She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[BlackwoodHollow]

Grrrr.....

Been busy at work. Really busy. Have a road trip again tomorrow and Friday, and a fix for another of my obsessions is coming Saturday...the Woodward Dream Cruise. I've been a confirmed car nut since I was 15 and bought a '72 Plum Crazy 'Cuda and 50+ cars later, I currently have a '69 Firebird Convertible in my garage. It's been mine since 2003 and I've put a few thousand miles on...it's up to 80,117 now.

A few times during the not so long Michigan summer, after the winter salt washes away and before the winter salt is applied, and when it's not raining or too hot, the Firebird comes out of the garage for a day of washing and cruising. I used to do the local car shows, but it was more of a chore than fun to exhibit, so I like to just do the cruises. For anyone into cars, the Woodward Dream Cruise is an event that brings a LOT of cars out, and the weeks before Woodward bring out the cars that are too nice to drive in the Woodward cruise.

I didn't do the Dream Cruise the last two years, and hadn't even pulled the Firebird out this year because we've been playing with the bikes. Master cylinder rear brake chamber is empty. Hmmm. Wasn't like that when parked. No leak in the lines, no fluid on the rear wheels (the wheel cylinders are prone to leak). Not sure where it went. Checked the oil, topped up the master cylinder, checked the coolant, checked the power steering fluid, checked the belts and hoses. All good. Tires need some air, I'll get that later.

Despite two years sitting idle, she started right up and ran like a champ. Knowing there are no brakes, I figured I'd just nudge her out into the driveway, kill the ignition, remove the stall mats from under the car so I can put the jack on concrete to bleed the rear brakes, and roll her back in. Shift to drive...nothing. 2nd...nothing. Low...nothing. Not even a load on the engine. Shut her down.

Trans fluid does not even register. What the heck? Then I see the rug on top of the stall mats looks dirty. Sure enough, it's full of synthetic transmission fluid. I'm a good mechanic, but I don't think I can get home 8 p.m. Friday, package up 21 chickens, deal with customers who will be picking them up, and diagnose and repair it before 10 a.m. Saturday.

Cue Herman Munster impression:
DARN DARN DARN DARN DARN (keeping it silkie safe

)

*Sees car; bites keyboard*

 

[WalnutHill]

That is an absolutely beautiful car!!!!

Walnut, my Jim is a Service & Repair guy... he says carpet under the car holds moisture, can make the lines rot... and the master cylinder *might* be bad... just some thoughts from him, hope it helps...

Thanks

I replaced the master cylinder 5 years ago when it failed internally. That's a quick job, but I'd rather diagnose it properly first.

I keep 3/4" rubber stall mats under the car, between the car and the concrete. The piece of rug is to collect the rear main seal drips and keep them off the rubber mats. The trans pan is wet with fluid, so either the trans pump seal failed and it was blown back when I started it, or the pan gasket went bad, but that's only about 7 years old. There must be a lot of fluid under the mats.

I will roll it out Saturday and get a better look, and clean up the floor then get it up on ramps and stands and do both ends at the same time. I just hope I don't have to pull the trans. I'm getting both lazy and cantankerous.

You think that car is nice? Here is the one I built for my dad for his retirement present:


This car is exceptional.

 

[Joyryder]

I brooded 22 under a Sunbeam Xpress extra large heating pad last time, and 19 before that. They didn't spend very long under the pad. They were out in a little coop by day 3, and there were so many of them that they spent most nights sleeping in a pig pile beside the heating pad. But, they did pop in and out for warm up's during the day. That was in early May, zone 4.

I'm in zone 4, the 4 week old chicks don't go under the brooder much. But the temps here are only in the high 70s during the day and low 60s at night. I think it's too soon not to give them extra heat. Should I use the heating pad for them or the new hatch.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thanks I replaced the master cylinder 5 years ago when it failed internally. That's a quick job, but I'd rather diagnose it properly first. I keep 3/4" rubber stall mats under the car, between the car and the concrete. The piece of rug is to collect the rear main seal drips and keep them off the rubber mats. The trans pan is wet with fluid, so either the trans pump seal failed and it was blown back when I started it, or the pan gasket went bad, but that's only about 7 years old. There must be a lot of fluid under the mats. I will roll it out Saturday and get a better look, and clean up the floor then get it up on ramps and stands and do both ends at the same time. I just hope I don't have to pull the trans. I'm getting both lazy and cantankerous. You think that car is nice? Here is the one I built for my dad for his retirement present: This car is exceptional.

Yup, definitely get it fully checked... just some things he was coming up with, lol... some times he scares me, he diagnosed my car by description of sounds... That one is stunningly BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

It's called addiction hatching addiction no know cure. makes people do strange things . withdrawal a real problem constant shakes ssssssssoooooooo bbbbbbbaaaaaddd you can't type .spelling hopelessly lost. dreams of zipping chicks keep you awake at night . constantly checking eggs on ebay. or begging friends for a fix . hay man got any eggs .rehab never works. just one more batch just one more . I promise I quit after the next one .before you know it your using dirty eggs cause their all you can get. eggs with bad air cells cause you spent your grocery money on them. can't afford to feed the ones you have now but got to have one more hatch . and then It get worse then you go among the mad people seeking advice .only they can't help cause they are mad mad I tell you .

and then it's gets worse you start

seeing things .things like teddy bears dressed in kilts and before you know it your

just like them . mad mad I tell you. go back go back before it's to late

and this is where you end up

Funniest thing I've read all day.

@WVduckchick sooooooo pretty!!

Beautiful cars and chicks. I gotta make more time for this thread!

Edit: Seriously, Walnut, where do you find the time?

 

[WalnutHill]

Edit: Seriously, Walnut, where do you find the time?

I don't. That's why the yellow one is stuck in the garage!

When I was down in Texas a couple weeks ago I was doing electrical work on the turquoise one. Vacations down there are hard work.

 

[WalnutHill]

Yup, definitely get it fully checked... just some things he was coming up with, lol... some times he scares me, he diagnosed my car by description of sounds...

That one is stunningly BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

I used to be really good as a mechanic...I restored another turquoise Firebird, built one week earlier than my dad's, that took Best of Show, First in its class, and Best Engine Bay in the Pontiac Nationals in Australia a month or so ago.



I've pretty much given that up but I haven't let go of my tools, so I may come back to it.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

I used to be really good as a mechanic...I restored another turquoise Firebird, built one week earlier than my dad's, that took Best of Show, First in its class, and Best Engine Bay in the Pontiac Nationals in Australia a month or so ago.



I've pretty much given that up but I haven't let go of my tools, so I may come back to it.

Really, very impressive!

Edits:

vidya

 

[Joyryder]

Very classy Walnut, I had a 67 Camaro convertible - never looked that nice.

 

[Ravynscroft]

I used to be really good as a mechanic...I restored another turquoise Firebird, built one week earlier than my dad's, that took Best of Show, First in its class, and Best Engine Bay in the Pontiac Nationals in Australia a month or so ago. I've pretty much given that up but I haven't let go of my tools, so I may come back to it.

Beautiful and awesome!!! Can't Ovate, over my limit... :/