Operation: Joker Rims

After purchasing the whip last week, I couldn't wait to start all the projects and fix-ups.  I began with the rims.  The previous owner...decided to put red rims on the hatch.  After rescuing her, I decided to embark on said project.  Little did I know, that painting simply didn't require spray painting the rims while they were still on the car.  Oh, simple minded Crystal.

I woke up at the crack of dawn because I was so excited, 5am actually.  My homeboy and I began by jacking up the car and removing the lugnuts, and then removing the tires from the car.  Tires are actually pretty heavy.  In essence, the process involves giving the tires a good wash down, sanding the parts to be spraypainted, priming, shielding, taping what I don't want to be spraypainted, clear-coating, rotating the tires and then finally putting the tires back on.  This sounds like a quick process, however, from 5am to 10pm, I still wasn't done.  I still have yet to clear-coat the rims, but that'll be saved for another day after my legs and back have healed.  I guess the weight-lifting techniques I learned from the gym came in handy...because what I did all day was deadlifts and squats picking up and moving the tires from one place to another.  Oh fun.  It's been about 3 days, and I am still sore.  There are also oil/grease stains that I can't quite get off my legs.  Oh well, I don't mind the strange stares.
 

 Look how clean the inside of the rim SHOULD be. The one on the right took half an hour to scrub out.

 Laying the clean tires out to dry.  Waiting time takes time!

 Using 3x5 index cards to shield the tire so they don't receive extra color.


Will post pics of the rims when the project is done, hopefully in about a week.

Crystal

My New Whip

Hello fellow aliens and humans alike, Crystal here, to engage you in the mediocrities of my life.  Ahh, the time has come when we all must leave the coop.  But in this case, I didn't leave the coop, I just added a member into the family.  And when I say member, I mean, new whip!  She's a beaut'! However, the reason of this post is not to brag about how unique this vehicular device is, but rather--to shout to the heavens how frustrated and crazy I was today.

Ye whip, thoust manual.  (I learned to drive stick 2 days ago at 11pm, go figure).  So when I tried to drive my chariot up the driveway, I stalled. I cursed and waved my arms frantically.  I started the vehicle again, and once more tried to maneuver up the steep driveway.  STALLED again.  I restarted and stalled my engine so many times, I started to smell something burning.  I then decided I would wash my car in it's current position...halfway in my driveway and halfway out the street.  I walked out of the car and sadly looked at my strange parking job.  Who in their right mind would wash their car when it was half out of the street?  I then proceeded to throw a small fit.  I jumped up and down in circles and yelled "WHY ME?!"  The neighborhood squirrel just rolled its eyes at me.  I then gathered my car washing materials (sponge, bucket and dish soap) and lifted the hose ready to pre-rinse my vehicle.  At this moment, my mom called me and asked if I could drive her to the BART the next morning.  I then proceeded to tell her, how can I drive her?...when I couldn't even drive up our own driveway.  I heard her shake her head and cackle as I hung up the phone.  Then, something within my heart sparked--a burning desire to accomplish this seed of frustration and doubt.  I jumped back in my vehicle, pressed on the clutch, rev'd the engine and released the e-brake! I drove perfectly into my driveway, with the front wheel just millimeters away from the garden hose! just kidding.  I stalled 3 more times, but I finally got up the driveway, running over my sponge.  I had to reverse, relocate the sponge and try it again.  Four hours later, I washed, vacuumed and clorox-wiped every inch of that car imaginable.  I still need to polish the spare though.  And the final result, is my whip.  I'm in the process of giving her a name.  I want something fierce and womanly.  I mean, what kind of girl drives such a beast?

<3C