Engine Work

Thirty tears ago in Ekalaka, Montana the V W demanded some attention.

I always loved to work on them cause they were made mechanic friendly.

Remember the valve covers had a metal clip to hold 'em on.

I was 16, a runaway sleeping in cars, tents and under bridges (Sacramento, Ca).

Funny how life brings us back around to teach us again from a new angle,

a 'dangangle'.

Well this morning Mike and I used this hoist to pull engine out of truck.

I was filling in for Jeff as he was sleeping off residuals from the night before.

Here are some common degreasers and cleaners. A must have at all progressive

( or regressive) shops. Well, darn if the fly wheel did not match up to the torque converter at Tranny. So I grabbed both fly wheels and headed out to find Rich. He'll know what to do.

Years ago I sought out Rich, the neighborhood mechanic, to ask his opinion on a job

I was paying to have done, replacing ball joints or something.

We became friends and ... o k the truth...I just wouldn't leave till he agreed to help me

replace a spider gear at the rear end of my Suburban.

Then months later I over heated and cracked a head....HHhhhh

So we did a little scavenging in a local junk yard. They were some fine memories

(for me anyway- Rich tries to forget he knows me).

So when I pulled up today and found him on his several lots of old chevy cars

and parts and equipment... Well, he was not smiling.

I said, "Wait! I just need to have a quick conversation with you about fly wheels."

He didn't have a chance to say, "No! I don't have time. Please leave."

I explained that we just spent 3 hot hours pulling and engine and

I was wearing the grease to prove it.

My options ;

1) 100 bucks to order new fly wheel wouldn't arrive till Monday or

2) go to junk yard take apart engines till i find right one (nah...) or

3) SOMEONE could weld holes shut, hole punch using other flywheel as template

and drill new holes out.

" Listen you know these guys can't do that. Would you do it?" I asked ...

I am laughing cause he wanted to say no but my sorry smelly sweating self...

well, I guess it was obvious I needed a little help. So I pick it up at 8 tonight.

He is a great friend.

Tomorrow at 7 am we start, putting other engine in and putting it all back together.

I insisted on new plugs and wires. That can only help, right?

Mike rolled his eyes and and used a power tool to give me one. It broke in half.

So I am thinking its a good call getting new ones.

So much easier to replace when and engine is hanging from the hoist.

Woo Hooo ! new plugs, new wires... Watch it, world, here I come!

Truthfully, I going to ask Santa Baby for a donkey and cart.

I am over dealing with grease.