8.12.2026

This just made me laugh - cheers to all of my fellow middle kids out there!

We were lucky to be able to see the eclipse today.  Jim brought out his welding helmet so we could see it safely.  At first, there was a little bit of cloud cover, but it cleared out and we were able to see the sun with what looked like a bite out of the top!

Jim put the first coat of polyurethane on my shelf today - it looks so pretty...

Jim went to talk to the engine shop in Saratoga this afternoon and spent time with them going over everything he needs done.  He has a price list he's going to go over, but he was happy with the conversation and the people he talked with.  Taking the block to Saratoga will be much easier than taking it to Albany.

High 80.5/Low 59.8

8.11.2026

Jim's really tearing the engine apart now.  He has to take everything off down to just the metal block that he will take to the engine shop.

He has this breakout that helps, but he's trying hard to stay real organized and put the screws in plastic bags marked with their location.  

Oil pan off - with his engine stand, he can rotate the block so he's now working on the underside...

There are boxes of parts everywhere but Jim is very organized.  This is the underside that he just took off...

It's all stripped!  Our insurance guy gave us the name of an engine shop in Saratoga, so Jim's been compiling a list of everything he wants done.  He plans on going there this week to check them out and see if it's something they can do.  Otherwise, he's already talked with the shop in Albany.

This is the left side head - Jim is taking out all the hardware...

High 80.5/Low 65.9

8.10.2026

Jim started the day at the doctor's office - a checkup with the orthopedic doctor.  This is the doctor that fixed his torn meniscus about 12 years ago.  All great news - X-rays show no issues, the doctor was happy that Jim stopped running and is doing the elliptical, and even said he looked much younger than his age.  He was dismissed from care!

This afternoon, he spent time cleaning up and organizing and then he did more grass cutting and trimming to keep up with the yard.

High 80.3/Low 57.8

8.9.2026

 We got to see a deer family this morning - mom and baby...

Dad walked out of the shot but he was close by...

Jim finished putting together the parts washer today...

All done!

Jim had to do some outside work to get caught up - he brought the Bobcat out to take all the packaging from the parts washer down to the trash, and then back dragged the driveway.  Then he had to do grass mowing after we finally got some rain and then sunshine.

High 81.5/Low 67.8

8.8.2026

 Jim did some sanding of my new shelf today...

Since it is a short day, Jim didn't want to get involved in the engine work, so instead he unpacked his new part washer.  The inside of the box was kind of destroyed, so he wanted to make sure that all the parts and pieces were there...

He started doing some assembling...

Time for church!

High 82.5/Low 68.1

8.7.2026

Back in the auto bay, Jim continues to take the engine apart...

First cylinder head off!  

You can now see the piston cylinders...

Second cylinder head off!

Jim's part washer came in today - dragging it into the auto bay at the end of the day.  I'm sure this will get lots of use soon.

High 85.2/Low 69

 

8.6.2026

Jim did a test fit on my new shelf today - it was perfect!

Then it was back down to the auto bay to start tearing apart the engine.  You can see cables, wires and hoses are loose...

Front of the engine is off!  Jim has found some evidence of leftover mice nests from when the car sat outside when we were building.  You can see it below if you look close (not that you want to)...

No surprise - this was just part of what we found after the mice wintered in the 4Runner while we were building and it sat outside.  Jim stripped carpet out and we used all kinds of things to get rid of the smell.

Parts and pieces are surrounding Jim now...

Jim got the wiring harness off - yikes!

Half of the intake manifold and valve cover...

A peek inside the engine...

Look at the build up inside - Jim said he's surprised it ran!

Jim got the exhaust manifolds off - pictures to come!

High 86.2/Low 64.1