By Steve Stricker

Columnist

My projects stretch to infinity, finish one, another dozen log in. Tis the curse of being handy (dangerous) with a spanner, good problem-solving skills, tools, and being tight with the pocketbook!

I keep parts from all over the world for my cars, 1964 Land Rover, 1971 MGB-GT bought new still have, 1996 Volvo 850 base wagon with rare 5-speed manual transmission, John Deere riding mower, no parts needed for my bought new 2012 KIA Soul+ and keep them wherever they can find a space; garage, utility room, kitchen, dining room et.al.  Having to rarely call a plumber once because of issues in the kitchen wall, noting Land Rover Parts in a chair he had to move said, “You’re not married are you?”  What did he mean by that…?

When selecting which project is next, I try to be logical, but some just need “gravity” to take over, like falling dominoes. Thursday, July 11, no Mass, to Kroger in my favorite Volvo in which mentor, Bub Brannan put on a new AC compressor last year, but with temps turning hot wasn’t cooling so to him to check out.

At Four Corners, meters from his shop, check engine light came on and steam began streaming from under the bonnet – this ain’t good! Pulled into his place, popped hood, “Old Faithful” poured out and busted bottom radiator hose dumped hot water on my clutch slave cylinder knocking it out! You know, Bloody Hell!

So, left Volvo with Bub and he drove me home.  Friday, July 19 it was ready.  Slave cylinder, lower hose replaced, and plastic bits in the firewall where the hose passed through.  Whew, car, labor and parts were more than I originally paid for the wagon which is why I do what I can, but so thankful all this happened right at Bub’s and not on the motorway!

Paid bill (gulp), drove off and immediately the speedometer wasn’t working!  Turned around, back to Bub’s, they wiggled some cables by the slave cylinder, worked; Bub spotted a wire that had lost its insulation and said I needed to fix that.

Saturday, used liquid tape and spray bedliner stuff to fix that bare wire, checking fluids etc., saw that the lower dash panel that had to be removed to replace those plastic firewall bits was sagging, partially blocking the release lever. Having removed this panel often, knew right off that the back left edge wasn’t installed correctly, so removed the three retaining screws, dropped panel, and replaced.  However, in doing so, the attaching brackets which were rubbish, a Volvo flaw, disintegrated – AGH!!

In my driveway next to the Volvo, I have a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, devoted to her, and she has proved over and over that she is a “car guy” by helping me with wrenching situations.

So, frustrated, dripping with sweat, prayed to Mary and she immediately said, “Steve. Directly behind the panel is a metal knee bolster.  Use the middle screw hole, drill a hole into the bolster, use a metal screw with washer, tighten it down, you only need one screw.” WORKED!!  Whew.

But my AC wasn’t cooling, original problem, so back to Bub’s on Monday, he added half can of coolant, fixed.  Meanwhile, speedometer had failed again and letting my fingers “see” what was going on, did this, that, so far so good.

Next: the dreaded swivel ball assemblies on my 1964 Land Rover need replaced to finally drive it and is ready to do so. Have moved all the parts out of my dining room to recently cleaned off workbench in the garage, in the process of sorting and identifying parts found some missing, ordered, and have placed them in boxes for driver and passenger side…now create a bit by bit list and do it, Steve!!

Steve is an Oxford resident, worked on the Ole Miss Campus, and received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (Counseling) from The University of Mississippi.