I figured we’d get out of this mess in Arequipa one way or the other. I took a stroll to the Ram supplier just a few blocks away and so they mentioned their workshop was throughout city so I known as an Uber.
The driving force and I obtained chatting and he was very doubtful in regards to the supplier’s dedication to our restore. It seems his uncle is a mechanic. What luck. He known as his uncle after we arrived on the supplier’s mechanic who mentioned there’s one automated gearbox man in Arequipa. Go see him. So we did.
I thanked the driving force for his good recommendation and walked into the store. Renzo the proprietor listened to my take of woe and mentioned no drawback. Convey it by tomorrow morning. See you then. Jaime the truck driver was on the job at eight:
Renzo known as and requested if we have been on the way in which. Everybody was working to schedule round right here; I used to be shocked and delighted.
We offloaded outdoors the store, paid Jaime $55 and I drove GANNET2 into the store. The engine began and ran utterly as regular, I’d even filed the engine for twenty minutes the night time earlier than. I might even get it in gear, forwards and in reverse nevertheless it clunked badly.
As soon as in place the guts surgical procedure started and so they dropped the transmission. Think about strolling into a store on Tuesday within the US and work beginning on Wednesday. Similar to that.
It’s exhausting watching your private home coming aside however Renzo sho seems to be like he could also be in his early 30s is helped by Fran his 22 12 months previous apprentice and so they obtained on with it.
Rusty was excellent after all, curled up within the gravel watching the method, getting coated in mud and coming by sometimes.
They moved the Ford Explorer gearbox they have been rebuilding and started working disassembling mine. He wished me there watching, no discuss of insurance coverage or security guidelines or something.
It was like open coronary heart surgical procedure watching it come aside.
Fran:
Renzo:
Breakfast vendor throughout the road. Layne obtained spinach sandwiches and so they have been actually good.
Let’s reduce the day lengthy course of quick. Darkness fell and we weren’t completed. I had already talked about to Renzo we might spend the night time aboard and can we did. They went dwelling and we sat in our barely uneven dwelling the place we had dinner and went to sleep. Within the morning Rusty was irritated I couldn’t let him out for a stroll however quickly sufficient the employees arrived…and by noon, presto the transmission was disassembled on the desk.
I advised Renzo I wished it as new as potential for our journey so he began trying on the elements. I used to be freaking a bit questioning if he might discover them. He turned to me and put his hand on my shoulder, seemed me within the eye and mentioned he’d rebuilt transmissions in Ram tremendous obligation vans, 2500’s and 3500’s, Ford vans, 250’s and 350’s and 450’s and Mustangs and Dodge Challengers and the record was so lengthy I lastly shut up and he smiled and mentioned no drawback, this can get achieved. In all probability not in a single week however earlier than your spouse will get again from America. Okay then I mentioned I’ll name the tow truck. We pushed GANNET2 into the road barely down hill and I attempted to not fear how we’d push her again into the store for the rebuilt transmission.
Rusty misplaced his gravel again and again didn’t like bouncing on the tow truck however he appreciated being again within the campground.
So right here we’re, plugged in to electrical energy, subsequent to the bogs with sizzling showers on faucet and trash cans close by and every little thing, besides we are able to’t drive our dwelling. That will be awkward besides we don’t really want to maneuver.
The grocery store is 2 blocks away and the middle of the town is fifteen minutes away on foot with laundry providers, eating places and banks. I sound like a journey agent. Besides I’ve no transmission. So right here we keep. Layne leaves tomorrow and comes again on the finish of the month. Rusty and I keep and discuss to passing vacationers. I’ve given Renzo some cash so elements are in the way in which. We wait and see. Fingers crossed.