Installed!

Jan. 13th, 2007 10:16 pm
octothorpe: (Default)
[personal profile] octothorpe
This project turned out to be *MUCH* more annoying than I thought it would be. Installing the rear sway bar was no problem. The biggest hurdle there was getting the jack to lift the entire rear end high enough. That required me to put down a couple of very long 2x4s to use as a "ramp" (gas jacks move forward as they raise the car). The jack stands went on, and the procedure took about 90 minutes. Someone with more experience would have done it in about 30 minutes, but I'm a punter.

The big problem was the intake. Jeebus was that a giant bitch. Even though the TSX is a cousin of the Honda Accord (it uses the "narrow accord" platform used in the european accords), it is *VERY* different from my prior accord (now the Pagermobile). There is an almost entirely inaccessible bolt that took me over 2 hours to get out, one click of the ratchet at a time. I also had to take the battery out entirely, as there were bolts that needed to come out under it. I didn't want to take off the entire front bumper, but that may have sped things up. The thought of removing all those bolts, *and* clips was just something I didn't want to tackle, so I removed the wheel, removed the splashguard and did it that way. It took 5 hours.

Oh, and did I mention that I had to translate the directions from Japanese? Even after translating, they were *awful*. "Take the airbox off" is not sufficient. How many bolts? Where are they located? I *really* need my shop manual.

Oh, yeah, one more thing. My across the street neighbour decided to tell me that "the mechanic thing really isn't part of our community". He moved in about 2 weeks ago, and I believe he is renting the house. I may have to make his life more difficult. I told him if he knew what was good for him, he'd mind his own. Classist bullshit. Over the summer we had a mid-day blackout. One of the elderly women from down the street came up to me and politely asked if I could open her garage door, so she could get her car out. I kindly obliged. Later that week, I found out that she was responsible for the official complaint I received about my car being left in my driveway. It's good to know when my neighbours want something they're all bright and cheery on the surface, but backstabbing cunts when your back is turned. At least this bloke spoke to me directly.

Classist, racist douchebags. All of them.

Date: 2007-01-14 03:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com
I'm sorry to hear about your neighbors. They do reinforce the stereotypes about Greenwich.

Can I ask why you & Bill live there, or is that too long a story ... ;)

Date: 2007-01-14 04:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] theoctothorpe.livejournal.com
Well, I don't know if there is a story to it at all. I moved in with him about 5 years ago, and he's lived in Rye (also a wealthy suburb of NYC, but in NY) and Greenwich since he got back from living in Brazil (at least 20 years or so)

I've never really fit in here, but that shouldn't matter. I don't socialise with them, and don't really feel the need to. Greenwich has always been odd in my mind. It's not as über-WASPy as, say, New Canaan, but it's close. I suppose I am used to being around (and enjoying) people who *aren't* exactly like me. Greenwich isn't the place for that.

Bill however, *does* fit in here. He's everything I'm not with regard to playing the WASP card.

Date: 2007-01-14 04:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com
Well, I know from Rye, the sister and brother-in-law of one of my first BF's live there and we stayed at their house a couple of times when visiting New York. Pretty, if you like stone mansionettes and lots of WASP monmmies in SUVs. Eek.

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