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Journal Entries for December 2001
Christmas is comming!
(But Christ already came!)
December 4, 2001
Today I had to miss a day of work because my radiator sprung a leak and needed
to be repaired. Actually, it needed to be replaced, which was the task I set
out to do today. Truth be known, however, the story started a few days ago
when I finally decided to fix my heater. During the summer months, the heater
in any vehicle goes quite unnoticed, but when the temperature drops to -20ish,
you find out in a hurry whether its working or not. Well mine was more to the
not side, and although I did get *SOME* heat, it was certainly not much, and it
usually took a very long time to show itself, usually a few minutes before
reaching my destination. Last week I insulated the whole van, lining it with
that pink styrofoam stuff and sealing it with that expanding foam spray. This
made it considerably warmer, because the heat that I did get mosty stayed in
the van. Before, all the heat would just get sucked out the metal walls and
roof. Now its funny because when its cold out, you can see where the frame is
because the side of the van stays frosty except where the metal frame is. So
that was all good, but you have to have heat to keep inside the van or else
the insulation does little good. After consulting several mechanics, I decided
the best course of action initially would be to reverse-flush it first, to see
if it was just clogged. After quite a runaround getting the garden hose and
outside tap to stay un-frozen, I was able to run water through the heater core
backwards. And you would not BELIEVE how much gunk there was in it! It just
poured thick brownish water for many seconds before eventually turning clear.
Once I got it all put back together, I started it up and there was
HEAT! I couldn't believe it! It was spewing forth
almost hot air before the engine was even registering as Cold! So Jason and I
went out to Boston Pizza for a few hours to play pool, and when I got back home,
I popped the hood to see how everything was doing. Well here if there wasn't
steam pouring out from the radiator! I searched around a bit and found that
it was actually spraying a stream of antifreeze from a fin near the bottom
of the radiator. If you look at the picture, at the bottom right-hand corner
of the radiator, you can see all the corrosion and deterioration that had
destroyed the bottom of the radiator.
That brings me back to this morning. I took the day off, as I said earlier,
to go to Calgary Pick Your Part, a great place to get ANYTHING for older
vehicles, and found not only a radiator, but also a heater core, a rear-heater
core, a good fan motor, a new headlight, and some other miscelaneous parts.
And where did I get all these wonderful parts from? A big orange van. How
ironic. So not only was I able to replace the radiator, but I now have a spare
heater core as well, and am going to build a rear heater for my van.
Unfortunately, I can't just use a proper Ford rear heater in my van, because
the window behind my seat makes it impossible to do so. So I have come up with
a design for a heater that will go between the driver and passenger seats, and
will provide heat for both the rear section of the van, as well as vents to
blow on the driver and passenger if so desired. Its going to be awesome, I can't
wait to start building it. I'de post my design up here too but I don't have a
scanner anymore. One of the things I need to buy. Maybe I'll ask for one for
Christmas!  Speaking of which, I can't believe how fast it is approaching!
I have so much shopping to do it isn't funny! Every year our extended family
draws names so everyone buys a present for everyone else. I don't even know
who I have this year or even if the draw has taken place yet. My grandfather
has been diagnosed with Alhzimers disease and he isn't doing too well from
what I understand. I think that's a big part of the reason not a whole lot
of thought has gone into Christmas this year with all the changes taking place
and the uncertainty that we are now faced with. Anyhow, I will endeaver to write
more and more often... This journal of mine has been highly neglected lately
as other things keep stealing my time. If you read this though, maybe send me
an email to let me know that people actually do read it. I don't care if you
do or you don't, but it would be neat to find out who actually reads this thing.
cube@cubeinc.net is my email address. I'd
love to hear from you. Take care and keep reading!
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