Not so much old as being tired

At least that's how it went with Old Max, who wasn't so much old as he was tired.
Tired of being a dog without a day.
Tired of waking up and finding that his dreams were only dreams.

Anyone know this one? Here's a hint; its a quote from a movie (surprise from me, I know). Still nothing? This isn't really a hint, but the picture is not a hint (and you already knew that). Its from Lucky Number Slevin, one of my personal favs and rather unknown outside certain circles (like my media room, aka man cave, aka low ceiling basement).
Anywho, so my Friday was slowing down a bit and I knew I should write up a blog, especially since I was lazy last week and didn't put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard more literally; seriously, one finger, I don't know how to type). But I'm tired. Just... tired. And that's when that quote starting running through my head. For those unfamiliar with the movie (its aWesome by the way) this quote is from the opening sequence when describing Max, the father. A young family man who barely has enough to make ends meet in his already minimus life. You can see it on his face as he walks out the door just as Willis's soft but commanding voice states it for you, 'Tired of being a dog without a day'. Max just can't catch a break. But this isn't a movie review, this is about being tired. Tired of being a dog without a day. Tired of waking up with a nuisance cough only to sleep walk through a slow day behind your double monitor. Tired of working out only to have new achy muscles and the same spare tire. Tired of cutting costs only to open more bills. Tired of planning everything so right just to be met with more problems, more hurdles, more bloody knuckles, and more scraped up arms. Yes sir or mam, I am tired of working on the Mini (quite the lead up though, right?).
The decision has been made to dump this plague, this pestilence, this parasite, this succubus, this needy, needy bitch.

   

But my brother and I are only so cruel; we aren't about to let this thing go without a bit of tlc. He took it to the stealership and they quoted him just over 4 grand of repairs. Yeah, that's 416,268 Yen (at the current exchange) and a whole lotta cheddar. I figure myself handy enough with tools so we ordered up the parts and got to work. The 2 main hassles are a water pump and thermostat. They are on opposite sides of the engine, so unfortunately getting to one does not help getting to the other. They both require quite a bit of dis-assembly even to VIEW the piece, and then a bit more to access it. The water pump is on, but re-assembly has reared its succubus head so we moved onto the thermostat to try and get some success out of the night (the pump took an entire afternoon on a separate day btw). First off, take a look at this thing.

Mini Cooper S R56 Thermostat Housing

This is the thermostat housing for a 2007 Mini Cooper S with R56 engine (they changed midway through the year from supercharged to turbocharged). It looks like a friggin' heart. This is the most complicated, cumbersome car part I've ever seen. Thing has inlet and outlets for 6 hoses, 2 electrical connections, and 3 (well hidden) bolts. Believe it or not, this was actually the easier part to replace. The engine bay for this car is so cramped, you need every tool in home depot just to access anything. If you don't have 3 different size ratchets, each with swivel heads, and their own extensions, you may as well quit. You'll also need a set of slim ratcheting wrenches as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm always looking to outfit my tool box like a world traveler would his backpack, but this is pushing it. Mini also loves to sprinkle Torx head screws of varying sizes all over the place. Mother of god.

Reading blogs and watching videos usually helps on jobs like this, but in this case it make me feel like all those people that try to recreate Instructables or pinterest bullshit.

Creepy baby. PS who has a dish of gumballs?

Amen Boromir

So we'll button up these loose ends, change out the turbo oil feed line (yah!), and we left the (supposed) easiest for last; front and rear brakes.
Unfortunately I can't give Mini all the credit; I haven't exactly been unstoppable with car repairs as of late. In swapping out brake's on my brother in law's Cavalier I failed to have a specific allen wrench for the front calipers (it's a 3/8, apparently most GMs use 'em), and one of the rear wheels wouldn't even come off after I removed all the lug nuts. I was like the big bad wolf coming up to the brick house. I huffed and puffed, and went 'Walking Tall' on its ass with a 2x4 ( I believe it was a 4x4 cedar in the film, but hey its what I had), but it still didn't budge. A few days later I was over to remove an exhaust from a friend's Scion tC. Its only two bolts for god's sake, how hard could it be? The first was a breeze with the impact gun, but the second one was too awkward to reach for power tools. Granted the thing was pretty rusted, but still. This time I huffed and puffed... and then 10 minutes later I pulled out the sawzall. And the bolt won. I was about to use the grinder when I heard it grenade its disc a few feet from me (brother in law cutting open a keg for a keggle). So I took a break to run to the local auto parts store to get whatever other pieces required (turns out a flange and now new bolts), and when I huffed and puffed the last time the bolt sheared in two. I woulda felt more like a man if I wasn't sick and sweating profusely laying on my back on a wet cement garage floor. Such is life. I still love to work on cars, and although I'm still pushin' to make the JV team, a few set backs like these won't get me down. Even if all these jobs take an extra day (or week), my friends and family are still grateful, they still get to keep a little (or a lot) of extra green in their pockets, and they continue to learn the many ways I can fit the words dick, fuck, penis and blow hole into new, fun, and poetic phrases.
Well I'm checking out and soon off to enjoy a cold brew and relax for the holiday weekend. Taking a break from cars for a few days, and then hitting it hard next week to finish up the Mini, my father's jag (its just an S-Type), and pop the new exhaust in the tC. I just noticed that some pictures went awry in some previous posts, so I'll take some time to fix those too. Until then, have a great Labor Day weekend. I actually don't feel so tired anymore, but I'm gonna relax this long weekend anyway. Don't get to be like Max (you remember Max?). Relax and rest up, because no one needs to be tired.

Lake Superior on a weekend like this