[tista]

Finally opened the pelican boxes and dug in. Got my frozen oil drain plug loose using John Walker's simple (sage) advice (just give it a good jerk!). Worked after I'd PB blasted it for a few days. So, first oil change done. So easy. Loved every minute of it.

Then I installed my new headlight lever - I tried to fix the old one, but i just couldn't get all those brass paddles in the right place. Anyway, new one in, all re-connected properly under the dash and I back to full light power at night. Kind of necessary where I live on the CT/NY border.

And, in all this fun maintenance, I noticed my fan pulley belt was started to shred. Luckily I had the original tool kit with the pulley tool and a spare belt (might be from 1978! Felt good though). Did a quick search on the interwebs, called my neighbor for the correct large socked (24mm was what I needed, but made do with a 15/16 that he had). All so simple and satisfying. Though I only had 4 shims, all on the outside and one big convex washer to top it all off. Seemed to go back together just fine with the right amount of tensioning.

Car was so happy. As was I. Drove it all day long, like a regular beater.

Thanks again for inspiring and guiding me.

chris