Sometimes you just need to scream!!!

[Master slacker]

I F'ING HATE TIMING BELTS! I finally put the head back on the ole beater ('92 mercury tracer) and this farking belt is giving me the worst time. Either the cam gear is one tooth ahead or one tooth behind at TDC. Grrr......

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

^I do too. They replaced the one on my wife's car today and it sure wasn't cheap.

 

[Chucktown PE]

I was attempting to do some preventative maintenance on my boat motor today. I was going to replace the water pumps since it's probably 15 years old and it's supposed to be replaced every 2 years. I had 5 of the 6 bolts out of the lower unit on the motor, got to the 6th bolt and the damn thing sheared off. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH. I should have just left the damned thing alone.

 

[Supe]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

How did I go from "the VT-II doing the final visual inspection" to "the guy coordinating the entire thing"?

 

[Master slacker]

Post-AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

Not only do I f'ing hate timing belts, I f'ing hate cars that were designed to keep the average Joe Garage out of the engine compartment. It took me two, count 'em TWO, F'ING HOURS to put the alternator BACK IN THE CAR! God forbid I have to do that again. If I do, I'm just going to rent an arc gouger.

 

[mizzoueng]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

How did I go from "the VT-II doing the final visual inspection" to "the guy coordinating the entire thing"?

Ha! Thats a simple one. "He's a CWI, that means he can just do the whole thing and we can save $$$$$ instead of hiring a PM" :bananadoggywow:

 

[udpolo15]

I hate clients. The guy just doesn't get it, not sure I could be more blunt about it. More work for me, but at the end of the day, you are going to lose the case.

 

[Master slacker]

@#)($)@#*$)@#_$&!@#^@!#!@^#)!!!!!

So replacing the head gasket didn't work. Red Storm continues to puff out the white flag of surrender from the tail pipe from burning coolant. I didn't see any signs of warpage or cracks in the head, but I guess it's time to shell out a few hundred bucks to get a refurbished and machined flat head. Dammit...

 

[Capt Worley PE]

If it is a GM 3.4 or 3400 V6, they had issues with the intake manifold gasket that allowed coolant into the intake passages. Even if it isn't that model, it may be an avenue to explore.

 

[Master slacker]

It's a furd 1.9 engine. Back in May, one of the freeze plugs in the head decided to rot out. By the time I noticed it (approximately 2 days later) the hole was about 3/8" in diameter. On its first symptom showing day, the temperature gauge bounced from cold to the middle of the normal range, but never "Hot". Its second and last symptom-prone day, I noticed puffs of steam from under the hood, but never saw water in the engine compartment. After the car got towed home, I dove into the engine compartment with flashlight and mirror in hand. I saw the hole and realized that I ran in VW mode (air-cooled) for two days. From what I have read online, these heads do not like any type of overheating and will crack and / or warp in no time. I gambled with just the head gasket... and lost.

 

[Chucktown PE]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Four hours I've spent trying to drop the lower unit off of this boat motor. Damn drive shaft splines are stuck together inside the gear case (probably from salt water penetration) so I guess I'm never getting the thing off. Hope the water pump never goes out because it doesn't look like I'll ever be able to access it.

 

[picusld]

AHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Yet another government regulator enforcing a nonsense regulation which is going to cost my company money.

Laid off 2 more guys yesterday...

But the Bog Turtles are going to be ok...

 

[Capt Worley PE]

It's a furd 1.9 engine. Back in May, one of the freeze plugs in the head decided to rot out. By the time I noticed it (approximately 2 days later) the hole was about 3/8" in diameter. On its first symptom showing day, the temperature gauge bounced from cold to the middle of the normal range, but never "Hot". Its second and last symptom-prone day, I noticed puffs of steam from under the hood, but never saw water in the engine compartment. After the car got towed home, I dove into the engine compartment with flashlight and mirror in hand. I saw the hole and realized that I ran in VW mode (air-cooled) for two days. From what I have read online, these heads do not like any type of overheating and will crack and / or warp in no time. I gambled with just the head gasket... and lost.

Now would be a good time to drop a Mazda BTD in or the twin cam unit from an escort GT.

 

[Master slacker]

Thought about it, but I don't think the car is worth more than a refurbished head. The 1.8 would require a new ECM and wiring harness. Besides that, I actually debated whether to get the manual transmission from the local pullapart to make the drive a little more fun. I'd rather just get a new head and drive it. Whenever we get money again, I already have plans to put a Subaru ej20t and transmission in the 1970 Bug.

PS: AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

I fired up Red Storm yesterday and let it idle for a good 40 minutes to make sure the coolant burning was still there so I could order the head. Topped the radiator off with more coolant (higher AF concentration, the more white smoke) and waited... and waited... and f'ing waited. I saw no apparent leaks and the temperature gauge never bounced around. It frickin' held steady. What to do... what to do... @#)$R#@)!!!

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Drive it. Keep the AAA card handy.

 

[Master slacker]

Drive it. Keep the AAA card handy.

Even better, I got USAA.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I have 'em both.

 

[Master slacker]

touche

 

[Master slacker]

@#!)($@#)*$@#!!!

So Red Terror's issues continue. After making sure all is well on Saturday (surprisingly, there is still no coolant blow-by) I go to the gas station, fill up RT, and prepare for its state inspection on Monday. Sunday morning, the wifey-wife goes outside and says there's a distinct odor of gas near RT. Hmm... I did accidently leave a small gas can with a little left in it in the back seat area. Removed it, aired out RT, and all is well, right? Not so much. Sunday evening w-w says the same thing. So I go investigate and, wouldn't you know it, the rubber gas tank filler neck is cracked / split in a million places and it's dripping gas onto the driveway.

@#$&@!

Longer story a little shorter, I siphon gas out, cut old hose that was once made of rubber off of car, discover that NO STORE IN THE CITY has a 2" ID rubber fuel hose, order hose online, and will have to wait until next week before I can install the hose.

#@)$*)@#*$)!!!

 

[Dark Knight]

Another useless, unproductive and misserable day is under way. God have mercy!!!!! I cannot take this crap anymore. :mf_grenade: