fiat spider

So after yesterday's little problem with getting the oil pan plug out, I decided it had to happen today. I compared with a few tools I had laying around and found it to be between 10mm and 18mm. I go to Autozone to see if they have allen wrenches of that size, and after looking for about 10 minutes, finally found some. I took them out of the package, ran them outside. The 10mm was too small. Found some more. Ran outside, slithered under the car, the 12mm was to big! How is it that all the stinking fiat stuff has to be odd metric? 17mm, 11mm, 13mm, 21mm, it never ends!

But I take a look at the 10 and the 12 again and I swear it just has to be the 12mm. So I buy it, along with a Butterfinger and drive home. I get under the car and AGAIN, the 12 doesn't fit. So I try the channel lock's again. Ouch, messed up my finger. No luck. Then It dawns on me...I could use a 10mm and jam a screwdriver in there, making it lock. Hell yeah. So I slither under the car and get right up close to the plug. I noticed it was a little whack from somebody else messing with it...Oh. I see. It IS a 12mm, but it's got burrs on it. So I hammer the 12mm in there, destroying the burrs and then nearly broke my hand trying to get the plug out.

But it came out. Damn, finally. I let it drain for 10 min and then replaced the filter too. The new Bosch is so shiny. And while I was at it I slapped on new cam-shaft cover gaskets.

Started to do the radiator hoses, but after reading what I needed to do and knowing the age of this car and the probable length of time it's been since it last had a radiator flush, I think I'll have somebody do it. Or at least take it to a friend's house that has a freakin garden hose. I also noticed a leak in the bottom passenger side corner of the radiator. Grr. So I popped on the new radiator cap.

I cleaned my garage too. Tired of the mess. I used the trunk rack to run to the dumpster. Yay, clean. The apartment security guard and I chatted for a while about the car. He has never been friendly, but I guess that he's restoring a Grand Marquis and was interested. Cool.

Also noticed I have a short in my dash lights. Which reminded me I needed to re-do the cable to the starter. So I did that too. Boy, it's hard to cut and strip 6 gauge copper wire.

HA! Found the info for the detail place:

Detail Works
9210 Dowdy, Unit I
San Diego, CA 92126
Phone:(858)689-8989
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