If she didn't still owe me 90% of what she agreed to pay me for the car, maybe I would.


But since she does, she gets bare fibreglass.

Drove the Vic from my apartment all the way to Worcester yesterday to take my brother to the DMV to register his new (to him) truck. He had an appointment for 7pm (per the regs the DMV put up requiring you to set up an online appt.) but there was a sign on the door when we got there saying they had closed at 5pm due to "unforseen events." Drove all the way back. Actually pretty ticked at them because I'm now a taxi service for him until he can register the truck.

More Slushbox Follies: re-torqued the valve body. Seems to have fixed it, maybe. I'll know for sure when it gets cool (below 50F). More info in my AOD thread, for them that's interested.

Drove it until the poverty light came on, then paid $48.55 for my transgression...

nice TC!

Decided on a color for my 96 Vic (painting next year).... Eastwood paint Catalina Green Metallic.

I love metallic greens. I've had 3 cars that were some shade of metallic green, my '96 and '98 GMQs and a '98 Malibu. I think the reason I like it is because it shows the shape of a car like a red or blue, but you do not see green anywhere near as often.

as far as my Panther goes: I drove mine around on some errands with the AC on because its 85*, sunny, and humid. First time I've actually driven it since swapping the compressor clutch hub yesterday. It seems like the AC isn't cycling on and off as much as it was, but that might just be the temperature, or perhaps its because the radiator fan is actually working on BOTH speeds since I swapped the fan connector the other day. I'm not convinced low speed was working at all with the melted connector, and high speed was intermittent. Or maybe the failed clutch hub was somehow slipping. IDK. Guess I'll have to pay more attention to it as time goes on.

That color sample looks like a pre-2005 power window switch...

FWIW: I once owned a 1995 Sable Wagon that color: "Deep Jewel Green." The worst car I ever owned... but not because of the color.

Loaded my bike in the trunk, drove to Trans Shop #2 and rode home. I hope I'm doing this for the last time. 3/36 warranty is a good sign but time will tell.

Dropped off the 3.55 rear end to get sandblasted.

Went to Ace Hardware for bolts for another window regulator. Back drivers side went out. Picked up 7mm inch and a half long bolts and a handful of washers. Will install this tomorrow since the weather will be much nicer than it has been. Hate the dang rivets, dremel tool will be my savior.

Snapped some cool pics last night.



Ripped a nice brake stand and left some 11s when I left the lot.

Changed the oil/filter and replaced the battery.

Drove it to the junkyard, they had a 96 similar to mine. Got a mirror for it, also pulled a fender while I was at it. Also got a couple striker bolts off a '92 (was sad to see that there, it was in good shape. The '96s were trashed). Saw an 02-ish GMQ with premium audio, and pulled the plug for the CD changer that I needed, and then just grabbed the changer as well. Good thing I did- I got the wiring temporarily in place today, the one I had is shot but the "new" one works.

I'll pull the old one apart and see if there's a belt or something, otherwise it'll go back for a credit. (yard has a 30-day warranty on parts)

Drove the Town Car a mile or 2. I had to move it to clean up along the fence line behind where it sits. It runs great, still, and didn't drive too bad despite having 3 tires low on air and a compact spare on the back. Knocked the rust off the rotors and got it up to temperature at least. I'm pretty sure I killed every mosquito in the area when I floored it, it has bad valve seals, no cats, and its done nothing but idle for awhile, so it put out a nice little cloud when I actually drove it.

It does highlight something though. As much as I've tried, the Town Car still feels much more responsive than the '98. And that's despite it being largely reverted to stock as I've borrowed most of the "good stuff" for the '98. I have no idea what the difference is, they have the same engine/trans, weigh about the same if you discount what has rusted off of the Townie, but the '98 still feels sluggish off the line in comparison. No question the '98 has more power, but its got a nasty hesitation compared to the '97. Its not bad, and I doubt anyone would even notice it unless they had just driven the '97. I remember the '97 was more responsive than my '96 was too, so maybe its just that the car is special, IDK.