Shade tree Saturday

Self n Da were supposed to be on the road this AM for a visit to my sis in South Carolina. Taking the whole week off (against my better judgement, but Da doesn’t often decide he feels like traveling. Best do it while he is in the mood)

Only,,,,

Vehicles don’t run so well when they are opened for a major surgery.

Intake manifold gaskets started puking coolant INTO the manifold. Smoke screen effect? We has it!!!

And here is the karmic kick in the pants.

Looking at the break, I wasn’t 100% certain this was the problem. It looks like it should have flowed straight into the engine case, but it never did. Oil is clean and clear. But there was no denying that fog pouring out of the tailpipe.

Anywhooss, $135 in parts and fluids, a coolant flush after reassembly, and 9 hours making like a mekanik, and she runs like a scalded dog again. No fog, doesn’t stink of burning coolant, and the temp gauge sits rock steady. Had I been in a proper shop, I prolly coulda pulled the whole job in 6 hours, but,,, zero power tools, no solvent tank, and an EXTREMELY CURIOUS fuzzbutt by the name of Grizzy,,,,

And I won’t lie, I choked a bit on the cost of the stuff. Just a couple years back, I did a similar job on my Jimmy and it cost me half that.

Still, a minor repair bill in all and its a solid repair, not a frickin bandaid job. Can’t complain too much.

So Da n I will still hit SC but it will be monday most likely before we leave. He already made plans for me to continue my mekanik hat wearing towards his beasty ‘since ya have the tools out’ *Sigh* Theres a damned good reason I stopped wrenching, years back, and it wasn’t just because I started making headway into touring audio. I can do it, but dont enjoy it anymore, and havent for a long time.

But I still take pride in “doing it right”, and this is just so.