This week so far I have went through a belt and a radiator hose. I learned that usually if you are going through parts there is another problem that you are not seeing ( I knew this already but there is a difference between reading and experience). After the original belt I changed snapped the fan stopped working and the radiator hoses gave out. I fixed that for now and replaced the belt again. I heard the brand new belt slipping after 200 miles and decided that maybe it was just installed improperly so I got under the hood to inspect and found that the power steering pulley steel support had a very large break in it. So I dropped the car and found a welder in the nearest town. Then I went back to take those three bolts out thinking this will be a piece of cake (that’s another lesson I learned this week never assume). It turned out that the fracture point was acting like a lock washer. The combination of the pressure and the rust made removal of this particular bolt just about impossible. After rounding the edges of the bolt I decided to go into town and call around for some tips. I went back to the shop and they loaned me a ½ drive short 14mm. That gave me a snug enough fit to use my breaker bar and finally….. finally…. I BROKE IT OFF. I thought it would be easy, HA! Anyways I’m in a pickle for now until I drill it out and healla coil in there, I think jb weld should hold. It’s all I have. This week I am also learning how to deal with difficult customer service and I interviewed a shop owner and got some tips on working with customers in the industry.

Hours this week: 15

Hours total: 184

This week so far I have been able to make it a third of the way to Tennessee for my project. This grandiose idea sometimes makes me feel like I bit off more than I can chew. That’s probably just the stress talking. But if I am successful at this project, it will be a heck of a resume builder. Yesterday I learned what happens when your steering/fan belt snaps. I just happened to be miles away from town and the damned burst coolant line happened to be melted on at the base and I happened to have a belt that was two inches to long but 5 hours and two trips to town later we are back on the road at full speed.

Time this week: 6

Time total:169

             We finally fixed everything with the seals and I peered under the back end and saw that there was fluid leaking so after a long process of obtaining the right tools ( a six ton jack was the hardest ) I disassembled the back wheel ends and found a bad slave cylinder and bearing seal I replaced them on both sides. During this process I learned that it is very important to be sure you are putting the correct pair of shoes on the correct side. I just thought that they would have saran wrapped them together in the correct pair… apparently I was wrong. we thought we finally repaired minnie winnie and we left trying to escape the snow storm lingering above us ... WE MADE IT 10 MORE MILES but she wasn't shifting up like she should so I had Daniel (cause its 2 degrees here)check the tranny fluid and it dumped an entire transmissions worth in the short distance. Now I pulled the bell housing cover off and  it looked like the front seal was leaking (the one we payed a mechanic to be replace because we didn't have the specialty tool(apparently a screw driver would have worked)) but it turned out that it was the vent that was spewing fluid ant the transmission is completely toast now we have to pay 900 bucks on top of all the money we spent on fluids and other parts to replace all those seals in  the transmission.... luckily we have the money but now we have to work up enough money to replenish our gas funds. Looks like we will be here a while. And now it has come to my attention that there are laws I needed to be researching because if I obstruct the river it’s about a 5000 dollar fine. But I have contacted the watershed organization in the area and the have directed me to the person I need to talk to . 

time this week and last= 65 hours

I spent this week working for a temporary employment company this past week to replenish my gas funds and I learned that a good work ethic will get you far. It looks like we will be leaving tomorrow after I do a general inspection and test drive. I If all goes well....

Time this week:0

So… This week I learned that gaskets and o rings do not last thirty five years. I came to this conclusion when we made it to Moses Lake (I know real far right) and we were leaking fluid from everywhere it seemed. I managed to drop out the transmission and replace all of the seals and o rings minus the front seal (I didn’t have the tool but someone else did) and the pressure plate gasket (because that would have required taking the whole thing apart). I also managed to (with help and much advice and research) remove and replace the rear main seal in the engine. This required two full days of fenagleing. I tried pounding it but it compressed against itself. I tried threading a screw into it and using a pry bar to pull it out which cause it to pull irritatingly small pieces out. I even got the damned tool for the damned thing for 60$…. So I had to drop the crank shaft down a quarter of an inch by slightly loosening the housing then I used a 3/8 ths aluminum rod and was able to pound it out. Now after an 8 hour day the transmission is back in place and it can be started tomorrow hopefully after I get all the attachments connected to it.

Hours this week: 50 h (I’m also sick)

Hours total: 133 h

This week I learned that just because a vehicle runs okay doesn't mean that there aren't any other MAJOR issues. I properly packed and seated my bearings and changed my belts. I tried to bleed the brakes for the third or fourth time and they rotted in on themselves and I learned how to use a pipe bender in order to not pinch your pipe. I learned how to wire in a trailer connection. I learned to not trust the idiots at the part store to get you the right part. I learned how to replace the fluid in a differential. I learned what a bad brake pad can do to a rotor. I learner how to replace a distributor cap and distributor cap rotor and how to find a firing sequence if you mess it up ( I needed a little instruction with this one). I also have several pictures which I will be posting as soon as i get a key board replacement (I also learned that if you water a computer it does not grow.(this one was the most disappointing of my lessons.))

Time this week: 61 h
Time total: 83 h