Subject to change without notice.

[Rich Z]

Friday Connie and I drove down to AntiVenom and dropped off the C5Z to have the new STS oil pump installed. Also needed a few other things looked at as well, mostly relating to the STS system. But I did mention to Greg that the Corvette tech at Champion Chevy told me recently that my balancer was wobbling slightly, making some noise. He said I should get it taken care of, but didn't indicate if how much borrowed time I may be living on with it. Later I looked at it myself, but darn if I could see any movement in the balancer itself or the belt. Anyway, I asked Greg if he would take a look at it.

So we dropped the car off and then followed Gannet (who stopped by to visit with us there) out some little traveled roads and eventually winding up at Anna Maria island for lunch. After Dave left us, we then took a leisurely drive down the series of islands and keys down the Gulf coast until we wound up in Venice, where we spent the night.

On Saturday, we headed on back up to Seffner, figuring we would be picking up my C5Z after Greg was finished with it, and then heading on back home.

When Greg walked in from the shop area, the look on his face told me it was not going to happen that way. Remember my mentioning that balancer problem? Well while Greg was testing out my car after working on the STS stuff, the balancer decided to just about separate itself from the crankshaft. Shredded the belts, just leaving barely half the drive belt in place so he could limp it on back to the shop. It was around O-Noon-Thirty then, so that was a job that really couldn't realistically be done then. Not when looking at about a 5 hour job. So we had to change our plans, leaving the C5Z there, and planning to run back down there next weekend to pick it up after the balancer is replaced.

Now, I have to admit, this was probably the best way it could have happened. Having the balancer come unglued while driving up 75 heading home would not have been much fun. That would mean likely getting it towed back down to Greg's, not to mention putting a real crimp in the time factor. Of course, had it let go completely, it might not have been a real pretty picture having that balancer banging around under the hood after being flung at high speed.

So if the problem HAD to manifest itself, doing it right there while at Greg's was the best I could hope for, under the circumstances. Not really keen on another trip down there so soon, but I don't make the rules that the world runs under, I guess. I suppose it is really a miracle that this didn't happen on Friday, FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH, when we were driving down there. That would not have surprised me one little bit.

And of course, my thinking I could have Connie plan a surprise birthday dinner for me next Saturday here in Tallahassee after the Cruisin Corvettes cruise in that evening will likely be up in smoke. Looks like a real good chance I will be celebrating my birthday down in Tampa instead.... Guess this turned out to be a surprise after all......