Ode to the Mongrel

I love it. I hate it. I built it.

At least I know who to blame. Here's the story on the Mongrel. It's a truck. It's a beast. It's possessed by Lucifer himself. The more time, energy, money, blood and tears I pour into it the more it abuses me. And I love it for that reason.

Yup, I'm an idiot. EEE-DEEEE-UTTTTTT. Idiot.

I built the Mongrel to tow the 57. Great idea huh? Well, it tows the Plymouth. Right up to the point where it breaks. And let me tell you, when this truck breaks, it does it right. Broken axles, wheels parting company with the vehicle, broken crankshafts, oil leaks, gasoline leaks, and incessant exhaust leaks; this truck has done it all. I built it from nothing, the way I want it. It was supposed to be what a brand new truck should be. And it is! It has a manual transmission. It has loud exhaust; the kind that scares yuppies in Audi's and sets off car alarms. It eats up miles and miles of interstate with reckless abandon. All this for $15K. What a bargain. I'm sorry, let me retype that... What? A bargain!?!?! That's what I meant.

Anyhow, it finally runs right. It's a blast to drive. It is utilitarian.

It's for sale.

Time to move on. I want to build another project. I need money. It's been on e-bag, and closes in mere moments. No bids, and there won't be I'm sure. Some guy in Tennessee wants to buy it and says he is coming to look at it this week. I don't believe him. I've been told that too many times.

Well, it's gotta go. I want stupid money for a fake Lil Red Express. But I'm still taking a loss. I guess it will keep taking up space in the shop for a while until someone wants to part ways with $10K.

Not likely.

Wanna buy a key chain with a Lil Red Express attached?

I'm following this road.

Around here, the lunacy never seems to end!!

I started the seeds to plant in my garden, and grabbed the wrong potting media. Looks like I may get the opportunity to start 8 flats of seeds all over again. JOY! RAPTURE!!

Long ago and far away I joined a small internet community for old cars. Yes, I know you are shocked and amazed that I would do so. It's true though. I have been a member of that community for nearly 10 years now. Lately though, the discussion forum has become a stomping ground for nearly illiterate and poorly educated ne'er-do-wells that have little to do but antagonize others. There is one member that accused me of hiding behind the annonymity of the internet while he was doing exactly that. Brilliance!

Anyway, I'm pretty much done there. I've helped many guys with problems over the years, but it's not worth my time to read the forums anymore. Of course they won't notice I'm gone, but that's fine too.

Morale of the story; If you tire of the loathesomeness of a particular website, don't look at it. Instead of trying to change the madness, sometimes it's best to walk away.

I was recently interviewed by the Blythewood Leader newspaper about my involvement in Blythewood Masonic Lodge. Horrible picture but good content.

http://theblythewoodleader.net/htdocs/modules/mastop_publish/?tac=Home

Car show fun.

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WHAT A DAY!!!!

Here's the report from the car show yesterday...

I got there and found that I had not installed the gasket on the lid for the oil filter on my 57 correctly, and it had leaked oil over the side of the motor. So, quick fix of straightening the gasket and it is fixed.

Then my buddy Neal leaves the show to head home. He was our best of show winner and has a beautiful 1969 GTO Judge. He made it nearly to the gate when it stalled and wouldn't restart. My buddy James and I went to boost it off. As soon as we removed the battery cables, it died. James and I had diagnosed it as either a bad voltage regulator or a bad alternator. James left after we called AAA to pick the car up and tow it back to my house. Tows under 100 miles are free, our house was 97.8 miles!!

James got on the interstate and made it two exits before he hit something with a tire and blew the tire out. He did not have a jack or a spare with him in his 72 454 powered El Camino. I sent my tools with another guy from the show who had a Chevy bolt pattern spare to bail him out.

We got home about 9:30, and I sent Neal home in the wife's daily driver. I told him I would fix the car today and he could come and get it. I knew I had a bunch of spare parts that were not being re-used on my wife's 69 Camaro project.

I swapped the good alternator and regulator off Angie's Camaro onto the car, but it still wouldn't charge. I put on an internally regulated alternator I had on the shelf, and wired it like my tractor, and presto! Voltage at battery. So, I started trying to bypass the generator light so it would work right.

Then things went sideways...

I pulled the pigtail off the regulator to make a jumper wire, and the wiring hit the case of the regulator and sparked. I pulled off the battery cable, and removed the convoluted tubing covering the wiring. The charging wiring from the regulator to the alternator was completely fried. So much wire was cooked that I could not fix it on the car. I had to remove the engine harness and fix it on the workbench using half of the old harness off the Camaro for parts.

Just think how bad it would have been if Neal had taken the advice James and I gave him and put on a one wire alternator at the show. Could have burned the car to the ground with that much wiring damage.

So, moral of the story: 1: No good deed goes unpunished. 2: Check your wiring out every now and then. 3: Watch out for stuff in the road, especially if you don't carry a spare 4: Kids are best carried in the trunk (see photo) 5: Sleep, it's what's for dinner!