Egg on My Face

My recent rant about emission tests on my 1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max wasn’t completely justified. While I’m still pissed about the whole “greenie” air quality scam, the test failure is on me.

I found a mechanic who is old enough to know how to work on “ancient” iron (not easy to find). It turns out there is a broken rocker arm and I’m lucky an intake valve didn’t get sucked into the piston and ruin the whole engine.

He will go ahead with the repairs and I will punish one of my credit cards.

It isn’t fun getting old. This repair is well within my ranch raised skill set but my 77 year old fingers aren’t up to the task.

On the bright side, finding the problem now is better than finding it on Rollins Pass 75 miles from civilization.

Picture is off the internet but the color is correct.

Getting Old

Paid a professional mechanic to remove the carburetor on my 1986 Mitsubishi Might Max.

I'm literally losing my touch. Years past this job was within my skill set. Dropping things and less sensitivity means I could (would) create more problems. Best to suck it up and pay for expertise.

For the same reasons, the carb is off to a rebuild specialist.

Upon return I will probably use the same mechanic to install it.

Why spend $800 or so on a 1986 truck with 171K? No way the truck is worth much on the open market. I'm doing it because (1) I can (2) I like the truck and (3) it has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.

The truck won't pass emissions. Years of ethanol added gasoline has finally eaten the rubber guts. I can scofflaw register it at a country address outside the emissions area and save the expense. Penny wise and pound foolish, IMO. Leaves me open to the "authorities", which, given my big mouth, is always a consideration.

Our extended family has a private cemetery on an old family homestead in Northwest (Moffat County) Colorado. My sister expects me to precede her in death, and plans to bury me in "Maxine".

This is my third Mighty Max, and my sister has named each of them with a name starting with "M".