Neanderpundit

I tend to do my best diagnostic work over the long haul. About three winters ago, the Exploder began to produce a little ticking noise. Not unheard of, and not uncommon. My first thought was to yank a head and see fi I had a sticky lifter- a very common thing on older 302 V-8 engines, and this one is sporting 260,000 miles.

Today, obsessing a bit over whether I should try to rip this lifter out and replace it before going to Dallas, or see how it fares during the trip, I had an interesting thought.

I had been under the truck yesterday, doing a trans filter change. A pain, but worth doing on a truck that old. And while I was down there, I noticed the headpipe on the driver’s side was clean. Not “new” clean but abnormally hot clean- like it’s had a lot of heat.

So tonight I scoot back under (amazing how easy this is, when you don’t have an extra spare tire!) and look at that joint. I can slip the tip of my knife blade into the joint.

So I spray a little penetrant on the bolt, and unscrew it.

Now, most may not have any idea of the import of that statement. Let me repeat: I sprayed a little penetrant on an EXHAUST BOLT, and then UNSCREWED IT.

mechanics among you will marvel at that statement. For the rest, unscrewing an exhaust system bolt on a 9 year old truck with 261,000 miles on it is IMPOSSIBLE. it has NEVER HAPPENED.

until today.

So I took it out, ran the threads with a die, anti-seized the bejus out of it, and ran it back in.

And my rattle almost disapeared.

I still have to do the OTHER bolt, but I will get to it when I can.

Just knowing that it’s not a lifter rattling around in there waiting to fail is a godsend. It makes me feel 100% better about the trip.

So here’s the parts list:
$29 for the stovetop
$12 for the gas line
$18 for the ceramic stock pot
$4 for the thermometer
$15 for the lye
$6 for the Sodium Nitrate
$16 for the face mask
$6 for heavy rubber gloves
$3 for distilled water
$3 for vinegar.

So under $120 for the whole setup. Less than the cost of one decent bluing job. And this should last for four or five guns. And the comestables consist of the lye and the sodium nitrate.

Damn, I’m really pleased I did this.

First one I’ll miss, ever.

Taking the wives and moms to the Mu Sci Ind in Chicago.

I’ll catch the highlights later, I guess. THis was the only day for this that made any sense. So I’ll miss the race.

On the other hand- Any little snotnosed assholes wanna start some shit about our military and their mission?

Bring it on, fuckers. I’m hungry, I’m a lot thinner, I’m remarkably fast, and I will make you suffer. I’m not as forgiving as Dick is.