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Re: fact or fiction

To: b-evans@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: fact or fiction
From: "Wm. Severin Thompson" <wsthompson@thicko.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 15:09:47 -0600
Cc: Healey list <healeys@Autox.Team.Net>, "spridgets@Autox.Team.Net" <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>, Team Thicko List <team-thicko@Autox.Team.Net>
Organization: Team Thicko
References: <34DB064D.B7F0FEF9@thicko.com> <34DB4C3C.3AFA@ix.netcom.com> <34DB5AB6.F41EA8FD@thicko.com> <34DC9DCF.15E3@ix.netcom.com>
Reply-to: "Wm. Severin Thompson" <wsthompson@thicko.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
Bob,

Firt off, I thought my original post was pretty clear, as witnessed by the 
amount of
people that responded with messages like "glad somebody finally said that"... 
etc. So
I'm not going to agree with your 99.9% theory. You still seem to be missing my 
point.
As far as "Dennis Healey  or Jeff Healey" remarks you're making... I'm not sure 
if that
was an attempt at humor or what? I thought I'd give you an example of how Geoff 
would
get really pissed off when incorrect material made its way to print. He had 
more to
lose than anyone... as his reputation and name was on the car and company. Don't
misunderstand my use of that example... I think the Healey Family worship(or 
anyone
else associated with the company) is way out of whack already. There were just 
people
with faults like everyone... they just happened to be involved in producing 
cars that
we love.

I'm not suggesting we debate or don't debate opinions... they will run their 
course. My
point is (repeating myself now) that too often I see responses that are 
portrayed as
fact... whether it be "hood creases" or " engine numbers" of whatever. What's 
the
point?... well you go out and restore your car and you read all 100-6s had 
creased hood
(bonnets). So you go out, sell your flat hood and seek out a creased hood. False
premise to start, you've lost the "original" part your car came with, and the 
end
result... you've made it less original when your goal was the opposite.
That's a fairly tame example. The ones that frighten me are the obviously wrong
mechanical opinions represented as fact that are of potential danger. IN MY 
OPINION...
there's lots of examples of that type the past few months.

Also, all you concours types out there... this isn't about you. I'm glad 
someone takes
the time to document every detail of assembley, etc. Now I think there's times 
when the
discussion gets more than a little anal retentive... but that's the nature of 
that part
of the sport. I've run an AC Delco fuel pump in my 100-6 for 24 years now... 
but you
won't catch me telling you it was some "works" modification. You can't look at 
one car,
or your car, have that as your onlu point of reference, and make definative 
statements.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from posting questions...questions should 
be asked.
Answers shoulde be given a little more consideration.

As far as your crankshaft pully retaining bolt? Sprite? Motor in or out? My 
opinion?
Engine out...impact wrench with a good penetrant oil. In the car? You can't get 
a
socket on the nut.... loosen the front motor mounts... jack up the engine so it 
clears
the crossmember, remove the radiator, and use an impact and penetrant.

No impact? Get an impact driver from Sears for $10... adapt up to the crank 
bolt size
and whack the snot out of it with Service Tool 101.

As far as the President not having sex in your car... that's a bet I wouldn't 
make.

WST



b-evans@ix.netcom.com wrote:

> You must remember that 99.9% of the people on this list are not so
> intense as to care whether some "name" is posing in a two-door or
> four-door.  Neither do they care whether Dennis Healey or Jeff Healey
> made a comment about a badge.  Interest in such ephemera is very
> narrowly limited, and differing views can be easily debated.
>
> Unfortunately, a such a broad-based blast at what one person considers
> "wrong" serves only to inhibit the wide-ranging and free-flowing
> discussion that can benefit everyone except those who need no more
> knowledge.  I fear that as a result of the post, far fewer people will
> be prepared to venture into the discussion.
>
> Like Frank Clarici and his Service Tool 101 (big hammer), I have long
> relied on my Tijuana Whitworth (crescent wrench).  The bottom line is,
> "book correct" or not,  whether they get the job done.  If they do, they
> are correct.
>
> Now, in the absence of any "facts" in any manual, I want opinion on how
> to remove a seized crankshaft pulley retaining bolt.
>
> Bob Evans
> Anaheim, California
>
> (And I would like to make it clear that the President did NOT have any
> relations in my Sprite.  Although my Sprite may be the only one to make
> that claim.)
>
> Wm. Severin Thompson wrote:
> >
> > Bob,
> >
> > Let me be perfectly clear here... I did not have relations... oops, sorry, 
>wrong
> > speech. (Presidential press conference text...)
> >
> > The point is not to discourage the voicing of opinions... but to identify 
>them as
> > such.... plain and simple. People seem to be content to portray their 
>opinion as
> > fact.
> >
> > You are absolutely correct about books on Healeys containing errors. That's 
>a
> > perfect example of my point. People assume because it's in print, it's 
>correct.
> > In fact, sometimes its Club based information that's erroneous... example, 
>the
> > recent Chatter that had a picture of Pierce Brosnan in a Healey. The 
>editor, or
> > caption writer, or supplier of the photo identified it as a 2 seater. Sorry,
> > wrong answer. One time I addressed specific wrong information in a 
>"historical
> > Healey article". The editor's response..." the little facts aren't 
>important...
> > just the story." Huh?
> >
> > My comments are not addressed at the list as a whole, but to those 
>seemingly self
> > -appointed individuals that are quick to get it wrong.... then watch 15 
>related
> > inane threads discussing it. I am  not naming myself as the opinion or fact
> > police.
> >
> > Let me give you a very specific personal example... I haven't named names 
>in the
> > past, but I'll clarify the situation a little more. On the Team Thicko web 
>site
> > <http://www.thicko.com> (which has lots of opinion and is represented as 
>such)
> > see <http://www.thicko.com/healey.htm>. Halfway down the page is a Healey
> > Register sticker that Geoff gave to me. I had shown Geoff  the color cover 
>of the
> > Oklahoma club's newsletter that had the Healey badge on it. A family member 
>was
> > taking credit for the badge design. Geoff was outraged.... wrote "Bullshit" 
>and
> > signed Geoff Healey on it. A week later in the mail I got a large envelope 
>from
> > Geoff that contained the sticker. On the back he wrote "This is a later
> > adaptation of the Silverstone badge". His letter stated... " the badge with 
>the
> > Warwick Castle and the Union Jack was created in 1949, as a car badge for 
>the
> > Silverstone, in the drawing office by Barrie Bilbie". This pre-dated by a 
>number
> > of years the involvement of the family member in the business. Along with 
>the
> > letter and the sticker, Geoff sent a 12 page color brochure... "The Healey
> > Silverstone" by Profile Publications which in its color center section 
>clearly
> > showed the badge. SOmeday soon I hope to get this on the web site.
> >
> > It gets more and more difficult as time goes by and the principals involved 
>in
> > the making of the cars pass on to get accurate information. Someday soon, 
>they'll
> > all be gone... and all we'll have to rely on from a historical standpoint 
>will be
> > the documented writings of individuals that confirmed the facts before
> > publication, and the fond memories of those of us who were lucky enough to 
>get to
> > know them.
> >
> > There's not one single item that precipitated my post today... just the last
> > flush that overflowed the bowl. I think its great that people want to learn 
>about
> > their cars. I think it's great we have a forum to ask and answer questions. 
>I
> > think it's great to have differences of opinion. Let's just strive to keep 
>the
> > facts straight.
> >
> > WST





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