I have learned so much since Part 4! About myself, my friends, LuLu…you name it, I probably learned it. With learning, comes wisdom! That was about 2 months ago and since then I’ve slept in LuLu, worked from the road, and made leaps and bounds of progress with her.
I learned that you can’t open the back hatch from the inside. Given the context that its essentially a 70’s trunk, it makes sense because it wasn’t until 20-30 years later that tech like that became standard. Not really an issue, but I would’ve rather not figured that out in the dark while having to use the bathroom!
In regards to flooring, I learned the very painful lesson that even if wood filler says it doesn’t crack…it does. I know its probably dependent on the surface, how much you use, and movement of what you’re filling. Nonetheless, still a nightmare! If I did my floor knowing what I know now, I would’ve milled the boards so cracks were minimal. That’s a big one. But I also would’ve went a completely different route with filling the spaces between the boards. Something meant more for filling gaps first then followed by something meant to fill tiny spaces second. Or maybe an epoxy pour. I don’t know for certain, but I definitely would not repeat exactly what I did a second time.
In that same breath, I also want to clearly say trust the process. The floor was so stressful there at the end that I wanted to give up so many times. I didn’t know if it would come out looking like I wanted it to. Structurally, it was fine. But I wanted it to also look fine! Thankfully, I stuck it out and was rewarded for my work. I love how the floor came out!
In regards to mechanics, I know things about how a combustion engine works or how heating and cooling work. I have a broad knowledge that can be applied to many things, thanks to both my father and my education, but often enough its the details that I don’t quite understand. This is why I’m not a mechanic (shocker, I know!).
I had an a-ha moment while being part of LuLu’s rewiring and starting process. “Cap and Rotor” is a phrase that I’ve now uttered more in the past year than I have in the rest of my life combined. Spark plugs, points, distributor, ignition coil, ignition switch, harness, voltage regulator, carburetor. For some of my mechanically minded friends, its just another day in the park. For me, when I learned the role of distributor my mind was blown at how much sense it actually made.
Let me break it down. The “cap” is short for distributor cap. It has all the spark plug wires coming out of it. The “rotor” is a spinning part underneath the cap. The distributor distributes electricity to each of the wires by spinning the rotor. The rotor fires a spark at designated intervals and its supposed to fire in line with the spark plug wires attached to the cap. The designated intervals between when it fires is the timing. So if they aren’t timed right, you’ll have issues because you won’t have a spark to ignite. And then you have to adjust the timing.
With that moment of brilliance learning what is even being distributed by the distributor, comes another epiphany, and kind of a frustrating one. Sometimes, the simplest solution is actually the hardest to find. LuLu has been through the ringer as far as starting problems go. As of this epiphany, she had a new cap and rotor, new points, a new starter, a new battery, a new headlight switch, a new ignition switch, and a new ignition coil. She also had new battery cables and new wiring running from the engine to the ignition switch. And she still wouldn’t start.
New fuel filter, still nothing. More on that later, but that led us to replacing her spark plug wires (which needed it). Still nothing. New spark plugs. Nothing. You know what the magic was? The new cap and rotor weren’t making a good connection. The rotor was too low, so the button on the cap wasn’t sufficiently touching it. A quick little adjustment and she fired right up. Didn’t require fixing or tinkering or replacing anything. Didn’t even require a screwdriver. So simple. We were lulled into a false sense of security by a new part. As if that hasn’t happened before. I’m thankful that we fixed all that other stuff, anyway, but I can’t get over the one little piece that was not working right!
Very related – I also learned its a bad idea to put your face over the carburetor. You see, LuLu has two ways to access the engine. One is from the rear and one is from above. If you access from above, you are looking directly down at her carburetor, which is top and center. (I also learned that she originally had a dual carburetor that has been since swapped with a single carburetor.) This is where we were spraying starter fluid. On the day in question, that was my job. Spray, try to start, spray again. I moved my head about 6 inches to the side once she started and BOOM – backfire straight up from the carburetor where my head was just at. Needless to say, that was the most startling thing that had happened since she caught fire. I’m fine, though, and so is she!
My last bit of wisdom to impart is simply this: people want you around even if they aren’t good at telling you. Remember that. Also make a mental note not to let others affect your relationships with the people in your life. Don’t give them the power to take your joy!
With that, things are really starting to pick up again, so if you aren’t following on Instagram, make sure to head on over there now and do it! You’ll find different content there, on Facebook, and here. YouTube videos will be coming, too, so make sure you are hanging out with us everywhere you can! We want your suggestions on places, food, trails…you name it we want it! Wanna hang? Reach out!
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