"; ## $support_count = $attribute + 1; ## # print "$support_count
"; ## } ## ## $conn = mysql_connect ("localhost","hullnumb_ds","lst1179") ## or die("Err:Conn"); ## $rs = mysql_select_db("hullnumb_hn", $conn) ## or die("Err:DB"); ## ## $result = mysql_query ("update support_count set serial = '$support_count'", $conn); ?> HullNumber.com - Operation: Holiday Hijinks 2009

HullNumber.com - Operation: Holiday Hijinks 2009

One of the the blessings bequeathed upon me has been the 1995 Chevy Lumina I inherited from my Grandfather, Taylor Sowers. Over the past seven years I have racked up 111,000 miles in his car, while rollin at 5 under the speed limit with my turn signal on. On December 9 the low coolant light came on and I filled the coolant expansion reservoir. On December 10 the low coolant light came back on. When I checked the oil I found it 2" above the full mark on the dipstick and the oil had the consistency of a chocolate milk shake. Diagnosis: Blown Head Gasket! My plan had been to drive Gramp's Lumina for two more winters and then buy a new 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, manufactured at GM Lordstown, about 15 miles from my house...INSTEAD... Gramp's car has a communicating fistula (medical term) between cooling and lubricating systems and ... I started GRINDING MY MENTAL GEARS!!!

	Gramp's car at its prime. 1995 Chevrolet Lumina, Base Model with 3.1L V-6.	Click to Enlarge
	My Lumina died on a Thursday evening. The next Friday, Saturday and Sunday were my working weekend. I rented a 2009 Ford Fusion. A very nice, $25,000 car.	Click to Enlarge
	While working the weekend I figured out I could borrow my Dad's truck from my brother in law and gain some breathing room to look for another car. My Dad died in 2001 and my sister and brother in law had his truck since then. It was rough in 2001 and probably had not been driven more that 500 miles per year since then. The 1993 F-150 was used for occasional hauling. I borrowed it, topped off all the fluids, put air in the tires, drove it to work for the first time on Tuesday Dec. 15th. When I came out of work that day, I had a flat on the right rear. Those lug nuts were run down with a pneumatic wrench in the late 1990s ... I blew a blood vessel in my right eye loosening them.	Click to Enlarge
	With no spare on the truck I borrowed grifriend's 2003 Hyundai Elantra for work the next day. The Hyundai was the fourth car I drove to work in seven days. This was getting a little tiring! Over the next couple of days I got a spare for the F-150, looked at used car ads, looked at new Hondas, Toyota, Chevys and Fords. Nothing was looking good to me. I had a couple talks with Jim 4Jacks, used car surgeon. He said it was a high probability that the Lumina's problem was a blown intake manifold gasket, not blown head gaskets. Google-ing yields that blown head gaskets repair at $700-$900 ... $150 or so in parts, the rest in labor.	Click to Enlarge
	Logic tells me it cost nothing to take the Lumina apart. In the spirit of the Enginemen on my US Navy Ship, Chief Abe Young, Charlie Nail, Mark Kling, Larry Kemple... I opened the hood..	Click to Enlarge
	I found an intact 3.1 Liter Fuel Injected V-6 with automatic transmission.	Click to Enlarge
	Eight hours later... the beast's flawed heart has been opened...	Click to Enlarge
	The work on the prostrate Lumina continued for 2-4 hour periods over a weeks time. Nearly every day a small (5'0" - 115#) Christmas Spirit would appear at the operating room door to cheer me.	Click to Enlarge
	Some days the little Christmas Spirit would bring a bit of warmth to the frigid operating room.	Click to Enlarge
	The Lumina's problem was a leaking gasket at the cooling water tunnel pointed at by the arrow. The cooling system, at approximately 15 psi, shot a fine mist of anti-freeze through a pin hole sized leak in the gasket. The anti-freeze mist shot into the Vee between the cylinder banks and drained into the crankcase.	Click to Enlarge
	New gasket installed. Push rods in place, with rocker arms yet to be torqued down. Manifold gaskets and valve cover gaskets cost approx. $120.	Click to Enlarge
	Putting everything back together was fairly easy, except... I could not find where the lead I am pointing at went!! My sisters's guy, Bob H., gave me the answer ... the other connection fell behind the engine and I just had to fish it out from the space between the engine and firewall.	Click to Enlarge
	It Lives! An ancient F-150 looks on approvingly. Time for a test drive....	Click to Enlarge
	I accepted the congratulations of Robie, Doones and Joe at Buffalo Wild wings.	Click to Enlarge
	As the word spread that my car was running again, great happiness was felt, as evidenced by the photo of myself, Frankie, Dee, Willie, Mike and Noodles .	Click to Enlarge
	Like a flash, the word spread through downtown Youngstown, Ohio that my Lumina was back! At the Downtown Draught House many cheers were led in my honor by Kelly the Bartender and Zach, the Wing Master. I was very deeply touched, after all, Zach is the most revered chicken wing chef in North East Ohio!!.	Click to Enlarge
	The news of my great mechanical sucess spread to the North, South, East and West sides of Youngstown. I was summonded to the Royal Oaks on the East Side for a very high honor. There Randy, Louie and Millie had assembled....	Click to Enlarge
	I was presented with a very large can of Labatt's Blue! (left, lower in photo) ... also with a small glass of foul liquid that I was told was called NOSTROVIA!	Click to Enlarge
	I have much to be thankful for this Christmas and as I look forward to 2010. My grandfather and father, even though gone, still support me. My sisters and their guys support me. A tiny Christmas Spirit drops in on me 365 days per year. I am blessed with good friends and a rewarding job. Shipmate, I hope you and yours enjoy the best of luck and health in 2010! Dave