The author of this blog, that has been linked and quoted a few times in Disaffected Musings, wrote this today, “Once again there’s nothing I see that stimulates me to write; am I running dry, is there no news of note, or is everything happening just a reprisal of what I’ve commented on before?”
I feel like that more times than I want to admit, like today. I worry about keeping the content fresh and interesting. I worry about the mix of automotive and non-automotive content.
The automotive industry push to electric vehicles has removed a large source of material about which I could write. Sorry, but I really think these cars will lose differentiation, even more than has already been lost. General Motors has already committed to one platform that will underpin basically every vehicle they produce.
Although I have very strong opinions on some events outside the automotive world, I’m not sure my writing about them is productive, other than venting. Also, after more than 1,160 posts and almost 600,000 words, what else can I say?
I did post less often in June and July than had been my norm. I averaged 24 posts per month the last two months compared to 30 posts per month for the previous three. For that and other reasons, the number of blog views and visitors were lower than in previous months.
This blog will never make me rich, but has been a good outlet for me. I think, though, I have reached a point where I have lost direction. I think I may reduce output to 15-20 posts per month and write when I want and not feel obligated to do so almost every day. Of course, I have thought that before–even if I have not written it here–but almost always wind up in front of my computer writing something almost every day. I wonder if that’s a manifestation of OCD?
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David Banner (not his real name) has asked for photos of the engine work recently completed on my Z06. As I wrote to him in the comments–I plead with those who have not done so to submit thoughtful comments and to read those submitted by others–the engine bays of modern automobiles are cramped places that are aesthetically unappealing. For example, I could only really see the new headers from the drivers side.
What I did write, and will almost certainly do soon, is that I will make another recording of my car starting from cold. Gee, what I won’t do for my readers…
Below are two photos I just took that attempt to show some of the changes. Good luck discerning them…
This photo attempts to show the new ceramic coated headers on the drivers side. A picture from the passenger side is not really possible.
This picture shows the new auxiliary coolant tank for the larger heat exchanger for the supercharger. Like I wrote, these pictures are really ineffective.
If sometime in the future I decide to have more work done, one of the upgrades could be a larger supercharger. (Hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t know it.) I hope the new heat exchanger would be sufficient for a new blower.
Well, I managed to write 500+ words again even though I didn’t think I had anything to say.
#SundaySelection
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#somanycarsjustonelife
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Disaffected Musings 
Even though I don’t comment on every post, I usually read all of them. I’ll admit to glossing over the sports related ones as I’m not a “stick or ball” sport fan. As for posts about religion and politics I would probably do the same as I try not to get into discussion of either with ANYONE.
I read yesterday’s post late last night, due to getting out into my shop and working on my trucks transmission re-installation. And I stayed at it a bit too long and am paying for it today. I’m sorry to hear that the previous work done wasn’t as advertised (a pretty common problem these days), but glad that the new shop delivered. The dyno is a very handy tool when trying to increase power. Horsepower on paper doesn’t always translate to power to the ground without some “tweaking.” One aspect many builders overlook is the fine details, like “degreeing” a camshaft. Just because there are marks on it to sync it to the crankshaft, there is no promise that those marks are perfect, even from the factory. I have even had to use offset keys to get them where I’m happy. The same is true for everything from port matching, “ccing” the heads and ports (making sure the volume is the same for each). The devil, and the expense, is always in the details.
When you do your video, perhaps a great big smoky burnout will generate some hits. 🙂
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Many thanks, DDM. Your comments make this blog much better. My issue is that not enough people submit comments or read the comments. I know that it’s almost always just a single-digit percentage of blog readers who comment, but this blog would be much better if more people commented and read the comments.
I know it’s difficult for you to do so, but you really have to take it easy. Your recent medical “adventure” is a sign that your habits might need some “tweaking.” No offense intended…
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Thanks for the compliment. I might have to now go buy a bigger hat. 🙂
As I’ve aged, now on my 64th trip around the sun, I’ve been FORCED to slow my pace. These days I rely more on power tools and such than the brute force of my body on various projects. Various activities in my youth (chiefly racing off-road motorcycles), are now being paid for. I have had work done on my knees with a likely replacement surgery on my left one within a year or so. I will continue to “adjust,” but refuse to become sedentary, a “couch potato,” so to speak. While I no longer get up at 4.30am and SPRINT out the door to seize the day I do try to be “up and attum” by 5.30. Tomorrow I will be out the door around 7.00am to take one of our company trucks in for return and pick up a new one. It should go smoothly as we do this every year. The price this year is significantly higher, as was the delivery time, but at least we were able to get what we need/want.
I guess my point would be that I refuse to “gracefully” age. I’ll adapt, but I’ll fight it as much as possible, at least until I end up riding a Lil Rascal (I wonder if they can be “hot rodded”?) 🙂
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We all have to make adjustments as we age. I have had to give up running for exercise and am now walking, instead.
Take care of yourself, sir.
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Close in detail photos are good to see the detail of a particular part. A wider, more expansive view is also helpful as it allows the viewer to put the part into perspective of the whole. For my project truck, I am a collector of photos from the internet of what other people have done to trucks of the same model as mine; but, also of other car/truck projects as well. Sometimes the wider view will trigger my mind to imagine how that part or method can be used on my project. Most “new” inventions and/or ideas are actually the amalgamation of several ideas gathered together and applied in a new and/or different way. Some people call this “thinking outside the box.” That phrase is overused, because any real designer, fabricator, inventor, etc., will tell you that it is YOUR imagination that sees a way to apply a different idea to your need that solves the problem. We are all just problem solvers in the end. I have come to the conclusion that to solve problems we all must learn to train our brains to see and understand the images that our eyes reveal to the brain. And this is why I use word search puzzles and other visual exercises with my grandchildren to help them train their brains to really “see” what their eyes are revealing to their brains.
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Thanks, Philip.
I think most people would be happier with their jobs if they had more opportunity to be creative, to synthesize ideas and to add some of their own. Of course, I could be wrong. Except for my full-time baseball jobs, I hated working in an office and doubt anything would have made me happy.
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