Wiggles lives!

For those of you who follow switzer through the sporadic posting and incoherent rambling, you know that I have a 1975 Mercury Comet named Wiggles. Wiggles has been parked, I discovered, for one year today. To the right you see a photo of Wiggles as he looks today.

On August 3, 2005, I got Wiggles back from the repair shop after having the heater core replaced. I drove it to work two days later, on August 5, and it was steaming a bit. Knowing that the brakes were shot anyway, I decided to just let Wiggles rest.

Well, he rested until this February. I finally started him back up, took him to Les Schwab, and got the ancient, busted-ass brakes replaced and even got new shocks (he still dances a bit, so he's still Wiggles). Unfortunately, on the way home from the Les Schwab that is a mile from chez switzer, Wiggles died and could not be coaxed back to life. The last two weeks, I've finally gotten back under the hood and determined the problem to be the demise of the original fuel pump. I've learned many things.

Fuel line nuts get stripped easily. I've learned how to cut through steel fuel line. There are many options available when replacing fuel components. None of them are currently made for the 75 Mercury Comet, so you have to special order everything. #$*#$#$*!$&. 31 year old electronics are sensitive. Oil accumulates over time. Spiders will set up house in an engine compartment. I need better tools.

In any event, it took much longer than this type of work should, but I've got a revamped fuel line, new fuel pump and fuel filter, and after letting the electronics dry out, Wiggles lit up and we hit the road!

Now, it was only while cleaning Wiggles out that I discovered that today is such an important anniversary - I found the invoice, and realized that yes, Wiggles has been resurrected one year to the day after being parked and abandoned. Long live Wiggles!