Sept 27, 2005 - Oil Pump

When I had previously said that the General was going to be a running theme in my posts, I had no idea they were become negative so quickly. Last Friday (9/23), my brother Jim and I were out in the Lee and I noticed that my oil pressure was bottomed right out. Now, this was nothing all that new as I have been having oil pressure problems now for the past few months but the pressure would always get better; not any longer. It looks like the once once fragil crippled oil pump finally gave in and blew.

The guys that helped me and Jim convert her into a General have agreed to install the new pump, but to get it to the garage forced us to drive her for about 15 miles on NO oil pressure. The car didn't run right, but there was no knocking or anything so we are HOPING that there was not enough time to really damage the car. One thing that may have helped is that Jim, a few days ago, added Slick Fifty which helps maintain lubrication on the engine components even when you have little or no oil.

For those who are not mechanically inclined: inside your engine you have hundreds of metal parts which work against each other to run. When you have metal working against metal, friction is the byproduct which gives birth to heat. Oil coats the metal parts ensuring the heat is minimilized so the metal parts do not start welding themselves together.

I'll keep you all updated as to what happens next!


Matt

PS - Thanks for those who commented on my last post (except for the person who sent me a porn spam add).

Sep 20, 2005 - Finally a pic of my General Lee!

Sept 19, 2005

Hey,

Long time no post right? I have been quite busy, but thankfully my plate is becoming a bit more clean as time goes on. I met with the insurance guy for my Buick and the guy just cut me a check right then and there with no fuss or feuding. Rather than just spring to have the quarter fixed right away, I paid off the car and lowered my insurance a bit so I look to be saving about $350 per month. Living in New England will not allow me to keep a wounded car this winter when that exposed metal will start getting bathed in snow and road salt. Luckily, I will be able to save to have the work done comfortably.

As for the General, I bought the original style front bucket seats earlier today off of ebay. On typical days, those can go for around $800-$1000 (they had mounting tracks and the very desirable headrests) but I got mine for around $300.

I also entered the Dodge into an online car show of sorts where judges will vote for the car they think is the best and regular people have an opportunity to vote for the one they like the most (a sort of People's Choice). I never did anything at a car show insofar as awards are concerned, but you never know.

Something else on my home front is that my 6 month old cat decided she wanted to start the mating process a mite early and got herself knocked up a number of weeks ago. I had deluded myself into thinking she was just becoming fatter and fatter, but this part Friday (9/16) she pranced out into the kitchen thin as a kitten again. Jim and I freaked as we knew she had her kittens but what scared us all the more is that she had been checking out nesting areas outside and we were horrified at the concept of baby kittens out doors where anything could get to them. Our fears were unfounded as Jim discovered them in a spare bedroom my mom used to sleep in. The mother is very trusting of Jim and I and will ONLY leave her babies if he or I are in the room. She also has permitted us to pet them and touch them without incident (we don't do that normally but they are so small and soft right now with new fur it becomes hard not to). Even though momma was so young, all five babies and her and doing fine. I had feared they may have died but they didn't thankfully.

In other news, I have started listening to certain personalities on Air America. One of which is the VERY beautiful Rachel Maddow on web streams. I had seen Rachel on a show hosted by Republican Tucker Carlson on MSNBC and did a web search on her and found her radio show site. I am a die hard liberal and some of the comments she makes just make me crack up laughing, but with the current political atmosphere being so geared to the 'moral majority' and the Republican Christian right, I find it a bit comforting to know I am not alone in my general beliefs. Al Franken, the figurehead behind Air America has a real head on his shoulders and the gift of genuine humor.

Sep 8, 2005

I haven't forgotten about posting, I've just been pulled in so many directions lately that the blog has sort of fallen to the side.

I went to a coworkers party this past Saterday with my Charger. That was a kick! Everybody for like 3 hours kept wanting to hear the horn or hear the engine start. I know it's just a car, but if non-living things did have personality I would say it's a showoff. It will sputter and stall for me, but get adoring fans around her and she will scream like a banshee.

On a sad note, last Friday (9/2) somebody hit by 2000 Buick Century so I have been running around getting estimates for the other guys insurance (he was completely at fault). Thankfully the guy who hit me seems to be copping to it and the insurance lady I've been dealing with is being very nice and willing to work with me to get my car fixed. In the the meantime I have been relying on the Charger to get to and from work and do erands and such.

Speaking of the General, she is going to be losing her cherry in a day or so (Saterday): she's doing her first car show AS a General Lee. I had done a number of shows when she was a black on black Dodge Charger but until this show I have never been given the opportunity to do one post-painting. Hopefully I can post a pic or two so anyone who happens to read this can see I'm not just blowing smoke about having a General.

Sept 1, 2005

I've only had a blog for less than a week and already I am forgetting about it! Well, I do have an excuse actually. My brother Jim and I took my dad out to Six Flags New England this past Saturday (8/27/05).

Given that my father, also named James, lives about 4-5 hours away, I don't get to see him as much as I perhaps should, so this past weekend I bought a few Six Flags tickets and took a few vacation days and decided to treat him out. I know he had a blast and spending time with him I'm sure also helped his spirits out a bit. He's a stock broker who has been loosing his shirt since the advent and subsequent popularity of internet trading and (the recession hasn't helped him out a bit either). So bad has it gotten that he had to close his business store front and reopen in a guest area of his house.

My brother Jim and I, as with most people, tend to get caught up in life and sometimes we will say 'God, we got to get down there,' but then nothing happens for a few months (or years). We will be going back down to see him this Christmas though. We split his holiday seasons with his wife's family. Joyce, my stepmother, is very close to her son (an only child) and her sisters and mother, so in the interest of keeping the peace Joyce and I struck a deal where I get to be with my dad every other Christmas and she gets him for her family in between. It may sound odd, but it has worked for almost 10 years now.

In worldly news, Jim and I have been watching with fascination the damage done to Mississippi, Alabama and (worst of all) New Orleans and Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina. The storm just hit Monday and major chunks of the city are still under water due to smashed levees and the fact that the city is below sea level (never a good idea for a coastal town mind you). Those people still have no drinking water, food, medication or electricity.

Talk about an active century so far. First 9/11, then the US led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, then the hurricane season of last year which pummled Florida, then the Tsunami and now this. Next thing you now, Fox News will actually be voted the most reliable source of current events, which will surely be the sign of the Armageddon.

On a personal front, I've decided not to go back to school this fall. Some major things happened this summer that... well, I'm still not quite ready to talk about.