no flashing, wiggly tires

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

This list _still_ never ceases to amaze me.

Cobram and Phil both tell me that flashing lights indicate police radar -
aw, c'mon guys (grin), I been around a leetle while . . .  (grin)

I know it's well meant - one of the disadvantages of newsgroups and E-mail
is that you can't SEE who you're talking to - if you could SEE (or know)
your recipient, your replies would be different.

Switch to old-timer-mode: I remember when there was virtually no such thing
as police radar! The only radar equipment around was owned by Uncle, and
lived in large domes somewhere in northern Canada (remember the DEW line? -
I do), and I remember the big fuss when we "discovered" that the funny bulge
above the air intake on an F-86 was RADAR!!! - How'd they make it so small?

Switch to boy-racer-mode: Yeah, man, blew a radar trap the other day in my
'Vette, clocked me at 140! Far out! I was wondering why all those oncoming
drivers were flashing their lights at me, though . . .

Anyway, the meaning of flashing lights has changed over the years - it USED
to mean "Hello!", or it did in the NE, anyway, and now it means "radar
ahead!" Ambiguous, at best. Oh well.


Next item:

Solomon Ngan is having the wiggles from his Goodyear Eagle Aquatreads. Mine
do the same thing - sort of a shimmy in the steering wheel, almost feels
like the power steering isn't centered, not bad, but noticeable, comes and
goes, speed varies. I think this is tires - Have you tried rotating them and
seeing if there's any change? Let me know - I have not tried rotating the
tires, since mine are close to the end of their service life anyway, and the
wiggle isn't bad enough to be an action item (as in FIX THIS BLANKETY BLANK
THING OR ELSE!)- just noticeable.

Next item:

Rich Andrews has found an 86 5k automatic for $300 - "needs work"

If you have another car (read: "alternative means of reliable
transportation"), go for it - it will be an entertaining education. Not
cheap, not easy, but satisfying. When you are done (are we EVER done?),
you'll have a very satisfying car for not a huge amount of money.

Note on your comment about "barking" rubber in second gear - these cars are
NOT, repeat NOT fast! You only have about 110 HP to work with, and this is a
comparatively heavy car for 110 HP. If you want a street racer, this IS NOT
it. This car is a highway cruiser, meant to go 70 MPH comfortably all day
long - it is not and won't ever be a contender for the stoplight grand prix.

These automatics are notably fragile - rebuilds are expensive - parts are
absurd - I'd look in a junkyard for a wrecked one and see what they want for
the whole (guranteed) tranny. Note carefully - if you find one of these cars
in the junkyard which ISN'T wrecked, it is probably there BECAUSE of a bad
automatic tranny (Most older Audis eventually die of a broken wallet) - but
if it's wrecked, you know it runs - it had to be running to get wrecked!

Dead battery after sitting for two weeks - is the battery old and tired, or
good but discharged? If the battery is good but discharged, look at
electrical system; another "educational opportunity"!

My feeling is go for it, but understand that you _MAY_ be buying a parts car
- depends on condition of rest of car - brakes, upholstery, body, rack, etc.
etc.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman