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I was a fifth wheel on this late night fix so I ended up talking more than helping. The awards ceremony was definitely not happening for me. My mind was on the car more than a trophy at this point. Looked like I was going to miss all the fun down at the village.
At first the guys started checking for spark I think. Coils seemed to be working but the spark wasn't getting to the leading plugs. Next thing I saw them removing things to get there hands in there. I saw them remove the alternator then the bracket that holds it. They had the distributor cap off and at that point the "discussions" started to get more intense.
Robert was having a hard time keeping his cigar going. I'm pretty sure he borrowed my lighter about 20 times!! Tim had the same problem but was hanging over the engine bay with cigar tightly clamped to his teeth. Mike and Crit and Tom were opposite Tim with at least six hands involved in the process at all times. Nothing they tried was correcting the problem. Car turns over but dead flat no spark. Tim seemed to be the resident pro on electrical so he was removing igniters. Now this is where I keep my ears open and my eyes on the prize because I had no idea what an igniter was. It was Crit that explained that it was basically a "relay" attached to side of the distributor that controls spark. There are two of them. One for the leading spark plugs one for the trailing. This is where I learned that the trailing plugs aren't there for performance but rather a method of making the emissions standards back in 1985.
As demonstrated on the drive to the cabin it is capable of driving on just the trailing plugs. The big question was why is there no spark to the leading plugs??
totally agree with what robert said, u were definitely in good hands that night. glad they were able to get the issue resolved. were u the only one that guy did test on?
In order to validate anything and with little to work with Tim started taking parts off his car I think, as in igniters, to try in place of the the ones on mine. Talk about dedication and helping your fellow man!! That blew me away that they would grab "good parts" from their cars in order to find the broken ones on mine. It actually was the only option.
The thing is,nothing was fixing the problem. I was asked several times to get in and start it!! That was my only function there other tHan holding a flashlight. the igniters weren't solving the problem. That's when heads got scratched and spirited discussions began. Tim was on a warpath to success but it was eluding him. Conversations about "what exactly did compression boy do? What exactly did Kevin Landers do became part of the discussion.
Now at this point I wasn't really sure what to tell them. I thought that I had earlier mentioned that in order to delete the injectors during the de-flooding at the village Landers unplugged both igniters. But they either didn't hear me or I never said it. Beer is a funny thing sometimes..!
totally agree with what robert said, u were definitely in good hands that night. glad they were able to get the issue resolved. were u the only one that guy did test on?
No!! That's just it. I saw Him do at least three around my area. But Robert asked me shortly after I arrived,while lighting his cigar, "why in the hell would you let someone touch your car?!?" Remember that later on in this story.
Sometime around this point I'm not sure what happened or what was said by whom. But Tim must've started thinking that more attention needed to focused at the igniters. Installing his didn't solve the problem and obviously mone were fine before the compression check. He uttered a comment about the connection points and said something to the effect of " the little connection point inside the plug of one was not making contact"... he said it was slightly bent and was moving away from connection instead of connecting. He evidently forced the clips to re-engage properly and said "get in and fire it up". It started immediately. And!!! Knowing my car as well as I do I instantly knew it was fixed. I could tell by the way it revved that he was on to something. He said take it for a spin!!
On on top of that mountain lends a whole new perspective to the term "taking it for a spin. " so tommy got in with me and didn't have to go far for me to know it was back and running perfect.
We pulled back in to the cabin and proceeded to The rear area and made a fire. It was late, I'd missed the award ceremony but I didn't care. Tim washed his filthy hands and we all sat by the fire sharing conversation. I can't remember much of what was said but laughter and good rotary gods spirit was in the air... then somebody's cell phone rang....
it was Roberts cell that got a call. We were all talking in a group with atleast 2-3 conversations going on simultaneously. I was engaged in a conversation with Crit but out the corner of my left ear I hear Robert utter " who got first place?!" To the cell caller. Then I faintly hear "Paul got second?" .... uhmmmmm. I redirect my focus abruptly on Robert then at Tim then Tommy, Cindy...did I hear my car got 2nd??!!!! I have to say that in the first moments of hearing that my first emotion was pride. DGRR is THE place to earn such a prestigious award. Second only slightly to say..7stock. But to me it was big. Robert got 3rd!!! He was quick to remind me he was used to getting 1st there many times. i don't doubt it at all, his car is gorgeous.
But this was my first DGRR and first show appearance... and I got 2nd...not bad at all.
After the pride came a slight disappointment that I wasn't there to accept it. After all the personal recognition from fellow rotards is what really makes it special. Kind of like an "actors guild" award where you're judged by your peers. I imagined the scene st the lodge but looked around me and instantly thought.. it's just the cherry on top of a perfect evening..I was digging the **** out of Sharing an evening with "old but new friends."
After many congrats to 2nd and 3rd place from the group we realized it was getting late. The caller, whom I think was Holly said she'd have somebody meet us at the bottom of the mountain to give me my 2nd place plaque
we said our goodbyes and thank yous several times and proceeded to the car. There were two beers in the fridge I was leaving behind. Normally it's polite to just leave them but it was late.. all the stores are closed.. I got 2nd! And I'll probably need s couple beers at the motel to have my own private celebration. I grabbed them and tossed them in my car. We were going back down the mountain so Robert and Tommy jumped in the rx8 and escorted us back down to meet the guy bringing my plaque. We were tired and we'd had a pretty full day. Bed sounded good.. the car is back up and running. All in all a benchmark day ...
thank you!! It's a challenge doing this on my phone. Spell check messes w me regularly. Glad to have you aboard fir the "ride".. there is a radiator in this thread I promise you!!
...and a rollback. Good story,been following along trying to figure out why what i already new was no leading ignition. The broken plugs,thought for sure that was it-he had to know he did it,one could be a fluke but not both and to not tell you...wonder if he was even using a plug socket or just a deep 13/16"socket-that would do it. Never let anyone touch my car,unless someone i know very well. Compression tester guy wouldn't have gotten far before i figured out what he had done to my car,ugliness would follow. I talked with him at length about his tester...would've never thought he'd do something irresponsible like that+ mangle igniter connectors. At least the car is as was before and apparently no worse for wear-sure put a lotta miles stresswise on you and your fiance. Sounds like you couldn't have had a better outcome,at least for this part of the saga...
It just occurred to me that Robert joined us down the mountain to get his 3rd place plaque. It was late and I wondered why he joined us. A little slow on the uptake sometimes but well .. you know..
we crawled led back down the mountain... slowly.. I swear there's one hill thats a 45 degree..lol.!!
we met the gentleman, exchanged pleasantries and thank yous, and finally had to say good bye to Tommy and Robert. Handshakes and hugs later we pulled out and headed to the motel. As we left the post office where we met I noted that it was 11:45.. we jumped out on the road so I gunned it. First time since the fix!! Ran great, pulled hard... hmmmmm use felt good.. as I revved third dropping into fourth the little red light that comes on so seldom.. let me reiterate.. I haven't see this light ever on this 85 rx7 in the 12 years I've owned her.. as a matter of fact it's the first time I've seen this light come on since... wait for it!!!!! Around 1987.
Sidebar
When i I bought my first one in 87 it was a 84 Gsl. Had it three weeks my buddy asks me why I didn't get the bigger engine!?! What bigger engine?? !!! So I bought another one, 84 SE and had two for 6 months. First wife said ones got to go so I kept the SE. He also told me two things. Change oil every 3500 miles.. watch coolant.!!! If that red light comes on ... turn off engine... coast and park.!!! It only happened once when that loud siren cane on..way back in 87. Never heard another again because I kept it it tight and clean.
Anyway the coolant light came on out of nowhere. I immediately yelled "were pulling over!!!" I shut the ignition and coasted into the first driveway I came to. We only got about 1/4 Mile away from tommy and Robert. All I could hope was that they didn't start up the mountain because service usually disappears. It was real dark when I turned on the flashers.
...and a rollback. Good story,been following along trying to figure out why what i already new was no leading ignition. The broken plugs,thought for sure that was it-he had to know he did it,one could be a fluke but not both and to not tell you...wonder if he was even using a plug socket or just a deep 13/16"socket-that would do it. Never let anyone touch my car,unless someone i know very well. Compression tester guy wouldn't have gotten far before i figured out what he had done to my car,ugliness would follow. I talked with him at length about his tester...would've never thought he'd do something irresponsible like that+ mangle igniter connectors. At least the car is as was before and apparently no worse for wear-sure put a lotta miles stresswise on you and your fiance. Sounds like you couldn't have had a better outcome,at least for this part of the saga...
first off compression guy wasn't the one who put the igniter plugs back together. It was Kevin Landers. Now I thought about this and think about it. Those plugs were probably snapped together in Japan.so I'm thinking this is the first time they were ever pulled apart. In a case like that I would've been very "ginger" with that procedure. Also !! You're right on with socket. When I was in Bryson City at the restaurant I called Carlos first for his opinion. At that time he thought it was just plugs. Then I call Kenny in Akron who worked extensively on my car and told him what was going on. He was the first one to point out, before we discovered the broken plugs, that the compression dude probably broke one because he didn't use a spark plug socket with the circular foam protector in it. Kenny got it right first. But how was I to know till it was actually discovered?! I do think the compression guy knew he broke them and his fast departure indicated that. I'm not as pissed at him as I am at myself for letting anybody touch it so I take responsibility in the end. Remember I said that later!!!
With flashers on I jumped out and thought this is a whole different problem now. I wasn't on the road long enough to even get the car warmed up but "check coolant" light came on so I knew I wasn't anywhere close to overheating it. It was so dark out there that the flashers were my only light source. I didn't look around. All I knew was I had actually brought a gallon of 50/50 with me!! A crescent wrench, screw driver, gallon of coolant and quart of oil...remember? At this point I'm thinking the car probably was a little low after the trip and all the hard driving. I told Vindy "I got this!! We'll be back on the road in a minute!!" I pull the coolant out and prop my cell flashlight up and touch the radiator cap.. it's barely warm so I give it a mild turn, no pressure no coolant escaping so I pulled it off grabbed the gallon and started pouring. As I'm doing this Cindy gets out and is watching me. I tell her.." maybe for once I actually did come slightly prepared!?!" As I started pouring I hear the sound of a child pissing somewhere. I look at Cindy and say what's that sound!? She says what sound!?! I grab the light and look towards the firewall by the oil filter and yep.... blew the return hose from the heater core to the engine block..and it's coming out as fast as I was pouring. I look on the ground.. yep it blew several hundred feet up the road and was still pushing a puddle. Now I'm a little freaked because I'd spent at four or five minutes and the first thing I thought was to call Tom and Robert hoping that they might still be a 1/4 Mike back at the post office. It rang at least 6-7 times. I'm thinking **** I missed em, they're already up the Moutan were screwed. Then Tom answered..! I told the situation and he and Robert high tail to me within 2-3 minutes. Yep!!! The cavalry is here again but it's a whole new ball game ...
At this point I'm just as smart as the next guy, any rotar head too for that matter.
This is is a simple issue. And Tom was all over it with Robert before I could say a word. First thing one always does is see how close the hole is on the hose to the end.. remember??? I brought a screwdriver?!?! Tom pulled the hose off at the block. The hole was tiny but just far enough from the end to not enable a simple cut and re-attach fill and leave scenario. Nope it was apparent we were going nowhere with this one. In the moment we just kind of milled around taking to each, talking to our selves... but not getting any answers. The driveway I parked in was book ended by tall trees and bushes. You could tell it went straight up the hill but to where was hard to tell. We could see a single light up that hill masked only slightly by the trees, and the trajectory implied it was another steep walk away. Nobody really said anything but for sure none of us even breached the idea of walking up there. I didn't want to l leave it there but I didn't want a tow truck either. Tommy and Robert and I started looking to the left and right of the pavement making up the driveway. There was just enough space to push it to the right, leave a note and deal with it the next morning.
this is where I tell what I was really thinking. It might as well have been my daughter Chelsea sitting there broke down to leave for the night.. that's how strongly my mind wasn't going to accept "leaving it"!! This is "blood" sitting here with s broken hose... no!! An AWARD WINNING Black all original 1985 Mazda Rx7 that just took 2nd place at DGRR 2017!!!! But... honestly... ??? In my heart I knew we were going to have to chance it and park it off to the side and hope whomever lives up that drive is a decent understanding human being and that nobody driving by gets any sinister ideas.. we were about 30-40 feet away from car and up the driveway when...
Paul, love the story so far. Nice cliff hanger you left us on when the coolant blew. I think I hear a banjo
playing ...
Never had so much fun getting greasy working on someone elses ride in a long time. Glad we could
help.
elated you love it. I'm doing my best. I don't have the sa voi fare or phd vernacular like Dr Mike and Ray but I'm giving it the old college try!!! Watching you guys work on my car that way was like being a med student at a class on surgical procedure live symposium. I kept waiting to hear you say "Scalpel!!!" FORCEPS!!! "We got a bleeder boys!!! Clamp!!! Lol
When.. at about the same time we saw, Cindy says" there's someone coming down the driveway with a flashlight!" Tommy, Robert and myself were facing the flickering moving flashlight as it guided its carrier towards us, not sure it was me but immediately said "hey sorry we broke down".. to which the young man, wearing a scissors cut up filthy white T shirt, cut in a way apparently to resemble a Tank top, with six inches of dirty boxer shorts high above his belt line, a belt line which was 6" further south than I dare to speculate and dirty pant with grease and filth, tatted up the neck, the arms, the face.... and says...
"you broke down at the right place!! I'm a mechanic!!!"
now, I'm not sure how to even express in words what I thought. How anybody thought for that matter. I wasn't sure if we were being saved, yet again!!! Tonight, or if this guy just finished somebody off in the house on the hill and was sooooo happy to see us!!!
I csnt recall details but we ended up bent over my engine bay with two cell flashlights and his 6 D cell aluminum trooper style flashlight checking out the situation. Tommy was already holding the old hose so he could see from where to where we needed a patch.. he told us he had a hose that would temporarily do the trick. !! We all liked the sound of that but mind you... it's now at least 12:30 am and we haven't seen the hose yet...! Where would hose be!?? Well, he told us it was up in his backyard shed work area..
ok so we took the bait and all of us including Cindy start the walk up with him. It was dark, it was steep and I'd say it was equivalent to about 2-3 city blocks up there.. it was a uneventful walk with small talk till we see the house to the left as we crest the hill. It was steep enough for me to render... someone get me an EMS....
dang paul, really hate ur first time there was so stressful. i had no idea u had so many problems. but seems u were somewhat in the right place at the right time. hope all this didn't deter u from future trips.
dang paul, really hate ur first time there was so stressful. i had no idea u had so many problems. but seems u were somewhat in the right place at the right time. hope all this didn't deter u from future trips.
it's all a part of life. There's a conclusion and maybe a moral to this story. I'm just surprised nobody is screaming "where's the radiator come in!?!" I have no complaints.
not on purpose mind you. I got off to a lightning pace but I literally have to rethink the moments so I get it accurate. No Hollywood going on here. All this happened the way I'm reporting it. I have to ask Cindy from time to time to help me recall events. One thing is for sure.. Robert has so many quips and dead pan lines that I can't remember most of them.!! They tossed out the mold when he was born. At one point at the cabin that night he pointed at Mike I think and said "don't believe a word he says... he's a liar"...there were many more but they got by me. But there are a few coming that I recall. Just have to wait and see!!
05-09-17, 09:42 AM
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