Does it Get Any Better?

[AngliaGT]

Why does everything go South at the same time?
1.) - I decided to change the oil on the '60 Chevy panel-
truck - now it leaks at the filter (didn't do that before).

2.Need to fix the radiator on the MGB GT - it has a leak.

3.Started up the TR6 yesterday - brakes went to the floor,
& there's a strange noise that needs to be diagnosed.

4.The '94 (DD)needs some work,but can't get the seller of
truck that I want to buy to go forward,& sell it to me.

I'm in awe of guys like Steve Simmons,& Rick Ingram,
etc.,who buy nice cars,& can keep it all together.I buy cheap
cars,& try & make them work,but seem to keep having problems.
Maybe it's time to sell it all off,& buy 1-2 nice cars.

- Doug

 

[Steve_S]

Like anything, you're only seeing a little piece of the puzzle when you watch another person's life from afar. From the outside things always look great! I don't know what Rick goes through every day but I have plenty of things going on in mine at the moment.

I have two engines on the floor (MGB, MG TC), a third vehicle non-running (Ford V8), another in the body shop thanks to a Suburban driver not paying attention, (MGB GT), another with a huge dent (MGA) thanks to an inattentive truck backing up in a parking lot, the wife's car (modern thing) with a bunch of warning lamps coming on tonight, a failed harmonic damper on another car (MGC GTS) which may have taken out the crank shaft, and in two weeks I will no longer own a garage.

Still no reason to complain, as many people in this world can only dream of having such minor problems as these in their lives.

 

[AngliaGT]

OK - I feel better now.

- Doug

 

[vagt6]

So true, Doug, so true.

 

[jessebogan]

Doug, I will see your POS, and raise you a couple. My XJ40 DD has just had the balancer fail. No crank damage, but noises like you have never heard, and no alternator charging, due to the outer ring not turning...Have to remove it, and send out for rebuilding. Audi, DD#2 is showing its age too. Found the shifter bushing that failed(no first or second)replaced that, only to have the clutch hydraulics fail. Clutch master mounted inside, on the pedal box, slave cylinder mounted on the top of the trans, secured w/ a roll pin. That is accessed with a punch, in a socket, on an extension, through the fenderwell. The the MC leaks at the fluid inlet hose..... OK finally got that fixed. So, on to a forester. I owe the person that owns it, so doing some free work. (a good mutual deal tho)I was going to do a cat back exhaust. Cut off the really rusty bolts carefully. Went to remove the remnants from the flange, and the flange on the cat just crumbled into dust...Car stuck on the lift for another day. In the meantime, I have an Etype here for rack mounts (ugh)and it needs the waterpump too. Power steering and AC car, so 3 times as much work. Another E type for some deep engine repairs, a Daimler Limo that I really need to rebuild the brake system and carbs on(takes up a LOT of space)An XJ8 that has trans issues 6 months after a rebuild.... Valve body may have cracked, rebuilder says not covered. 1 series 2 XJ12 getting an interior, a 79 XJ12 getting re commissioned, a 76 XJ6 getting recommissioned (almost done), and I just had an old customer call, they are out and about, and her Buick just crapped out. Waiting for the tow truck now.AIEEEEeeeeeeeee!!!! I am thankful to have work, but I am getting to the point where I have so much to do, I get nothing done. Oh yeah, did I mention the mark 2 Jag getting a fresh engine, a 4 speed/overdrive conversion, and 2 TR6 engines to build?? Man, re reading all that on the screen... Now I'm a skeert.

 

[AngliaGT]

Jesse,

At least you are competent to work on these problems.
I,on the other hand,think that I'm a mechanic,until I actually
work on my vehicles.It's then that I realize that I'm not as
smart as I thought I was.

- Doug

 

[DrEntropy]

Ooof! If I were closer I'd sign on as a second set of hands. Sounds like ya could use 'em.

 

[sail]

Sorry, can’t help. Yesterday I got my horn working for the first time. Today it doesn't.

 

[Silverghost]

Sorry, can’t help. Yesterday I got my horn working for the first time. Today it doesn't.

When you get that working again, let us know - if you don't toot your own horn, no one else will! :laugh:

 

[Guest]

Sorry, can’t help. Yesterday I got my horn working for the first time. Today it doesn't.

They make pills for that now ya know ..... :wink:

 

[sail]

[They make pills for that now ya know ..... :wink:

I don't want that honker running all the time. Every other day is good for me. Today it works.

 

[judow]

Hope this makes you feel better and all in the past 6 weeks:

Onslow the Jaguar - shattered driver window, no explanation except it appeared that the window shifted out of the track. Cost not quite $1000.00

Agatha the Healey - new gas tank and sundry miscellaneous. $1350.00

Emma the Envoy - truck in front loses something from the bedl and of course tailgate down. Can't avoid so new rim and 4 tires later - $1600. Insurance covered $68.

Thursday of this week while on the interstate rear passenger window hit by rock shatters. Cost a mere $185.

Huksvanner lawnmower - threw a rod, under hours but over time on warranty and admitted Briggs and Stratton engine problem on this mower. Wouldn't cover under warranty. Cost believed to be $1200.

How is your day? Now do you feel better?

 

[Steve_S]

Here's another one. Truck spit up a rock and broke the wife's windshield a few days ago. Then the braking system computer went out and had to be replaced at the tune of $850. I guess I'm glad we're getting this all done with at once!

 

[Stewart]

but you did get a cool tour of a private auto collection for that 850

 

[Steve_S]

Good point.

 

[AngliaGT]

On a lighter (much) note - the problem with the panel truck was that
the canister was off by about 1/8th of an inch.A friend/ex mechanic figured
this out.
Check one off of the list...

- Doug

 

[AngliaGT]

Why would you ever need a lawnmower in NM?Is there any grass
there?

- Doug



uote=judow]Hope this makes you feel better and all in the past 6 weeks:

Onslow the Jaguar - shattered driver window, no explanation except it appeared that the window shifted out of the track. Cost not quite $1000.00

Agatha the Healey - new gas tank and sundry miscellaneous. $1350.00

Emma the Envoy - truck in front loses something from the bedl and of course tailgate down. Can't avoid so new rim and 4 tires later - $1600. Insurance covered $68.

Thursday of this week while on the interstate rear passenger window hit by rock shatters. Cost a mere $185.

Huksvanner lawnmower - threw a rod, under hours but over time on warranty and admitted Briggs and Stratton engine problem on this mower. Wouldn't cover under warranty. Cost believed to be $1200.

How is your day? Now do you feel better?

[/quote]