A check-in... boy am I slow at this work, but heck I'll keep going at it.

I just spent the majority of the weekend finding ways to get out stripped screws. Someone tightened the daylights out of these the last time. Just finally realized what you meant by removing the distributor completely. Suddenly it looks like I'll be able to get that broken one out.

I did have to finally call it quits a half hour ago as it got too dark and the tropical 35 degrees was going away.

I really hope I can get to that compression test soon - I'd imagine next weekend at the latest.

A few areas I'm curious now:

1) Have not figured out yet how to disconnect the electrical connector to the distributor. It's either jammed in or I haven't found the release. Haven't found a good instruction on it yet either.
2) When I get to reassembling stuff I want to avoid making the mistakes the last person made. First, I'm wondering what are the best techniques for lubricating the threads for screws/bolts attached to electrical and non-electrical items. Second, Some of these screws and bolts are older than death and look pretty lousy - wondering how you'd recommend I go about getting new ones. I checked out the local AutoZone and Advance but could not find the sizes I needed.

I've got a real appreciation for this work about now. But I think I'm also getting the bug myself, even though I'm having a really rough go - getting two stripped screws in tough spots out in one day feels like some perverse accomplishment to me.