Projects Finally My '26 Chevy Roadster Build

Glad you found something to fix it then. As to taking things apart before having room, I can relate to that many times over. It seems every time I have room to get my car in my shop POOF there goes the room, I thought I had. So, I can feel your pain on that.

 

I have so many little projects that could further the roadster and help clean the shop but without space to start with they just add to the mess and well as lost parts.

 

Humm I couldn't agree more.

 

I don't think there is any such thing as "enough room in the shop", it's a myth.

 

lol true enough.

 

The hardest thing about getting some working room is finding that first 4' by 4'. Once you get past that, small projects can be pumped out readily. But that first 4' by 4' is a real pain!

 

4'x4' is my new goal, THANKS! I found your tracings and a set of copies I had made. I'll try to send then to you next this week. Lots going on here but not much roadster work. I found another Clifford 2 piece timing cover. Was hoping for one with better logo lettering. Maybe there weren't any.
Oh well, I have one for the 292 six for my flatbed now.

 

Thought that I might let you know that I am still around.
Well, I lost my 4'x4' in my shop! Can't hardly get in the door! Had the in-law's estate sale this summer and what a mess! Haven't said anything until I could cool down a bit! Picture cleaning out a 69-year accumulation on 39 acre orchard owned by a field mechanic and teacher. Four kids, my wife, the oldest wants to save everything, third oldest, was putting EVERYTHING in the dumpster, second and fourth oldest didn't care, just SEND US THE MONEY!!!!!! The mother is overbearing (Alsheimer's) (yes 'IS', the two that "send us the money" could not wait! they were going to sell the place until they found out that it was going to cost them 25% if they did it before she died) and instilled in all four kids that if they were not in charge, they weren't anything!
I'll stop here!

 

I went to an old college friend's wife's family's ranch between Carson City & Tahoe to help him load a couple of old John Deeres they gave him. Over 100 years if wagons, farm equipment, tools. & vehicles turning into soil. Beautiful property! Like all families some want to save if for future generations and others want the cash. The cash group won out with my family's land in Texas so here I am.

Two days ago I lost my good high school hot rod friend 1 day before his 79th birthday. I could write a book about our misadventures in the SF Bay area during the 60s - early 70s. A very American Graffiti time. He built the nice cars and I built the rest. I feel this one.

GG2, Good to hear from you! I haven't made any roadster progress except for finding a couple more parts. I didn't make much shop progress either. I did find the gear I needed to fix my lathe and am putting it back together. That will help with the cleanup. Leroy & I are going to set up a work schedule and approach this like a job. He is driven and has every thing at his place under control and still wants to help build the roadster. We need to get this done, there is an expiration date.

 

That is so true! I've got to get my ass in gear, get my 4'x4' back, and make headway on sketches!

 

If I get the lathe together I'll have the 4x4. With Leroy's help I can finish the pegboard and I'm just going to have to haul some stuff away. There is too much junk & stuff I'll never use sitting where the good stuff needs to be.

 

It frosted the garden Friday Nite' so after picking up squash, I pulled the parts out of the citric acid barrel that had been in since ah, ah, ah May! On some of the cheaper materialled parts, I did have a little damage. Teny tiny pin holes (depressions). Neutralized, blew dry with air compressor and heat gun. Gave everything an etching primer coat. I'll have to take the soaking back inside now. (After getting my 4x4 back!) (Did find that a crockpot works good for smaller parts in the winter)

 

What do you use to neutralize the citric acid?

 

I rinse it off with water and let it dry then I rinse with baking soda & water and dry it again. Then either paint it or coat it with something prevent to from rusting again. Paint is best I think.

We got a freeze last week. Been draining hoses and moving stuff inside. Time to button up. Starting to feel a little better and getting some energy back. Getting something done every day and it will eventually lead to the shop & the roadster.

Lost another friend a few days ago the day before he was 79. This one hurts. We were high school friends and the only one I still had regular contact with. He bough my '38 Ford coupe when I was in JC. He told me once that the started his family in that car. I laughed and told him I started lots of people's families in that car, not true but funny. We had many adventures lots of them automotive. He often called to check on me and we relive pieces of our youth. Going to leave a big empty space. American Graffiti had nothing on us.

 

Six Ball how long do you normally leave in the citric bath? And what is the mix?

 

Usually just a few hours. Heavy rust may take a couple if days with some scrubbing along the way. If you leave it too long it turns black.

It doesn't take much and the ratio is flexible. Start with about 1/3 cup of food grade citric acid to a gallon of water. You can tell in a few minutes if it it woking. You can add more if you like. No need to make it too strong it will find every little cut or scrape and be very uncomfortable. You can reuse it until it stops working then you can just dump it on the ground. It is nontoxic.

 

I have a few small bags of and maybe a small bucket or two as well. I have been doing a lot used horseshoe art and some are pretty rusty and just need something a littler faster to de rust so less time blasting. Thank you.

 

This should work. I like the patina on some of that kind of art but have to be able to weld it.

 

I should visit this thread more often, lots of great info. The 4x4 work space is a great idea if you can keep it. i cleaned out a 6x13 space in the basement but that left the rest of it stacked 2-3 items high. Being thin has its advantages, I only need 10 inches of space to get around things

 

Glad to see you here! Looks like there may be a need for a mobile shop cleaning business?

 

There are mobile shredding trucks around here that clean out office paperwork, you may be on to something. Most of my household clutter is stuff from two family houses and my inability to refuse accepting free stuff. That barber chair in the classified section it a prime example.

 

I still have the Texas farm/ranch records from the '50s sorta agricultural history now. One of my problems is I can't do any open burning here. The ground is too hard & my equipment too small to dig a big hole. I'm too far from pavement for a yard sale. Guess I have to haul it out a piece at time like I brought it here. First I have to get off my butt & load it.

 

I'll have to get some photos off my Phone and load them to my computer then maybe post a few here.

 

Hey, SB;
That is one of the reasons they make good quality woodstoves. Sadly, the proper piping will cost as much as the woodstove. Just think of paper as really thin flat slices of wood... . Does burn quick n hot, so care is needed not to overheat stove. But heat is heat, as long as it's not overwhelming. I'm getting mine back in operation this year, nothing wrong w/it, just needs a good cleaning & clearing around it, + of course, the wood brought indoors. I do like the wood-heat feeling, associated mess - well, not so much. Last storm through, "gifted" me w/~ 15, 75-100 yo oaks to create firewood with. So much for the wooded-glen effect I bought 25 yr ago...

Glad you're making progress.
Marcus...

 

Marcus, I have a wood stove and many lifetimes of great pinion pine right here. Properly cured it is the best firewood ever and fee. The wood stove is in the shop. We don't heat the house with wood any more because the ash & dust was bothering my wife's breathing. All of the crap up here won't burn but what will safely will go through the Ashley Airtight, the Hippies' choice from the '60s and pushed in the Whole Earth Catalog I brought with me from CA over 50 years ago. Headed to VC to vote as many times as they'll let me!

 

chuckle...
Marcus...