I sold my truck today. It was 25 years old, 187k miles and lots of problems. The AC quit last summer (I think it blew a seal), it failed smog and probably needs a new engine. The front drive axles probably need to be replaced. It was also a couple months past due on the registration. I've swapped engines and stuff in the past but I don't have time for those kinds of projects these days. I just wanted it gone.
We didn't use it much but there are times you just need a truck. A lot of things just don't fit into the Miata. Also I've found a spare car is the height of luxury. Meaning if I was working on my car and needed a part, or that I had options for getting to work tomorrow. As much as we used it, it will probably be cheaper to rent the local HD truck at $20/hr than to maintain the spare vehicle.
I decided as the month started it would be gone by the end of the month one way or another. Even if "another" meant donating it to charity. We finally got a for sale sign on it middle of this week and a guy stopped by today.
We settled a little below my bottom line but all those troubles are now SEP (Somebody Else's Problems). And that has a value all it's own.
The SCSon also got a lesson in free market economics. He was upset the guy was getting it for less than my bottom line. But I explained this is how the free market works. We negotiated and agreed on a price. No one had a gun to his head. I wanted his cash more than I wanted the truck and all it's problems in my driveway. He wanted my truck more than he wanted the cash in his pocket.
And I now have some spare BAG day funds. I'm not really in the market for anything in particular. Perhaps we'll just invest it in some precious metals.
Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
17 March 2012
25 June 2011
Miata Bleg...
Has anyone replaced the top on a Miata? I'm about to embark on the process and consumed all the info.net I can find on how to do it. The new top is on site and before starting to remove the old top, I've been walking through the process. First thing I noticed is that the cables are broken.
Does anyone know if these are available locally in the Phoenix area? All the internet sources seem to be on the east coast and UPS shipping the top from NC took a full 7 calendar days. I really want to get this project going and I don't want to spend stupid amounts on fast shipping.
I really rather drive somewhere close and pick them up.
Does anyone know if these are available locally in the Phoenix area? All the internet sources seem to be on the east coast and UPS shipping the top from NC took a full 7 calendar days. I really want to get this project going and I don't want to spend stupid amounts on fast shipping.
I really rather drive somewhere close and pick them up.
24 June 2010
car frustrations
I can't think of a way to post details without throwing a loved one under the bus. So is greatest Jeopardy tradition, I'll give the answer - You'll come up with the question.
My attempt to save 40$ on a new [REDACTED] for the primary ride has cost me $6 in [REDACTED], a $39 [REDACTED], several hours pouring over the manual and trouble shooting in the 100+ degree garage and a week driving the backup vehicle. (yet another place where "two is one and one is none")
Sometimes living the frugal life goes a little too far. For now just call me "penny wise & pound foolish"
My attempt to save 40$ on a new [REDACTED] for the primary ride has cost me $6 in [REDACTED], a $39 [REDACTED], several hours pouring over the manual and trouble shooting in the 100+ degree garage and a week driving the backup vehicle. (yet another place where "two is one and one is none")
Sometimes living the frugal life goes a little too far. For now just call me "penny wise & pound foolish"
31 July 2009
Fun Friday
This has been a big week at the DayJob(tm). We spend a significant portion of the year preparing a week's worth of technical training for our customers. While we enjoy presenting them, it's a lot of "on" time. The schedule had my last class wrapping up at Noon Friday. Between cleanup and lunch - a chance to meet with our customers in a less formal setting, I was done by about 2pm. Heading out on the freeway, there was a definite vibration in the car at speed. I figured a tire had thrown a wheel weight and a simple re-balance would fix it after I was home. Halfway home the steel belts let go. I was in the middle lane and another car was between me and the emergency lane. I hit the blinker to indicate my desire for the shoulder. The other driver immediately backed off giving me have the lane. Thank you! You are far more aware than most drivers.
BTW, the Air Temp was about 110F and there wasn't a bit of shade in sight. The tire was still inflated which allowed limping off the freeway to a WallyWorld at the exit. At least there I could get out of the heat and a cool drink while waiting for rescue. Oh, and I checked the ammo supply while there. Scoring a couple Federal .22 bulk packs would have at least made the diversion worthwhile. Nothin' but 12ga. shells.
31 March 2009
Poor performance results from poor planning..
Well crap...
I have a car that's been on reserve status for most of last year (a 1977 280Z). On reserve status because the insurance payments are a substantial portion of the value of the car, even for just liability & medical. A neighbor has offered to buy the car and I have accepted the offer, but as of yet the deal has not been completed.
The registration expired today, and it still needs a smog check before it can be renewed. So we started the insurance and. and.. and...
And I forgot it needed a water pump... So no smog check today which means the registration will be late.
After sitting for a year, I didn't really expect it would pass emissions, but just taking the test provides a 60 day extension. So that's out. Renewing late incurs a small fine (about $4 last time I checked) and the risk of a ticket for driving on an expired registration.
I should have done this last week and then would have had the weekend to work through this and put the 100 or so miles on the car to burn through the bad stuff that may have seeped into the combustion chambers the last year.
My Bad, poor planning -> poor performance*.
The old pump is now out. No broken bolts which is a definite risk considering the environment these bolts live in (anyone have some left over cosmoline? I just need to dip a couple 3" (er 75mm) bolts. Then clean the mating face and installation is the reverse of removal.
Then smog check..
and registration..
and cash in the bank..
(I hope)
* in my own defense, in the priority scheme of life, this car is pretty far down the list... Below family & job security... below helping out at the SCSon's school, below shooting ePostal match entries.
I have a car that's been on reserve status for most of last year (a 1977 280Z). On reserve status because the insurance payments are a substantial portion of the value of the car, even for just liability & medical. A neighbor has offered to buy the car and I have accepted the offer, but as of yet the deal has not been completed.
The registration expired today, and it still needs a smog check before it can be renewed. So we started the insurance and. and.. and...
And I forgot it needed a water pump... So no smog check today which means the registration will be late.
After sitting for a year, I didn't really expect it would pass emissions, but just taking the test provides a 60 day extension. So that's out. Renewing late incurs a small fine (about $4 last time I checked) and the risk of a ticket for driving on an expired registration.
I should have done this last week and then would have had the weekend to work through this and put the 100 or so miles on the car to burn through the bad stuff that may have seeped into the combustion chambers the last year.
My Bad, poor planning -> poor performance*.
The old pump is now out. No broken bolts which is a definite risk considering the environment these bolts live in (anyone have some left over cosmoline? I just need to dip a couple 3" (er 75mm) bolts. Then clean the mating face and installation is the reverse of removal.
Then smog check..
and registration..
and cash in the bank..
(I hope)
* in my own defense, in the priority scheme of life, this car is pretty far down the list... Below family & job security... below helping out at the SCSon's school, below shooting ePostal match entries.
24 March 2009
Old Car Pics
Not here, but here at True Blue Sam's place.
Sometime back I posted about the absurd Grand Canyon trip the SCSon's class has planned. The short version is it's a 17 hour trip up and back the same day, of which only 2 1/2 hours will be spent touring the canyon. But 2 3/4 hours would be spent eating meals. We decided the schools strip is ill advised and opted to take our own trip. We landed at Grand Canyon Valle (40G) and rented a car for the rest of the trip into the park. This takes advantage of the speed of the airplane and turns what would normally be a 4 1/2 - 5 hour drive to a pleasant 1 hour flight. Ours turned out to be a 9 hour trip up and back with 6 hours at the rim.
Obviously this is where the banner pic came from. Again this is a panorama assembled by Autostitch.
The cars in the airport lobby were a bonus. I saw those and immediately thought "I gotta send these to TBS". The obvious question though is why send them at all rather than post here. Quite frankly it's because I don't know much about these cars. When I think of an old car, I'm thinking late 60's to early 70's. For instance, I saw them in person and completely missed the chain drive on the REO (in my own defense, most of my time spent with these cars involved me looking through the viewfinder of the camera). I'd rather send the pics on to someone who knows them through and through to post and comment.
BTW, TBS's place is also a great place to get an inkling about everything you don't know about using a chainsaw. Here in the land of red tile roofs we rarely have to cut down trees, but about once a year there is a bit of post storm cleanup of downed branches that require some chainsaw work. I've learned a lot there.
Sometime back I posted about the absurd Grand Canyon trip the SCSon's class has planned. The short version is it's a 17 hour trip up and back the same day, of which only 2 1/2 hours will be spent touring the canyon. But 2 3/4 hours would be spent eating meals. We decided the schools strip is ill advised and opted to take our own trip. We landed at Grand Canyon Valle (40G) and rented a car for the rest of the trip into the park. This takes advantage of the speed of the airplane and turns what would normally be a 4 1/2 - 5 hour drive to a pleasant 1 hour flight. Ours turned out to be a 9 hour trip up and back with 6 hours at the rim.
Obviously this is where the banner pic came from. Again this is a panorama assembled by Autostitch.
The cars in the airport lobby were a bonus. I saw those and immediately thought "I gotta send these to TBS". The obvious question though is why send them at all rather than post here. Quite frankly it's because I don't know much about these cars. When I think of an old car, I'm thinking late 60's to early 70's. For instance, I saw them in person and completely missed the chain drive on the REO (in my own defense, most of my time spent with these cars involved me looking through the viewfinder of the camera). I'd rather send the pics on to someone who knows them through and through to post and comment.
BTW, TBS's place is also a great place to get an inkling about everything you don't know about using a chainsaw. Here in the land of red tile roofs we rarely have to cut down trees, but about once a year there is a bit of post storm cleanup of downed branches that require some chainsaw work. I've learned a lot there.
09 October 2008
Car update
I put the car back together tonight. The original scraping noise apparently was coming from one of the timing belt covers. The Miata engine has 3 plastic covers over the timing belt. Interestingly enough, the top two are available on ebay while the bottom one is not. Calling the normal "Miata recycling center" was rewarded with the answer "We have one but it's pretty torn up too".
Ok, Seems to me this is a weak point is the design. Called an old friend who owns several race prepped versions he rents out for racing. He also says he's short a lower cover.
Seems the problem is that the timing marks are cast into the part and when the water pump/alternator belt breaks it tears the marks away from the rest of the cover.
OTOH, the part was only ~$40 from the dealer. Yea, pretty pricey for a piece of plastic with metal inserts but cheaper then the couple hours it would take to make a fiberglass copy. Toss in another ~$40 for replacement an upper radiator hose and belts (AC and Waterpump/Alternator). Now she's back together, but may still need a radiator tank. Seems to have a pinhole leak. But since it's a plastic tank, I'll drill it out and try a screw & gasket before spending the time & $$$ for an new one.
Ok, Seems to me this is a weak point is the design. Called an old friend who owns several race prepped versions he rents out for racing. He also says he's short a lower cover.
Seems the problem is that the timing marks are cast into the part and when the water pump/alternator belt breaks it tears the marks away from the rest of the cover.
OTOH, the part was only ~$40 from the dealer. Yea, pretty pricey for a piece of plastic with metal inserts but cheaper then the couple hours it would take to make a fiberglass copy. Toss in another ~$40 for replacement an upper radiator hose and belts (AC and Waterpump/Alternator). Now she's back together, but may still need a radiator tank. Seems to have a pinhole leak. But since it's a plastic tank, I'll drill it out and try a screw & gasket before spending the time & $$$ for an new one.
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