Saturday, September 10, 2011

As If I Needed Another Reason To Drink Beer The Color Of Old Motor Oil

Fun Fact Number Next:

Guinness Stout has fewer calories per gram (or ounce) than Bud Light.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Youtube Vs. Haynes manual

So, I get to replace the water pump on a 1998 mini van. What does the Haynes manual say?

Disconnect battery bla bla bla... jack up vehicle...remove tire... remove hoses... remove plastic shield... remove pulley bolts... serpentine belt... reomve pump bolts... remove... engine bolts.. jack stand... timing belt..secure drive pulley so timing isn't compromised WHAT? Timing belt/chain? Engine bolts? Secure drive? SERIOUSLY?! Bla bla bla. My love for any Chrysler product grows - like Kudzu on a hillside. Yeah, that be a DIY job.

Let's read online: Mirrors Haynes manual, but also says something about experienced home mechanic can do it in 4 hours.

Hmmm. Let me look for a video - can't find one for 1998, but can for a 2003.

summary: jack up vehicle...remove tire... remove plastic shield...remove hose and be ready for a mess... remove pulley bolts...remove serpentine belt... remove pulley... remove pump bolts... remove pump... put new gasket in new pump... reverse process using new pump. Total time for inexperienced me including getting tools together and clean-up: less than 2 hours. And only minor cursing of anything made by Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth. Not a word about timing belts or engine mount bolts. Video done by mechanics in a shop. My next garage will have a "lift."

Friday, September 2, 2011

Flagstaff Rocks!


Reasons why I like living in Flag

1) Being a college town, it keeps me young
2) Rarely hotter than 90 degrees, rarely colder than minus 15 (I said RARELY - ignore
last year's minus 25 / minus 30)
3) Ice Rink!
4) Ski area less than 30 minutes from town
5) Usually bicycle friendly
6) When not #5 above, it is bicycle tolerant
7) Population fewer than 100K, greater than 50K
8) Smells like pine trees
7) People are cool
8) Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Riordan Mansion, etc.
9) When our idea of winter gets to be a drag, a warmer climate is 40 minutes away
10) Outdoor activities!