Justin gets a new set of wheels...
And an airplane is found in some sand..
There should be some sort of music intro while you all are reading this first bit. Think, if you will, Jeremy Clarkson's voice reading it aloud. Honestly, I stole that style of intro from Top Gear...
Anyway....
So, yes, tis an official thing now: I am a graduate of the University of Montana, with my Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Archaeology subfield. I can wear my Indiana Jones hat now and say "Why, yes I am...." Yeah, Its great fun. Now comes work....as soon as I can find some. I have a few prospects lined up, but not as an archaeologist, naturally. Missoula isnt exactly bursting at the seams with Archaeology sites. Chances are, I'll just find a job and bust my ass for the next 6 months and get in a little better position with monies, and then really dig into the prospect of a Masters Degree.
Funny thing, My focus is in Aviation Archaeology, and not a month before I graduate, some lucky polish oil guy wandering the Egyptian Desert finds this: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/fighter-plane-world-war-ii-found-194133295.html
That is P-40 Warhawk....Intact....My most favorite Airplane ever...even wrecked she looks mean...mmmm pretty...
I am now determined to find another like her...
What? A car blog you say? YES of course. Thats what this is, and I am bored of talking about my degree. Its a bit hollow anyway, but thats for later. ON TO ZE AUTOS!
Last weekend (May 5th) My friend and mechanic Justin (look for our upcoming youtube car channel) picked up a 1978 Chevy Blazer with a "bad" transmission for about a hundred bucks: the cost of fuel to go get it, and lunch, I imagine.
This poor old truck had been a plow truck for years, and it showed.....The wheel arches were rusted, the side windows busted, the paint faded. Rear roof had long ago since vanished, and the back of the cab was a stylish white plywood and bathroom caulking wall. The hood didn't latch and flew up against the windshield while on the trailer, smashing the glass. The drivers front fender was held on by two bolts and a bungy cord and the wiring for the headlights. And the hood, which I cut off with a grinding wheel. The passenger fender was from a Scottsdale pickup, and had been poorly painted blue to match the rest of the truck. The core support, grill and bumper had been hacked off with a torch to mount the plow, the driver's headlight hung from the harness and some twisted metal, looking at the ground, and the blinkers hung from tattered wires. The drivers seat is six inches lower then the passenger because the floors are made entirely made of rust and empty space, and there is more hantavirus then a mouse plagued village in Australia.HOWEVER.....
A battery from a 98 ford and a few sprays of starting fluid...This thing fired up....Not only fired up, but blew a rats nest out of the exhaust, hacked and spit, then roared to life and idled with ease.
And Drove...
Yes, we drove this plague infested blithering mass of misery
up and down the street, reaching speeds of (possibly) 70mph (the speedo didn't work) with no hood and much stupidity.
But it was fun. I even shot a video! I do have to say, though, do not do this stupidness at home, because we were being very ridiculous and unsafe.
Probably why it was fun.
Sadly, The reason Justin got this truck for the motor, a small block 400 v8, to replace the broken engine in his boat. Since the rest of the drivetrain was weak, the body ruined, the interior shot, and the fact that neither Justin and I are not Chevy truck fans, this blazer has not faired well....the roof has been cut/torn/crushed/ not completely ripped off, the hood removed, the drivers fender now held on by air, the engine pulled out, windshield kicked out, trans burned up and the body is starting to split in half due to the amount of scrap metal we have tossed in the back. This old chevy is doomed to the recycler's yard at the end of the week.. But, for the short time we have known this truck, it has been fun..
Sad
