I’ve got a lot going on between my day-job, construction activities on my property, and … the birth of my first grandchild! Naturally, family always comes first! So, I’ve been slow to edit and release content. However, I have a sizeable backlog of footage and content that needs to be shared with you in the near future. I’ve made modifications to the intake, mounted a new intercooler, and added a sensor to the exhaust manifold. I’ve also recorded a comparison of the stock turbo and the hybrid one I’ll be using.
Moving Evonne Out of the Way
In this video I’m sharing how I managed to move Evonne out of the way for workshop construction efforts. I had removed the intake and a bunch of sensors, so I didn’t want to reconnect the battery, much less put a key into the ignition and turn it on. So, I found information on how to get the vehicle into neutral without a battery connected or a key in the ignition.
It’s rather simple to remove the bottom of the shift lever’s boot, which only snaps into place in the console. I used a metal tool with a plastic card to protect the wood in the console. I recommend using a plastic prying tool, as I wound up punching right through the boot with the sharp metal tool. I had a replacement boot and knob, already, so damaging the boot wasn’t a problem for me.
Once the boot was popped off, there was a metal tab on the gear selector mechanism that released the lever from the Park position. I pulled the lever all the way back into Drive, then pushed it forward one notch into Neutral.
If you ever need to do this, ensure you are on level ground, have your foot on the brake and/or have the parking brake set. You don’t want the car to start rolling away. Keep something available for a wheel chock when you are pushing it. If the car tries to roll, you want a way to stop it before it builds any momentum.
Timelapse of the Workshop Addition
I know, I know… I didn’t built the workshop myself! I hired somebody to get it done, but I don’t think that building a pole barn is the type of content that I want to produce. I’m much more interested in mechanical and electronic things, and chose to let some pros get this done for me.
I got the builders’ OK to record a time lapse video. So, I put my GoPro on a tripod and set it for timelapse mode at one frame every two seconds. I plugged it in to external power, because those cameras really go through batteries quickly. The workshop addition is a basic pole barn construction and the Amish workers the general contractor brought in were extremely efficient. So, the addition was built in a day. Of course the ground was prepared ahead of time. The structure, doors and concrete are still to come.
Even at one frame every two seconds, I sped up the resulting footage by an additional factor of ten to keep the length of the video reasonable. Check it out and note how the shadows move while the work is being done. Enjoy the timelapse!
I really think the work they did was very quick and of good quality. I’d certainly use this contractor again.
—Mark-A-Billy
Moving Evonne Without a Key in the Ignition