Bony -
So what did you think of all that torque? Did you use any of it on the way home?
Bony and I met at 9:30 in Modesto to do this trade. The ride down was, as usual, fantastic - that car has never let me down in 11,000 miles and so I didn't even take my usual tool kit.
Left home at 8AM - beautiful morning - sunny and warm. From each stop I took it easily through the gears enjoying the sound and the feeling of effortless torque. The last two miles I drove my car was appropriate I thought, as a guy on a Buell wanted to race.
Arrived in Modesto at about 9:30 and pulled into a Chevron to fill it up for Bony. When I started it back up there was aloud screeching sound from the engine compartment and smoke started coming out. Pretty obvious it was the fan belt - sure enough the damned alternator was seized.
Labor day ----good luck right?
Well it turns out there was a Kragens Auto Parts store nearby and not only did they have an alternater but they had tools that you could borrow to do the job!! Kudo's to Kragen - I will definitely make them the first place I go to for parts and stuff in the future.
Bony - being the gentleman that he is, insisted on paying for the new alternator. I thought I should pay for it as the car was mine when it happened but he, being somewhat bigger, insisted. Thanks Bony!! I didn't charge him labor to do it.
Bony's car ran well all the way home ---it is missing about 300 horsepower though.
