Ernie Returns

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 07:51 AM

Ernie, Excaliber, is now back on the mainland. He is in Redding at the moment getting ready for his big move to Oregon. So far he is running his tail off trying to get everything sorted out. Truck loads of boxes and such. Tuesday we went to Haward and brought his Cobra and Miata up here. He has the Miata, I have the Cobra in my garage. Love it as I am collecting the dripping oil to change the oil in my Comet with.

He called last night and now has Internet access so he will be filling you in on some of his exciting times. Plus the near heart attack when I asked him if I could use the oil I was collecting that was dripping out of his Cobra to put in my car. That Miata is fast. I got home just over 2 hours before he did in the Cobra, but I never had to stop for gas at every station. Actually he got pretty good gas mileage as he has one of the carbs disconnected and that helped.

It was a fun and interesting trip even though he kept looking for mountains that he used as landmarks in Hawaii. Maybe we can get Cal Trans to paint scenes along I-5 so he doesn't get lost.

He will be posting and filing you in on some of the good times soon.

Ron

Ron

Paul F · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 08:04 AM

Welcome back to the mainland Ernie. Hope the move goes smoothly.

Silverback51 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 11:10 AM

My guess is that he kept driving in circles, as that is all you can do on an island.

Welcome home Ernie.

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 11:15 AM

Yea, more than 10 minutes of driving in a straight line and he was confused. But he is adapting to not going in circles.

Ron

HI Cobra · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:08 PM

I am sure he is really going to love that COLD wet Oregon weather in the
winter! Since the Miata has a top and a heater I bet that will be the hot
ticket while the Cobra resides in a garage. He scored a deal on the Miata.

rustyBob · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 06:48 PM

he will like Oregon theres lots of trees and mountains there and rain during the winter but he will get over that .
did i read your post correctly....the Miata is faster than his Cobra......poor Ernie

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 02:53 AM

Bob,

The Miata must be faster than his Cobra. I drove at least 50 miles farther than he did and got back home just over 2 hours before he did. Of course I wasn't having to watch for gas stations all the time. That Miata is a nice car and a lot of fun to drive. I just wish it was about 2" farther from the farthest rear position of the seat to the pedals. It was cold and drizzling here all day yesterday so O don't know if he went to Oregon or not. He just got his first taste of going from 76° one day into the 60s and damp and col the next.

Ron

trularin · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 07:15 AM

I don't think Oregon gets as bad as the midwest in the winter. But I understand up in the hills and mountains, it get very "snowy".

Well, good luck Ernie.

rustyBob · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 09:37 PM

we already had 2 snow storms this year so mine is laid up for the winter so i can make a few changes and finish a few things i put off till winter.
Ernie will adapt to his surrondings in no time at all.
a friend of mine had a Miata and i couldnt get in the darn thing it was to small....lol
or maybe i was to big???????

Excaliber · #10 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 10:48 AM

Yo, I been busy as a stump full of ants! Everyday from dawn to dusk getting "stuff" in order. My internet access is "flaky" to say the least. Currently doing the Star Bucks wifi thing, works out OK.

I made a LOT of stops along the way with the Cobra, which ran great! What a blast to finally be able to put some miles on it. Several times I took an exit just so I could stop and accellerate through the gears on those long on ramps.

I got 14 mpg running on a single carb and keeping up with traffic flow, 70-75. I had disconnected one carb thinking it might slow down some "dock jockey" moving the car onto/off or around the shipping ports. Kind of silly to think that would slow anybody down though, STILL goes like hell even with one carb!

Next trip is San Leandro to pick up my motorcycle later this month, due to complications it wasn't shipped until will after the cars went out.

Gotta go, BIG day planned, nose to the grindstone and all you'll see of me is azzhole and elbow getting the work done.

I bought the Miata just before the move for a "run about" car and man it's working out really well. I just bought an E-350 7'X14' box truck to haul stuff in, diesel, I like it. The Miata or the Cobra would fit in the back but it would take some serious ramps to get that done! No plans at this point to try it.

Jamo · #11 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 04:26 PM

Ernie

Talk to folks in commercial districts about using their loading dock.

Either of your cars would be able to use the ramps and go where big forklifts go. Guys in the ag industry move cars around using their docks and semi-trailers all the time...seasonal moves to other growing areas, etc.

Excaliber · #12 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 07:11 PM

Hmmmm, something worth considering Jamo. One in the truck and the other on a trailer might be work out well.

On a side note, I have discovered the infamous California babes I kept seeing on TV. There NOT at Walmart, they ARE, on occasion, at Star Bucks. I'm starting to get the hang of California now...

rustyBob · #13 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 08:45 PM

Cobra,Star Bucks, hot babes= Ernies hooked........

Paul F · #14 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 10:16 PM

I did the same thing and they all said no. So just find one no one is using. There's plenty of empty buildings these days.

nikbj68 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul F

I did the same thing and they all said no. So just find one no one is using. There's plenty of empty buildings these days.

Are we talking loading ramps here, or Hot Babes in Starbucks???

Hope all goes well, Ernie.

Ron61 · #16 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 06:45 AM

There may be one abandoned building here that has a loading ramp, but the stores have theirs kind of underground and they won't let anyone use them for anything. There used to be a feed store in Redding that had one, but I think it is long gone and I doubt if they would let anyone use it if they are there. Most people around here that are loading or unloading vehicles from their trucks use a bank that is cut into the dirt alongside one of the streets. Not good for low cars like a Cobra.

By the way Ernie, I have the Cobra cleaned for you. Sorry I couldn't do anything about the rock picks but we just have to live with them as my car has them too.

Ron

Excaliber · #17 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 07:32 AM

Thanks Ron for keeping care of the Cobra while I get my housing/moving thing worked out. I'm curious as heck about those leaking oil pan bolts. Hopefully just a good tightening all around will be the ticket.

I'm in the middle of negotiating a price on a short sale in Oregon. Bank is playing hard ball and some am I. I'm digging in for a long haul on this one. If they don't like my offer, I'll move on to the next one. But I really like the place, sshhhhh, don't tell 'em.

Ron61 · #18 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 07:39 AM

Ernie,

Good luck on the Oregon sale and I hope everything works out well for you. Don't worry about the Cobra as you can leave it in my garage as long as you want to. I have looked at the oil drip each day and it has stopped so I think the pan bolts may just be loose enough that when the oil is hot and moving around it seeps through the gasket. I wish the 50 year old drip on my 69 Cobra was that simple. It never stops but never drips enough that it even shows on the dip stick. I just wrote it off to the FE experience as every one I have ever owned had an oil drip after about two weeks of driving.

I am not cleaning any of the oil off the bottom as I want you to be able to see exactly what I am talking about.

Ron

tcrist · #19 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 09:38 AM

Ernie,
Good luck on the short sale. It took my girlfriend 3 months to get into the one that she bought. Hope you can get into yours a lot faster then that.

Terry

HI Cobra · #20 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 02:50 PM

Ernie - I think the main thing you need to get that short sale is patience.

I put my offer in back in August on the one I am working and so far it is
progressing through the steps. If I can get it for my price (pre-approved by
the bank and seller), then I have no problem waiting. If it ends up a no deal,
no problem - I'll look for another if I feel like it at the time, since this is to be
a rental property, not the same as your situation. In my case this deal got
dropped in my lap and after a bit of research, I went for it.

Good luck - and if that doesn't work - like you said, there will be more.
You might just want to keep up the search in the mean time so if it does not
fly, then you are ready to go after another.