Year 2023

Mazda

The Mazda is running well with the new engine. I've driven about 500 miles without any problems. As most know, lugging an engine is especially hard on it during the first few hundreds of miles. (Of course, it's never a good thing to do, but is really bad during the break-in period.)

Putting that into practice has allowed me to "feel" the thicker engine oil. I used to be able to coast or use light throttle at 30 mph in top gear (overdrive ratio of 0.775/1). No more, the engine will lug.

Fuel economy has dropped a few miles-per-gallon (MPG). It's worth having 60 psi of oil pressure while cruising. Hot idling oil pressure is in the 20s. It'll be interesting to see what the oil pressure is during the summer running the air conditioning and elevated ambient heat.

Winter Tasks

With the onset of the cold weather, I've transitioned to my winter tasks. It's good to be able to knock them off my list. They stack up during the summer.

For instance, John had given me a Salamander heater that stopped working for him. He was surprised because it had only fifty hours on it, at most. Since he isn't blessed with my spare time, he purchased another unit and gave me the malfunctioning one.

These torpedo-shaped heaters are fired by kerosene. When energized with a 110-Volt supply, Salamander heaters can quickly generate a lot of heat for, say, a construction work site. While it would be overkill, and even dangerous, inside the Power Cellar, I'll, no doubt, find another use for it.

I performed the servicing per the manual, which John also gave me. That was a pain the a$$. Here's an example. To access the fuel filter, the heater must be partially disassembled! The manual requires that the filter is checked every time. Yeah, so who's going to do that except when the thing fails?

After cursing my way through the manual's service schedule, I found no faults. The problem was a simple thing. The kerosene pump was locked. I simply spun the fan attached to the pump by hand, and the thing fired up. It sounds like a little jet engine when running. Oh, what fun!

Next on the list is to repair my 3-4K Watt dual fuel generator. I only burned LPG--or as is popular: propane--in it so the crankcase should be clean. I have a feeling that the piston rings wore down the cylinder such that there's insufficient compression to run. A replacement piston with slightly larger rings would allow for the wear. I'll have to measure components.

The cool thing is that all the parts are available for this particular generator. And I'm not referring to switches, sensors, and pull cords. The piston with rings, crankshaft, conrod, and complete cylinder head with valves are all available.

The spare parts are also pretty inexpensive. Those four parts would only cost a couple hundred dollars. Sure, a new generator only costs--or used to only cost--about $400. But it's good to repair machines instead of recycling them. I look forward to the disassembly. I'll post photos.

Site Updates

I've added three films to the GRS database.

Also, I added one quote:

...it is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Power Cellar

Since my last post, I've continued to backfill around the cellar. It is as well covered I can do without adding more fill around the base of the sand. I'll use less expensive fill, as it doesn't need to drain as well.

Inside the cellar, I still had room with the tool shelves so I purchased metal bookcases. My books are now all in one place instead of scattered. It's very convenient! Here is a shot of the cellar from the bulkhead side. And here's a photo of the eastern wall.

The "big top" is now down. Also, I temporarily installed plywood and insulation over the bulkhead opening. Next year, we'll build the wooden bulkhead, install the fresh-air vents, and complete the backfilling. The structure sure has come a long ways this year. We started this year by pouring the bulkhead floor.

Site Updates

I've added 15 films and one TV program to the GRS database.

Also, I added one quote:

Confidence is faith in oneself. It can't easily be given by another.
Counselor Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation

New Radio

The new radio is wonderful! It's surprising how much I depended on listening to the radio. Sure, the reception is still poor; however, now speakers don't cut in and out. The DVD player is awesome combined with the in-roof speakers! Well worth the expense!

Power Cellar

With the roof insulation in place, John and I installed the stairs. He told me that normally three stair stringers are employed. Stringers are the oddly cut wooden pieces that support the horizontal steps from the ground to a place above ground. He understood why I only chose two stringers for this particular situation. I'll explain shortly.

I've constructed shelves--two new units and relocated a pair from the soft garage--in the cellar. I moved enough from the garage to allow me access to a single shelf which holds tools like the chainsaws. Also, I was able to bring into the garage all the gardening tools. It's excellent having my tools in a place where the mice have less access. I'm installing sticky pads in the vents, in the cellar, and near the bulkhead to stop any mouse that dares.

(Please, don't attempt to lecture me on the virtues of mice, because they have NONE! They have ruined a lot my property, and I don't speak alone. Mice are worse than squirrels, and I never swerve to avoid squirrels in the roadway. If one of the bushy tail bastards is in my way, then I take him out! Squirrels rip up houses and tear up decorations. I hate them!) How's that for a parenthetical rant!

The stairs worked out quite well. Yes, I should have skipped the final course of concrete blocks on the bulkhead; but, it's OK because I can bury that area even more without worry. (Recall that the block walls are filled with concrete and rebar.)

I apologize for the leaves and plywood/tarp covering. The wind was gusting something fierce today. Here are "The--err--7 Steps" in living color: here.

The keen eyed will notice the "extra" supports for the right stringer. Yes, we made a mistake. We drilled in two "L" brackets before noticing that they were misaligned. Like I told John, I'll use them as hangers.

Don't understand how I can use the extra hangers? Well, I had a thought. "Wait. Yeah. I have an idea." (or something like that from a cult classic film!) See what I mean here. Yes, most steps can be removed to allow access to the "hangers" and drain. Also, I'll be able to store items that don't mind being wet. I only showed one step removed in that photo. The three steps above it remove in the same manner.

It's not very hard to make removable stairs. For each step, I drilled one side of the step and that stringer. Next, I carefully drilled a clearance hole in just the step. Then, I lightly hammered in a rebar cut to the specific length so I could drill the other side and stringer and clearance hole. After both rebars were lightly in place, I hammered them home with the step in place. Finally, I hammered the rebars such that they are below the step. (I removed the step first.) Phew, that took longer to write than to do!

I'm in the process of staining the holes for the rebars. That's why the photos may show a glossy stream on them! Thanks for visiting, Bill's Universe!

Power Cellar

I cut rigid-foam insulation and added caulking to fill the small triangular pockets in the eastern & western eaves. I hate to have any pocket underground where water could possibly collect, even in sand. The insulation also will prevent some heat from escaping from the cellar. Then, I sealed the roof insulation to the plywood, as needed. Here's a shot.

With the floor and walls completed, I insulated the eaves with pink insulation, which, if the packaging is correct, is as soft as cotton. Of course, during the job I wore an industrial face mask, gloves, and glasses. I like cotton

The job was accomplished a lot quicker than I expected. I custom-cut all the pieces. The closest width that I could find was cut-at-the-factory for 16" on-center beams. So that means that I had to cut both dimensions. It's definitely worth it to have rafters 12" on-center, though! I'm very happy with how it worked out. See one eave here and another eave here.

It's definitely warmer in the cellar with all the insulation. I spent a couple of days moving belongings into the cellar this week. I'm happy with how much the cellar holds. Of course, it was built to contain batteries. I've left room for them.

The time for building is coming to a close for 2023. Wow, that year is impressive to me! We really should have a moonbase and flying cars. Oh wait, the moon's not made of cheese, and people are typically too stupid to navigate two dimensions without crashing! Still, 2023-wow!

I have another task to complete on the cellar before packing it for the winter. Till then, I'll continue to move stuff into the cellar. Stay tuned!

New Radio!

The head unit that came with the camper had always given me some trouble. Buttons wore out and needed to be pressed hard. A speaker would disconnect. I had replaced all the speaker wires with heavily insulated wire pairs.

When a speaker would cut out randomly and it wasn't the fault of the speaker--which is new--, I gave in. I had to replace the radio. It had served well. Who remembers Panasonic Power Tuners? Yeah, I'm old-school or just tight-fisted!

Like most folks, I wanted to improve what I had. Since, I've had good luck with the Jensen radio in my Mazda and, well, they're about the only company producing radios with disc readers--you see what I mean by old?--I purchased another Jensen for the camper.

It required a double-DIN hole so I enlarged the cutout. Impressively, the radios have settled on a color code for the speaker wires. I only had to install new wire terminals. Yes, Stuart, wire nuts don't cut it for speaker wires. The ideal way is to solder the wires together. Unlike Mike, I don't have the patience! Maybe one day: I only hope to aspire to his level!

Also, I had replaced the antenna to receive more stations. Ha, that was such a dream! The new radio picks up the same stations with similar quality. Oh well, it was worth a try!

The new radio can play DVDs, which is really cool. I can walk around and the film more or less follows me. What a luxury compared to having to sit in front of the computer to really hear things! Yes, I love seemingly simple things. A bunch of small improvements do make life better! Life could be a lot worse!

Enough of me rambling: here's the new radio installed. It's playing one of my favorite films. Here's a shot of the screen. Guess the film and I have something for you! The radio really brightens the interior of the camper. (Even with the skylights, it can be dark in here!) I need to learn to use the touchscreen, but I like it. This radio is so choice!

Thanks for reading!

Power Cellar

The dance floor is now closed! I applied two layers of asphalt sealant on the plywood and the pressure treated 2x8s. Well, that's after I sealed any seams with caulking. Yesterday, John and I "glued" down 2-inch rigid foam insulation to the roof. We also secured them with "L" brackets and then sealed the insulation with asphalt.

These tasks represent a monumental achievement. I never intended to fully install the roof insulation this year. Fortune would have it that I was given three days of dry, 70 degrees. That's worth so much at this point in time of the project and at this time of the year. Indian Summer is a wonderful thing!

To make it harder for water to leak through the roof, we staggered the seams of insulation so they didn't align with the seams of the plywood. Sure, it may seem obvious to you reading this report but in the real world with the pressures of time against you, it's not so obvious! But we figured it out soon enough.

Also, we gooped up--technical term--the seams in the insulation. See what I mean here. I'll need to touch-up the asphalt sealant in the spring but it's waterproof. The seams between the insulation will need a second "gooping" to eliminate any valleys where water would stand. The "L" brackets do a good job. See here.

Overall, it worked out well. Of course, the ubiquitous leaves found the fresh sealant. They'll become fertilizer for the future living roof, as John so eloquently put it. Anywhere I smeared caulking, the asphalt sealant will not adhere. That's why the sealant looks incomplete, as you can see here.

I plugged the vent holes with rigid-foam to allow me the opportunity to finish the cellar floor. Thanks to the warm temperatures I finished the floor and touched up the walls. And if I may be so bold, the floor looks great. What do you think? It has come a long way from where it was when we uncovered it this past May! Sure, the paint chips aren't perfectly distributed. The distribution reminds me a bit of the universe. Well, my universe on the cellar floor is spread out more evenly than the real universe! Where else would you read such a statement?

I sealed the holes in the bottoms of the safes with RTV silicone. As of today, they have not leaked. We've got a "cold rain" in the forecast for tomorrow. Now that the roof is sealed and the bulkhead is covered, any water that appears in either of the safes will be from underneath, so I'll know where to act.

Always Adventure

We got a little rain today, which showed that my repair job on the camper's roof wasn't good enough. During the warm temperatures I had replaced the radio antenna, which of course meant cutting into the roof. I learned something: don't cut into the roof in the autumn. Do it in the spring! Oh well. I have some leftover, new thick plastic underlayment that I cut to cover the front third of the roof. It directs rainwater away from the weak area. I'll repair the roof in the spring. The good thing about winter is that snow doesn't leak. I'll just ensure that the roof is clear before the thaw.

Not to be left out the hot water connection to a sink broke. Fortunately, I had a replacement part and tools inside and effected the repair. The good news is twofold: one the leak is gone and two the water pump no longer cycles periodically when I'm not using any water. So, I call it a success. Until the next challenge!

Site Updates

I've added seven films to the GRS database.

Enjoy!

Power Cellar

The roof is now on the Power Cellar. John calls it the tap-dance floor because of the reverberating sound that it emits when walked upon. It's super sturdy. An elephant could tap dance on it. Take a look here. We cut the big top pole and left it on the dance floor. Today, the pole blew down so I reinforced the base with two concrete blocks and a stone.

With the roof in place, I could now paint the main floor. Leaves, pine needles, and other autumnal debris were blowing in before now. I began by "catching up" the spot where the big top pole had resided. Since I was unable to etch the concrete with the pole in position, I applied three coats of concrete sealant today. I'll apply two or more coats of epoxy floor sealant tomorrow. Then, it'll be caught up to the rest of the cellar floor. If you want to see the spot with three coats of sealant, click here.

I put the sealant on thickly because I had plenty in the can. That explains the patterns that can be seen. Also, in the cellar are the stained bits for the future bulkhead steps. That will be the task for Saturday. Currently, the bulkhead area is covered on the outside by a blue tarp, so you can orient yourself. The bulkhead area is in the top right corner of "the spot" photo.

The can of Epoxy-Seal is anxiously waiting in the wings. Tomorrow will be its turn to be used. Hopefully, I can use it entirely on "the spot". I won't store a little bit of epoxy paint. So if I don't use it, I'll paint one of the stones in my woods.

The in-ground safes--the holes in the upper left of the photo--were wet with standing water. I don't know if the moisture came in during rains before the dance floor was put on, or if it is seeping up through the pushed-in rubber plugs in the bottoms of the safe. The bottoms have two holes each so that the safes may be screwed down from the inside. This feature is an annoyance in my situation; however, at worst I'll seal the holes with something durable.

Oh, I have moved the ladder to the bulkhead. It's difficult to climb through a 1/2" plywood roof!

Milepost

Unfortunately, the upright for the milepost rotted and collapsed. That'll teach me to use a tree trunk. I'll replace the upright and realign the signs. No more untreated lumber for the future uprights! You know that this won't be last time that I repair the milepost

Thanks for visiting!

Mazda

The Mazda is now running without any unusual noises. Yay! It's great having it back. I can almost park diagonally without crossing the lines marking a spot. What a difference when compared to the Dually, which usually occupies two spots to allow for its length!

Power Cellar

We did indeed install the cross-braces for the rafters. The rafters will now work together to arrest twisting and distribute the weight on them. Really, they make the roof strong enough to drive the Kubota on it! Not that I would do such a thing.

I snagged a line of the "small top" with the tractor's bucket. I decided to take it down and just use a piece of plywood and a tarp to cover the bulkhead. Frankly, I'm glad that it's gone. The lines and post were a tripping hazard now that I've backfilled the cellar! Maybe you noticed the higher ground?

All the interior walls are completely sealed. It took many coats. Far more than quoted on the cans. (Did you know that many paint cans are now plastic?) Also, I was able to coat the floor in the bulkhead. I used paint chips to break up the white and hide irregularities. I think it worked out very well. What do you think? Much better than the unsealed concrete.

With the bulkhead drying, and now looking decent, I've been using a ladder to access the cellar. It's a tight squeeze between the 12 inch on-center rafters. Inside, it is becoming darker. I purchased a headlamp so that I could see imperfections and paint them in the reduced ambient light. That is a great idea that I borrowed from Mike. Thanks, Mike!

John and I installed the horizontal eave plates. They're thicker than they need to be, but we had the pressure-treated 2x8s. Of course, nothing ever matches up perfectly. The new eave plates didn't line up with the vertical 2x8s that create the "box" for the roof system. The quickest solution was to use the chainsaw to trim the horizontal eave plates.

They're going to be buried so who cares what they look like! Here's the section that I trimmed along the northern eave. It worked out quite well. I've been sealing the joints with 30-minute rain-ready silicone caulking. The rains seem to have subsided, but I don't trust the weather!

Site Updates

I've added 18 films and three TV programs to the GRS database, which includes a new favorite.

Also, I added three quotes:

I need you, Lovejoy. Since my wife died, I need someone to hate.
Lovejoy

Do you have any hobbies?
I collect spores, molds, and fungus.
Ghostbusters

How can you sleep at a time like this?
The Old Father wound the skeane of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish. But you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits man nothing.
The 13th Warrior

I apologize for my delinquency. Enjoy!

Mazda

The belt tensioner was failing; however, it was not the reason why the idler pulley was rattling. It turned out that the idler pulley itself rattles when spun quickly on a finger. I didn't notice that before. Doh! An idler pulley made by Mazda is on order. Then, the car should be 100%

I've been driving the Dually. It returned 13 mpg the other day! Yeah, it's kind of lame since the Mazda will average in the 40s. Then again, the Mazda doesn't weight three tons standing at the curb. Neither can it move more than a ton--yes, I've "overloaded" the Dually with 2,400 lbs without flattening the leaf springs!

Power Cellar

The Power Cellar is progressing well. We've installed the rafters. They're 12 inches on-center, which is probably overkill. I'd rather not have it ever fall in. Remember that it will have about 4 inches of soil on top to accomodate a "living" roof. We will install cross-braces between the rafters next weekend. But for now, take a look here.

We decided to use two additional sill plates to raise the north wall. These provide a rise of 3 inches. (2x-s are not 2 inches thick, only 1-1/2 inches.) The rafters are 8 feet long. That 3 inches of drop over 8 feet. It doesn't sound like much but it'll do. The roof doesn't need to shed water during a torrential downpour. The "living roof" and soil will slow the water, so we need only be concerned with avoiding "pooling".

I sealed the ends of the roof on both sides. Yes, I know that I'm not the neatest individual with the caulking gun. Sometimes "that'll do" is enough! See the sealed eastern end from the outside and the inside.

The inside photo shows how we attached the wooden sill plate to the concrete wall. I placed metal straps in the wet concrete when I filled the walls. Once the concrete had hardened, the straps are split and pass through holes drilled into the sill plates. Flatten these wings with a hammer and nail them to the sill plate. Presto: that's a good concrete-wood interface!

I have started to seal and paint the inside of the cellar. It has been quite the job. I am making headway. I don't give up; I'm too stupid for that. I think that the walls need only one more coat after today's work. I will post photos when I'm happy with the result. Stay tuned! Same Bat Channel!

Delay

Sorry for the delay. I focused on the power cellar and mending the Mazda the past months.

Mazda

Good news: the Mazda is just about 100% again. I have a slight rattle from the idler pulley. I believe that it's caused by a failing belt tensioner. A new one should arrive soon. Otherwise, it runs very smoothly.

I already have more than 100 miles on the new engine. Most notable is the action of the clutch. It grips immediately. I can't tell if there's an increase in power, as I have yet to use any throttle. 10W40 is my synthetic oil of choice. There aren't many choices; however, perhaps that will change. I finished covering all bare spots with POR 15. It's great having the Mazda back

Power Cellar

I've made a lot of progress since my last post. I last reported that I'd finished the half of the fifth course.

Now, all the block work is completed. The walls are completed full of concrete with rebar (and crushed beer cans). The outsides of the walls are coated with asphalt sealant. I've even backfilled much of the structure with screened sand. I included failed concrete projects (not mine), the bent bubble level, cured concrete bags, and other steel trash!

Furthermore, the sill plates--i.e. wooden 2x8s--have been attached to the block walls. They will provide the transition from the concrete to wood. I've settled on a wooden-beamed roof. John's very comfortable with them, and they are quicker to assemble than a reinforced concrete slab roof.

Here's what the power cellar looks like right now. Notice that the ugly trenches are gone. I'll continue to add backfill to slope up and cover the cellar. Today, I sealed the floors against moisture. OK, sure, my drainage is very good but I want to minimize humidity inside the cellar for obvious reasons.

Of course, with our humid summers I'll need a way to ventilate my buried cellar. So I left out three half blocks. Two will provide a crossflow of outside air--especially with the help of a duct fan! The other will encourage any hydrogen gas escaping the lead-acid batteries to leave the cellar. The battery vent is shown here.

Next on the list is to paint the floors and seal the walls. I plan to paint the floors white. I hope to find white sealant for the cellar walls. Otherwise, the walls will be sealed and grey like the bulkhead area will be, when finished. After that, we can install the stairs and the roof. Here's a shot from inside the cellar.

Looking down from the outside is impressive. The five-year-old daughter of my neighbor who frequents my property said "oh, wow" when she looked down. It hadn't been that long ago since my neighbor told her not to push staged blocks off the walls. Little Joyana is an "outdoorsy" girl and frequently helps me and informs me what she is doing. (In fact, last year an elderly couple mistook her as my daughter as she frolicked around my vineyard.)

The more clever reader will notice that the main pole for the big top is planted on the cellar floor. I've carefully left alone a rectangle around the pole and its concrete blocks. I'll seal and paint that small area once the roof is in place.

High winds had knocked down the big tops while I was away. I will be glad to take them down. The blue tarp has so many drip holes that it hardly does the job anymore! Even the main tarp is starting to drip. It's a good thing that John only intends to cut it into strips to cover firewood piles.

Site Updates

I've added five films to the GRS database. More will be forthcoming!

Also, I added two quotes:

...what you're calling hard luck, we made New England, and cod fish
The Devil and Daniel Webster

They're not actually crazy, you know. They're just women
Skins

Enjoy!

Mazda

I've drilled out and "Heli-Coiled" the sheared-off stud. I'll need to make the hole in the mating flange slotted, but life could be worse.

The clutch and pressure plate are both worn. The flywheel is OK. The oxygen sensors should arrive by tomorrow at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Fortunately, Mazda keyed the connectors so I will know where each goes on the converter/manifold.

It and replacement clutch parts are on order with the dealership. Fingers crossed that they don't cancel the order. They have done so in the past. I was sure to thank both individuals by name who fulfilled my previous order in the order request form.

With the car on a lift, I have taken the time to paint all the spots of corrosion with POR 15. The stuff is fantastic despite its high price. One doesn't have to prepare the surface, aside from removing flaking rust. It cures quite quickly in our humid summers.

I painted the entire bottom half of the engine bay and undercarriage. The rear undercarriage was a little worse than I knew. But no holes. I do have small perforation in front of the rear wheels on the rocker panels, which I have been addressing with POR. Next, I'll paint the bottoms of the doors.

I have been taking the time to "POR" brackets on the engine. They would never fail, but it cleans them up. I did "POR" an external coolant tube underneath the manifold. I'd hate to have it fail. All in all, I should have an almost new car once I get the engine/transaxle back in place.

Masonry Step-By-Step

I laid another half course of blocks earlier this week. Now that I'm more comfortable with the process, I took photos. I'll present them here.

The consistency of the mortar is important. It is affected by humidity, direct sunlight, moisture in the blocks. That's why I keep both a bucket of water and some dry mortar mix ready to go. (The mortar mix in that image was partially solidified. Chunks are intolerable in mortar mix, so be sure to check it before you purchase a bag!) The mortar in this tub worked well in my shaded, humid conditions with dry blocks.

Before starting, you'll need two bubble levels. Then, the mortar is applied and the invaluable spacers are pushed into it. The manufacturer of the spacers recommends only two; however, we've found that four work much better.

I recommend wearing gloves to reduce one's exposure to mortar. It is, like Portland cement, an alkaline mixture and will cause a chemical burn with prolonged exposure.

Next step is to "butter" the edge of the block. The trick is to smush the mortar onto the block so that it doesn't fall off when lifted into place. Take a look at a "buttered" block. (I apologize for the poor focus. Damn it, Jim. I'm a block layer not a photographer!)

See how the "buttering" helps make a good mortar joint on the same course of blocks here. Now is the time to check the level of the individual block in the long direction and the short direction. I aim to keep the bubble between the two lines. It probably won't be perfect, but it'll do.

Before moving on, check the block relative to its course mates with the long level, as I'm doing here across a few blocks. Vertical alignment between courses is important, as you can see here.

Keeping the course level makes the laying of future courses easier. Keeping the joints between the blocks is something to keep in mind. I use the long level to keep my blocks vertically in line by by using lower courses.

As a visual check, I sight down the wall from the inside. Since the outside will be backfilled, I only care how the inside wall looks. Remember blocks are not perfectly shaped, so one must choose what should look straight.

It's always good to check that mortar has squeezed out inside the block. Speaking of it, extra mortar squeezed out should be collected and reused. Mortar that is dropped should be picked up before it solidifies on surfaces that are important. It saves clean-up work with a chisel in the future.

The final important step is to point or strike the mortar joints. Striking seals the mortar joint and displays good workmanship. In a poorly focused photo, half of the joints are struck. (The striked joints are on the right.) A spoon may used; however, hardware stores offer an inexpensive steel tool just for the purpose.

Worksmanship and patience is the key with masonry work. I'm, by no means, an expert; however, I picked it up quickly. Of course, in the case of the Power Cellar, the block work needn't be exactly. We'll fill the walls with concrete, so the blocks are really just acting as forms.

Here's the half course that I assembled earlier this week. It worked out quite well.

Mazda

I've the engine and transaxle out of the car. That was tedious work. Every electrical connector is different and took me time to figure out how to de-mate.

Currently, I have separated the transaxle and need to move the flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate to the new engine before reinstalling the transaxle. I will, of course, check the clutch disc, pressure plate, and flywheel for wear.

Otherwise, there's only one coolant connection that needs to be transferred to the new engine. I sheared a bolt and a stud. I've replaced the former and will order a Heli-Coil kit to repair the latter.

I've decided that it's prudent to replace the manifold/catalytic converter now. There's no way to replace it without extracting the engine. That means new oxygen sensors. I hope the local retailer sells the sensors for less money than Mazda. $700 for two sensors seems a bit excessive.

I've learned a lot about the Mazda during this job. I've also learned that auto work and masonry work don't use the same muscles

Power Cellar

The cellar has taken a backseat to the Mazda. Though John and I completed the third course. You may think: I only see two rows of blocks. The reason is that the bulkhead footing is a course higher than the cellar footing. I name courses according to the cellar, not the bulkhead.

We've had some impressive rainfall. It washed out a road near me, severely eroded road shoulders, and even secluded some homes. I was very lucky that only my driveway was slightly washed-out. I have since dug a drainage ditch to cope with runoff from a nearby hill.

Others weren't so lucky. I saw deep ravines in driveways as I drove around town. The power cellar was threatened by the epic rainfall. The water pooled above the footing. Fortunately, it didn't reach the top of the floor and flood the cellar! Once I can backfill the walls, it'll be better. Right now, the hole acts as a basin by collecting all the surrounding runoff. See the flooding here. For your reference, this corner is visible in the lower left corner in this photo.

Site Updates

I've added seven films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Power Cellar

I was confident enough to lay blocks by myself. I put down about half of the fourth course one day last week and started the fifth course today. The threat of rain stopped my progress today. See my work here.

It's not perfect but not bad for a novice. I learned a lot assembling the fourth row, which I applied to the fifth row. I'll only do better work in the future!

During the incessant rainstorms, I sanded the bulkhead floor and first course. See it here. Not only is the result aestheticly pleasing, but it also levels the floor and will make the walls easier to seal. Yes, we're going to seal the floor and walls. Don't forget that concrete is porous. Yes, the floor drain is off-center. And, we like it that way

I haven't sanded the main floor yet. I have sanded the inside of the walls. We use the three-foot level to line up the individual course and also make them look good with their lower companions. Of course, I need to wait for the mortar of the fifth course to dry before I can sand it. Here's a sample section of the wall.

Masonry work sure is a heavy activity. My body reminds me that I'm not a twenty-something. Though, I have been learning to work smartly instead of using brute force--or what force I can muster! John has shown me the way to work within one's physical limits.

Since I've been using my mind a bit more, and we're working for no one but ourselves, free of charge; it made me think. No one in the town government has challenged us either. (The "big top" is visible from the road, and now in Google Maps.) We must be accepted. Hmm, it sounds like we need to create a secret society. We could call ourselves Independent Block Builders or Free Masons...

Mazda

I've finally received the gaskets that I needed. In fact, I've two sets, because it seemed that one dealership was going to blow me off. I ordered a set with overnight shipping from another dealer. Oh, how I don't like dealing with dealerships!

Tomorrow, I start the engine transplant. I'm going to follow the Factory Service Manual and take photos as I go along, so--barring corroded fasteners--I should be in good shape.

Site Updates

I've added seven films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Trip Page!

It's listed at the top of the main trip page. The mobile page is here. Enjoy!

"Power Cellar"

Since the cellar will house the batteries and all the electrical control devices, why not give it a cool name like Power Cellar? Well, the Power Cellar is coming along. John and I laid about half of the second and third courses. I touched up the mortar joints today and cleaned up the site.

I bought metal spacers that ensure an exact mortar joint underneath the blocks. It makes life so much easier. I highly recommend these things. They're more than worth the $80 that they cost me.

See the current state of the Power Cellar--I like that-- here. Those with keen eyes will notice two joints lined up vertically between the courses. That's a mistake. When we laid the first course of blocks we didn't do it right. Oops!

It won't matter, because we'll fill the blocks with concrete and will run rebars vertically. Once this structure is backfilled and partially covered with earth, it'll be practically invulnerable. It would probably survive a nuclear blast. Not that my small town is a target!

Mazda

I ordered the engine and related parts on Thursday. They quickly shipped it from Pennsylvania, and I picked it up on Friday. I'm waiting for a gasket to show up. The dealership is supposed to deliver it when they have it.

The engine was one of only three in the States. Mazda has ceased production of this engine. That's OK, as the body will probably be badly corroded by the time this engine fails.

I've since moved the car into Donna's garage. She has a lift, which will make the engine swap much easier. Would you know that the failing engine started, and I drove it into the bay?! I guess it heard that I was going to give it a heart transplant and rewarded me.

Unloading the engine from the Dually was not too tricky. I backed the trailer, which is drawn by the ATV, to the tailgate. Then, it was just the patient exercise of "walking" the palletized engine down and into the trailer. It went surprisingly smoothly. The only snag occurred when I accelerated a bit too quickly and toppled the engine. That was easy enough to right. Sliding it along the garage floor was a piece of cake, once I gathered momentum.

"Bailey" & Bailey Circus

The circus is in town! Well, at least, the big top has shown up. John and I decided to put up a rain shield so that we may work in anything but a downpour. It looks like a big top to us. What do you think: click here.

It works pretty well. We also started the second course of blocks. They are the first course for the bulkhead footing, since that footing is higher than the cellar's footing. Damn you, ledge! It's not all bad because there's no firmer foundation than one built on bedrock!

Today, I hammer-drilled the holes for the rebar "spikes" to integrate the block wall with the bulkhead footing. Drilling high-strength concrete is never a fun job for me or the equipment; however, I should not need to do it again for this job!

I cleaned the floor, because the rain has finally stopped. The floor isn't perfectly clean but it is cleaner. The bulkhead footing is "spiked" to the second course of blocks. Take a look here.

Since my Gamay grapevines are not waking up on the top, as they should, and the fences were ruined by the heavy snowfall; the main purpose of this cellar will be to house batteries for the photovoltaic system.

Dually

With the Mazda out of action, I've been driving the Dually. People seem to really like it. I saw it as a tool. I didn't care for how large and thirsty it is. But, you know, there's more to it than that.

The ride is fairly comfortable. Far better than the Crappage. The seats are much, much more comfortable. And it runs smoothly, almost effortlessly, as it glides down the road. Heck, at 50 mph, the engine is spinning at only 1,800 RPM!

It did take some adjustment. After all, I'm was a car driver. I thought in cc's not cubic inches. For instance, my MG originally was powered by a 67 cubic inch engine. The Dually is fast but lazy because beneath its hood resides a monstrous 454 cubic inch beast!

It'll be great to take a photo of the two vehicles side by side. But until the MG rides again, enjoy a photo of my first drive in the car by clicking here.

Two things come to mind. Wow, look at how young Mike is! It's hard to believe that he's a homeowner and living a full, adult life. And, secondly, wow, look at all the hair that I had! It's not all bad. I save on soap these days

Cleared Brush

I've caught up to where I was before this past winter. It looks much better. I've also got quite a bit of brush to burn during the winter!

Mazda

The Mazda wouldn't start. My suspicion was correct: engine compression was too low. I performed dry and wet tests and found that the piston rings or cylinder bores are leaking.

The compression of three cylinders were around 80-100 psi. (154 psi is the minimum.) The other cylinder was still good at 172 psi. Mike and I blame the 0-20 engine oil.

Mazda sold the car with that stuff, and I figured that they knew what they were doing. Nope, the energy-efficient idiots won. Elsewhere in the world, the car is shipped with normal oil. Recall that I said that I would increase viscosity as the oil pressure dropped, because the Workshop Manual says that I can use thicker oils?

So the solution: it's less expensive to repair the engine. Also, I couldn't find a new small car being offered for sale. The 2023 models are so large. I've already a vast vehicle, and don't need another one!

So either an engine overhaul ($1,800) or a new long block engine ($3,800) is necessary. I'm going to order a new engine to save me time.

It's fortunate that it quit in Donna's driveway and not on the way back from Mike's place! Also, I'm not working so it's good timing, if engine failure is ever a good thing. For this engine, I'm going to run 10-40 oil

Researching the overhaul has slowed my progress on the trip page; however, it will be forthcoming. Stay tuned!

Got Light?

While I was staying with Mike, I built a fun addition for the PV arrays. It worked just like I tested it in Arizona. The neighbors across the way love it.

I installed "under array" lights! The cool thing is that they switch on around dusk and run for two hours before switching off. (I can change the duration.) They are also powered by the sun. I did all the wiring and soldering myself because nothing like what I wanted existed. Click here for a photo or see a movie (6.4 MB) here.

Site Updates

I've added three films & one TV program to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Clearing Brush & Trees

I've cleared the new field of brush. (I will burn the piles in the winter.) I've one stubborn section of oak that remains to be cut into a section light enough for John to haul it away to his wood pile.

Some idiot hammered a bunch of nails into this section. They're deep, which reminds us that not all a$$holes are modern. The tree grew around them. That explains why the wood wasn't as prized as Dave, my tree guy hoped. Reminder: do not hammer anything into trees ever!

Otherwise, clearing brush has been time-consuming but not difficult. The heavy early spring snowstorm did make a mess. I felled three snapped trees yesterday. The toll would have been much higher except that I have been dropping dead trees for some time now, as regular readers know.

An unproportionate of dead or damaged trees have been maples. It's really a pity. Maples are such lovely trees. But they seem to reach a certain height and contract a disease here. Also, this winter has been hard on them: hemlocks took out a number of them, by collapsing under the weight of the last heavy snowfall (32 inches of wet snow).

I'm finally catching up on lot work so that I can tag standing dead trees for later felling. I think that this practice saved me a lot more loss. John remarked when I returned that he expected a lot more downed trees on my lot.

New Growth!

When confronted with such destruction, I reacted as one should: I planted new life! Even nature responded! Winter may have broken the back of several trees, but others are springing up in their stead. Ground life continues to thrive. Also, the Lady Slippers are back and in greater numbers! Take a look:


I planted Bellis in two locations on either side of the driveway in the tree stump planters. They're perennial, and I hope that they thrive there. The resident bumblebees like the American Goldfinch, the yellow-flowered perennial. See one here.

Bees

Writing of bees reminds me that the honey that I extracted from the failed hive has not fermented. I did spin the extractor too quickly and, as such, created a slight foam on the top of bottled honey. Still, the honey is good. I've learned a lot from my first extraction.

Cellar

The work on the cellar was paused by the threat of rain. We did manage to pour the bulkhead floor. It worked out well:

Mazda

The new CV axle, which I installed, is working well. It's no longer a problem. Another problem has appeared. My investigation continues. I'll keep you posted.

Site Updates

I've added five films & one TV program to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Return Trip

I took the scenic route back to New Hampshire and will document it in a trip page soon! The Mazda's oil pressure never dropped below 21 psi.

Unfortunately, a CV axle that the mechanic replaced 10K miles ago developed a nasty vibration. I have Genuine Mazda replacements on order. Mike and I replaced the other side with an O'Reillys axle, so I figure that it will fail in a few thousand miles. I want to be ready to swap it as soon as it vibrates.

Also, when I entered Missouri the magnetically-coupled clutch for the A/C compressor failed. It did last 177K miles. I'll see if I can replace just it with a Mazda part later this summer. I still need to replace the compressor on the Dually.

Bees

Unfortunately, the bee colony did not survive the winter. A lot of colonies were lost this past winter. Donna's niece lost all four of her colonies!

The failure did leave me with seven frames of capped honey. They allowed me to learn how to extract honey from frames. It's a sticky job, and the spin extractor is not well designed. It cut me several times while cleaning it! The covers had a tendency to fall into the drum. Once I got used to it, it works well. Straining out the propolis and wax (and dead bees) took several hours.

I have ten bottles of at least 2 lbs capacity. I'm watching them for now, as there may be sugar mixed in with the honey. If so, I believe that the sugar will ferment and contaminate the honey in the jar.

Here are some shots:

New Field!

Dave dropped about a dozen 100+-year-old oak trees before I returned. Once I stack the brush and burn it this winter, I'll have a field about 60 feet in diameter. I have a persimmon seedling that I'll plant in the field with some other plants and maybe another tree or two. Stay tuned!

Here are some shots before I started clearing up:

Hops Ladder

I placed the hops ladder higher up the bull pine. Also, I secured it better and with bungie cords. The heavy snowfall did not knock it down, though. Take a look here. It looks like this last year.

Thoughts

I don't know why we're such a problem to this planet. It could shrug by allowing Yellowstone to erupt, and we'd be gone. Maybe the planet enjoys our large vehicles burning gasoline and diesel, because it ends the lingering ice age?

It's great to be back home. A lot of work but worth it!

Site Updates

I've added six films & one TV program to the GRS database. Enjoy!

New Trip Page!

Life is so easy, if not friendly, in central Arizona that we've accomplished yet another day trip! It marks an important and well-earned triumph for Mike. It's listed at the top of the main trip page. The mobile page is here. Enjoy!

Heading Back East Soon

I'll be hitting road again soon. While I regret leaving Mike, I know that he will continue living the good life that we experienced this winter. I won't ever forget the good times!

However, I need to be back on-site to address all the challenges that I've accepted. I'm very fortunate that I have a kind neighbor who questions and asks to do tasks for me in my absence.

Something as removing flower buds from my young fruit trees is impossible for me, despite being trivial. But James will kindly do the job for me. I guess it's as trivial as clearing his driveway of snow while he's at work. To me, it's just something that neighbors do. That's why James is so great: he thinks like me!

With James monitoring my lot, I know that I can resume my trip. It will be part two following Part One! It promises to be awesome. I'll traverse States that I have never seen. I'll be able to show why America is the pinnacle of the Western Civilization! Stay tuned!

New Trip Page!

I've uploaded a new trip page. It's listed at the top of the main trip page. The mobile page is here. Enjoy!

Day Trip: Hassayampa River to Vulture Mine Road

Mike wanted to show me the Hassayampa River near Morristown. We followed Gate Road to where it runs beside the river. Since the river is a popular four-wheeling spot, the authorities had roped off the usual entrance with red flags. We drove around them as others had done before us.

The river was higher than Mike recalled, which comfirms my suspicion that this winter was wetter than usual for the area. It's difficult to determine the depth of the river from the edge. So Mike waded in... with the Jeep. The water looks to be about a foot deep, which is considerably more than a trace of water with mud!

On the other side is a gate that leads into the OHV area. At first we thought that the gate was locked. Fortunately, the new padlock was put there to provide the illusion of being secured. Take a look.

Arizona Fish & Game has done an excellent job labeling the trails. We followed 9054 through the area. While not a difficult drive, it was a pretty one. The wildflowers were in full bloom. See them here, here, & here.

We saw forests, which may sound odd for desert. See if you agree by clicking here, & here.

Then, we came across something very unusual. Not to sound morbid; however, this collapsed saguaro looks like a man who was shot in the head while trying to surrender. Hmm, the work of a Mexican cartel?

On the other side of a "private" gate, we found a bunch of dirt roads laid out in a grid. It's as if a land developer intented to build houses but stopped before sealing the roads. A number of people lived in camps along these roads. One property owner was especially direct with his message. See it here.

The dirt road led us to Vulture Mine Road near Vulture City. This ghost town rapidly grew around the profitable gold mine.

Here's a warning from one of the AZ F&G route signs. Also, before we entered Wickenburg, we passed this impressive antenna.

Site Updates

I've added one film & one TV program to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Aston Martin Vantage

Having rented the magnificent Audi R8, we decided to try another car in the same class from Enterprise's Exotics Collection. We both expected the Aston Martin Vantage to be a touch slower and much more luxurious than the R8. Boy, were we wrong!

The cardboard-grey Vantage coupé looks the part. The sweeping body and overly-styled wheels immediately draw one's attention. That is the gist of the Vantage. Stylish details thrown together on a car. And I mean "a car", as this vehicle is not meant to be driven. The first, and really only, purpose of this vehicle is to be a garage queen. Aston Martin reinforces this opinion by supplying the car with a battery tender!

With this concept in mind, I'll continue to describe the style and then report the function because the Vantage is definitely an example of style before function. I did like the taillamps. They're clever and perhaps the best part of the vehicle! You'll probably notice that the trunk lid is popped in that photo. That's because it's not easy to close anything on the car except the fuel filler flap!

After one pushes the end of the flush door handle--don't ask which end because I don't care to remember!--to present a stalk to pull open the door, the door swings up slightly to avoid curbs. Neat but that's something you design after you make the door close! We found it better to slam doors to ensure closure.

The interior is not a nice place to be. The seats may be well-adorned with the two words that are the only reason to buy this car, but they are really thin pieces of plywood covered in rather poor-quality leather. They have even less padding than R8 seats, which are plenty firm. Imagine sitting in an economy car seat that has been used by a grossly obese individual for one-hundred thousand miles. Aston Martin just saved us the time by skipping the padding!

The center console looks like an accountant designed it. Nothing is where you would expect it, so it's good that they labeled everything. The prime real estate below the start button is empty in this model. We've seen videos where there is something there. The only good thing about this mess of buttons is the dual-zone climate control system. It works well, despite being slow to respond to input from the occupants. It seemed to me that the car has to ensure that the committee agrees with your decision to turn up the fan. The engine also seems under control of the committee.

The styling starts to fail when one looks at that the front end. It has the massive grille in keeping with the modern "way", which Randy remarked about when we attended the Buffalo Auto Show. But that's really the best part of the frontal view. The absolutely massive hood reminds me of the BMW Z-slug--that's a Z4--because the headlamps are relatively small. As Mike reminded me, the hood needs to house the V12. So why not do the true English thing and only offer the V12, instead of the twin-turbocharged V8?

I've struggled long enough to write kind words about this thing. It's time to be honest. The Vantage rides worse than a certain lifted Jeep with massive tires. I am completely serious. Riding in the Vantage is like being in a rollercoaster that's gone off the tracks. If you run over pebbles, you hear them bouncing off the undercarriage. If you manage to find a rough patch of road in central Arizona, then the car rattles and bounces. There were even a couple of interior rattles that were exceptionally annoying to the passenger!

Full-throttle starts are particularly unnerving as a passenger. It felt like the car could veer off at any moment and find that one tree that's large enough to kill us! It reminded me of the stories that I heard of '80s supercars. However, that was 40 years ago...

There was also a periodic misfire, and Mike reported a misfire when he started the engine the next morning. It occurred despite storing the car in a garage in greater Phoenix in late March. That reminds me of the stickshift 2012 Dodge Dart that bucked and stumbled when I test drove it. It is not 1983 where that type of performance was acceptable!

The engine really was the best part of the drivetrain. Maybe that's because it is produced by AMG? The control system of the transmission was definitely demented. It tried to combat the very noticable turbo lag by cutting the delivery of power. Yeah, that's a safe thing to do

Oh, and I can't forget to report that the Vantage intentionally backfires when one lets off the throttle. Fortunately, it only happens in track mode but why would a fast luxury car do such a thing? It seems to me to be a very un-British behavior.

Other problems with the car... The driver's seat can be easily pushed back. That's a safety "feature" because who knows if a spear is loaded into the massive hub of the steering wheel instead of an airbag! Also, there's no glove box. I think the accountants had a say in abolishing this very useful compartment.

Have I reported that the ride is terrible? Being dragged by a horse through a forest would be more pleasant. The fact that the car didn't track straight bothered us. Both of our cars are easier to drive. Driving the Vantage was like driving a beat-up pick-up truck with a huge engine.

I rode shotgun a lot in this car because I really didn't like driving it. I wonder if it had been crashed at one point. That would explain why the tire-pressure monitoring system reported that both front tires were low after only 50 miles of driving!

Also, various switches didn't work well. The trunk release button had to be mashed to operate. Everything seemed to be in a state of decay. I don't know about you, but I would never tolerate so many faults from a vehicle built in 2022 with a bit more than four thousand miles on the odometer.

There are some up sides. We enjoyed cool views of Roosevelt Lake. We also learned that when one shells out $130,000 or more for this vehicle, the best part is this. Oh, and also we have the privilege to comment that "my car rides better than a Vantage". In fact, all of our cars do almost everything better than a "Crappage"!

Wet

This winter seems wetter than usual for greater Phoenix. It's nothing like the rain that California has been experiencing, thankfully! I wonder if the extra rain will slow the declining water level in Lake Mead? I'm pretty sure it won't reverse it!

Site Updates

I added some "mouseovers" & standardized the look of the pages in the GRS database a little more. These are just details, but they add pleasant touches.

Additionally, I've added three films & one TV program, including a new favorite. Enjoy!

Site Updates

I've added five films to the GRS database.

Also, I added a new day trip to the Trips Page.

Enjoy!

Day Trip!

I added a day trip to the Trips Page. Enjoy!

Day Trips & Mazda

Mike and I have some day trips planned for the near future. I'll post photos as we make the trips!

The few miles that I've put on the Mazda since the installation of the oil pressure gauge suggest that the heavier grade oil solved the pressure problem. The lowest pressure that I have seen is 17 psi. The ultimate test will be when I return home with a loaded car!

In the Spring

I've completed a DIY improvement that'll make my lot even more distinctive. I'll post photos and maybe a video once I install it. Stay tuned!

Site Updates

I've added three films & one TV program to the GRS database. This set includes a new favorite. Enjoy!

Rain In the Desert

It has been cloudy and raining in the Valley of the Sun. Surprised? (Pardon the pun!) Most deserts receive rain. It's just not as often as we are accustomed! The rains have brought back a lot of green. That coupled with the very blue sky sets off the browns and yellows in a rather beautiful way. One just needs to ignore the angry and impatient locals honking at one another!

Films

I haven't been watching as many films as usual. Mike and I have been re-watching the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It's a great show!

Cellar

I'll resume my reviews in the spring when I return to finish building my cellar. Speaking of it, I have designed a reinforced concrete roof. The beauty of such a roof is that it is long-lasting and may be covered with soil. I even designed it so a vehicle could drive on it. Not that I would do so!

Under Pressure?

The Mazda developed a fault during my trip. The oil pressure light would illuminate when I stopped. The light would go out if I revved the engine to 1,500 RPM or so. I determined that the oil thinned such that the pressure dropped below a certain value, triggering the "idiot" light. Extended driving on the Interstate obviously would thin the oil the most, which is what I did to expedite my journey west. Hence the problem.

My solution wasn't brilliant, but it worked. Keep the engine speed above 1,500 RPM. On the highway, that is simple to do. In the traffic through the cities, I had to be creative with choice of gear.

When I stopped for the night, it was the most difficult. I had to keep up the engine speed and search for a motel in the darkness after thirteen hours of driving. It paid off because the engine is no worse for the wear, and I reached my destination.

Why is the light coming on now and not before now? It's rather simple. Something in the engine oiling system is wearing. The gaps are larger than spec., and the oil pump cannot maintain pressure with the thickness of oil. The most logical culprit is the main crankshaft bearings, since they consume the most oil.

Mike and I have since increased the oil viscosity from 0-20 to a more reasonable 5-30. The Factory Service Manual states that the oil grade should be anywhere between 5-30 and 20-50, depending on where you live. 0-20 is relegated only to North America.

A change in viscosity--0-20 to 5-30--will increase the thickness of the static oil film, which will reduce the "gap". Practically, I'll increase the viscosity as the engine ages. I can go to 20-50 without violating the Mazda specification.

Wouldn't it be fun to start the engine with 20-50 on a -10 degree morning? It's a good thing that I currently work from home! Of course, this engine is computer-controlled and fuel-injected.

With 173K on the odometer, I figured that I needed another solution that would provide immediate results. Why not install an oil pressure gauge? That's exactly what we did!

Once I located a red LED gauge, the fun began. Where should we fit it? Attach it to the A-pillar and look like the poor-child in The Fast and Furious? Mount it on top of the dashboard? That's OK on an angular dashboard. Not so attractive on a CAD-shaped dash. What about in the face of the dash? Neither of us want to drill into a modern dashboard.

The best placement was in a square pocket in the center console. I use it only to collect coins, as nothing else seems to fit there. It's also conveniently located adjacent to the central locking door switch, with plenty of clearance underneath.

Speaking of switches, wouldn't it be great to have the capability to turn off the gauge when it's not wanted? Well, I replaced the radio last year. (The original unit had packed up.) The replacement meant that I had to abandon the remote 1/8" AUX jack. It resided behind a cover that is also located in the center console. Guess what we did? Or you can just take a look:

It looks pretty good in the light or darkness. Thanks, Mike, for the lighted switch! (It is only illuminated when switched "on".) The gauge isn't obvious when the car is parked. In fact, it looks like some funky, plastic item that's simply sitting in the center console.