Went Out Today and Came Home in This...

[chilipeppermaniac]

LOL Robert, If I still had my '72 Datsun with 12 inch hole in driver's floor board and a sheet off a washing machine and a plastic bag to cover the hole to keep water off my pants legs, I would have driven that car to and from the East coast to California, all around the 48 states and Canada and still not worried it would make it or not. Same went for my Hondas except for the one time I got stuck in stop and go traffic on a divided highway and the electric fan stopped working. I am more than sure that is what caused my head gasket failure but not to worry, that engine is easy to disassemble. Heck, try that in our BMW Z3. One can't even see the spark plugs without removing a plastic cover and if not mistaken, coil packs.

I sure wish I had the skills, tools and experience brother Robert has had with cars so I could fix em in my sleep.
I'd give up carpentry in a heartbeat if I could simply wrench on cars and do paint jobs and body work etc in a nice shop at home instead of bustin out 100's of thousands of miles to and from jobs and supply houses and landfills plus actually try to get some work done on customer's houses etc.

Speaking of wrenching, my weather has finally broken from thunderstorms every day for a week straight. About time to go flush out the cooling system of the BMW Z3 so I can install the new water pump, radiator etc and flush it out till I am confident no metal filings are in the system to harm anything.

 

[Inspector #20]

LOL Robert, If I still had my '72 Datsun with 12 inch hole in driver's floor board and a sheet off a washing machine and a plastic bag to cover the hole to keep water off my pants legs, I would have driven that car to and from the East coast to California, all around the 48 states and Canada and still not worried it would make it or not. Same went for my Hondas except for the one time I got stuck in stop and go traffic on a divided highway and the electric fan stopped working. I am more than sure that is what caused my head gasket failure but not to worry, that engine is easy to disassemble. Heck, try that in our BMW Z3. One can't even see the spark plugs without removing a plastic cover and if not mistaken, coil packs.

I sure wish I had the skills, tools and experience brother Robert has had with cars so I could fix em in my sleep.
I'd give up carpentry in a heartbeat if I could simply wrench on cars and do paint jobs and body work etc in a nice shop at home instead of bustin out 100's of thousands of miles to and from jobs and supply houses and landfills plus actually try to get some work done on customer's houses etc.

Speaking of wrenching, my weather has finally broken from thunderstorms every day for a week straight. About time to go flush out the cooling system of the BMW Z3 so I can install the new water pump, radiator etc and flush it out till I am confident no metal filings are in the system to harm anything.

I never wanted to learn about cars. It was expected, as the only son, to work in and learn the family hot rod business. My first job outside the home was a mechanic's helper for Don Jacoby Pontiac Cadillac in Porterville, California in 1979 with a work permit.

I stayed current to assist my Dad. As a cop, I worked 4 on/3 off, so I moonlighted helping him and other shops out with complex diagnosis for cash. I had a smog license until 2007. I still hold I-Car certifications for Hybrid Drives, HVAC systems, advanced engine electronic controls and diagnosis. I also hold certifications for Aston-Martin Riveted/Bonded Construction Repair as well as Tesla Technician Certifications.

After losing all my retirement and property to divorce, I went back into shop manager/foreman work briefly, only long enough to create a variable index retirement annuity and invest in both stock and crypto currency. Within 4 years I had created a retirement system for myself thar was triple what I had earned in 20 years with the police department.

After that, I quit and just concentrated on music.

Though i dont use it anymore, except for the occasional helping out a chum, I still have a library of proprietary diagnostic software for Rolls-Royce, Koenigsegg, Maserati, BMW, MBZ, and a few others.

Shown here are screenshots of my Mercedes-Benz STAR/Xentry laptop diagnostic interface...

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Now, I know when it comes time to fire up the Z3 and if I need to know what code reader to get access to, I will call Robert to get the codes into the man who can tell me just WTF is wrong or not and what parts to reset, replace, or tell to burn in HELLO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, because of an expensive failure I likely caused.

I just gotta pray I don't throw any ABS, Seat Sensor, Yaw, etc ones.

I might even have to take some time off working once it's running to drive the Z3 to California and get it to the man in person and get it tip top so I can drive it awhile without worrying it will self destruct from German/Chinese plastic parts and electronic wizardry.

 

[Inspector #20]

Now, I know when it comes time to fire up the Z3 and if I need to know what code reader to get access to, I will call Robert to get the codes into the man who can tell me just WTF is wrong or not and what parts to reset, replace, or tell to burn in HELLO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, because of an expensive failure I likely caused.

I just gotta pray I don't throw any ABS, Seat Sensor, Yaw, etc ones.

I might even have to take some time off working once it's running to drive the Z3 to California and get it to the man in person and get it tip top so I can drive it awhile without worrying it will self destruct from German/Chinese plastic parts and electronic wizardry.

Hey, Mark...as long as you didn't lift the head gasket, you will be OK...

Yes, I have BMW/Rheingold Proprietary Software...

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

No head removed yet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I just fear so many electronic gizmos from simple stuff like removing the seats to disconnecting the battery making Air bags deploy, or warning lights codes kick on, etc.

 

[Inspector #20]

No head removed yet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I just fear so many electronic gizmos from simple stuff like removing the seats to disconnecting the battery making Air bags deploy, or warning lights codes kick on, etc.

Nope. You may have to clear airbag (SRS) faults from having things unhooked, but that should be about it...

 

[Don O]

Well I see we hi-jacked this thread days ago

Heading out to the garage to do some final touch up work on the 1970 El Camino before I put the ad out. Need to replace a header gasket and both collector gaskets, put air in the tires and air shocks and then clean under the hood. Had it detailed last weekend, so I should be ready by Sunday to place the add.

Then on to the 1969 vette. I need to replace the AC drier, evacuate the system and charge with R-12 (which have have plenty of). Then I need to turn the 3/4 tank of old gas into noise and put some fresh petrol in. Then it will be ready to place the ad. Gonna miss these two cars, but I've had the Vette since 1999 and the EC since 2004. The fun part of owning the Vette was the first 5 years chasing parts and doing a frame on restoration. I went to Corvettes at Carlise for about 7 years straight. From the factory it was a tripower car, but when I bought it in 99 it had a 4 barrel Holley. I spent 2 years buying tripower manifolds and carbs sets. I eventually found a NOS, never been on a car, correct manifold. Did the buy it now on ebay in a heart beat. I've sold off all the manifolds and carb sets except one set of carbs. That will go on ebay later this year. I got boxes and boxes of Vette parts along with a spare hood, spare t-tops, drive shafts, half axles, HD diff yokes, blah, blah, blah, that I'll be selling later.

On to a new chapter, the average age of my cars today is 23 years. After selling these 2 it will go to 3.5 years

 

[Inspector #20]

Well I see we hi-jacked this thread days ago

Heading out to the garage to do some final touch up work on the 1970 El Camino before I put the ad out. Need to replace a header gasket and both collector gaskets, put air in the tires and air shocks and then clean under the hood. Had it detailed last weekend, so I should be ready by Sunday to place the add.

Then on to the 1969 vette. I need to replace the AC drier, evacuate the system and charge with R-12 (which have have plenty of). Then I need to turn the 3/4 tank of old gas into noise and put some fresh petrol in. Then it will be ready to place the ad. Gonna miss these two cars, but I've had the Vette since 1999 and the EC since 2004. The fun part of owning the Vette was the first 5 years chasing parts and doing a frame on restoration. I went to Corvettes at Carlise for about 7 years straight. From the factory it was a tripower car, but when I bought it in 99 it had a 4 barrel Holley. I spent 2 years buying tripower manifolds and carbs sets. I eventually found a NOS, never been on a car, correct manifold. Did the buy it now on ebay in a heart beat. I've sold off all the manifolds and carb sets except one set of carbs. That will go on ebay later this year. I got boxes and boxes of Vette parts along with a spare hood, spare t-tops, drive shafts, half axles, HD diff yokes, blah, blah, blah, that I'll be selling later.

On to a new chapter, the average age of my cars today is 23 years. After selling these 2 it will go to 3.5 years

You will miss them until you let the clutch out in the new Vette.

I see guys with the "I Built Mine - You Bought Yours" shirts. I did plenty of that. I don't want the busted knuckles anymore...

 

[eSGEe]

I understand where you were coming from. I won't spend large sums on cars ever again. I only paid $6,300 for this beater in 2016 - buying it from the original owner with only 55,000 miles on it at the time. All I did was tune it, add nicer wheels and tires and installing the 4:30 gears. Everything else is stock.

Its my only car, so it has to do everything....

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Cant do what this does

Well I see we hi-jacked this thread days ago

well it was/is a CAR thread -- or a white BEEMER SUV thread/..... or something -- --


what was it -- oh carry on