You just haven't earned it yet, baby.

[opabinia]

Let's start with the high points, so we can fall from higher up:

Spontaneous Four-Tier Rental Upgrade Avis had no subcompacts, or compacts, or mid-sizeds, or somethingelses, so we got a Toyota Land Yacht at no additional cost. That there's my Cosby-sweatered dad.

First Sighting Here's my new Olds, as I saw it for the first time, waiting in the seller's driveway.

It all went downhill from there. As expected, the car needs more work than, um, expected. About all I can say is that the engine runs very well.

The really important thing is that I'm home now, but the car is somewhere in Pennsylvania, a mile or two from where the transmission blew. After some deep breaths, I called the seller, and slowly persuaded him to pay for a new one, though he was under no legal obligation. The money has already been transferred. This softens the blow some, but not much. Labor won't be cheap.

Airfare, hotel charges, vacation time, anticipation, incidental expenses... gone. I rented another car, drove it to an Amtrak station, and came home. The Olds is dead in eastern PA, and it needs a new transmission. Maybe I'll get to drive it next year.

This all feels so normal now. I went out and took a risk, knowing it wasn't a particularly practical idea, and here's the result. I thought I was due for something good.

Comments

[pat-man-ta.livejournal.com]

Tranny swap isn't too many hours.
Look at it this way,
you would have had to do it at some point anyway. At least you got some money for it instead of having to shoulder it yourself.
My tranny let go within a year on my Plymouth. All the abuse a musclecar takes gets channelled through the gearbox remember.

oh, and:
http://www.townonline.com/cambridge/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=591989

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Seriously. How fucked up is that?

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

Motherfucker!

We drove by when it was happening! We were hoping against hope it wasn't the pet shop.

something good

[pat-man-ta.livejournal.com]

and it IS still something good!
you own that car now!
you
not someone else
buck up damnit!
git that rod back up here and slap that tranny in'er and RIDE MOTHERFUCKER!

Re: something good

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

You are correct, sir. Long day, but I'll get my brains back in order shortly. Thank you. :)

[jhimm.livejournal.com]

once upon a much younger day,
i was pretty good at doing body work.
removal,
grinding,
sanding,
bondo,
etc.

when you get the beast local,
if you'd like a hand with that kind of thing,
just lemme know.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Thank you, jhimm. The exterior is mercifully decent, but there are definitely a few dings that will need fixin' once all the mechanicals and electrics are sorted out.

Awwww *hugs*

[sanguineempathy.livejournal.com]

Can the Znuh help you w/ labor? Maybe give him a holler... he might know someone.... Good luck getting 'er home soon.

Re: Awwww *hugs*

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Yep. He and I intend to wrench on this hosebeast together... once I get it within a hundred miles of here. ;P

Re: Awwww *hugs*

[znuh.livejournal.com]

Glad you made it home OK. Any car older than you will have a little bit of 'character' with her, so finding a few dings is no real surprise.

Trannies usually are the most consumable thing with musclecars as Pat Man Ta said earlier - luckily for you the B-O-P TH-400 is one of the most produced transmissions ever made - easily rebuilt and can be done in a day.

Hang in there!

[belledejour.livejournal.com]

where in eastern pa is your new baby? i live in south jersey, spitting distance from philly... so if you need any help, please give a holler...

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

I'm waiting for a phone call this Tuesday. After that, I'll have a better idea what needs to happen.