A GOOD longtime friend/customer was letting his step-daughter borrow his Avalon because she destroyed her car, Took her a little over 6 months to destroy this one! The radiator developed a leak & she kept on driving it for who knows how long? I went to his house for some BBQ & beer a few weeks ago & to diagnose the issue......
So much water/coolant had been ingested that the engine was hydrolocked & a oil/water mix was flowing into the air-box, Antifreeze jugs littered the back seat floorboard & truck (At least 20 of them).
I have taken care of this car since it was new & has 144,xxx miles on it now, It was in need of valve cover gaskets (seeping) & a high pressure P/S hose the last time I saw it at 110,000 miles but declined as he didn't drive it much it being a third vehicle & all. It wasn't leaking bad yet.
I had put 4 new OE struts, Rebooted the CV axles, Brakes all around, Timing belt, Water pump, Idler, Tensioner, Drive belts, Cam & Crank seals, Thermostat, Trans service, Differential service & some things I forget 6 years ago at @ 90,000 miles.
Enough with the rambling......I asked him how much he wanted for the car.........He gave me the car outright, Dragged me to the sub-courthouse & paid $45 to transfer the title (Gifted) into my name the following Monday. I must admit that I HATE people giving me anything, Makes me feel uncomfortable as I've worked for everything I own & don't ask for hand-outs! He's a very good guy & KNOW it's nothing he would bring up later.....He's just sticking it too the Wife & her daughter!
Bought a JDM 1MZ-FE VVTi/A541E package from another friend that I've known for 25+years (about the same time he immigrated form India to the US on a work visa) since he worked as my apprentice at a Cadillac/GMC/Pontiac dealer, He started importing JDM engines as a hobby about 15 years ago & grew it into a full time flourishing business. He sold it to me "raw" right out of the container from Japan without the pressure washing & brightening salesmanship bling.
Had the car towed to my work, As it sits in "The Pen" .........
So much water/coolant had been ingested that the engine was hydrolocked & a oil/water mix was flowing into the air-box, Antifreeze jugs littered the back seat floorboard & truck (At least 20 of them).
I have taken care of this car since it was new & has 144,xxx miles on it now, It was in need of valve cover gaskets (seeping) & a high pressure P/S hose the last time I saw it at 110,000 miles but declined as he didn't drive it much it being a third vehicle & all. It wasn't leaking bad yet.
I had put 4 new OE struts, Rebooted the CV axles, Brakes all around, Timing belt, Water pump, Idler, Tensioner, Drive belts, Cam & Crank seals, Thermostat, Trans service, Differential service & some things I forget 6 years ago at @ 90,000 miles.
Enough with the rambling......I asked him how much he wanted for the car.........He gave me the car outright, Dragged me to the sub-courthouse & paid $45 to transfer the title (Gifted) into my name the following Monday. I must admit that I HATE people giving me anything, Makes me feel uncomfortable as I've worked for everything I own & don't ask for hand-outs! He's a very good guy & KNOW it's nothing he would bring up later.....He's just sticking it too the Wife & her daughter!
Bought a JDM 1MZ-FE VVTi/A541E package from another friend that I've known for 25+years (about the same time he immigrated form India to the US on a work visa) since he worked as my apprentice at a Cadillac/GMC/Pontiac dealer, He started importing JDM engines as a hobby about 15 years ago & grew it into a full time flourishing business. He sold it to me "raw" right out of the container from Japan without the pressure washing & brightening salesmanship bling.
Had the car towed to my work, As it sits in "The Pen" .........
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