Convergence

When separate elements approach a common point, not necessarily by any plan we know of.
I had to work last Saturday, not an uncommon occurrence. I work every other Saturday.
I work an eight hour "Split Shift" so called because it covers two shifts First shift (:00 to 1:30)
and second shift (2:30 til 11:00)
My shift is 9 to 5:30.
So the sun was up, it was a beautiful spring morning. The early flowering fruit trees and ornamentals are in bloom, The world is coming out of it's Winter hibernation.
I pulled into the parking lot, and an open space was fairly close. As I pulled in I noticed the car next to me
It was an early Japanese little pickup, all tricked out. Custom metallic bronze paint job with blue pin striping. Lowered until it was sitting on the ground. spray-in bed liner, custom interior, killer sound system.
As I turned into the parking spot what came on the radio?
LOW...
RIDE.....
ER.......
Oh YEAH
CONVERGENCE.

All the news what's fit to print

The Westfalia should be back on the street tonight. I think someone tried to steal it. The little half-moon tab on the bottom of the ignition switch was suddenly broken off of the key switch, like somebody tried to force it. The replacement process is a little long, but not expensive. Pull the steering wheel, pull the turn signal collar, pull the wiper collar, pull the electrical connections. Slip the housing out, Remove the switch half. Drill a 1/8" hole in EXACTLY the right place, pull the key barrel. Buy new key barrel. Reverse everything. I should be done putting it back together tonight.

I ordered up the parts for the 280Z, they should be here on Saturday. At some point I have to decide what I want to do while I have the head off. If I want to go with a performance cam, now would be the time to do it. The only real problem is that you can't just replace the cam, you will need new lifters and rockers and lash pads and springs. So the total is about $800.00. A little pricey and definitely not in the car fund. The car fund is tapped out since I just got the Z painted.

It is my turn to work overtime this weekend. I really don't want to work any overtime, but the extra money comes in handy. I really want to stay home and tear apart the Z. Oh well, I'll have plenty of time.

For our anniversary we are going to Cannon Beach for the weekend, some time after the weather turns nicer.

V. gets home from Army AIT tonight. He won't get in until about 10:00. I won't be waiting up for him, since I have to work tomorrow. Hopefully we can go out for a beer and Pub Grub soon. He mentioned that he has a week of emergency Medical Training to do starting Sunday, for a week, so it may be a while.

The Z is Mocking Me

Ten weeks the Z was in the shop. I saved car fund money for two years to get it painted. The final bill was around three grand. It is SOOOOO pretty.
So why does it hate me?
New wheels, new tires, new seat covers, new carpets, new paint. Lots of cars would be happy, lots of cars would be proud. Not mine.
Sunday I backed it out into the driveway to do a couple of small things. Reconnect the speedometer, figure out why only one speaker is working. Little stuff.
When I backed it out, I noticed a large puddle on the ground.
I pop the hood, and I see a small pool of green liquid on the motor mount. Antifreeze. This could be small or this could be huge. A leaky hose is a relatively minor thing. Since I can't tell where the leak is, I clean off the side of the block, fill the radiator, and start the engine. Go around and look at the side of the engine to see antifreeze seeping out of where the head meets the block. No water in the oil, no oil in the water. These are good things It means the leak is only from the water jacket out. It means a new head gasket.
A big pain in the butt.
So for now the car sits in the driveway sparkles and mocks me.

At Last