dresser drawer. I struggled trying to figure it out, until I asked my brilliant and adorable wife to help me. "If you just unscrew this part, wouldn't it come off?" Yes.. Duh. A swift "Up and to the Left" and the assembly came off like an assassin's magic bullet.

My copy of Pat Braden's epic tome "Weber Carbs Are Bad Ass On Your Alfa, Shee-ya" has been shipped by Amazon and due to arrive tomorrow. With luck it will tell me how to wire my Facet pump so it don't splode up.

I've also got a bad case of "Mechanic's nails," little black moons on my fingers which I wear as a badge of filth wherever I go. Along with the grime encrusted scabs that line my knuckles.

I'll snag some pics of my naked engine soon.

Posted: Mon - August 21, 2006 at 08:14 PM           |

©