Got the exhaust system repaired. They just installed a short section of pipe to replace the area that rusted out where a poorly-done weld joint was made at some point in the past. They said the rest of the exhaust system is in surprisingly good condition, and should last for several years. (Glad to hear it!)
On the way to the Mopar Happening, while pulling away from a stoplight I noticed a little bit of a loud-sounding exhaust. I assumed it was the diesel pickup truck in front of me. After traveling about 100 feet or so, with the truck pulling away, I noted the sound was getting louder. Uh-oh. Next came a pop, followed by the sound of metal scraping on the roadway. Oh, crap!
Pulled over and checked the problem. The front exhaust pipe (between the exhaust manifold and the muffler) was dragging on the ground. It broke at what appeared to be either a flange clamp or hanger (couldn’t really see it very well laying in the ditch).Looked like it just rusted through.
Didn’t have anything with me to strap it up to the car, so I limped the car to Bob’s house and used a couple coat hangers to hook it up to the frame. The car runs fine, but it’s loud. Thought about canceling my plan to attend the Mopar Happening for a little bit, but that thought was not a happy one, so I decided to head out to Belvidere in spite of the problem.
Rumble, rumble … Or as the old muffler company commercial used to say, “Rattle, rattle, thunder, clatter, boom, boom, boom!”
Set the Visibar on the roof.
Got the new radio console installed. It’s great. It’s not really done yet, as I still have to hook everything up. But at least it will look finished for the Mopar Happening show tomorrow. It is very hot today — the hottest day so far this year. The heat index is supposed to be in the 100s. So I’m moving kinda slow and taking it as easy as I can.
Picked up sheet metal to use for creating the new radio console. By the time I got back home it was raining very heavily, so more work on this will have to wait for better weather.
Routed wire for the Visibar and speaker down through the door post, under the carpet (in the wiring raceway) along the passenger side, up through the kick panel and over to where the console will be. (Since I don’t want a hole in the roof or door post, the wires will route through the rear door seal when needed. This will allow the Visibar rig to be unplugged and removed for casual driving, leaving just a short wire stub and plug hanging loose inside the car.) Installed relay under the dash to control the Visibar.
Once this is completed, the components will actually be functional. (In the past, when showing the car, they were in place and looked good. Soon they will be even better!)
Did some miscellaneous work
Stopped for gas on the way home from Ray’s and the car would not restart after fueling. Acted like the battery was dead. Thought maybe I had a bum battery, but it started great at Ray’s so how could it go from a good charge to stone cold dead in a mile-and-a-half? Aaaaarrrggghhh!
They forgot to check the door lock mechanism on the driver’s door. Some tapping from the engine, but could just need to get the oil circulated better since they just drained the oil to replace the oil pan gasket.
Brandi called to report that the car is done. I will pick it up in the morning.