Hi, my name is Matt. I’m growing sideburns, I snicker when I hear the word “tomfoolery,” and my car caught on fire today. How are you?
Things have settled somewhat. I borrowed one of my parents’ cars just after lunch to get to and from work, and I’ll be borrowing it tomorrow as well. Donald will return Saturday and reimburse me for the rent I spotted him last Friday, so that will be an influx of money, and tomorrow I’ll be able to write checks that won’t go through until at least Monday, by which point there will be money in my account.
I came home, walked in the door, emptied my pockets into the box where I stash everything, dropped my bag, and breathed. I was still intact and healthy, I still had a roof over me and a good job. I may be broke and carless, but those are peripheral to the essentials, I realized.
Thank you for the support, guys, and for the advice about asking my parents for assistance. I’m borrowing the car, but have managed not to ask for money yet. I told my mom, though, as I picked up their car just after lunch, that if it really, really came down to the wire and I couldn’t see a way out, I’d ask them. So the offer was tended and conditionally accepted, just not acted on…
[car geek]
I worked on the Datsun for several hours after I got home, and it’s still not running quite right. I think the half-mile I drove it with no oil pressure caused it to spin a bearing or crack a ring or something. I tuned it up quite thoroughly (new plugs, points, timing, carb baseline and synch, everything except valve clearancing, pretty much), and it ran better–amazing what an ignition overhaul will do for the top end of the rev range, especially with a breaker point distributor, where float is a real issue at high rpms–but it didn’t run well enough to drive. It’s really acting like it’s got a dead cylinder or two, since anything under 2K rpm is problematic *sigh* I’ve got to get the Supra running, and soon.
[/car geek]
I’m glad you have a bit of perspecitve back and that you somewhat discussed things with your parents. I’ll still keep you in my prayers.
ah the rubber check game……ain’t it fun?
when i was getting the 280z to run at first, i had it going on maybe two or three cylinders because the injectors weren’t working properly. (keep in mind the engine hadn’t been turned over for about five years) it sounded like a diesel but it still wouldn’t sputter out; those engines are something else as far as dependability goes.
“but i need You in the car…”
emptied my pockets into the box where I stash everything…
That just sounds neat to me. I don’t know why.
The rubber check game… Haven’t heard it called that before–but I like it. I shall use that expression from now on :o)
Thanks for your prayers, Iris. You’re in mine as well.
You’re right; they are solid… And that’s what it sounds like (the engine running on two-three cylinders, that is, at least in the lower rpm ranges). There’s a fair distance from “running” to “driveable,” though… *sigh*
:o)
Don’t you have a place where you always put your key and wallet/purse when you get home?
Well… yes.
Hey put that post back up! :o) I had a whole slew of stuff and then it said “no such entry.” Please? :o)
A slew, eh? IT’S BACK UP!!! PARTY!!111111`1
:)
Wow, I’ve had some harsh experiences with cars before but an engine fire, that’s insane. Those days were always strange ones, I’d be so unbelievably drained from the stress and frustration of the ton of steel not working. But when I finally got home, I felt so grateful for the comforts of life there as well as the relative solidness of the house itself, ha. I’d always end up laughing at the trials of the day in the end. I’m adding you by the by, if that’s ok, you write very well and I enjoy reading.
For those who know of my automotive enthusiasm, I think it may be a little hard to believe this is the first time a car of mine has caught fire :o) It was an interesting experience, to say the least–I’m just glad it didn’t happen in the middle of an intersection or something. Heh.
Now to add you back…