Hello again, Oppo.

Decided I'd check in.

2022 isn't even halfway over and it's put our asses through the ringer.

I'm not even sure how to put it in typing other than that we lost our hero in March. Pappaw had been battling lung cancer (which we all suspected but he refused to confirm) and COPD and, as Norm Macdonald put it, came to a draw.

Remember that motor in his garage that I like to mention? That, ten minutes before, was our last conversation. The entire family said as we were talking about it, his voice was clearer and louder than it'd been in days. I like to think I gave him one last burst of energy.

I definitely miss him greatly. We all do.

I've been going through the garage and it's crazy how much stuff was in there. 40 years of ECUs, throttle bodies, coil packs, random wiring harnesses- the man never threw anything away. Fittingly, it's all going back to the same yard he more than likely got most of it from. (Bishop Auto Wrecking for my fellow Metro Detroit Oppos).

I've already been given clearance by the rest of the family that everything in the garage is up to me. Basically, the layout stays as is, the motor stays, the transmissions (a TH350 and 4 speed manual) are staying, a T5 with his invention (that I'm not going to divulge but it's sweet and another one is in his Mustang) is staying.

Which brings us to the fleet.

It's like this: My aunt gets his Lincoln and the Grand National. This is good because she loves both cars as much as I do.

The Camaro and Mustang are going to me. The Mustang, specifically, will not ever, under any circumstances, leave this family.

The Chevelle is up in the air.

So, yeah. Been a rough couple of months.

That's Pappaw, sometime in the 80s or 90s.

Hoo boy, it's been a while.

Shit has been rough for a while here lately. I won't get into any of the personal stuff though, I'll just launch into car updates.

F-150: I knew it was coming. Transmission died right before Christmas. You ever been outrun by a school bus? It's not fun. I have the kit, but need a torque converter. I'm going to pull it and have one of the dealership's mechanics rebuild it for me when it gets warm out. Thank goodness the Ranger's still truckin'.

Chevelle: Still runs, but I'm heavily debating changing the exhaust. The Bullets sound good, but especially with the 4.56 gear and short pipes, it's just way too loud. Thinking Dynomax Turbos. Can't even give it throttle because it'll just alert everyone to where I am.

Mustang: Down with a bad freeze plug. First it was the radiator, then a hose, then the plug. I got pissed back in May and just shoved it aside.

Grand National: Never even touched it this year. Still have to bleed the brakes and get an intercooler-turbo hose that actually fits and seals.

Camaro: Same as always- broken. Changed the fuel pump in a last ditch effort to see if it was the engine noise but it's time to face reality- it's a lifter. Brakes still suck, shifter still sucks, and the last time it ran the tach was dead.

So yeah, 2021 had its' moments (seeing Staind and Korn with my best friend was a highlight worth mentioning) but ended on a crap note as always.

Picture of Ace on Christmas morning for your time.

I decided, as a last ditch effort, to change the filter, fluid, and add Lucas Trans Fix to the F-150's trans. I didn't expect it to actually work, but it appears to have done so! And I love this thing.

It looks way, way better now.

The 3964291 heads (which are what it has) were used on late 1969-1970 L78 396/375HP, 1969 L72 427/425HP, 1969 L71 427/435HP, and 1970 LS6 454/450HP engines. They were also replacements for all other BBC cast iron rect. port closed chamber heads.

There was one loose rocker arm. I adjusted it, but due to the cold and a dying battery charger, I couldn't start the car to determine if that was the source of my noise. I doubt it but I can hope.

The news is not good. I sort of solved the engine knocking.... by completely wiping a lobe from the cam. Take a listen.

Think the engine's gonna come out this winter.

Also, for shits and giggles, I pulled the rear tires off the Chevelle and put em on the Camaro. They're the same width, but 3 inches taller. Wanted to see how much more of a rake it'd have. Raised it about an inch and a half. I think it could use even more but that's down to the original (as far as I know) rear springs

Editing the Cragars back on

That bare spot of bark? That's from whacking my head off of it. Was on some trails near the house with a buddy's quad. Climbed a steep hill (my second time- I actually made it all the way up a little earlier) and it stalled at the top. It's always a hoot when you have time to think "oh shit oh shit oh shit"

If I hadn't have worn a helmet... well, I don't want to think about it.

It shifts! Replaced the VSS, shifted once and then no change. So we replaced the TPS (and the throttle body because a hose fitting broke off the original) and it shifts. Also, it... uh... it didn't have brakes when my friend bought it, that's now fixed too! And it isn't my truck but I don't care, I'm still in love with it.

Much, much tidier

Before:

This Camaro has done nothing but kick my ass. I put the new detent plate in, spent two weeks adjusting everything (the cable, brackets) on and off just to get it back where it fucking started (gets all gears but extremely sloppy), and in the mean time, various bits of trim seem to work themselves loose just to fuck with me.

I've never ever gotten it to run right either. I think I may be on the right track with that though. Looking into it, I think the mechanical fuel pump is my issue. It's gotta be 30 years old, probably is my noise (I've heard a couple on YouTube) and might be why it's always run beautifully (if a tad rich) at idle but absolutely dreadful when you put your foot in it- It's too worn and can't keep up.

Look, I know a sentient automobile is impossible, but if there was evidence of one, it'd be the seemingly endless amount of hatred this car has for me. I don't think we've ever actually improved anything on it in spite of our efforts.

But, I'm a jackass and will keep fighting it, boiling my own blood and running the risk of heart attack due to stress.

Why? Because it's drop dead gorgeous and I still love it.

It's like the opposite of Christine. I'm obsessed with it, but instead of it being psychotically in love with me and going on a killing spree, it hates me and wants to stay in the garage lmao.

/rant

It'll all get sorted, it's a 53 year old car that's been modified a thousand times. It just hurts that every thing I do seems to end up failing. It's worth noting that while it has a TH400 auto in it now, it was originally a 4 speed stick. I wish it still was. But since it was swapped, God only knows what was and wasn't done correctly.

I think part of what gets me is you'll watch Vice Grip Garage, or Junkyard Digs, or any of those guys (and I love them- I'm not trashing them) pull a car that's been sitting for decades, get it running, and road trip it. I can't even get this thing out of our garage.

It's official. It's a total loss. Bummer.

It's probably a goner. If the insurance company totals it, I really don't have the time or money to go about fixing it myself. It sucks but it is what it is

Completely my fault, too. Went to change lanes to pass, van in front of me stopped and I either didn't realize it or just didn't react fast enough.

I loved this truck. Good news is everybody was okay.

@atfsgeoff Hydraulic flat tappet

The news is not good. I sort of solved the engine knocking.... by completely wiping a lobe from the cam. Take a listen.

Think the engine's gonna come out this winter.

Also, for shits and giggles, I pulled the rear tires off the Chevelle and put em on the Camaro. They're the same width, but 3 inches taller. Wanted to see how much more of a rake it'd have. Raised it about an inch and a half. I think it could use even more but that's down to the original (as far as I know) rear springs

Editing the Cragars back on

@GibbsEmphasis said in Camero Cousins:

Saw this ‘89 Camero RS, which definitely deserves to be spelled with an ‘e,’

eye twitching at rapid pace

@Urambo-Tauro He absolutely did. The stories that man could tell. What I wouldn't give to hear them again.

@MisterButtercup Well, according to my aunt, he told her that due to life's circumstances, he never could figure the Camaro out, and "that's Bubba's car to fix".

So I'll fix it or die trying.

@davesaddiction Allow a Gen Z'er to chime in. It is in a weird sense. We've basically been told from day one the world is going to shit and only getting worse. Jobs are soul sucking hellholes, we can't afford homes, if you go to college you're plunged into debt (so I've been told at least), and depression is just kinda the norm. Everything tends to feel a bit pointless. So, here we are. It's kinda like a bonding experience that we all joke about. The important thing is to keep an eye on your friends in case it stops being a joke though, obviously.

When it seems like life is just misery, what else can you do but laugh about it?

Obviously I'm not saying that this viewpoint is accurate or true, but it is how a lot of us tend to see it.

@CB Heh, more or less. He had two Dorman hats, probably from buying so many parts over the years. I'm keeping one in each car. That way he's always riding with me when I get them going again.

I've actually already gotten a good 65% of the garage cleaned up. It's a hell of a work space. Chain across a steel beam for pulling engines, furnace, two work benches, basically more than I'll ever need.