I've been so busy since my return, that I haven't been able
post the details of the journey. First off, I pulled a week of all nighters
trying to get the car ready. Finally, at 5 pm on Monday we started the
engine for the first time after a complete rebuild. 9:00 pm that night
we were on the road for California. Pretty scary, but the engine rebuild
went very well. In fact, the only thing that gave us trouble on the
entire journey was the water pump which I had intended to replace,
but had been sent the wrong part.
The trip in general was pretty straight forward except it was
HOT. I mean like rain forest hot - really hot. The only relief we
had was in Colorado. Lawrence B. and Scott P. tried to find a new
water pump for me in Boulder and I really appreciate the effort. I was
able to hook up with Mark (MJB our list admin.) and he gave me a
spare pump which was enough to ensure the one in the car would
be fine for the rest of the journey.
A quick contest - how long do you think I was in San Francisco
before some old woman, who should not have a drivers license, side
swiped the entire driver side of the car? The answer is four hours. The
damage was all cosmetic and the insurance company is going to pay in
full (so they say). We'll see.
Cait has been driving the car every day to work from the city
to Menlo Park without problems. She said the brakes have started to
sqweak/grind. No doubt the hills in San Fran as well as her learning
to drive a stick have taken their toll on the shoes and pads. I also
noticed some odd behavior in the engine temperature. I found that
the car will get really pretty hot - say 2/3 the way up the gauge then
drop all the sudden to a normal middle of the gauge position. Also,
the engine won't come up to normal operating temp unless it is above
say 80 or 90 degrees outside. So I think the thermostat has failed.
Would someone volutneer to drive the car and check the brakes out
as well as help her arrange to get the thermostat replaced? Perhaps
she could met someone for lunch. Thanks...
William Woodruff woodruff@engin.umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI
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