The $2010 Challenge car progresses. There have been setbacks which require creativity to recover, but over all, it's still within my anticipated timeframe. The busted ignition cylinder turned out to include a shattered wiring harness, so we're replacing a $600 setup1 with $20ish worth of rocker switches, a start button and a few feet of wire from my friend Chris' stash. Because everything is better with switches and buttons!
And when I say "we're replacing," I mean that Chris gets to be his usual Mad Scientist genius self and I get to play Evil Intern. I should find a sexy labcoat to wear!
"Chris getting his Mad Scientist on" by Dollraves via Flickr
Today's setback was the radiator - new car buddy Alan was drilling out the busted fan mount screws and accidently slipped into the bottom radiator tank. Fortunately, it should be an easy fix for someone who knows what they're doing!2 If it's not repaired by the time we get the car running, I'll just pull the one out of the running GTX. Alan felt genuinely bad; to be fair, he's not the first to break something on the car, and I'm equally certain he won't be the last. :D
But today, I got to install the clutch cylinders, brake master cylinder and brake booster. Clutches are easier than I thought! Brake cylinder though? OMBG, that is pure punishment. I don't know what I did to the Universe, but boy-howdy has she gotten me back good!
Dear Universe:
May I never, ever do anything so unkind again that you make me do another brake job. I promise to be the Best Doll EVER if you will see clear to letting me get the second brake line threaded into the brake master cylinder.5
PROMISE!
Smoochies,
The Doll
1 If I were foolish enough to buy it directly from Mazda...
2 Unfortunately, I am not that someone.3
3 Fortunately, I do know someone4 who can do it!
4 Unfortunately, that someone can't do it until after Burning Man.
5 These are apparently notoriously difficult to thread.
