[TheBettie]

Hodo:

Thank you so much for not slamming me for the length of my reply. I'm a legal secretary who is also an avid reader, so I tend to go on and on...kinda like now. LOL

I would also like to thank you for your response. I do feel confident enough to do the tear down again solo (I never thought I'd be so into tools – I just love my ratcheting wrenches, go figure). But I wanted to ask you if there's any way to see if in fact it wasn't just water that collected in her while she was exposed? I only ask because before she stopped altogether she never overheated or even came close, two quarts of oil a week notwithstanding. I never even had to top off the radiator or overflow even ONCE. Also, about the 2 quarts: how can ANY vehicle go through that much oil with never a smell, no smoke or any kind of leak whatsoever? I still don't know enough to even make a guess.

Finally, I wanted to know if you gave me the "worst case scenario." If so, I don't have the words to describe my relief (and the Baby is glad she won't have those ham-handed guys touching her stuff now that Momma's taken over). God, I love that car! Does it show?

-G