See My Latest Progress on Instagram

While it would appear from the lack of posts that I've been idle on the project, I've actually continue to work steadily on the roadster. Unfortunately, I'm now building more than I'm blogging (the opposite was once the norm), resulting in a nearly (I hope) insurmountable backlog of draft posts.

So, rather than ending up here and being disappointed at not getting the "rest of the story", check out my Instagram feed (linked at the right) to see my latest progress.

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Interstitial

OK,  I finally have a chance to start publishing some of the backlog of blog posts on the project progress.  Also, since it's been some time since I've regularly posted, I've picked up some ideas for tagging and references to people and information in my posts that will vary from previous posts.  I hope to eventually go back and retag the previous posts for easy indexing and reference in the future.

For now, you'll just start to see the old posts pop up, with the date of the work done in the title.

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Working, Not Writing

OK (or, as my boy would say, o-hay!), whereas before my problem was writing but not working on the car, now my problem (a good problem to have) is working on the car, but not writing - well, not publishing.

Since my February 13 post, I began working every Thursday and, eventually, every Tuesday and Thursday on the hot rod.  Or, as my friend recently corrected me, "roadster," as it sounds much more classy than "hot rod."  Each night, following the work session, I've diligently jotted down in Blogger my notes from the evening and attached the photos.  Now I need to take some time to expand upon (or expound) on those notes and publish the posts.

So, this is a brief update as I hear son #2 crying now, but I hope to return here soon to publish the delinquent posts.

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Then and Now

Nearly a year ago...was it really that long ago? Yeah; hard to believe. Since then, let's see: finally got moved in, settled, and cut ties with the old place and...became a dad (to a boy - can you tell from the lead pic?). It's all they say it would be - great, amazing, tiring, and more - and, yes, it takes time away from the hobby. But if you're lucky, you get a sense of perspective, too. Doesn't mean you abandon your hobby. Just means it doesn't happen at the pace it used to. And I'm OK with that. Still plugging away. Maybe just not posting as often (for sure not as often, actually!).

So...after we finished the garage work, I had to deal with a break-in theft at the old garage. Lost a few things, but nothing insurance couldn't replace. But, it sure put a dent in my whole move-in plan, as designed in SketchUp. So, spent one frantic Friday night and Saturday morning quickly dragging everything to the new place and packed it in, all around the hot rod. Oh, yeah. Got the hot rod over to the new place on its on wheels (but not under its own power).

Twice Lucky, in her new home!

Yes, there's car back there!

So now, a year later, I finally sorted out the garage and its nearly put together, just about as I planned. Spent the week I would've been at Bonneville working on the garage. Was going to check an item off the bucket list, but my buddy's vacation got canceled, so we took a rain check for next year.

Next items for the garage include: finish electrical (will list details in a future post); hang requisite art; build vice stand; and new side window (when the rest of the house gets new windows).

That's all for now, but more to come later!

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We Did It

Well, the absence of posts does not necessarily reflect the absence of work.

Yes, if you were wondering, we did raise that beam and we did install that plywood. Here's proof:

First, the supplies

Next, some work, fueled by the appropriate beverages

Afterward, a look from below

And a view from above (pre-plywood)

And another (post-plywood)

And, what, you may be asking, did I do with all that space? Well, fill it with a roadster pickup, of course!

The pickup, in pieces

And, pieces of the pickup (these actually went in cabinets)

And then, after some acrobatics and questionable moves, voila!

The pickup bed (and various and sundry pieces)

The '32 frame (crazily, my wife and I shoved this up here from the garage floor). Yeah, it was scary.

Not seen here, but in the other corner, to the left of the frame, is the cowl and other assorted parts.

I can't believe the whole thing fit up there, but it did. And, to prove I'm not the only crazy one out there with a car in the rafters (I know there's dozens of us), here's a photo of another guy my friend and I met at a car museum, who invited us to see his shop and works in progress. I told him I had to take this photograph to let my wife know doing something like this isn't out of the ordinary. This is a T, while mine is an A.

Well, that's enough for this post. Next will be Twice Lucky's first time on the road.

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Plans Afoot

Well, long time no post. Really. It's been a really long time.

But, not without progress. Moved into the new house; emptied the old one. Some good downsizing, bartering and trading in the middle. Just the garage left to move.

But...before moving it, I've got to beef up the new one. Hence, the plans seen here, thanks to my talented new bro-in-law, who exceeded my expectations for some engineering drawings of the garage loft plans.

The plan is to add a 20' 5-1/8 x 12 Glu-Lam beam in the center of the garage, resting upon a pair of 4x6 posts, and doubling up the two other 2x6 joists, then slapping 160 sq ft of 3/4 plywood on top.

This will give me a stout main beam for the chain fall/engine hoist duty, and plenty of storage above, where the goal is to store the '29 roadster pick-up body and maybe the '32 frame.

If I get all the materials in by this Friday, we're supposed to have a beam-raising party on Saturday to put the whole shebang together. If successful, photos to follow...

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Incommunicado

I'm unlikely to post anything for the next month. January 17th is the date; just three weeks away!

Only thing happening until then is cleaning out my house and preparing to move, including (groan!) all the stuff in the garage. Might get tires for Twice Lucky to make 'er a roller for the move, and that's probably about it.

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Maintenance Post

Hey all! Just checking in to let you know I'm not trapped under the car in the garage. Au contraire, I've been playing the role of general contractor on the new house my fiance and I bought. Looking forward to the brick detached two-car garage! But, in the meantime, I get to check up on painters and electricians, plumbers and roofers...it's a good problem to have, though. We're blessed to be able to get this house and and have work done to it, so I'm not complaining. I should be able to get back out in the garage soon; I've got good friends who've offered to help.

So, here are a few photos of where the hot rod is now. Just added the distributor and wire conduits recently. Need to order spark plugs (or round up some NOS ones from my uncle; I'm sure he has them) and wires, and the tires, to make 'er a roller.




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Fourth of July (Bead) Blast!

Today I spent some time glass bead blasting parts at my uncle's place. A bead blast machine is a wonderful thing to have at one's disposal. I found myself wondering today how some of these tasks were completed before we had such machines. Here's a look at the work I got done today, in "Before and After" shots:

The 1926 license plates I plan to run on Twice Lucky:



The "spoon" gas pedal assembly I pulled from the farm truck that donated its motor, and a clutch release arm, source unknown. I knew from previous experience that I could free up into good working condition a pedal this rusty after a good bead blasting and oiling, and that was the case today, as well. It operate really well, with plenty of spring tension, after I blasted and oiled it today. Not sure if I'll use this clutch release arm, but it looked close to what I need when I mocked up the transmission and pedal assembly the other day, and it's good to have options. Might end up using one off one of the Lincoln Zephyr overdrive transmissions I have, since I believe it would allow for the most clutch travel with the least pedal movement, because of its long length.



The fan carrier (no "Before" photo), with its part number visible (21A is 1942, so therefore, post-war)



And, finally, the spark plug wire "conduits". After blasting them, I tried semi-successfully to remove some dents that might impede the plug wires from easily snaking down the length of the tubes. You can see in the detail photos that one set was marked with "N" on the mounting tabs, the other with "NS". Not sure what those markings stand for.




Not sure if I'll get time in the garage on Sunday. I'm contemplating a change in my work schedule (presently a 9/80, wherein I get every other Friday off) to a straight 40-hour work week, so I have some personal time each night, instead of getting of work well after everyone else, including my girlfriend. Plus, I never can get through a "day off" Friday without having to deal with work, and usually spend them running around doing errands I could just as easily do during the week on my lunch, so where's the benefit? I can always take a 3-day weekend because I have so much vacation time, I had a hard time spending it all this year. I've ended up taking off every Friday from May through July 4.

Yeah, I think that's a change I'm going to make. As stated at the top of this blog: a(nother) measure of progress in...my life.

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Just for Kicks: My 100th Post

This is just for kicks, to commemorate my 100th post. I took the photo above and just wanted to share it. Something about the lure of a Police Interceptor is enough to tempt any red-blooded hot rodder. Enjoy! (And yes, I know you know all the words to this movie, and you know who you are!)

Mmmm...cop motor...



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A Day to Myself

I got a lot done in the garage today, because I gave myself the gift of a day without obligations, except to work on the hot rod. Before I rattle off the day's progress, I have to share these pics from this week's military vehicles show. This is apparently the big deal version of the one I attended last September. For just $70(!) you could buzz unsuspecting fishermen in the Delta in this Huey helicopter (model unknown); I suppose you probably could've added the "Ride of the Valkyries" for additional cost, judging by crowd at the show. While it would've been a memorable experience, $70 was a little dear.



Let's see, starting at about 9am and ending about 10pm (with my feet kicked up, as seen above), I got the following done today:

1. Installed the flywheel, clutch disc and pressure plate.


It's a 9-1/2" clutch, from '49-'53 Mercury (maybe Ford, too; not sure). This was easy, and I got to use my torque wrench for maybe the first time (yeah, really; I guess I haven't had to assemble anything to spec so far). Also got to use my safety wire and pliers to wire up the flywheel bolts. I used this tech post at the Jalopy Journal to help me do it right. Compare the before photo with my work. I feel pretty good about mine.



2. Based upon two friends' recommendations, I pried out the (apparently) steel "freeze plugs" or "expansion plugs" (take your pick) from the oil pan rail, and started to drive pennies (pre-'83 only, though, because they're still 95% copper, 5% zinc. After that, they're mostly copper clad zinc.) into the openings, but they were filled with a hard, clay gunky stuff. You can imagine my disappointment when my friend confirmed that, yes, I should remove that junk - it's 68 years' worth of sediment clogging up the bottom of the water jacket, and would likely cause a hot spot if not removed.

So, with picks, and awls, and reamers, I went at the four openings, tipping the motor this way and that, to get probably two cups' worth of crap out of that motor. The weird thing was that, since the flathead has two separate water jackets, one side was dusty, powdery dry rust, and other side was silty, moist mush-like mud. Ugh. To add to my troubles, there was still water in one side of the motor, which poured out when I tipped it forward.



The good news is I can feel guilt free about Permatexing up the pennies and driving them home once I could no longer get stuff out of the water jackets by tool or air pressure (which got a bunch out, too).


3. To round out the day, I finally brazed up the oil pan, and it was easier than I'd been fearing. In fact, it was almost as easy as falling off a log. I just cleaned up the hole (getting that nice flammable oil away), set the torch, and heated and melted in the brass. Alas, safety first, so I didn't try to take any "action" shots with the torch, but you can see the results. Then, for good measure, I got to exercise another tool for the first time: my DA (no, not the haircut, the tool) dual-action or orbital sander, with 80 grit (wasn't sure what to use, but that worked fine for grinding down my (admittedly) lumpy brass and shaping it to the pan. Then I leak-tested it with some solvent and, satisfied that it didn't leak, cleaned up the spot and set the pan aside until I'm ready to install it.



After all that work, I decided it was time to have some pizza and beer, to put my feet up, and read a little bit out in the garage in the very pleasant evening weather we had today.

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For a Friend

Kind of a bittersweet post tonight. Not car related, except it concerns a friend of mine; one of my cranky old man hot rod friends: my friend who lives in Oakieville, from whom I got the double pulley.

He called me the other day ostensibly to let me know about a four banger hill climb coming up this month, but I know he was really looking for a ride as much as a buddy to go see it with. That's OK, he knows I'd dig it, and I don't mind driving us. Unfortunately, I told him, I can't go because I've got a schedule conflict.

But, here's where I feel even more conflicted: later in the conversation, he tells me they've found what might be cancer in him, and he has to get a biopsy next month. My heart dropped. I felt terrible, and am worried the cancer will get him. And he's a great guy, and someone with whom I really get along well. And he's got volumes of car, not just flathead, knowledge rattling around in his brain.

While I was initially concerned, I got even more worried this might be serious when he tells me he had some guys come by his place to take away all the "junk," which included probably a half dozen flathead engines and blocks, including the complete, running-when-pulled motor the pulley came from, and the raised intake block I found. Besides the engines were pulleys, water pumps, pans, you name it, including one or two four banger blocks. I asked if these fellas were gonna go through and sell the stuff. He said, no, they took it all away, about a ton's worth, as scrap. Scrap.

Ugh, I thought, why would he have someone haul all of this away for scrap? Unless, he just needed to get it out of there now. Before it's too late. I don't know what was or is going through his mind, but to get rid of all that stuff in that way seems so unlike him. So you can bet I'll be visiting my friend soon, and seeing if I can't work out my schedule conflict and take him to that banger meet.

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A Forgotten Update

Whoops, I forgot to post my most recent modest bit of work from Saturday (didn't go hiking, but didn't really get to spend a lot of time in the garage, either). No excuses, just didn't get a lot done, BUT did primer and paint the timing cover the correct "Antique Ford Green" according to the aerosol can. Oh well, small steps.


Also, forgot last week when posting the engine stand photos to include the photos below of a valve lifter remover tool I got somewhere sometime (vague, huh; yeah, just can't remember). All sorts of variants of these things from the era, but thought you'd enjoy seeing another one. Sorry for the somewhat blurry photos; just using my iPhone - it's the only digital camera I've got.

Also pictured is a Plomb (yeah, I spelled that right) valve lifter tool. Plomb is the predecessor to Proto. You can learn more here and here. I love my Plomb tools. Have a bunch from various places, including my bro-in-law's grandfather, who was a tank and heavy machinery mechanic. Haven't spent a lot of time hunting down more to complete my collection or build a period-correct tool kit for the hot rod, but it crosses my mind on occasion. When I'm ready, here's the place to troll for them.






Looking forward to my upcoming three day weekend. My girlfriend will be out of town visiting her folks, so I'll be spending the weekend with my fickle mistress Twice Lucky.

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