A little help from the pros

[Don Jordan]

First off I just changed the brake light switch. This is a very complicated, complex procedure that requires manual dexterity, a knowledge of wires, and the ability to not only unscrew the switch (which they actually carried at my auto parts store) but reassemble said switch to its proper location.

While I was doing this my wife was in the garden playing in the dirt. She had the gall to say to me "When you're finished PLAYING with your car would you give me a hand." PLAYING? I was performing a complicated procedure. I hardly would call that playing. The fact that I took a rag and wiped off the oil pan may have been a bit excessive but it was cosmetic and acceptable.

This was a lot of WORK which I'm sure many of you are familiar with. Made all the more satisfying by seeing my brake light light up.

Just wanted to get some humble opinions.

I'm getting her ready for a trip to Sacramento about 400 miles. My wife won't go - she doesn't trust the car. 60 years ago people wouldn't think twice about such a journey. I'm ready to go.

Happy 4th. to all. Got a lot done.

[TodFitch]

Good to get a job like that done. There is a lot of satisfaction on making something work the way it is supposed to.

Acton to Sacramento? Via Tehachapi or the Grapevine? Not sure I'd like either California 58 or I-5 on those down grades with the big trucks. If I had the time on that trip I'd take 138 (or even LA county N2 through Lake Hughes) to Gorman then go through Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods and over to 33 then follow 33 up the central valley. That would add a lot of mileage and time though. Scenery in the southern San Juaquin is not all that great and the west side by Taft is uninspiring at best. But the traffic is light. I did almost the reverse of that a couple years ago when I drove the 33 down to Mt. Pinos. Pulling that grade out of Taft was a bit slow but other than that no real problem.

My wife enjoyed the drive to Portland and is looking forward to taking the 1933 in August for a vacation at Lake Tahoe. That will be about 240 miles each way the way I am thinking of going. Take your wife on some local trips where she can get accustomed to the car's reliability. There is a chance that then longer trips like you are planning will not intimidate her.

Edited July 6, 2010 by TodFitch

[Don Jordan]

I'm going to take 14 north to the 58 through Tehachapi and miss the grapevine. Pick up 99 right into Sacramento. Very little grades and not as fast as I 5.

I made the drive in my 47 Chevy pick up. You just have to be patient. 55 instead of 75. You still get there and get to see more of the scenery.

it's going to be cool.

[hkestes41]

Week before last when I told my wife that I was going to go to the Ft Worth swap meet on Saturday she said "maybe I'll go with you". Then 5 minutes later it was "you know what I'm not going I don't know what I was thinking. Its going to be hot and you are just going to wander around looking at a bunch of junk for your clunker".

CLUNKER??? Good thing for her she is the mother of my children.