How many of you can say it lasts this long? I’m curious…,
Friday the 13th: Opened the shop, seemed it would be uneventful as far as problems. a couple of oil-changes, a brake job, and an intake to change on a 5.4, found a few other issues with the van, so take care of the light stuff first. U-Joints; Done. Heater switch; Done.
Sat. The 14th: Figured I’d get an early start on the Intake, and it only took an hour to remove. I cleaned the gasket surfaces, Changed the Spark Plugs, took my borescope and looked into the Intake ports to make sure there were no little trinkets waiting to either hang a valve open, or worse, get into the Combustion Chamber. All good! another 1 1/2 Hours to re-assemble it and fire it up. and it all went downhill from there!
When the engine fired, it made a loud “Clack”, followed by “tacka, tacka, tacka”, as I pulled the Ign switch to the “off” Position. another 1/2 Hour to pull the Coil packs, and start pulling spark plugs. #1: ok, #2: Ground electrode pushed up inside the plug, and when I put the lens of the borescope into the hole, there’s a 9/32" Ball-Bearing on top of the piston “Hi howareya!!!” But Wait! There’s More!!!..,
Aggrivated, and ready to throw something, I decide maybe a nice hot shower, and some time with the gang at “CCC”, and I’ll feel better, and go back to it with a fresh attitude…
Shower First, Get in, "Ahhhh! Feels good! soap up, and suddenly, My Dog can drool faster than the water is running! Ok a face Cloth, and the faucet will have to do.
Fire up IE, Go to favorites, Go to “CCC” Homepage,… What?!? Diagnose Connection Problem?? Really?? Restart Modem, Try site again, Ok, it works, for about 3 Minutes.
Then, Kernel 32,… just got everything straight tonight on the computer. 
Shower Fixed. The Van? Well I took a Gamble that the Piston didn’t get hurt as bad as the head. Yeah, Right! 
Gotta pull the engine now.
I’ll bet if I booked a Flight, the plane would make it all the way to the Crash-Site!
