Technical What did you do today?

Just got done with replacing the brakes and bearing on the car trailer.
Being I smoked a bearing on the trip to Ohio.

 

Adjusted the M/C push rod to pedal bracket. It just seemed to too close to the M/C piston. Now, I'm on the HAMB and Speedways site making a final decision on beauty rings. Smooth or ribbed? Hey..... that's what she asked!

 

Drove the Hudson to work and it started spitting and sputtering like crazy and didn't want to accelerate. Pulled over to take a look and the strangest thing was the fuel pump was really loose. The bolts had backed out because they don't have lock washers. Guess I should look under the hood more often on that car. Lock washers installed. Tightened them up and went on down the road. Oh and this also solved the mysterious oil leak. Yeah I should look under the hood more often.

Sent from my A520L using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Hello,

It has been quite a busy place today. I sent my brother in law one of three 59 Chevy station wagons models that I finished for him. (he lives back east) (The other two were for the sisters, out west) The family used to go camping at the Salton Sea from 1959-63. At first, the wagon model came in the color red. Then it was sanded and primed. After a coat of white, fine sanding, another layer of white, final sanding, and finally a clear coat was applied. From the black and white photos, I thought it was white.

My wife said it was a coral color, but not pink, after she saw the finished model. GM listed it as a 1959 Satin Beige. She then picked out the color at the paint store and the process started over again. A GM assembly plant in my garage!

Why would I go through all of this procedure three more times? Well, there were three kids in my wife’s family. They had just lost their dad after 98 years. He was not in great shape for the last several months and we all knew it was time. For his last birthday, we were going through some photos in a slide show that I prepared. He was still bright eyed as he pointed out that wagon at the Salton Sea, with a tear in his eye.

He said that it was a 59 Chevy. It pulled a small outboard boat for fishing and “attempted” water skiing. Even though he was 98, his memory of that Chevy wagon was sharp as possible. He remembered the orange tent and green, Coleman “gas” pump stove.

Jnaki

Our family used that orange canvas tent (very leaky) and green Coleman “gas” pump stove, later on, when our son was older. There was a little handle in the small tank to pump the white gas into the burners. It was a smaller version of a Moon Tank with a pressure pump handle. The more you pump, the more
pressure there is for a larger fire in the burner…how ironic.

 

I boxed up more stuff for shipping, that I sold off. Then I cleaned up one of the spare cars for sale.

 

Finally started putting the wood decals on my willys wagon.Finish it tomorrow

 

Assembled the 59 Chevy dash I cut down for my COE. I use to be a prince but now I'm just an old horny toad .

 

Rode my bike back from the hamb drags. Almost home 2 hours left. Around 650 miles now that's a ride!!!!

 

Drove back also...not that far but stopped for Pizza at Pepperoni Bills in Camdenton.
Good stuff.....I think.

 

^You'll find out in the morning.
Or sooner....

 

Cleaned up some of my cars, got my welding helmet and settled in to watch the Eclipse. We had about 70% viewing here in the North East. There were a few clouds which actually made it easier to look at. The next big total Eclipse in our area is in 7 years.
Well at least I got the cars clean. Time to pick one and then head out for a Cruise Night.

 

We made eclipse viewers on the company dime at work...
Sunday I just cleaned up the Ford a little, made a run for octane booster and tightened up the alternator belt. I ordered some used rear window trim, I'll try to get that installed over the weekend.

 

So what did I do today. I have spent most of the day trying to recover of 3 days of sun and fun. I did take my 93 year old mother in law out to see her first ever in her life dark. I had to hold the crazy lady next door at bay long enough for her to see it. LOL

 

I dropped my truck off for inspection this morning after 5 years of working on it. Still lots to be done, but here is a picture of it when I got it and a couple of how it sits now.
Before picture actually looks a little better. lol
Then:


Now:

 

I took a ride in the cold Winter air, since the Sun was out, and came across this fine example of Ford engineering at my buddies auto sparky shop.
Just needs some 16 inch wheels, an old V8, and I'd call it perfect.

 

Installed the FE and 4 speed in the Fairlane so I can figure out how to modify the transmission mount and where to the cut hole and modify the transmission tunnel for the floor shift.... In the last few weeks I have painted the firewall and rebuilt the front suspension.....

 

Sprayed a little paint.

 

Got dash fully installed and wired .

 

Moved the 59 out of my staging car port for builds , so I could get to the 57 to put a new gas line on and do some wiring. It is going to a new home in a trade for a 29 sedan . I sure need a bigger shop . I can't wait to get on the 59 but got to finish my COE . Blue

 

I figured out why my Chevy II was running a bit rough. Plug wire came of the plug. It's better now. Good thing it was minor...leave for Drag Week this Thursday!

 

Today was a Sawzall party over at storage. Everything incomplete was either rendered useful components for sale, or scrap.

 

Straightened some bent valves..

Friend's v6 shitbox broke the timing belt. Interference engine. Wanted to try a new belt before scrapping the car, another guy said they sometimes straighten themselves. Sure enough, fired it up, couple loud clacks and it settled down to a nice idle. Probly wear the guides, not my problem.

 

Hello,

I am always intrigued when a package arrives on my front porch. Like a little kid, I always liked getting things in the mail. (Honest Charley, JC Whitney, etc. long before Amazon and others, like today.) Much to my surprise, this one was addressed to me. 95% of the packages arrive with my wife’s name on them. So, I was surprised.

When I opened the package, it was a surprise gift from my old high school friend that is still involved in the drag racing circles in one way or another. Jerry Bivens of Bivens and Fisher, AA/FD, "Checkmate." This past year, he and his crew did a total rebuild of Checkmate and it looks fabulous.



Of course, the hat instantly disappeared into my wife’s baseball cap collection. She is a fanatic about her hats and sunburns. It sits next to her favorite, “Nashville, TN” hat (given for the collection by her brother in TN) in her closet. So, I have the cool, “Checkmate” t shirt and she won’t let go of the hat…

Jnaki

Jerry Bivens was in my Long Beach Poly HS graduating class and was one of the locals from the Bixby Knolls hot rod, cruising area. It is so “classic” that he is still involved with his FED, as it sure looks like a lot of fun. I saw him at the Lions Dragstrip Museum cackle event in June. It was the first time since graduating in 1962. The late, Doug Fisher went to my junior high school and high school. After high school, we all went our separate ways. Bivens and Fisher, had a string of FED race cars over the years.

p.s. The new “Checkmate” sounds fabulous, too.

Check out the Bivens and Fisher FED start up during Steve Gibbs’ Nitro Revival at the Barona Dragstrip in Lakeside, CA on Saturday, Sept. 30th.

 

Cleaned up the 57,did a quick tune up , and took her for a ride . Man does this nailhead run good . This was luxury in the day . I will miss this car but will have a great time with the trade . Still need to clean the white walls . Blue

 

Put a new faucet in the kitchen...

 

Not today but the other day, finally rolled it outside for the first time in years with the body on. I'm about to commence an extended of leave before I retire so hopefully I can get something done on it when/if I can get motivated. So close and yet so far!

 

Drove my 54 Chevy 722 miles home from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Great day for an old man but I am tired. It was its first road trip and it did great. It is amazing what a guy can get done in 15 years if he sticks to it.

John

 

Garage looked like this....................all the crap and clutter since our return from Hershey last year. Spent all day moving stuff, some of it twice to pack it all tight and make as much room as I could. Hard to tell, but I could cram two more Model T's in the open area I made.

 

Picked up a new project on a trade Friday. Today I started to measure up the roof for a trim . I use hose clamps on the A & B post to use as a guide . Tape for back . Should have it cut and tacked back tomorrow. At 68 and working alone I'm not as fast as I use to be . Stay tuned. Blue