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Happiness is a warm tool

Seizing by hand 2/3’s of the feckless exhaust manifold stud, the remainder holding fast in Autosport Labs’ 1973 240z’s aluminum head, I examined the cylindrical advantage in an attempt to divine its essence. Evidently the stud had been near the end of its useful life as part of a fastening system for some time judging by the small, but not rusted part, of the break. Setting that part of the stud down, I turned my attention to the present issue of freeing a 34-year-old, 1/3-inch piece of steel from its aluminum prison.

I found this situation profoundly satisfying.

I get this same feeling while sitting around a campfire with friends and family—the cold at my back. I also get it when planting potatoes in the spring—hands dirty with soil. I imagine my ancestors feeling the same when the snow melted … the rains came … the game returned … the spear was ready for flight.

In my case certainty came from close proximity to a well-appointed tool cabinet and the ancestral compulsion to wield the potential of its load. I knew at that moment I would survive the day, my tribe would be nourished, a story would be told and some knowledge would endure.

Scott “Leadfoot” Miller

After the bolt extracting tool failed to produce a satisfactory result we resorted to steel (but not aluminum) dissolving acid.
After the bolt extracting tool failed to produce a satisfactory result we resorted to steel (but not aluminum) dissolving acid.
Clay dam clinging to head to hold acid.
Clay dam clinging to head to hold acid. This worked splendidly.

2 thoughts on “Happiness is a warm tool

  1. The engine had a good acid trip. lol

  2. Cool! I didn’t even know such a thing existed!

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