Sidetracked

I appear to have over comitted to action over the past weekend. I did have plans. I had determination and I had enthusiasm. I was good to go. I also had a Volvo 480 nearing the end of its natural life and a nagging doubt as to whether I could wring another MOT from it.

Into this medley of procrastination arrived an email, the bare bones of which said "Do you want a Jaguar XJ6? Taxed, MOT'd and yours for collection.". Around 48hours later I was on train to Wales and shortly after that, cruising back in my new and mostly shiny Jag. The next thing I knew it was Sunday and nothing had happened to Fiddy.

I should, if I haven't already, point out that decisions have been made. Based on educated guesses (CSE Mechanic's Intuition Grade 3) regarding the nature of Fiddy's failure I have decided not to repair the engine. Fixing what has broken is feasible but that's only half the problem. Guessing something large and previsously attached is now many things small and free floating fired me with a "We will fix it" mentality not seen since the occupants of the Mouse Organ were plying their trade in the 70s. The problem is that the queue for mechanical martyrdom is long (and possibly distinguished). Somewhere in my engine, I believe, a hard core of fundamentalist engine components are plotting a return to their molecular constitutents. What took Fiddy off the road was just the start. Repair would just be sitting back and waiting for the next inevitable failure so I'd need to think about a fair bit of refurbishment along the way. As soon as that happens costs start to climb and economically viable repair prospect start to go the way of poor old Oliver Postgate.

Without further ado I consulted George W. Bush's "Book of Fixing Everything and Stuff Like That and Everything" and, it said "If it's dead, replace it. If it's not dead, make it dead and then replace it". Seemed like a plan to me. Calls I'd made when I first got Fiddy revealed that a new regime could be purchased from around £500 (complete with hearts and minds, guaranteed no unexpected explosions). So that's the way we're going. I'll still hold a full autopsy and inquest into the death of the current item, partly to make the old engine easier to handle and perhaps for some comedy pics.

So, there you have it. I've done bugger all again.