The battle is half the battle...

This week has been characterized by the continuing war of man versus machine.  An epitaph to these efforts might read:

"In the beginning, there was only junk; a few scraps of metal, a roll of unusually thin electrical tape and some zip ties.  Somehow he made it something and the ensuing profanity and work of wrench throwing wrought a great work"

As many know I have been working on my '72 Datsun 1200 for the last 2 months.  Last week my '82 Datsun 720 went suicidal and has not ran since.  I began to overreact at first - I NEED a motor!  I started coming up with a plan to get the truck on the road as soon as possible.  Then it hit me, soft at first, but like a ton of bricks when the realization really set in.  "Your truck doesn't need just a motor.  It needs a new rear axle, a set of brake pads and rotors, the front suspension rebuilt, and etc."  I was sunk.  Months of deferred maintenance had caught up.  Robbing Peter to pay Paul had resulted in Peter calling the cops and I getting proverbially beaten by a cop with an agenda.

"Alright," I thought, " I'll get back to work on the 1200 and finish that first, then I'll treat my truck to some loving care."  Peace came with that thought.  Also with that thought came the need to finish a few other outstanding favors I have out and need time to fulfill.  With some new momentum I go back up and went to battle.

"Patrick always bit off more than he could chew, but if given time to do so he could probably eat his own food and then your leftovers too."


So it goes on, the epic battle each man wages with his foe.  An epic saga of man versus machine.  On the one hand, the machines in their 'transformer-esque' surroundings. On the other, emerging from the smoke and fire stands one man bathed in sweat, wrench in one hand, hammer of death in the other. They wage war as the machines raise up and fight against the mechanic who with sweeping, heroic movements causes them to succumb to his every whim...

On the other hand maybe it is just going to be a few long nights and some trying times. The reward will be to drive these creations and enjoy them.  Someone once got on my case about my truck when it broke down the last time and said that it was a reflection of what a mechanic I am.  I guess that is true though, I'm not perfect, nor can I expect that an imperfect individual could produce something immune to abuse and wear.  If I were, I would certainly not be among you at this present time. Perhaps it really is as my fortune cookie said today, "You may lose the small ones but win the big ones."

Just when you thought it was safe to get out of the water...

Life has a funny way of sneaking up and depriving us of sleep and resources.  Such has been the circumstances of mine over the course of the last week.  In my determination to forge ahead in an undertaking that has been years in the making, I discovered that Murphy's Law truly applies.

In 2007 I purchased an very unlikely car, a Datsun LB110 1200 Coupe.  The lines of the car are true early '70s Japanese and yet not over exaggerated as they became by 1974.  It is simple, spartan and yet so full of potential.   It would appear the designer had the Chevrolet Nova on his mind when he set out to design this body, but when seeing a full-sized American squish into it, maybe he had circus clowns as inspiration.  Needless to say, for a paltry sum I purchased the car and drove it for about a month.

After a month of driving the car it became clear the engine miss was not going to magically disappear, so I decided to investigate further.  My discovery showed that I was running around on a three cylinder and not the four the car was endowed with initially. I tore the motor apart and then the car sat for lack of funds.

It taunted me.  For years it would stalk me.  Every time I would see a part that could be used on it I would hoard it away for the unlikely future of glory.  Then the great day came and I began to get serious about its future.

I'm about half way into the project now, so no turning back.  My daily driven Datsun 720 4x4 truck has been my favorite vehicle since I bought it at age 15.  I mourn when it has problems and does not run.  And so, while I work on another, perhaps my truck feels a bit cheated and jealous.  On a very inconvenient Tuesday afternoon a few weeks ago I was returning home when I heard a noise.  This did not sound like the noise of peace and tranquility, nor was it the sound of raw horsepower.  It was the sound of death and self-destruction. Sparing the details for another time, my truck decided it was high time it got some attention.

So what is the moral to this story?  Don't cheat, especially on your favorite car, for it will hurt you where it counts - your wallet and your spare time.