engine and drivetrain A proper eulogy (Warning: graphic content of 2002 demise)

[johnnysquare]

My first 2002 was a Chicago car, a '76, purchased from a grad school buddy who promptly fled the mainland for Vieques.

The car ran well enough I guess (no smoke or second gear synchros to speak of), had a sweet MP3 player mounted to a slab of particle board with drywall screws, and a A/C system that ran on AA batteries. Just enough mold on the original carpets to remind you it was a vintage automobile.

My first ride down Stewart Road hill in Cincinnati, flying past the pretense of The BMW Store at about 60 mph, I was feeling pretty sporty until my foot slipped and the gas pedal popped off and stuck sideways under the brake pedal. In the rain. Those were good times.

It came with a folder of receipts, most notably from the prior, prior owner who had the sahara car shot black at Earl Schieb for a few hunnies. I suppose that was the beginning of the end. Despite the fact that the car looked like it took a La Brea bath in POR 15, the rust was rampant underneath. The Ziebart sticker in the rear window providing subtle irony for those in the know.

The front bumper had a Great Lakes Naval Base access sticker-- it was once a military brat like many o2's. Also some rusty barnacles that once held Hellas or other fogs, long departed.

I drove the car without doing much of anything, mostly because I was a noob and didn't know where to start, and knew when I did start with this car there was nowhere to finish.

I resolved to keep good brakes on it, change the oil and keep it from catching fire in the engine bay, and to drive as long as I could. Scary thing about 2oo2's is that was about a year and a half.

Then the rust got really bad. I dropped both rocker trim pieces on Galbraith Road after hitting a pothole. It made cool sparks, almost like sidepipes. I was optimistically checking to see if it was just the outer rocker when my finger went through to the back of the carpet. Meanwhile, the sunroof developed a hole to ensure that no more rainwater would flow down into the rockers into the clogged drain tubes.

But it kept going. The car escorted us to a bridge in Mt. Adams, overlooking the skyline, where I proposed. Not only did she say yes, but asked to drive the 2oo2 home. I was a happy, happy passenger that night, with the windows down on the parkway.

Not many months after, compression dropped down around 100. I started a driving part-out process. I was still able to haul a huge power washer around Over-the-Rhine after some hipster/gangsta graffiti binge, as well as some passengers to operate said equipment.

I think the final ride might have been to Putz's Creamy Whip over on the West Side. I think that's rusty rocker debris on the ground in the coolant-colored reflection.

In the end, it was not a bad purchase. I was able to part it out to benefit some fellow FAQ'ers, recoup my initial cost. When the village was getting grumpy about me keeping the hulk in the alley under cover and my plates expired, I donated it to a great local radio station (WNKU.com) and got the write-off on my 1040.

Sometime last year, Eurotrash spotted it resting at the Pull and Pay off Seymour Ave, sporting some new numbers on the side.

Sorry I couldn't save this one, 2376360, but glad to have known it.

jb

[eurotrash]

Nice JB. Good tale.

I still love that pic on Clifton Ave with Tom's touring ahead of you. That was some good skyline that day..

See you in the morning, to work on it's replacement.

[DavinSF]

(nt)

[JsnPpp]

Agreed! Nice story and a proper "burial" for a good friend who didn't let you down.

Thanks for writing it. I could have read much more!

~Jason

[gastephens]

For those trying to read the bumper sticker. Yo La Tengo

2376360. May she rust in peace.

[Jim_75Sahara]

I think that that my '75 Sahara would have suffered the same fate, but for my dumping $$$ into it! I have done precious little for the looks of my car. It sure works great -- I drove it to Arkansas and back recently w/out a hiccup.

On to greater things, right, JB? Good luck w/the 'new' one.