9.11.2026

Hard to believe it's been 25 years.  It's always a day to remember the lives lost, the heroes who stepped forward, and the families forever changed.  

Today was more of an administrative day around here.  I had post office and errand duties this morning while Jim did computer work.  In the afternoon, he went to check on the engine.  He got to see the head and said it looks great.  However, the guy broke a rod bolt and had to order them.  Hopefully they'll come in soon and he can get it finished.  After that, Jim stopped at the insurance agent to go over a few things before heading home and hopping on the elliptical.

High 72.6/Low 53.7

 

9.10.2026

Back in the auto bay, Jim attached the throw-out bearing in the transmission...

Showing me how it works...

Continuing to clean parts...

Here's a before picture...

And an after - amazing!

Cleaned part ready for painting...

Painting more pieces...

Lots of pieces drying...

Jim used a different blasting material - this is just cleaned, not painted.  Amazing...

Jim cut grass after finishing up, and then we headed to The Local for dinner tonight.  I may have mentioned that we are in our sourdough era here, and I make multiple loaves a week.  It was just happenstance that the burger special tonight was grilled cheese burger on sourdough - Jim was in heaven!

High 77.7/Low 64.7

 

9.9.2026

Jim and I spent all morning trying to work things out with doctors for next steps to see if his vision can be improved after his cataract surgery.  Lots and lots of phone calls, but I think we have a plan going forward and he's scheduled for another procedure next week.

In the afternoon, Jim continued to clean up engine parts...

Where he can, he is putting things together, like this clutch fork boot on the side of the transmission...

High 70/Low 57.6 - rain in PM

9.8.2026

Anyone who knows us, knows that Star Trek was a quasi-religion in our house when the boys were growing up.  We've watched the originals and movies over and over, and watched all the spin-offs.  Jim and I are currently watching Strange New Worlds.  Hard to believe the first Star Trek episode aired 60 years ago today - Jim watched it when it aired!

Back on this planet, Jim continued working on cleaning parts.  He switched to walnut shells for this piece...

It really does a nice job getting all the rust off...

A coat of paint on his latest cleaned pieces...

Jim said this piece that covers some cables was completely black.  I told him we needed a before picture!  But afterwards it looked like new...

High 75.5/Low 54

9.7.2026

Hope everyone had a nice, long Labor Day weekend!

Jim worked on attaching his Soda Master to the side of the blasting cabinet.  He figured out where he wanted it and used his step bit to drill a hole for the tube and drummed the first small attachment hole as well...

Then he could put the attachment up and mark the other attachment holes...

Punching the location...

Drilling...

Putting it in place...

Attachment in place, everything put back in its right location.  He tried it out on a piece of tubing at it worked great.  The soda cleans without etching the metal.

He had to do more grass cutting at the end of the day.

High 74.1/Low 53.3

9.6.2026

Jim opening up and organizing new parts...

Jim ordered this add-on for his blasting cabinet - it holds baking soda type material in a separate container.  That material is not reusable because it's so fine.  Jim will have to attach this to the side of the cabinet...

Jim wanted to degrease the engine compartment on the 4Runner, so he came up with a way to move the car in and out of the garage with the help of the Bobcat.  He put the trailer hitch on the 4Runner, and attached a towing strap...

I had to sit in the 4Runner while Jim pulled it out - success!

This was the compartment before...

Degreaser sprayed on...

Power spraying it off...

Pictures don't do it justice, but greasy water came out...

He did two rounds of cleaning - and it looks so much better!

Now we had to get the car back in the garage.  Jim put this board on the front of the Bobcat so that it would connect with the trailer hitch and he wouldn't make any contact with the actual car...

All back in place!

Jim sprayed all the greasy run off from the driveway and then got things put away before hitting the treadmill.

9.5 - High 72.1/Low 58.5
9.6 - High 70.9/Low 58.1

9.4.2026

Another big fire school mailing done - Jim helped do the schlepping up and down and into my car, and even went with me to the post office to help carry them all in!  (Best husband ever!)

Then he headed to the engine shop with the new pistons and miscellaneous parts so they can hopefully get the block together.  When he got home, he had the newly-cleaned and painted cylinder heads, with new valves and seals...  

Jim had ordered some high heat paint and painted this exhaust hanger with it after getting it all cleaned in the blasting cabinet...

He had cleaned the bell housing for the transmission, but decided to give it a coat of paint too.  Looks very cool...

 

High 77.7/Low 60.5