pflaming

The long heat spell is about over. Now will be very nice until mid November, the will get down into the low 40”s

Mine don’t have any. 

Today I watched a video of a Buick start up after sitting for decades. When the mechanic checked the oil, he touched it with a finger and put that drop of oil to his tongue. I’ve never seen nor heard of that.  Have any of your?

We live at the base of the High Sierra’s.at 500’ above sea level. When we drive 45 miles to the east, we are at 6500’. When I test drive my truck, or when I get bored, i take that drive. After that drive, i’m not afraid to go anywhere. This winter I.will put either a T5 or an r10 overdrive in it. That will make it even more fun to drive. 

These vehicles are so dependable. I have a 3;73 rear end and disc brakes and I go where I want when I want. It cruses at 60 MPH and will go faster upon demand.  I’m still recovering from the Lyme infection so only at about 30% of what i was 18 months ago. Bad, bad stuff. 

My sportster is about ready to go. 20+ days above 100 and six more to go, slows one down. 

Yes, that is our intent. Ive had enough of concrete and people. We will move to a site above Bath on the bank of the Kennebec river.which is half a mile wide at our location. Where the eagles and osprey feed every morning.  Or et of departure is early May.

I’m down sizing, cleaning, reorganizing my shop for the final work on my cars. It’s amazing what I am finding. Once reorganized to my current way of doing things, the tasks will be much easier and more efficient. 

I bought a new 63 chevy !! Station Wagon. That was a GREAT car. I ordered it with a car rack and porta white walls. I couldn’t afford real WW’s. We had a thick soft blanket in the back and lots of toys for our two children. Would be thrown in jail for that today.

I had a HS friend who painted his white walls. When they showed the least amount of wear, he would remove the tires and totally redo the paint. He was very particular. when the roads to school were muddy, he would come early, go to the local car dealer and wash his car before he came to school.  I do recall the porta white walls. 

I have AAA premium, it will haul me home or 250 miles. I’ve only used it once. With that I never worry about breaking down. 

Heat hear for another 8 days. 

Based on current plans, we will move to the Bath, Maine area in May. Will ship my truck so sill have that to drive to the show next year. We are in a heat wave here, already some 20 days above 100 and expecting another 10 more. It is time to get out of here.  

Scarebird duplicated Rusty Hopes” disc brake mounts. I asked Rusty about that, he concurred and said there was nothing he could do about that. I have two Rusty Hope kits and will get one more for my sportster. I have fabricated a very nice floor shipfter fo my ‘50 truck but wont put it on the market for that reason.  I don’t support duplicators.

I drove Dad’s ‘50 M-H grain harvestor . It was a hot dirty job, it had a mopar engine. We world put in 8-10 hours in the heat of the grain field. That engine never, ever sputtered.  If these engines are driven at the correct RPM’S and steady, they will run forever.  Once my truck is repaired, I would not hesitate to drive it coast to coast.  We move to Maine in spring, I may drive it out. Dress in ‘50’s clothing and eat at vintage diners. Would go about 350 miles a day and enjoy the scenery. 

I have a 3:73 rear, disc brakes up front, 15” radial tires, all else is stock on my 218 B3B truck. It’s in for repair now, but I drove it every where. On the freeways I always follow the trucks but can pass them at will. I’ve been up in the mountains and down rural vacant back roads, It is so much fun to drive. 

Update on my$50 trailer. Will paint the dark areas matt black. I have several sets of Dodge hub cabs so will paint the wheels and put dog dish caps on. Tires and wheels already are 15”. Maybe I should put different tires on it also. 

If you are using an electrical fuel pump, I suggest you install an oil pressure safety switch so that if you have an accident the fuel pump will shut off and not start a fire.  I have replaced my electrical fuel pump and bought a new mechanical.  Don Coutney suggested the safety feature. 

Won’t make it this year, but moving to the Bath area in May, so will be able to next year. 

Maybe you can get some ideas from these guys.

Update: Early last week I had a fatigue relapse. I slept on and off for two days and three nights. Was better by mid week, so got a few things done. Two important items, repaired and axle seal and Installed the pedal assembly. That is a hard one, requires a lot of body twisting.  Tomorrow, new cable tubes then ready for engine install.  Weather stays above 100 and will be thus all this week. 107 and 108 on Wednesday and Thursday.  . 

Update: I have had a fatigue relapse so lost three days, back in the shop some again. I repaired a leaking axle seal and have installed a new pedal assembly yesterday. With an old stiff body, that was a challenge.  Clutch and accelerator cables are also in, so about ready to install the engine.

Side bar, I have an R11 BW overdrive transmission, is anyone looking for one.

Heat, still in the 100’s, will remain thus for another 10 days. 

I yield to the advice of my friends. Will get all just saleable and sell..  Yes, the truck is special. I’m finiding it to be harder to get out to the shop, the interest in nuts, bolts and grease has suddenly diminished.  It is invaluable to have honest friends. Thanks. 

I just came upon the above post. This will not be sold by me, it will be my fun car. I have a tow bar so i can take it to the dunes, mild off road trails, etc.  I do have a bit of time into it, but not much money.  Not much difference in this and a plastics kit car, both have their place. Will post again when I drive it out of the shop.  Chow!

Ulu, you have quite the ‘love’ for bicycles. Your work is admirable. 

When I started this project I bought a disassembled 63 VW, parts for three engines, a separate pan, all from one source. I paid $80 for the lot. A grandfather was downsizing and this as a 30 year old inventory of his youngest son, he just wanted it gone. I bought the frame for $10. Then I traded the engine parts for this engine, sold the head and taillights for $50, and the car body and glass for $700. I didn’t think it would be a difficult build,  I was wrong.  Now I’m down to some minor electrical, bleed the brake lines, fix an axle seal and a few other laborious details.   My Lyme infection has slowed me but it is slowly abating.  So are the controls ready, I believe so.    

At a hay meadow it was always said that when counting the stacks, there would always be one or two hidden stacks. Same with a build, their is always an item or two invisible items.  Chow. 

Engine is ready for installation. It is prewired, so just need to connect a couple wires.  So it appears the light at the end of the tunnel is NOT a train.