Well,
HOTFR8, it rained again today so I had a good excuse for not starting the chip spreading duty!
In the meantime, I did make some progress on the 442 -- got the rear stabilizer bar positioned with the 2 1/2", 7/16 X 20 bolts. Hard to see, but it's right under the rear axle:
I have eight spacers that would fit between the stabilizer and the "traction" bars, but I'll be danged if I can figure out how you know how many to use. I'll research that another day.
Problem is, my next step is either searching through all the parts I have stashed around the shop for the bushings and links for the front stabilizer bar or install the engine and transmission. I'm not too excited about either, but leaning toward checking out spare parts.
But I also approached a project FOR the workshop. The faucet in the loft kitchenette was getting clogged with sediment. I've tried to unscrew the aerator at the end of the spout by hand, with pliers and protective cloth, with pliers and no cloth, with channel locks, and with 16" pipe wrench -- no luck. So, I figured I'd take the faucet to a plumbing supply place to see what's up. Ooops, couldn't get the supply line to the spout through the hole in the sink. The diverter valve was too big. The lines from the hot and cold valves were 1/4" tubing inserted into a push connector; they came out OK. So, I just cut the tube to the spout to get it out.
If nothing else, and it was about nothing else, I found out that the faucet was made by Delta. So, to the Internet! I found out that the aerator didn't unscrew from the end of the spout like all others I've ever seen; it takes a special wrench, somewhat like a spanner, to pull the aerator out. Took the diverter with short piece of tube attached to Home Depot. Got the wrench, but no luck with diverter. Home Depot suggested a call Delta.
Service rep explained that the spout and tube and diverter were all one piece and Delta didn't sell just that piece. BUT, she could sell me a whole NEW faucet for 50% off. At this point I found out how much the faucet sold for. When I picked the phone back up, she suggested that maybe The Wife had picked out the faucet. I took the Fifth! Here is the current situation:
So now my choice is to try to reconnect the tubing from the spout to the diverter, but it's not 1/4" tubing like from the hot and cold valves, it measures 5/16". Or, I can pay $320 for a new faucet. I'll try the connector route although it will void my warranty!?!? If that doesn't work, I'll have to swallow my pride and cough up for a new faucet.
As guitarist and folk singer Doc Watson would say, "Life gets teejus, don't it?"