9.2.2026

This afternoon, Jim headed back to the engine shop.  He had enough new parts to drop off so they can finish the head work.  

He brought home more newly-cleaned and painted parts - the housing for the intake manifolds...

The flywheel...

High 65.1/Low 61.7 - spotty showers

9.1.2026

Yikes - how is it September?  Although it felt a bit like September today.  It pretty much rained all day and the highs were only in the 60s.  Much better than the 90s we see are happening in Ohio!  

One of the seals that Jim ordered is not correct - he spent over 1-1/2 between online, AI bots, and tech support trying to get that situation resolved.

Jim continues to work on cleaning parts - here he's cleaning the oil dipstick tube...

More new parts...gasket set and seals...

Starting to put some of the seals and gaskets in place...

New oil pump...

High 66.7/Low 64.4 - rainy

8.31.2026

More parts are coming in - main bearings, freeze plugs and transmission seals... 

Jim is actually starting to put things together rather than tear them apart!  A new bearing and seal on the front of the transmission - torquing the screws...

High 76/Low 56.8

8.30.2026

After lunch on Saturday, Jim headed to do a craigslist sale.  This was a stainless steel sink we bought at the Habitat ReStore to use in the kitchen to get occupancy and while Jim made my beautiful kitchen!  The guy who bought it was using it for the same reason.  It's always nice to pass things along that others can use.

More new parts arriving - clutch parts and timing belt...

We lost internet again while we were at church and it didn't come back on until late in the evening.  Thankfully, Jim always has backup DVDs for us to watch!

Today, Jim worked in the auto bay before deciding that he needed to cut the grass and trim again...

More nature pics - the fawn was wandering around the property...

Then she was joined by mama...

8.29 - High 74.7/Low 51.4
8.30 - High 74.7/Low 56.6

8.28.2026

Our appointment to give blood yesterday was 5:30.  Probably around 6:00, a big storm blew through and there was torrential rain.  Once we were finished, it was just very light rain.  We went to The Local and all was fine.  On our way home, the road to get to our house was closed at two different spots, so we had to detour around.  Besides some rutting of the driveway, thankfully all was fine at our house.  We didn't even lose power, although our internet just now came on after being off for over 24 hours.  I had an early morning appointment for my mammogram/ultrasound and saw lots of damage on my way into Saratoga.  Just this afternoon, it was confirmed that two tornados, an F1 and F0, hit the town next to us.  Tornados here are extremely rare and they don't even have tornado sirens like we are used to in Ohio.

Jim continues to do parts clean up.  He took the bearing and seal housing off the front of the transmission...

After his clean up...

He cleaned up these pulleys and battery hold down in the blasting cabinet, then painted them...

High 77.3/Low 61.9

8.27.2026

 It's been a few busy days, but nothing that needed a picture.  On Tuesday, Jim was able to get the grass mowed, but as soon as he got changed to do trimming, some rain moved in.

Yesterday, Jim went to the engine shop in the afternoon to check on progress.  He spent a while there - the guy said things were in really good shape, and he thought the cylinders might not even need boring.  But he called Jim later in the afternoon and said that they are just a bit out of round at the top, so they will have to bore.

Now Jim is knee deep in trying to order parts.  He could order a rebuild kit, but he would like better quality on some of the parts so he's trying to work all those issues out.  He decided to go back to the engine shop this afternoon to just confirm some specifications.  While he was there, the guy was done with some of his parts - check out the newly-cleaned and painted valve covers and intake manifold....

We have an appointment early this evening to donate blood - this is the first time that Jim will be eligible to donate after his cancer diagnosis.  We're going to go to The Local afterwards.

8.25 - High 72.5/Low 59.9
8.26 - High 75.4/Low 55
8.27 - High 72.4/Low 57.8

8.24.2026

Jim wheeled the transmission outside today and gave it a good cleaning to get the grease off...

Once it was cleaned and dried in the sun for a bit, Jim used his special tool to take off the seal.  Just another part he has to replace...

Jim was an angel and pulled the weeds in the rocks at the side of the pole barn lean to - what a huge difference!  Spraying a little weed killer around the edges...

High 72/Low 53.3