Intrepidation

Yep, and to add to that, Dew Points have more to do with how "humid" it feels than the actual humidity percentage. The closer the dew point is to the air temperature, the higher the humidity percentage.

Don't know how they expect to really compete with no midsize crossover, no larger people mover, no pickup truck, and worst of all, no new midsize car.

a red Ford Ranchero...can't recall the last time I saw one, let alone restored a black 66 Chevelle

Jessica would probably like this, she likes green bean casserole. I'm not big on it, but I'd be willing to try a new version.

Dry Arizona heat where the Dew Points are low is much more comfortable than an air mass with high Dew Points. It may be 105, but with Dew Points in the mid 50's it's much less uncomfortable than 91 with Dew Points in the low 70's. As for me...well this weather makes it a PITA to do outdoor activities like work on the car...but air conditioning keeps things nice and cool inside.

They are a pretty rare sight. There's actually one in the town I live now, but it's in rough shape.

Looks like its in nice shape, congrats on the new ride!

Hey that's really cool looking. Certainly the best use for an Aveo! Wouldn't want to hit anything bigger than a pebble with it, ground clearance looks nonexistent. Still that's a cool looking thing.

You might want to pick up Burnout Paradise. It's had good ratings. I love the Burnout series, its my favorite arcade racer.

Not like valve cover gaskets are expensive, but still, $2,500 is too much, I'd haggle it down, and check the stuff I mentioned earlier. I mean, if you're looking for something with a big trunk and drives good... http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1831858371.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1830889533.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1817932792.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1790989732.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1833104145.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1799952558.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1821762980.html Or if you really want to go cheap... http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1814215495.html

Will you buy it dinner and take it out for tea first? I mean it's the gentlemanly thing to do.

I know motor oil is for lubrication and all, but I don't think it's meant for that kind of lubrication.

$2,500 is too much for what it needs. I think more like $1,500...assuming the suspension is in decent shape. Check bushings and isolators, tie rods, etc.

Whose been keeping up? It's shaping up to be a great series, and this Sunday they test the Camaro. Should be fun.

One can only hope that more companies will shift production back to the US.

Welcome to C&G!

Been in the 90's since Sunday, we broke 100 yesterday. Was 96 today. Dew Points have been running in the 70's since Monday. It's brutal. Can't believe I worked on the car today and didn't pass out. A/C is one of the greatest inventions ever. Glad I picked one up last month. I'll say one thing for Toyota, they make damn good air conditioning systems for their cars.

a black Continental GT

I've got Mobil 1 in there right now, RP wasn't available. I have no complaints about it so far, so I may stick with it...it's like $20 cheaper.

I've been dealing with hesitation and multiple misfire codes on the Intrepid. After much research and ruling out various other causes, a member of Di.net (the guy who wrote the 2.7-3.2/3.5 conversion manual) led me to Chrysler TSB 09-002-03. This sounded a heck of a lot like my problem, so I decided to take the plunge an embark the the most complex car repair I've ever done. The TSB calls for the exhaust valve springs to be replaced with an updated design, part number 04892082AA. Since I was in the area I decided to replace the valve stem seals with new Felpro units. So after I gathered all of the tools seals, and other goodies I needed I started taking things apart on 6/13. One of the forum members was nice enough to come by and give me a hand taking things apart. Took all day to get the valve covers off. Then the rockers came off. At this point I decided it best to group, bag, and label various bolts and parts so I knew where they went when it came time to put things back together (I am so glad I did this). I then threaded rope down cylinder #1 after finding BTC, and then pushing the piston and rope up against the head. This is tedious and slow, but its comforting knowing that something is physically holding the valves up. Plus this job took so long to do it would have been impracticable to use a compressor to do the job. At this point things slowed down to a crawl. The valve spring compressor I had wouldn't fit into the cylinder head all the way, and it couldn't compress enough to get the retainers off. I bought a different tool from Advance Auto. This fit in the cylinder head fine, but was such a cheaply made POS that the arms bent trying to hold the spring in place. Returned it. Then I came across the Lisle 36200 Magnetic Valve Keeper- Remover- Installer. I'd seen it in some of the how-tos and PurdueGuy suggested it when I was having issues getting them off. This tool uses a magnet to pull the keepers off the valve stem as the spring is compressed, either with your hands or with a hammer (if you have the space, you really don't in our engine bays). On day 2 of my attempts to remove the first spring it managed to do it in 30 seconds. However, it seems this tool's install section is either too big or I just couldn't get enough leverage, to install the keepers. So I couldn't use it to install them. What I ended up doing is modifying the first compressor by bending parts of the metal tabs so it could fit in the cylinder head, compress the spring, and install it that way. This worked, but even with the spring fully compressed the keepers just barely fit in there. The first one is easy enough to get one, the second one is much more tricky. It took me all day to get the first spring reinstalled. Since I was in no rush, and my hands sore from using the remover tool, I took my time over the next few weeks doing the rest. That and the high heat and humidity plus the occasional storms made it so I only worked on the car a few hours a day usually. The other fun part that takes up lots of time is the need to unbolt brackets and move hoses and wires so you can actually get the tools on the springs. This was annoying, but on the flip side, I know how to remove and install all the upper brackets, the alternator, and compressor now. I got better at removing and installing springs. It took me 3 days to do the first one, but this past Sunday I removed and installed the last 4 during the course of the afternoon. So with the job complete, it was now time to put everything back together. This actually went surprisingly well, thanks in no small part to the bolts being bagged and labeled. Before could put things back together though, I had to take more stuff apart! I had to remove the radiator fans and the timing covers so that I could position each camshaft in the neutral position, one at a time, in install the corresponding rocker arms. After they went on, I cleaned up the valve covers and the mating surfaces and put them back on. Ended up with a missing bolt, which was annoying. After ruling out the possibility of it falling in the engine, I borrowed one from the 2.7. It later turned up resting on the sub frame. Glad it was found, missing parts suck. The I put the accessories and brackets back on. However, as I was putting things back together, I discovered that a ground wire was broken. In fact the other end of the wire and the bolt that retains it was completely missing from the cradle! I can only assuming the guy who did the engine swap didn't put it back on...maybe forgot or maybe broke it and didn't want to fix it...ass. So I trip to the junkyard today got me the missing bolt, the right ground wire (I doubled up with new wires I got too), and the band clamp for the intake to throttle body...mine broke while trying to tighten it. I tell ya, nothing feels better than the engine firing right up after all that hard work (that I've never done before). Drove it around town and then on the highway. Didn't notice any hesitation and no CEL *crosses fingers*. The real test will be when I take it to Lowell, which is about an hour's trip. The CEL would tend to come on during this trip, so it'll be a good test. Here's hoping! I plan to decarbonize the engine to finish it up. Then the next project is the rear brakes. And now some photos: Disassembly: Here is the engine having just had the valve covers removed. And here are the rocker arms. And here's the rocker arms removed. Pretty clean in there! No sludge. This is that junk tool trying to remove a spring. Here's the last spring, with the new valve stem seal installed. The compressor I used to install the keepers. Springs replaced, now time to unbolt the timing covers. Neutral position on passenger side is at the timing marks. Neutral position on driver's side is 45 degrees pas the timing marks. The timing marks themselves seem to line up pretty good. Engine reassembled and running!

I think it's sized about right, hell it's not even heavy, it just needs a much better interior and suspension that's more compliant on the road while still being razor sharp on the track. That's what makes a 911 so good. It works both on and off the track.

Don't forget Transformers: War for Cybertron. It's supposed to be a really good game, and the best TF game to date. There's also God of War III and the UNCHARTED games which are supposed to be very good. I plan to finally make the plunge and get a PS3 (I don't own any of the current consoles, been more into PC gaming) when GT5 (from teh looks of things it will be totally worth the wait) finally debuts and get these games among others as well.

James May made a Limo out of the two once.

fffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu It was bound to happen: I'm missing a part. One of the valve cover bolts is missing. I have to find it. I could get another but I don't like the idea of a bolt missing with the engine having been opened up like that. Still, it was a productive day. Took the timing covers off, checked the marks for myself. They look good to me. Rotated the engine so I could install the passenger side rockers. Repeat. Cleaned off the inside of the valve covers Cleaned off the heads, cleaned all the little particles I could from the heads. Hope the oil filter will catch what I couldn't Installed the seals, mounted both valve, tightened the passenger side. Bolted down the engine harness Connected the injectors Installed the coils, plugged them in. Reconnected the driver's O2 sensor Bolted back on the passenger side mount for the plenum. Put the timing covers back on. Put the pulley back on. Tomorrow I'll look again for that bolt...I guess if I have to I'll get another either new or from a yard, but I'd prefer to find it. If I can find that in a timely manner I'll tighten the other valve cover, bolt back on the driver's side plenum mounting bracket, alternator, a/c compressor, and maybe the plenum. Some photos.

Got the last one replaced today! Hurray! Tomorrow I start putting things back together. Hopefully that goes well and I can find where everything goes again. By far the hardest part was getting the keepers back on, especially the second. Although getting them off was the most painful (my palm will probably be bruised now). However I went from 3 days to get one done to one afternoon to get 4 done...so I'm getting the hang of it. Not a job I want to do again anytime soon though! Photos of the last one being installed.