Timing

Before disassembling our ISX engine this week we checked to see if it was "in time." Our particular engine was not in "time." When timing our engine we had to line up the TDC mark on the engine damper with the line on the gear train cover (sorry I did not take a picture of this). When the marks line up, there will be a flat spot on the camshaft where the timing wedges will go into place. But before you can put the wedges in you have to put the pin in the crank to "lock" it in place. 

Reflection: 

1) I HATE using Cummins Quick Serve 

2) After doing the steps three different times, you catch on!

Life's a dance..

 We have all heard the quote "life's a dance, you learn as you go".. Do you ever have to work with people who "dance"at a different rhythm than you? I have one particular person in mind when it comes to this. He is one of those "know-it-all" kids. During our engines class this week we were taking the bolts out of the gear train assembly. My other partner and I discussed it and decided that we needed a breaker bar to get these bolts loose.. He told us that he would go get it.. Well about five minutes later he returns with a "breaker bar".. I politely told him that what he had brought us was a "torque wrench". He then proceeds to get a different one, within the next three times of him coming back, he never once grabbed a "breaker bar".. Every time he had returned he had a different size "torque wrench". He told us multiple times that he knew what he was doing and we just don't want to let him help. People like this are extremely hard to work with..  

Even though you may not get along with them, just learn to "dance" at their rhythm. This may be hard to do, but I believe you can do it if you set your mind to it.. With that being said, do not let them intimidate you, or make you feel less than. Try your best to treat them with the most upright respect as possible. 

Passion..

What is passion? By definition passion is a strong and barely controllable emotion.. What is it to you? To me passion is doing something you love to do and working hard to achieve those goals.. Working hard for something we hate is called stress, but working hard for something we love is called passion.. So what are you passionate about? For me it would our 84 C10. My sister and I bought it for my dad's birthday in August 2016.. As of now, it needs a transmission, dipstick, radiator, and a lot of body work. But that's what makes it a project vehicle, it is not going to be done over night.. it is going to take a lot of time and money to get it where we want it to be.. When our pockets get deep enough, we plan on putting a 383 stroker in it, a new paint job, and eventually lowering it (it's two wheel drive). Maybe you aren't into trucks or cars, that's fine. but whatever you do, do it with passion or not at all..