Kate is on the road!

[Cash]

This may not seem like a great revelation to most but Kate never sees the road before mid April!
However, the weather has been so great I couldn't stand it any more and insured her today.

Sadly, there is another part to this story. Like I had a choice!! Phart! Although I rued not being on the road with Kate on these sunny days I still feel a bit more winter is yet to come. Vin Diesel is all I insure November through April, but unfortunately Vin calfed on me!
I blew the motor in Vin Diesel today! Phart!!!
Thats the last thing I needed! Two days ago I blew an oil line, unbeknownst to myself. I immediately saw the "check gauges" light, looked over my guages (I was on the highway at 70mph) and saw I had no oil pressure. My immediate thought was my gauge had calfed or the line to the gauge disconnected. As I was trying to sort this out a log truck was passing, making a hell of a clatter.
As I waited for him to clear so I could hear myself think (I honestly thought it was his jake brake chattering) it wasn't until he was past me a hundred feet I realized I might be in a tad of doodoo because the clatter wasn't following him! Phart!!
I coasted into the next driveway but the damage had already been done as it turns out. I had Vin towed to my bro's.
We found a disconnected oil line and repaired that, changed the oil (changed the filter and put 6 litres of oil in is more accurate) started Vin up and heard a clatter even a diesel wouldn't be proud of.
I went home and he ran not too bad, just way too noisy. I was hopeful it was a lifter or two or a bent rod or something.
I left the house this morning to do some grocery shopping but the bad news (for my brother) is I had to navigate to his driveway as I knew I wasn't going to get home. After putting a stethoscope trying to determine the amount/type/location of damage it began to "pop" back through the airbox. I have no idea WTF that was but knew it wasn't a good thing! I shut Vin down, knowing that, just like John Wayne in "The Shootist", it is not worth opening him up.
Rather than drive all over hell to get registrations etc I phoned my insurance people and asked if they could issue me insurance on Kate if I knew her VIN by heart (if you don't believe me I probably know yours too!!) and could they renew my plate without the old registration.
"Short story long", I am now driving Kate, but need to get something else on the road right away also. I don't do "daily driving" but I am not convinced spring has sprung. I need to get a new battery and do some general maintenance on the Benz I guess as I need a backup. It's not as though I feel like driving Beautiful in **** weather either mind you!
It was such fun to get Kate back on the road. I often think of how I always miss her birthday. Although she is never far from my thoughts, I am not usually driving her on February 16th.

RIP Vin Diesel



I consider the rust as character lines!
The cardboard is not for keeping oil off the driveway, it is to keep the frost from rising during winter.

[Greg Ducato]

Ouch! sorry about the loss of your engine and trusty winter companion, hopefully you will get it sorted out before Kate develops a taste for Snow.

[gmac]

That's just plain SH***Y. Sorry to here about your troubles Dale. Good news is that the weather is supposed to stay nice for a while. I know I have had an "urge" to get mine out, but I have stripped er down and am in the midst of pinstriping it so I can't anyway.
Hopefully yo can get a suitable winter replacement lined up before long!

G

[Red Cat]

Poor Vin Diesel! How many miles did he have on him? What a Bummer Cash! I hope you find another winter truck soon. I know Kate won't want to be out in bad weather. Jax & #12 don't even like the rain.

[MnMsToy]

Sorry $$$$ but “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

Good luck on finding a winter ride.

[xs-cash]

too bad bout vin!!
i'm driving my ssr here today, we really hav'nt had winter up here.

[DOOPHUS]

Po Little Vin Diesel

. . . but does that justify SSR Abuse?

! ! ! ! ! !

[MoodyBlue]

I hope they don't throw Salt all over the Roads up there; like they do here in the USA.

If I lived next door to ya. Vin would be Dieseling again.

[mike in orlando]

This SSR abuse

Come to Florida

[Meg in Carolina]

So sorry read about Vin's "illness".... it will be a topless day for me unless I get the dreaded "Timed Out" message.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Greg Ducato

Ouch! sorry about the loss of your engine and trusty winter companion, hopefully you will get it sorted out before Kate develops a taste for Snow.

Originally Posted by gmac

That's just plain SH***Y. Sorry to here about your troubles Dale. Good news is that the weather is supposed to stay nice for a while. I know I have had an "urge" to get mine out, but I have stripped er down and am in the midst of pinstriping it so I can't anyway.
Hopefully yo can get a suitable winter replacement lined up before long!

G

Originally Posted by Red Cat

Poor Vin Diesel! How many miles did he have on him? What a Bummer Cash! I hope you find another winter truck soon. I know Kate won't want to be out in bad weather. Jax & #12 don't even like the rain.

Originally Posted by MnMsToy

Sorry $$$$ but “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

Good luck on finding a winter ride.

Originally Posted by xs-cash

too bad bout vin!!
i'm driving my ssr here today, we really hav'nt had winter up here.

Originally Posted by DOOPHUS

Po Little Vin Diesel

. . . but does that justify SSR Abuse?

Originally Posted by MoodyBlue

I hope they don't throw Salt all over the Roads up there; like they do here in the USA.

If I lived next door to ya. Vin would be Dieseling again.

Originally Posted by Meg in Carolina

So sorry read about Vin's "illness".... it will be a topless day for me unless I get the dreaded "Timed Out" message.

Hey everyone - thanks for all the concern for Kate.
Trust me, she will never see snow, salt or adverse conditons of any type while she is within my care. We have had a very mild winter and the roads are totally clear of any salt or de-icing debris. I had to do a snap decision on what I could drive. My 70 Vette was a total no, the AMG Benz and 80 Vette both needed a bit of maintenance, but I knew my darling Kate was raring to go and could look after me in any emergency. If it is a bad weather day or the roads have anything, rain, snow etc, Kate and I will be by the fire, me a little closer of course!
When I was a kid about 4 we ran out of food and fearing for our safety my Dad walked my older bro and I out through snowdrifts, up to his hips (I remember this clearly) about 6 miles to the nearest neighbor. He left Mom at home. I'm not reading anything into this as he absolutely loved my Mom and whatever conversations went on between them about the safety of our family at a very trying time I will never know. However, I guess Dad felt the same way about us boys as I do about Kate. As God is my witness, through hellfire, hail storms, snow blizzards, avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, Indian uprisings, islamic revolts or whatever calamity might come up I will struggle physically enduring great pain on foot searching for grub rather than subject Kate to SSR abuse! Now I hope none of that **** happens when I am out on the road!
I will get my Benz on the road next I think. I don't want to buy anything more at this time as I am quite confident spring is nigh.
I will address the next winter season when I am 60.

[mikebike]

Hi Dale,
sorry to hear of Vins demise.

I too got my SSR out and the top down to take my 90 year old mom on a cruse of the Peninsula and White Rock's Marine Drive.

Not a cloud in the sky and clear

[Cash]

Originally Posted by mikebike

Hi Dale,
sorry to hear of Vins demise.

I too got my SSR out and the top down to take my 90 year old mom on a cruse of the Peninsula and White Rock's Marine Drive.

Not a cloud in the sky and clear

I lived on Sunset Lane on West side White Rock just up from the promenade for 20 some years. I lived up to the name my brother gave me in the '70's from the Steely Dan album, Midnight Cruiser and cruised the Marine Drive strip almost every night through the summer months.

[mikebike]

Do you remember when the A&W was down at the East end of Marine Drive?

[Cash]

Originally Posted by mikebike

Do you remember when the A&W was down at the East end of Marine Drive?

Absolutely. Corner of Stayte Road and Marine. It stayed as a large vacant area for some time after it closed down. Does Hannigans ring a bell at all?
I remember when you could roll a bolling ball down Johnston Road on a Sunday morning and not worry about hitting a car.
I remember when there was one building north of Johnston & N Bluff. After that it was trees to the KGH!
I remember when your wife asked me to the prom as she was trying to get out of a date with some weird guy.... ah, maybe not!

[MoodyBlue]

A used V8 Diesel down in my area is going for about $ 200.00

[Cash]

Originally Posted by MoodyBlue

A used V8 Diesel down in my area is going for about $ 200.00

Does that include the truck?
I figured Vin was worth about $2500, only because I had recently spent about $2700 getting all the injectors, pump, glow plugs and a bunch of other stuff done. Money very foolishly spent I must say, not that this sort of thing is unusual for me to do!
Having a diesel expecting longevity was one thing but the allure of cheaper fuel has long gone as it is now about $.60/gallon more expensive also. I really have no interest in getting it back on the road. I might reconsider this statement if I knew it was minor stuff like lifter/push rod but if I have to pull the motor and find out it is going to entail bearings and piston work it isn't worth it.
Installing another motor of unknown strength into a rusted body doesn't appeal to me either.
I think cut and run is better.

[ssr71]

I don't ever drop the insurance on my rides.... I had to use the 'R back in December when the differential on my Silverado exploded. Fortunately, I was able to get my truck back on the road just a few days before we had a light ice storm. Of course they salted the roads!

[MoodyBlue]

Originally Posted by Cash

Does that include the truck?
I figured Vin was worth about $2500, only because I had recently spent about $2700 getting all the injectors, pump, glow plugs and a bunch of other stuff done. Money very foolishly spent I must say, not that this sort of thing is unusual for me to do!

You can always take them off. Then install them on the Good Used Motor.

[mikebike]

Originally Posted by Cash

Absolutely. Corner of Stayte Road and Marine. It stayed as a large vacant area for some time after it closed down. Does Hannigans ring a bell at all?
I remember when you could roll a bolling ball down Johnston Road on a Sunday morning and not worry about hitting a car.
I remember when there was one building north of Johnston & N Bluff. After that it was trees to the KGH!
I remember when your wife asked me to the prom as she was trying to get out of a date with some weird guy.... ah, maybe not!

Was that the name of the GM dealer down there?
I got here (1972) as they were demolishing the movie theater

[Topspin]

Sorry for your loss $, my old Jeep Cherokee, winter beater, is on it's last legs too. At least there was a good hockey game to watch last night?!

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Topspin

Sorry for your loss $, my old Jeep Cherokee, winter beater, is on it's last legs too. At least there was a good hockey game to watch last night?!

Yup, we each got a point! I don't know if we deserved ours though, so we gave you an extra one.
Certainly enjoyed taking the two off you the last time though! 4 - donut as I recall.
Ken, it is doing a rather loud POP POP back through the airbox. I have never heard this before. Any idea?

[HotRodGirl]

Originally Posted by Cash

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]This may not seem like a great revelation to most but Kate never sees the road before mid April!
However, the weather has been so great I couldn't stand it any more and insured her today.
]

Been thinking the same thing over this way just haven't acted upon it

The weather has been nice enough to get Boopster out .......why I haven't done it I just don't know. Maybe because I have been disciplined to not bring her out until April.

Sorry to hear about the blown motor though! Guess I'll bring out Boopster when the 1993 Buick dies on me

[Topspin]

It might be as simple as a bent intake valve. If you want to take a little time, pulling the plugs and running a compression test could tell you a lot. The only way air gets reversed into the air box is via a non sealing intake valve. Having run it low on oil pressure, an intake valve stem might have lost enough lubrication to stick in the guide, then the valve head can contact a piston and bend. Sometimes the piston will withstand the contact, especially in the case of a diesel piston, as they're built tough to withstand the high cylinder pressure. So, just maybe pull the heads and freshen them up and you might be back on the road. In view of the fact you've just invested some money, I'd think it would be worth investigating!

Man HRG, I've lived my whole life in MI, and never seen a "winter" like this one??!! I drove my R, for the first time ever, on both Christmas and New Years day! Everybody owes me, as I broke down and bought my first snow blower this year - got 3 coats of wax on it and not a flake of snow!

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Topspin

It might be as simple as a bent intake valve. If you want to take a little time, pulling the plugs and running a compression test could tell you a lot. The only way air gets reversed into the air box is via a non sealing intake valve. Having run it low on oil pressure, an intake valve stem might have lost enough lubrication to stick in the guide, then the valve head can contact a piston and bend. Sometimes the piston will withstand the contact, especially in the case of a diesel piston, as they're built tough to withstand the high cylinder pressure. So, just maybe pull the heads and freshen them up and you might be back on the road. In view of the fact you've just invested some money, I'd think it would be worth investigating!

Man HRG, I've lived my whole life in MI, and never seen a "winter" like this one??!! I drove my R, for the first time ever, on both Christmas and New Years day! Everybody owes me, as I broke down and bought my first snow blower this year - got 3 coats of wax on it and not a flake of snow!

Since I moved from the coast I never know what to expect in Interior BC. Two years ago I was shoveling the driveway twice a day at times. This year I've only got the shovel out twice, both times to move it before it got too heavy as it was thawing. We have had a couple weeks of 10 below type weather, but generally really mild.
It really is good SSR weather right now, not top down mind you, at least not for me.

I sold my snow blower! Buy low sell high (or something like that). I think it is the first time I have come out ahead of the game in a while.
Topspin, I appreciate your comment. I will copy it and send it to my brother who is the mechanical brains in this operation!

Deb, lovely to hear from you!
Don't wait for the Buick to die. Save it for next year and drive your now!

[turnheadz]

sorry to hear about the truck motor
topless weather down here too No chance of getting Purlple out yet. Hopefully in three or four days

[HotRodGirl]

Originally Posted by Topspin

Man HRG, I've lived my whole life in MI, and never seen a "winter" like this one??!! I drove my R, for the first time ever, on both Christmas and New Years day! Everybody owes me, as I broke down and bought my first snow blower this year - got 3 coats of wax on it and not a flake of snow!

I never started the snow-blower this year (plans were to get it ready) I shoved only once this winter and it was under 2" the other time I let it sit cause I knew the next day it was going to melt

I do remember a winter like this and I for one will take more of them

Originally Posted by Cash

Deb, lovely to hear from you!
Don't wait for the Buick to die. Save it for next year and drive your now!

True on that statement and I guess I should just drive it in all of the seasons ......life is too damn short to not drive something so beautiful!

I'm sure it will happen soon I am just making it with the Buick and I think Steve is keeping it going for me cause it sure shouldn't be