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Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [rant]

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Banjo

Banjo

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This is a long and multi-faceted rant, so I'll just hit the highlights.
I'm doing an engine swap on a 95 Escort for my aunt. She blew the motor up last fall(shortly after she got the car) and had my cousin find a new motor. Then they went through a list of some of his "ultra reliable" friends that were all going to get right on it. After they all dissappeared I was goaded into trying to get it done (being the local family mechanic) before the warranty period expires on the junkyard jewel.
So now I'm trying to do this job at night after I get everyone to bed. It's been crazy buisy at work, and the last thing I really want to do is stay up all night working on a rotten(it's whole life in upstate N.Y.) 10 year old car. Nothing wants to turn on this heap, I inevetably forget to bring home a crucial tool every night that stops me short, and it is really the max size auto to get worked on in my 20x20 shop (espically when the TR is taking up the other half).
And to top it all off my aunt keeps calling me and laying on a guilt trip if I'm not working on the car that instant. I mean after all she is paying me to work on it (you can guess how much)
I'm about ready to push it outside and throw a lit match on it.
NEVER AGAIN!
Thanks, Hope I diden't bore anyone to sleep.
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

"I'm doing an engine swap on a 95 Escort for my aunt."

That was your first mistake! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I feel for ya.
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

I know,I know. I tried to make it clear that I really diden't want to do it in the first place. That's probably the reason I'm having so much trouble.
My Civic engine was a breeze. 'Course that was also a Honda.
Did I mention I'm not overly fond of working on domestic cars?
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

An old GF of mine had an Escort EXP. That was the biggest hunk of cr*p to work on. I remember trying to do the brakes and I literally could not find anywhere to put the jack.
 
[ QUOTE ]

I'm about ready to push it outside and throw a lit match on it.

[/ QUOTE ]
This may help the dream. blown up
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Ok, that was entertaining. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Yeah. I love my 97 'scort to death, but that may be due to the fact that anything more than routine maintenance is done by someone else(Unlike the B). That, and the fact that I have kept that maintenance up, so it has only made 2 trips to the mechanic. One of those was just an inspection after I ran over a chunk of concrete.

This one must have been a real gem, I've put mine through some heck, and not a blip. But looking under that hood is enough to give me coniptions, leading into a 15 min "What the heck is that thing?" sessions, so you have my pity.
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Hey Greg. You think I could get those guys to come over to my place? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
My biggest problem is that I tried to leave the tranny in place. Someone told me it would work that way. NO!
I should have followed my gut and pulled them togeather. Thats what I gotta do tonight.
That and everything is rusted solid. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif I need a bigger hammer.
The 97 was a totally different car. We actually had one of those. It was a black, sport edition. I liked it, but there was always a faint smell of antifreeze at times. So I traded it in before it needed anything major.
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

A hammer, maybe a ten pound sledge would help. Look, tell your aunt that she's not paying for your services, and that she's been without the car for some time - a few more days isn't going to make that big a difference. Then hang up the phone and wait for your Mom/Dad to call. Threaten to send the kids, the wife and the dog to thier house for the duration. I find that this approach will get you a little peace and quiet. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Radford hits it right on the head, you gotta play hardball sometimes when it comes to family or else they can annoy the heck out of you. I try never to do major work on family members cars if at all possible. Tune ups fine, did a water pump in my father-in-laws Oldmobile a few weeks back, not a problem. Anything that looks like it will take more than half a day in my driveway I try to steer clear of, makes for some bad blood later if things don't work out as planned or get behind schedule. I like to save friends and family money on repairs when and where I can but there are limits.
 
Yeah, I may be doing some Escort work myself this Winter.
I gave my Dad my old car to replace a '93 Escort GT that my sister-in-law had given him.
The Escort had tons of electrical problems (even after I put a new alternator and battery in it).
One of my brothers has suggested that we build it as an ice-racer or even $2006 Grassroots Challenge car. But I dunno....I prefer Spridgets. We'll see.
One good thing about this car: it's a GT, so it's got the Madza 1800 engine (looks just like my Miata engine). Also, the body is perfect. The car's a slushbox, but I have a friend who owns a junkyard; he'll give me all the stickshift conversion parts for nothing. If it had the regular Ford 1900 motor, I wouldn't even consider it.

The only "family" cars I work on are my parent's cars. Otherwise, my dear old Dad (who's almost 80) will do the repairs himself (and then he's usually stiff with aches and pains for weeks after).
 
I make it a point to keep my family mad at me. It not only prevents "little projects" but saves so much money come the Holidays. If they aren't talking to you, gift-giving becomes quite the non-issue. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
WOW what a link!!!!!Did I mention I run a fireworks tent!!!!!!!Randi /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gifOh yeah the Escort- sometimes it is necessary to use Ford electrical replacements. I swear Ford's will work and the part houses will sometimes work but often quit working and you know they are new so trouble shooting takes on a new meaning(sucide) Some times I think Ford is really the American LUCAS.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I'm about ready to push it outside and throw a lit match on it.

[/ QUOTE ]
This may help the dream. blown up

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting... Blowed up Real Good...

But I couldn't help but to click on the Pam Anderson / KFC PITA speach, (Honest it was for the speach). Thing is we just got back from picking up our Toonie Tuesday snack packs from the Colonel ourselves. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Paul
 
Well, I made some real good progress tonight (it's currently 1:50 a.m.) I got the old engine out, swapped the manifolds and brackets,installed a new timing belt and put the "new"engine back in and it's bolted in place. Now all that's left is hooking everything up. looks good for hearing it run (that pile of junkyard motor better run!'cause I'M not taking it back out!) tomorrow night.
In the immortal words of Yosemite Sam "Rassa fracken, rakka frabbin, rabbit."
I'm goin to bed!
 
You are a rare and honorable man and we should all salute you!!!!Having said that how do you feel about flat heads, La. cusine, and room and board? Randi /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Escorts /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif
I have a friend of mine who used to love those things. (I always thought of them as a screwed up Pinto) and he used to get one, drive it till it died (sometimes not very long)and then buy another one to start the ordeal over again.
He has about 60 acres and he would just park or tow the dead ones out to the pasture and leave them.
I sold his brother my 88 Accord and he took it for a test drive. He didn't show up for an hour and kept asking me questions about how hard they were to work on and now he drives an older Civic and we use the Escort collection for target practice.
A 308 puts a heck of a hole in that Ford sheet metal.
By the way it took ten years to convince my family that If your in a hurry,I am the last mechanic of choice and I'll get it done when I can. A persistant houding slows me up real bad and may results in a dead car in your driveway not mine.
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Randi, Flatheads are cool, I love cajun food, and I've never been to La. so it'd be a blast. I'm leaving in the morning. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Bawanadic, Where's that field? I feel the need to get rid of a few boxes of ammo.
We had the hulk of a 38 chevy up at my grandfathers farm that had been target practice for many years (there was truly nothing salvageable so dont worry) I would not reccomend trying to shoot at the firewall! that's some thick stuff. You ought to see what a 58 caliber flintlock will do. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
I'm down to charging the battery and topping off the fluids. Phew! It's almost over.
Now to drag my parts Triumph over here and start ripping.
"Sorry I can't my garage is full" Sounds good huh? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

Banjo,
It's in NE Oklahoma outside of a real dinky little town and I can't give any more details.
There is quite a collection of targets besides the Escorts,(my wife's favorite is the water tanker) and the arsenel is pretty good but no flintlocks.
These friends are former marines from the Nam era (one's a forced to retire 3 tour sniper that we occasionally find in the middle of an imaginary recon) and they are very selective about who gets to come out and shoot.
Frankly, being ex-Navy, I'm surpized they don't ban me at times.
As far as Randi's flatheads I like the Willy's 4 not so much the Ford 8.
 
Re: Blankity blankin Escort! a.k.a. Family Ties [r

[ QUOTE ]
Randi, Flatheads are cool, I love cajun food, and I've never been to La. so it'd be a blast. I'm leaving in the morning. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



[/ QUOTE ]Great & bring everybody! I have a 56 willy with a Hurricane engine that saved 17 of our cars when Lili blew our new blding down!! Busy work for everyone!Randi /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
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