BMW UPDATE<\/p>\n
This is the last week of auto mechanics class and on Friday we have to drive the car back home. Without an inspection sticker. Dan and I believe creative story telling will suffice if we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re stopped, Diane claims she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll take Matt to the Vineyard as planned, whether I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in jail or not.<\/p>\n
This week Matt will change the tie rods, having already worked on the distributor, ignition wires, alternator, coil, and battery leads. Surprisingly too, it passed both Matt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s compression and oil pressure tests and that leaves only the clutch to repair. I wrote to David Stochl seeking his advice about whether we could do that work ourselves. His diplomatic reply:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The clutch is a tough question. It involves taking the driveshaft out, the transmission out, and then the clutch pressure plate and disc off the flywheel. The flywheel also should be taken out and resurfaced, as it most likely will have heat cracks. If you don’t resurface the flywheel, it may chatter. Not good.<\/p>\n
That is a lot of work for anyone with little experience. The job isn’t impossible, but just little stuff like making sure the clutch is aligned with an alignment tool (need to buy or rent one), and then actually lifting the transmission into place is a pain in the back.<\/p>\n
My advice would be to get some estimates for a clutch job, then decide whether you really want to dive into that job, ot just pay to have someone do it with a warranty. Sometimes with stuff like Transmissions, it is nice to have a warranty to take it back if it acts up.<\/p>\n
Case in point: I was selling my 1964 Ranchero this year. The 4 speed transmission lost third gear, and I had two more transmissions in my garage. Supposedly one had been rebuilt, so I was told. I spent a day pulling out the old one, putting the new one in, making all the adjustments for the shifter, then crawling out from under the car to take it for a drive. It growled in first gear, slipped out of second when I decelerated, then could not get it into third gear. The moral of this story was that I pulled the transmission out after replacing the shifter twice (thinking it was a shifter problem), took it down to a friend’s transmission shop, and $580 in cash later, had a rebuilt unit to put in. It worked like a charm. As much as I hated to spend the money, it was done in a few days and was done correctly.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
As much as I hate to spend the money and as much as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll miss seeing that transmission sitting on Matt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chest, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve decided to take it to our local mechanic. After the clutch is repaired, Matt and I will start the body work, and begin investigating ways to add head rests and some kind of after market shoulder belts. <\/p>\n
ENDINGS<\/p>\n
Thursday is Diane’s last day at Emerson. Monday, August 25th, she’ll again be making that familiar drive to Mclean Hospital. <\/p>\n
REWINDING<\/p>\n
These images should have accompanied Rewind. They present the scope of Adam’s dilemma, to begin again, or not. Click here<\/a> for more photos. BMW UPDATE This is the last week of auto mechanics class and on Friday we have to drive the car back home. Without an inspection sticker. Dan and I believe creative story telling will suffice if we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re stopped, Diane claims … Continue reading
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\nThe old floor… .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"