Things that have gone wrong so far:

The cylinder isn't cracked. Now that I've seen what an actual cracked cylinder liner looks like - this ain't it.

I broke one of the exhaust manifold studs on the inboard head.

A sensor on the transmission housing, next to the fluid dipstick, got its connector yanked out. This revealed stripped/melted leads. I'll have to arrange a replacement.

This engine is extraordinarily dirty. Oil leakage and being left out-of-doors on the world's largest sandbar (Richmond, BC) has left crud on every exterior surface below the valve covers. The valve covers would be where the leakage is coming from. They were never sealed properly, and have been tightened repeatedly in an effort to stop the leaks. They've been tightened so much, in fact, that they can't seal properly.

Fortunately, I have a set of heads with un-broken studs, and a set of valve covers that will seal properly. In fact, I have a whole working ENGINE! So why am I back to re-building the engine that's in the '95, as opposed to swapping the engine from the '94?

Because I can.

Okay...there's more to it than that. First, there's the quick and dirty job I did overhauling the engine on the '94. I re-used the gaskets and so there are some vacuum leaks. It runs...but it doesn't run all that well. Then there's the mileage: the '95 has about 100,000k less on it than the '94. This is borne out by the general condition of the manifolds, coolant plumbing, etc. If I swapped the '94 engine into the '95 I might still have to do the overhaul again and so why not just overhaul the engine that's already there? There is the crack in the manifold to consider...but that's what JB weld is for...

Right now I'm more than a little uncertain how to proceed. I'd much rather put the engine that's already there back together than swap it out for another engine. Details from the Haynes manual spell out that the engine is designed to be re/re'd with the trans axle still attached. I can certainly sell the hoist for what I bought it for...assuming I won't actually need it. I may be setting myself up for disappointment here. I could get this engine all completed and find out it really *does* have some hidden flaw that means I'll still need to re/re this engine for the other one.

I see one of three possibilities:

I'll get this engine rebuilt. It'll be an A1 job, following all the recommendations from the manual. It will run just fine and this van will actually last long enough for me to get the stuff done around the place that I need done AND will last long enough for me to sell it for profit.

OR

I'll get the engine rebuilt and the van will still die from a broken transmission.

OR

I'll get the engine rebuilt and it won't run fine, but will, in fact, need to be swapped out for the other one. Which opens a whole new can 'o worms...but which I now do have the tools to deal with, if necessary.

A man needs goals, so here are my current ones:

1. Swap the engine from the van with the busted transmission to the van with the cracked block. Scrap the wreck and sell the repaired vehicle for a decent price.

2. Clean the garage. All the newsprint, motor oil, and scrap metal needs to be GONE. See goal #1 for how I'm going to manage to haul all that refuse to where it needs to go.

3. Hire a lawn guy -OR- hire a brush-clearing mower and get that back yard under control again...one day the dog is going to escape back there and we'll never know she's gone. I may just bite down and do this myself with what tools we have on hand...but that will be a painful few days and it'll have to wait until goal #1 is underway.

4. Retire my remaining credit debt. Does not include new acquisitions like this system. See goal #1 for how it's going to happen.

5. Lose some weight. As I don't have a vehicle at present...this may be easier than it sounds. I've lost a little lately as I am doing the bus/bicycle thing to work. All I would really have to do to make this happen would be to keep it up for...the rest of my life.

6. File the divorce papers already. I've got the package, I've got an agreement on finances...we still have to hash out property division and custody. Perhaps I'm putting the cart before the horse...we still need to address some issues before we're ready to file. But I *really* want to get going on this already.

7. I'm going to Disneyland. This year. I will find a way.

Well, it doesn't run anymore.

I am beginning to re-think my "junkers on parade" strategy of vehicle ownership. With the death of yet another vehicle in only the past six months. It beggars belief that this one only lasted about six weeks. Live and learn...at least I didn't pay that much for it.

On to the '95 van. It is newer, lower mileage, and better kept than the '94. I ought to have had it fixed by now, but there remains the specter of a cracked head...which I now have a suitable source of replacements for. I fully intend to cannibalize any and all necessary parts for the '95s engine from the 94. Ooh, that reminds me, better grab the CD player too...

Score: One dead van to the recyclers for a 50$ charitable tax receipt.

One live van once I fix the engine on it.

Some serious weight loss while I ride my Schwinn to work again.

Minimal extra expense for insurance as the vans are nearly identical.

I'm back down to owning *one* vehicle again. I wish it weren't necessary to keep the beast, but I shall have to keep it for awhile; until I can find a less "temporary" vehicle. It's really inconvenient having to fix junkers all the time. Economical, yes, but really a bother. It's not worth the time and effort, if I'm only going to have wheels for a couple of months.

GM filed chapter 11...

Wow.

Chrysler is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, Chrysler corp already set up partnerships all over the world starting about 20 years ago.

Ford may actually be able to survive the current crisis intact...without any Federal bail-out money.

Ford could probably use that bit of info in a new ad campaign.

You remember: "Ford: Quality is job one", "Built Ford tough".

How about: "Ford: we didn't do anything stupid".

Or perhaps: "Ford: last one standing...wins".