AbsolutePickens (dot) com

I got my eBay money today… rock…

So… I spent some quality one-on-one time with the K5 this weekend. I got it running better but not great. I managed to alleviate some of the lean-spot so that it’s more driveable. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching, reading, discussing, and otherwise thinking about the problems I’m having.

One thing is now clear…I bought the wrong engine. Yep… It’s not the engine really, just the cam. Unfortunately, the cam is the brains of the engine. It’s responsible for deciding at what speeds the engine makes its power and how much. The cam that came in that engine just isn’t right for a big heavy truck. It’s much more suited to something smaller and lighter, like say a vintage Corvette. Anything but a big, heavy truck.

So, I’ll swap the cam, right? Easier said than done. To do so, I’ll need to pull off the grill, radiator and fan, then the front of the engine including the water pump (probably) belts, pulleys, THEN I can remove the carb, intake manifold, heads (after removing the valve covers and unbolting the exhaust) so that I can remove the cam.

Yeah…it’s gonna be a bitch. But what hasn’t been a bitch so far?? Not a lot.

But at least I know where I’m headed with this thing…

I picked up the K5 yesterday. For such a joyious occasion, it was quite traumatic.

First of all, I haven’t driven it since 12.28.2005. Everything about it was foreign, from the angle of the non-adjustable seats, to the steering, to the suspension and handling characteristics…all of it.

Not to mention that it runs like Hell. The change I made to the carburetor before the fire DID indeed lean out the fuel/air mixture some. But it’s too lean right off idle. Right in that place where you hold the accelerator to maintain speed or take off from a stand-still, it’s lean. Very lean. So lean, it almost dies. So driving involves “idle, acccelerate, repeat”. I must look like a complete jackass driving, because I basically have to gun it to get moving. Going down the road I gotta accelerate, then let off. If I try to just hold it and maintain a constant speed, it shudders and sputters and acts like it’s running out of gas (because from the engine’s perspective, it is).

Nevertheless, I’m driving again. I must’ve gotten bigger balls while sleeping because I woke up and drove myself to work this morning–with no fear I might add. I reaquainted myself with the “feel” of the truck and got a lot more comfortable. I have a solution in mind for tuning the engine better, but it involves new springs in the carb.

Which leads me to another problem…Money.

As stated previously, my bill at Mr. Transmission jumped from an estimated $750 to around $1500 when they discovered that the existing transmission would need to be replaced, and not rebuilt. That basically cleaned out my account. My girlfriend (G) and I had a misunderstanding about our, and specifically her, financial situation. I was under the impression that she had more in her bank account that she actually did. Well…there’s no money. I have $68 in my account. We get paid on the 15th (it’s currently the 7th).

Hmm…

Quick thinking on part led me to put up a couple of auctions on eBay to raise some quick funds. I have a couple of extra parts for the Blackhawk that I’m not using. I bought them way under the market value, so if they sell I should profit. The problem is, the auction has another couple of days to go, and even if they sold right this instant, it’d take a couple of business days for the money to go from Paypal to my bank account. I *really* wish I’d gotten that Paypal debit card.

I haven’t been this bad off financially since like…1998 or something. Actually, twice since then, something has happened. Usually due to a miscalculation. But it’s been well over a year since that happened, and I’ve been a lot better about managing my money.

My good friend Donald here at work wants to buy the Blackhawk. I was originally offering it up to him for $250, but dropped the price to $200 to sweeten the deal and hopefully get the cash quicker. We’re tentatively scheduled to make the transaction today. If that happens, my life will be considerably easier. The Blackhawk’s spare parts on eBay should be sold in 2 days, and the money should hold me through the weekend and into early next week in time for the eBay money to come in.

Also, because I can be such a slacker, I never did file my income tax return. I know, you’re thinking “WTF”, but I did get a pretty nice bonus from work around that time, so it wasn’t like I was missing the money. I filed electronically over the weekend and should have the cash in my account around the middle of next week (along with my paycheck).

So…I have money on the way. More than enough to cover the bills and all that. I just need to eat and pay for gas…NOW.

It’ll all work out. It always does.

Go here for the pics page.

These are some pics of my dogs.

And starting here are new pics of the house.

Enjoy…

So I finally got the new back door installed with the doggie door.  It’s not pretty, but it works well.  Bender has adapted well but Mino is somehow afraid of the door.  I don’t get that.  I had to do a custom job because that was the only door big enough for him to fit through.

I am never going to use Mr. Transmission again.  Those guys SUCK.  They’ve had my truck since the 26th of May.  That’s 9 days as of right now, and it (supposedly) will be ready tomorrow by lunch.

Great…$1500 for a transmission, a cleaned out bank account and I’ll still have a truck that runs like shit and needs front wheel bearings and an alignment.

Not to mention, that honestly, the K5 scares the hell out of me.  Rather, *I* scare the hell out of me.  I suppose I’m not 100% confident in my repair.  Only time will tell.   At least it will be here at the house and not at the apartment, and I’ll be able to work on it.

I just hope I can get it home in one piece.  I do have a fire extinguisher in there now   But for now, getting both me and G to work with one vehicle is a real problem.
I put up my DirecTV dish yesterday, but was unsuccessful in pointing it.  I’m gonna reattempt it today.  I bought a compass so hopefully I’ll be able to do it.  I’m sick of not having TV to watch.  So is G.

I’ll be posting pics of the house and all soon–maybe today.  I do need to pull out the camera to take some pictures for a couple of eBay auctions.

See ya soon.

Moving is always a bitch…My good friend Chris said the other day, “it’s one of the worst things you can do…ever…voluntarily or not.”

I must agree.

Anyway, so I tried to get all the utilities and phone hooked up. That has proven to be an exercise in futility. The electric & gas company agreed to provide electric only–no gas–because of my credit (which is currently under repair) and requires a $200 deposit payable with the first bill. Bastards…

They referred me to another gas company. That company agreed to provide gas, but only after paying a $150 deposit UP FRONT. Fuckers…

And then…this is really good…the phone company, THE COMPANY I WORK FOR, totally FUBAR’d my move order. They instead disconnected my service at the old location and put in an order for new service at the new. I know you’re probably wondering, “what’s the difference?” Well, not much…except when you “move” your usernames and passwords for your internet access stay intact.

And as if that weren’t good enough, they said I wouldn’t get service till the 5th!! That’s next Monday!

Luckily, I used to work in the highest level of the complaint department, and I expected such nonsense. I made some calls, got the username reactivated. I called in another favor and got the installation date expedited for today.

Well the tech shows up, and lets me know that he’s going to install the service. Luckily, I walked outside and told him that the extra phone wire coming through the outside wall was for the DSL modem. He looked at me and said there was no order for DSL.

WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!

So, I again make calls. Order for DSL is placed manually. Of course, at first my phone number didn’t qualify for DSL because the order to install phone service hadn’t been completed yet. Bypassed… He checks the new order, and tries to get it assigned to him. Doesn’t happen. But luckily, another tech picked up the job to connect DSL. At first that was scheduled to take place this Saturday. After more “WTFs” I called in more favors and had the date pushed up to today.

So I come inside, try to boot my laptop. No dice. I do a real quick reorganization on my spare room and setup my PC. Then the ethernet connection (which uses nifty little transceivers to connect via the electrical wiring in my home) doesn’t work. So I stretched my trusty 50ft piece of Cat 5 from one bedroom to the next.

And there you have it. That puts me right about…Here…typing this.

More good news

I finally get a call from the transmission shop regarding The K5. The transmission is apparently not rebuildable–needs a new case. The bill just went up to $1450…nice. It would’ve been even nicer had they told me that a few days ago. They’ve had it for 6 damn days. It shouldn’t have taken them that long to get back to me.

At this point, I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.

Did I mention that I bailed out of work at 12:30pm so I could come home and let the dogs out? That’s right…still no doggie door. Hopefully tonight.

DirecTV can wait (did I really just say that?)

Pickens out…