Engine is Back in Business!

With the transmission off, we started the engine yesterday- It was smooth as butter. Well... Maybe more like smooth as cracker jacks but it was still good :) We had gone back to the hardware store with a bolt that fit into the holes- They didn't have the size so we took a cab to ACE. for the $30 cab ride and $5 for the bolts, we got away very inexpensively on this fix. This problem could have ruined the fly wheel. It could have ruined the $800 starter. It could have ruined the crank shaft which cost more than an engine to fix. We are very blessed that there was no damage to anything other than the bolts. They had used such soft bolts and didn't use locktite so they just sheered right off. If that happens again, we will have damage to the engine. We bought hard bolts and brett used locktite to hold them in. It shouldn't happen again.

So we are back on schedule!!! We hope to leave Tuesday after this storm passes and make our way to Pensacola, FL. From there, we'll hop to Apalachicola. Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!