Back in the Garage Again

Yes, you should have Gene Autry in your head right now, if you know what's good for you.

(Sheesh, such attitude from one whose not been in the garage for some time, the documentation of which is the primary purpose of this blog). Anyway, now that we're past Christmas (although New Year's is lurking in the wings), and I'm over my seasonal cold, I had the chance to work in the garage tonight.

I had to cut down my rear axle spring hangers from 2-1/4" (Model A spring width) to 2" (Model T spring width).

Here's another shot comparing the shape of the Model A spring (bottom) with the Model T spring (top).

My first thought was to clamp the hanger in the vice, and just use the hacksaw, with the top of the vice as the guide to cut straight. Except that I have pipe cleaner arms and the steel is apparently pretty tough, as it should be, to support the spring, etc. So after laboriously cutting the first one with the hacksaw, and having to do significant clean up work with the file, I opted to use my favorite pneumatic tool: the cutoff wheel.


So three more rounds of measure twice, mark, cut (noisily, and intermittently while waiting for the compressor to catch up) got me to the results you see below.


Next step for the rear spring is driving the shackles in these spring hangers, then disassembling, greasing, and reassembling the spring. Installation will have to wait until we get an approximate drive angle after transmission installation, which will be the next major step.

While waiting for my friend who still has my distributor, flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate (it's a long story), rather than wait to assemble my motor, I'm going to instead finish assembly of the transmission and bolt it to the mock-up block. Then, I'll use the mock-up block and my transmission to finalize the motor mount and k-member locations, and the drive angle for the torque tube and rear end. If I play my cards right, I might get this done before New Year's. We'll see...

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The Socialite

OK, totally NOT car related, but what the heck, it's my blog, and I'll post what I want.

Went to a ritzy holiday shindig tonight and was impressed by something I've never seen in real life, much less at a party: cigars being hand rolled. Free for the taking. So you know I took. Popped it into the humidor to await New Year's Eve.

Otherwise, I'm a little tuckered from the holiday party-go-round. Only a week to go 'til Christmas, then a week more 'til New Year's. They can come none too soon for me.

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Kinda Car Related, But...

No reason for posting tonight, other than I stumbled upon this site and thought you might get a kick out of it. Buy your own low-tack stickers to apply to poorly or rudely parked cars to inform the world of someone else's lack of common sense and courtesy. Just in time for the Christmas shopping season. Enjoy!

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Holiday-Go-Round

Well, the manic "holiday" (formerly known as "Christmas", duh) season has begun, with the manic event schedule I try to keep until I drop sick, as I did the past week. Nonetheless, I came around long enough to score a string of free dinners. Go figure, a hungry bachelor with a food radar. Anyway, the pics below came from a local BBQ I attended courtesy of the body & paint shop that fixed up my pickemup on a few occasions (don't ask).






I felt the need to post, and not just anything, but CARS. This will have to suffice until the next shop day (probably Saturday; remarkably, an unprogrammed day).

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Home, Sick

Today I'm home, sick. No, not tryptophan overdose, just overwork, and probably downed by the germs coughed on my receipt by the girl at In-and-Out the other day (yecch!).

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. I spent Friday helping a friend move to Merced (for work, not the local scene), Saturday cleaning house, and Sunday hosting family and a new friend for turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I actually made the turkey (I confess, pre-cooked), sweet potatoes, and hors d'oeuvres - proving I've got mad kitchen skills in addition to garage chops.

Winter (for what it is here) has hit, along with the local tule fog. Here's my artiste shot of the RPU, supposedly a former drag strip warrior according to its windshield sticker, dripping with fog juice.

And here's Twice Lucky, up on her temporary front shoes. My uncle was right: 6.00 x 16 tires are too tall in front, even if I'm seeking a "period" stance. Probably go with 5.50s, which will shave an inch in height, and should narrow up the tire slightly.
Not sure when I'll next get to the garage; have a busy week ahead and therefore need to stave off pneumonia. Until then,

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A Laid Back Day

Today I was fortunate to have my hot rod friend (the one who gave me the Super Dual intake shown in yesterday's post) visit today. We had a nice relaxing day to visit and catch up on things, but of course I couldn't let him leave without helping out on car-related tasks, so we took this:and turned it into this:Ta-da! My roadster pickup (or RPU) that I refer to on occasion. This is the one into which the flathead unearthed in yesterday's post is going, as well as the majority of the parts hanging in the rafters. I'm just so blessed to have two car projects, but I suppose most dyed-in-the-wool hot rodders have at least that many at any given time.

Not likely to get much done this week as I have to clean up the ol' homestead in preparation for hosting family for Thanksgiving. Hope you have a great one!

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At Day's End

Well, I did it. I actually got into the garage and put in about 8 hours' worth today. Just sitting here at the end of the day, posting and wishing the photos could somehow capture all the work that went into what looks like small results. Furthermore, the pictures can't capture the sense of satisfaction I have from getting done a few of the things that have been hanging fire for some time now. (Speaking of fire, yes, that's the kerosene heater I referred to in this morning's post; kept the garage in the mid 60s this morning and this evening.

Moved the other flatheadFirst thing I did, to make better use of my limited garage space, was to finally place on a homemade dolly the other flathead I have, for the RPU (my '29 roadster pickup project). I'll tell the full tale later sometime, but the quick version is that the motor was in an Oakland Roadster Show car ('32 roadster, I have pics when it was wearing Harrell heads) back in '50 and '51, then replaced with an Olds Rocket. Sat around until the 70s, when my uncle bought it and rebuilt it with NOS Ford parts. Then it sat around for another 25 years or so until I bought it from him a few years ago. So I have a hot rod flathead that hasn't been in a car for 50+ years!
Penny BlockTwo (why not all four?) of the heat risers (or are those freeze plugs?) were blocked with pennies, an old-time trick, but since I can't remember what is being blocked by them, I can't tell you the correct reason. I can tell you that the motor was probably rebuilt in 1982, if one of the pennies they put in was a brand new one at the time.

The motor looked pretty good after its lengthy storage on the bellhousing with an oily old t-shirt as a shroud.And with an Edelbrock Super Dual a good friend of mine gave me a few years ago. Vroom, vroom!

And, finally, a quick snap of the fabrication I did on the grease baffle.I greased and assembled the front spring and shackles, then removed the jack stands so the front end is resting on the spring. Then finally assembled the brake backing plates to the spindles, including the above-mentioned fabrication work. Finally, I put the drums on (as seen in the picture at the top of this post. Tomorrow I'm going to put on the wheels and tires I have to check the ride height and take some "see what she looks like" snaps. Until then,

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Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

After a prolonged absence from this blog and, more importantly, the GARAGE, I'm back here for a quick post before hitting the garage. Even here in three-season California, today merits firing up the ol' kerosene heater to take the chill off. I hope to report back at the end of the day, or perhaps tomorrow, on my progress. Speaking of progress, other areas of my life (one in particular) are moving along swimmingly; an opportunity for thanksgiving, in light of the upcoming holiday.

In the meantime, enjoy the following video, which does it for me on so many levels: the music, the lyricism and, of course, the hot rods. (Until I can figure out how to link it from the image below, click here to go to the video's url)

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Video Escapism

Some days you need to see things like this. Today is one of them.


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A Foggy Day in Coastal Town

Some shots from my final day on the coast, starting with the little town I went to for a very productive coffee meeting, followed by a walkabout and brekkie (darn Limey talk; hey, I didn't offend the English yesterday; it's their turn today).

A little something I considered adding to mi casa, but alas, it was too large (not to mention the price: reduced from $1.8M to only $275K!). Its scale is hard to determine here, but was probably 20' long by 12' high!
Finally: I couple shots entering 17 Mile Drive. I'm not easily impressed, but I was today when I rounded the bend from the tree-lined highway to discover the coast up front and center in all its beauty: wow!

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The Local Social Scene

After my last post, I headed over to an Italian/German place. Yeah, as in the "Axis Powers," as in "we didn't win the war, but we make good food" category. That's probably in poor taste, but being from one of those heritages, I think I'm allowed. I mixed it up there: Italian pasta and good German beer (Spaten Oktoberfest on tap). Afterward, strolled over to a local watering hole to check out the spoken word/rap/punk show.

The spoken word was great!

The rap ranged from poor to great.
And the "punk rock" wasn't, and the guys stank 'cause they drank...as in too much before playing.
Eventually nearly everyone but their friends walked out, including me. Had an interesting, somewhat eerie walk alone (about a 1/2 mile, after 11pm, in an unfamiliar town) back to my hotel, but made it safe and sound.

Now, to bed.

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And for the Touristy Side...

Just wanted to post these before I head out to dinner and a spoken word/rap/punk rock show tonight. Some images from the touristy side of things.Puttin' my feet up for a few in front of my gen-u-wine gas fireplace.-30-

I Cover the Waterfront

Some shots from my stroll around the waterfront today. I can't remember the last time I was at the ocean. Now for a Californian, that's just plain sad...


Probably walked a total of an hour and a half, or two, today, so a few miles all told? Went wine tasting, and strolled in the water! remarkably, I didn't need the wine to kick off my shoes and go strolling.



And for the reflective side of me: images reminiscent of the "Footprints in the Sand" poem.

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Looking at the World Through...A Hotel Window

Indulge yourselves in a view of the coast at dawn from my hotel window. The local Chamber of Commerce must've been working overtime to call in some beautiful weather for the conference I'm attending. Tomorrow is half work, half pleasure. Saturday is all me, starting with a coffee meeting in an historic downtown setting. I'm looking forward to a little R&R!

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I Voted, Have You?

If not, I don't want to hear your complaining. If you have, and your candidate/issue lost - and we share the same opinion on them - then you can, and I'll join in. It's the American way.

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Wired for Sound

Well, it took longer than I expected, but about the average install time (90 minutes or so), but tonight I installed an adaptor (USA Spec PA15-TOY) that allows me to not only plug in my iPhone into my Tacoma's stereo, but also control it via the steering wheel and dash controls AND see the artist and song titles in the dash display! Very cool. It also has an aux set of RCA inputs so I can eventually plug in my Sirius unit.

No pics; I started after 9:30 and ended after 11:30, so it was nearly pitch dark; and I was too tired during, and too excited after the installation to consider taking pics. Very easy install, in case you've found this post via Google. Hardest part was snaking the wires down into the console. Here's a link to a voluminous post on this device, along with very helpful install tips and pics. Enjoy!

In case you're curious why I was so driven to do this tonight: I wanted this to have tunes on my drive to the coast I'll be making in a few days. Of course, I blew off studying and filling out my absentee ballot for tomorrow; guess I'll have to do that at work before turning it in. But of course, you don't think I haven't already made up my mind anyway, do you?

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Thunderstorms and Neon Signs

It's a rare occasion for me to add things like this, (although I've done it before) but I heard this song tonight on the satellite and it just fit my mood. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself behind the wheel driving down a two-lane road late at night with this crackling through the radio, and listen to that Telecaster sing...



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Shackled, Too!

Well, after some stubborn grinding, filing, hammering, wrenching, die-ing (like that's a word), and driving (with a hammer), I installed the shackles in the rear spring. Last Saturday I installed the shackles in the front spring, but I neglected to mention it in that post.



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