The Enthusiast's Quest

"KB Garage" (kb-garage) 04/23/2014 at 11:59 • Filed to: None

4

18

The sound of my alarm startles me awake. I nearly hit my head on the oak nightstand next to the bed trying to shut it off. I sigh as I exhale realizing at this point there's no returning to my peaceful slumber now. I stumble into the bathroom, I turn on the shower, and I brush my teeth with my eyes closed wishing I had gone to bed earlier. I step into the shower and, although the water is scalding hot, the tile on the shower floor feels like ice on my feet. I stop for a brief moment and realize that like a programmed machine, I'm repeating the same routine that I do every day. But today's not just another day. Today is the day of the quest. My quest.

I finished getting dressed, walk through the kitchen, and open the door to the garage. It's completely dark save one small red light to my left. I reach for the light and press my favorite illuminated, red button. It's my escape button to a temporary freedom where the world and its cares disappear. The garage door motor whizzes to life, lifts the door, and reveals more darkness outside. It's early; I'm leaving early today. The garage's overhead light casts shadows on the floor from two machines eagerly awaiting the task at hand. Only one is actually capable of making this journey with me. I unlock the door with the fob and the headlight beams sharpen from a dull, light blue haze to a crisp, concentrated, vibrant blue. I slide into the leather seat. It's as cold as the tile in the shower. I push one more button and six cylinders stir to life. I back out and we're on our way.

I navigate a few city streets before reaching the interstate. The sun is just starting to come up as I turn to the east. I've got a couple states to cover in a relatively short amount of time. I chase the sun for hours. I cover a state and a half before stopping for fuel and food. I'm making good time. "I left in plenty of time, " I think to myself. More than five hours pass before I reach the first point on the way to my eventual destination. I'm here to get a crucial tool for my quest: the glorified car hauler. I fill out the paper work, walk outside, and gaze at the piece of rental equipment for which I just signed away my life in exchange for its use. "Why is this trailer so ridiculous? It looks as if it were built to carry a tank but isn't long enough to carry a crew cab truck." I hook it up and begin to question the six cylinders' capability of pulling a trailer that looks as though it would be better served behind a semi. I'm only a few miles away from what I've come so far to see. I have done this so many times and returned home empty handed. " Don't get your hopes up. Don't get your hopes up."

I'm going to meet a man I've been in contact with for weeks now. He's been incredibly patient and catered to my every query. He's provided descriptions and pictures of everything via email. "I'm beginning to trust a stranger, again. Don't get your hopes up. But he's gone above and beyond any of the previous lazy sellers I've come across. He's even highlighted items of concern, for which I didn't even ask. He has covered everything. He's a seller like me." I wrestle internally. I pull into the facility where he works, and I spot it from the guard shack at the gate. For a moment the skies part and the sun shines on a single parking spot reflecting its midday light off of blue painted steel. I begin to smile, but immediately stop myself short of becoming overjoyed before I even get close enough to review it in detail. "Be pessimistic." I tug the battleship of a trailer around the parking lot and park just behind it. The seller is standing there waiting for me.

I ask a few questions and begin carefully inspecting each body panel. I expected more rust. It looks much, much nicer than the one I owned over a decade ago. "Could this finally be the one? I'm so picky. I've got to be selective. Will I pass on yet another one? I'm growing weary of coming home empty handed." Thoughts rattle around my head like marbles. I complete my personal inspection routine and make up my mind. This one is mine. This quest is over.

I would venture to guess at some point in almost every auto enthusiasts' life, there's at least one quest. Large or small, near or far, there will more than likely be that one quest. It's the quest where your personal unicorn just doesn't exist in your area without missing hooves, broken horns, or mange in the form of excessive rust, serious body damage, and missing parts. So we take a gamble. We search and search until we come across "the one." It's that one that we sometimes logically or illogically convince ourselves is the one for us. The price is within our reach. The appearance and mechanical failures and shortfalls are acceptable to us. It becomes ours and we'll justify its nuances until the end of time… or until we find the next one.

I completed my quest. What's yours?

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/23/2014 at 12:12

1

This is so cool! I'll share this with him now, he'll love it!

KB Garage > THOMAS5 04/23/2014 at 12:14

0

My apologies. This should've included a hat tip to you, buddy. Thanks for letting me know about it in the first place!

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/23/2014 at 12:22

0

Nah, I didn't do much. He's just relieved that it hasn't gone kaput on you!

KB Garage > THOMAS5 04/23/2014 at 12:29

0

It's doing great so far. I did a complete tune up, replaced motor & trans mounts, adjusted the carb, replaced clutch linkage and she's still purring just fine.

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/23/2014 at 12:34

0

Great to hear that! Do you plans on doing other modifications or are you going to keep it mainly stock?

KB Garage > THOMAS5 04/23/2014 at 12:38

0

New wheels came in today. Using my stock BFG's off my wrangler. Repair or replace front seats. If it gets a lift, it won't be much. I've got my JKU for rock crawling so I don't know how much off road action this one will see.

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/23/2014 at 13:33

0

Sounds like it's coming together great. I'm glad you got new tires, the old ones look weird.

KB Garage > THOMAS5 04/24/2014 at 19:35

0

I got my stock wrangler tires mounted today. I'll try to get them put on tomorrow. What do you think?

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/24/2014 at 19:38

0

Wow, much better! Its nice that you have some chrome to match the grill. Those old tires look like trailer tires, these are muy bueno.

KB Garage > THOMAS5 04/24/2014 at 19:48

0

The rims that were on it were a little wide for my taste. Craigslist!

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/24/2014 at 19:49

1

Craigslist is always the answer

KB Garage > THOMAS5 04/25/2014 at 14:46

0

THOMAS5 > KB Garage 04/25/2014 at 20:41

1

Much better. The bigger wheels make it look a lot better.

Bryce Womeldurf > KB Garage 04/30/2014 at 09:31

0

Nice Jeep! I love CJs. They're very special to me. When I was a kid, my dad had one and that was probably the first vehicle I developed an attachment to.

KB Garage > Bryce Womeldurf 04/30/2014 at 23:04

1

Thank you sir!

Bryce Womeldurf > KB Garage 04/30/2014 at 23:13

0

That's me sitting on the bumper. That picture's gotta be around 31 or 32 years old by now. I'll always remember that Jeep. It had a barefoot gas pedal and a compass bolted to the dashboard. Even though some people think "redneck" when they see that, whenever I see either of those in a car, I think of my dad. I've actually been considering adding a barefoot gas pedal to my Miata as an homage to that Jeep and to make heel/toe easier.

KB Garage > Bryce Womeldurf 04/30/2014 at 23:19

0

Wow! That's awesome! My grandfather had one when I was little. I got one in high school and have had an obsession with them ever since.

Bryce Womeldurf > KB Garage 04/30/2014 at 23:30

1

I've always loved them, but for myself I like driving something tiny so I can take corners too fast. But I feel lucky that my little brother recently bought a silver '95 so now I can experience both whenever I want. His was the first I ever drove myself. I was both mystified and kind of laughing about how long the throws are in the shifter. I had a hard time finding the engagement point. But I was impressed to find that he's figured it out. That Jeep is huge! I think his has a 2 or 3" lift and it's up on 33x12.50-15's. You don't really ride in it so much as on it, but man is it fun!