Son of Godzilla update - 5/15/07

Glad that shirt finally found its way there, Doc! (maybe it stopped at Lake Gairdner on the way?)
As for formal wear, those shirts look their best with the grease and muck - maybe add a little extra (trans fluid, anti-sieze, 90wt.) for formal occassions?
Either way, when people see you wearing that shirt, they'll know at a glance that you're a rugged individual who dances to his own tune, yet has an uncanny knack for fashion and style. Prepare to be deluged with suggestive come-ons from beautiful women who are convinced that you're a very eligible but eccentric zillionaire. Really...

 

(thump, thump, thump) Halooooo, is this thing on???

Hey Jangleguy, that thing runnin yet?

 

I think you bombed, no reply? I didn't know its amateur night............. So anyway two men walk into a bar, you'd think the second one would stop! Pa'Ching.............

 

Doc who told ya one was walking in front of the other?
I heard they were good mates so they'd have been walkin side by side, right?
Therefore the joke would end as follows:
You'd have thought they'd have seen it,huh?


ChiChing!!!

So, did ya fire it up J?

 

Good point, but as I was the second guy.............

Phew, this wasting time with bad nervous jokes waiting to hear it SOG runs is killing me, not to mention my career as a comedian that just ended with my last joke!

 

You can say that again!!!
About the career I mean. . . .

All fingers crossed here.

 

Well, it was a quick but gratifying trip.....probably the wierdest and best (in a way...) event was finding the Guy from New Zealand running the Bike....he had borrowed some lead weights from someone and I borrowed Fabians Oxy/acetylene set and melted it into two big baked bean cans to use on the back of the bike as ballast....then I remembered Burt had done essentially the same thing 40 years back....gave me goosebumps....

 

Sunday night. Much closer now, but still no fire in the hole. Spent all weekend on it. Had a major setback this morning: I was real excited to finally find out how much fuel the new tank holds, so went for that job first. Started by cleaning out any debris - poured in about a quart of gas, then loosened the hose end at the outlet bung, welded to the bottom of the new tank. After draining the fuel, I threaded the hose end back on, finger tight, then went to snug it up with the wrench. It went about an 1/8th of a turn and stopped. Uh oh. Tried to back it off, but it wouldn't budge - stuck! Apparently, some debris DID come out, but in my excitement, I didn't notice it in the threads of the hose end and, well, you know the rest: After copius amounts of penetrant and wrapping the fitting in a rag soaked in hot water (tried to expand the aluminum with heat), it finally came off, using my biggest Crescent Wrench [tm]. It was ugly. The bung and hose end are both junk. The carnage...my God, the carnage...I spent an hour trying to use old (steel) fittings for dies, but it was over...Will pull the tank Tuesday AM and take it to the radiator shop to have Denny boil it out, the Dr. Lockjaw has agreed to weld in a new bung. Spent the rest of the day wiring and plumbing, doing some light fabrication (brackets) and lots of assembling. I sent Nate (at Flat Black Industries) a couple last minute pix, in hopes that he'll post 'em here...
I dunno, you guys...I've never had this much trouble before - every day, it seems, there's another challenge to deal with and they've all added up to slowing this project way down. I'll keep working, just in case it all falls together at the last minute - but now it's looking like it'll take a miracle...
And I'm totally whipped...Gotta get some sleep now, then get up and go to work again. Thanks again for all of your support - you guys really are special people. I say we crash the nearest comedy club during HAMB Drags and take over the stage! And House, glad you made it to the salt and back. I'm still going too, no matter what: The car may be on a trailer, or it might even stay home, but I'll be there - just like you (and Burt Munro).............................

 

i need a t-shirt. how do i get one?

 

Quit yer fuckin whining and get back out there on that fuel tank. Do this: Take your die grinder [you DO have a die grinder, doncha?] or that nice new drill I bought ya and a 1/32" cut-off wheel. [1/16" wheel will work too] Ok, ok in a pinch you can use a hacksaw...you'll prolly feel more comfortable using a hacksaw anyway. Clamp one of those steel fittings in your vice [you DO have a vise still, doncha?] and make 4 grooves up the sides of the steel fitting so it looks like a tap...should work great in your aluminum bunghole. Use neversieze or some lubricant to run your "groovy" steel fitting into the damaged threads, trying to keep the damn fitting straight....
You'll need the grooves to collect all the debris tapping makes. Try it, I know it works onna counta I've done it when I needed a tap and didn't have one.
Now, just be glad you have an older brother to help you over these humps. You know I'd be there to help if I could.
BTW, I saw the photos of the tow-bar hooked to the front of the Morris. Make sure the tow-bungs are finish-welded and not just tacked...heh heh...someone could get killed...gulp!
{Private joke guys......when I welded up the frame for the Morris, Scotty had me tac-weld a pair of threaded bungs to the front crossmember as attachment points for the tow-bar. Both of us forgot to finish weld them and we towed the car all over the midwest behind my pickup and anybody else's pickup Scotty could con into towing him....the Morris went to DesMoines Goodguys behind my pickup and many long tows to the drag strips here as a towed vehicle before we noticed one day...the towbungs were only tac-welded with 2 tacs perbung!!!!!}
I'm counting on you being at B'ville, Scotty. I gotta lot of time and money invested in this trip, not to mention the hoops I hadda jump through to get time off from work..not to put any pressure on you, bro.
Besides, Jeremy's [my son, who is also going to B'ville ]Porsche with it's itty bitty 2.5 litre mill can prolly kick your morris's ass on the salt...heh heh....we'll see...now, GIT BIZZY!...see ya next month.
PS...I'm ordering 5 more shirts.

 

Good luck with it. That's how all my projects go. I have only missed one yet, so if you keep at it, you should still make it (hopes, prayers, positive waves). Just remember (I'm sure you already know this) the tougher the challenge the sweeter the victory (for me just makin it to the salt when a race is happenin would be a victory, gotta get a job with an airline that the flight bennys aren't a joke, but that's another story).

 

sleep on it Scotty. it's amazing what a few hours away from something will do to perspective and thought.not to mention grazed knuckles


ok now the serious part is over im just gonna say what yer bro said
GIT BIZZY

 

Monday PM - After work tonight, I tore the tank outa the car and ran it over to the radiator shop and dropped it off. They'll soak it in the secret sauce overnight and rinse it out in the morning, guaranteeing it ready for welding by 7:30AM. I went by Charlies and picked up a new bung and hose end. Called Doc Lockjaw and made an appointment for 7:31AM. Should have the tank bolted back into the car by noon (fingers crossed). Plenty of other things to do, but this little episode should be history by this time tomorrow (thanks again to some great friends who want this B-ville trip to happen)...
Rocky - I sacrificed a beautiful stainless fitting (how'd you know I did it with a hacksaw?), trying to save that bung, but it had lost too much meat. We'll have to amputate at the flange and fit a prosthetic bung. Just as well - I never would've trusted it...And yeah, I welded the new tow bar mounts, like the wind! I haven't forgotten about those last ones - what a trip! Don't any of you guys EVER question Rockys tack welding abilities!!!
I got in a good solid 5 hours sleep last night and I do feel a lot better about things today. I'm still committed to this deal, 100% - just getting tired and whiney. If I survive B-ville, I'll need a vacation to recover. Besides, I need to rest up for next years HAMB Drags.........................................................
Thanks again guys,
Scotty

 

Dear Anglialarry - First, let me say what an honor it is to be the recipient of your very first post on the HAMB (que marching band and confetti)!!! And your being an Anglia guy is a huge bonus to me (I'm an Anglia guy, too). And the fact that you used your first post to request a Gosson Bros shirt makes me shrivel in humility. I'm really touched! Thank you so much. Wish I could afford to GIVE you a shirt in honor of all this, but I need the bucks too bad (sorry)...
Hit the "SEARCH" button (at top of the page) and enter "Help save the Bonneville dream T-shirts" - it'll take you right to the shirt sales department and take your money before you realize your wallet is missing. Thanks for your support Larry - hope to see some info on your Anglia on here soon! I'll sip on a cup of tea on the salt, in your honor...
Scotty

 

Tired, maybe, whiney, no.

 

Hey, shut up, man - I know when I'm whiney and when I say I'm whiney, I mean I'm whiney, okay? You think I don't know when I'm whiney? HUH??? Well I do - I know when I'm whiney, so don't think I don't, 'cause I do. Got it? Okay then.....Oh man - now I feel bad for blowing up like that. Sorry, Nexxie - you didn't EVEN deserve that. I was way out of line...I'd like to make it up to you - maybe be your butler for life, or somethin'. Think it over and let me know, okay?

Picked up the freshly cleaned tank at 7:30 this morning. While rinsing it out, I grabbed a nearby 1 gallon jug and found out it holds 7 1/2 US Gallons. Combine that with the 2 1/2 gallons in the little Eelco tank and Lil Zilla now has a capacity of 10 gallons, giving it a highway cruising range of 100 miles (figured at 10 MPG). If I really feather it, I might be able to drive the whole trip without re-filling on the side of the road with the Jerry cans. That would just make it feel more legit to me...
Anyway, I ran the tank out to Docs and he was waiting for me. The new bung was welded in, tank rinsed out again and new hose end installed, within an hour. Figure in another hour to catch up on all the Custom Metal shop news, then I hit the road for town. Once back in civilization, I installed said tank, then added a 1/2 gallon of fuel to the little tank. I turned the fuel shut-off to 'on" and nothing happened. Huh?! An hour later, I'd torn out the shut-off and tested it with water a dozen times, still clueless. Doc had joked earlier in the day that I should take a course in fluid dynamics and sure enough, that's what it'll take me to figure this out. After work tomorrow, I'll take it to Charlies and see if he can show me why it isn't working. Opens and closes, nice and smooth. I have fuel flowing freely, right up to the shut-off valve, but when I open the valve, the fuel won't go in there! Weird.........
So I moved on and took care of a few little screwdriver jobs, plus fabbed a bracket to hold the new trans fluid dipstick and then it was time to get ready for bed! Another day, gone...At this point, I'm back to saying it's a 50/50 shot that I'll make it. Whatever happens, I can say I gave it 100% - the rest is out of my hands. Gotta sleep now.......
Oh yeah: The helmet arrived last night. And get this: It seems to be a perfect fit! Whew.........Goodnight.

 

Actually, to save some time and frustration, click here...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175512

I did it the way you said, and there were no hits... it's actually "support" the Bonneville dream.

Can I get one free now?

Jay

 

Dang, you cant even remember where to have people send you money THATS TIRED!
50/50 my arse!! If you don't get one run this year I'm coming over to kick your butt, and I'm bringing the rest of the board with me!

 

Here is whats has been keep ole' Scotty busy these last few days.
And yes we have plenty more shirts to go around EVEN with Rockys' big purchase!!
Thanks Rocky....Shirts are in the mail.

NOW HERE GOES!

 

Morris porn, do you find lady morries at the garage door of a morning?

 

Hey guys, if you go looking for shirts please PM me first. Seems we are out of Larges here in Vegas. We may have some in Oregon to cover you.
Thanks
Gosson support team.

 

looks good!

 

50/50 chance my ass!!!You've got too many people supporting you to even say that.So quit your damn "whineing" and git-ur-done. Sure will be glad to here you've got a fire lit in it though.Don't give up,it WILL come together!

Frank

 

Hey guys - Thanks for all the support/threats! It's almost ready to fire now (maybe Thursday?). Notice in the photo (thanks for posting pix, Nate!), everything on the engine's pretty and clean, except the carbs - gotta go through them in the AM, then I might just hit the button - we'll see...
Hey, remember me whining about the mysterious fuel flow problem? Well today I was discussing it with Charlie and he says, "That hardware store valve probably has a check valve in it" and sure enough - it did? Made of genuine plastic, too. The fuel ate enough of it to allow a tiny trickle to get through, but that's it. I ordered a REAL fuel shut-off valve today...how embarrassing..............yeah, I'm tired.
Heading up to Ms. Jangles place for a goodbye dinner (she's blowing town for a few days) and a good nights sleep. Then tomorrow, I'll twirl wrenches like the wind. Hope to have positive news to report tomorrow PM.
Scotty

 

first time posting on this thread...but I just wanted to say I think your an inspiration to everybody...what a thrash!!! good on ya!!

 

Hey Spuds - Thanks for the kind words. But this thrash is nothing, compared to a lot of others on here...Just seems big to my whiney ass.........

Today I started with the carbs. Had kits here, but no carb cleaner, so off to the store. Came home and rebuilt both carbs in record time and bolted 'em on. Then I put the linkage on - uh oh. The bottom of the main link to the throttle cable hits the new valvecover spacers (need 'em to clear the new stud girdle). After much careful grinding, done by trial and error (heavy on the error), it worked and I now have full throttle again. Okay. Almost ready. Need a new fan belt now that I've changed pulleys, so off to the store again. Got the right belt on the first trip to the store! Cool...Put in the radiator and hooked everything up. Decided to hit the START button and get some oil pressure. Put battery in (after rewiring a couple more things) and hit the switch - it zinged over like it had an actual high torque starter! That's when I noticed the smoke. Somethin' was burning pretty good. Turned out to be the trans brake wiring (don't know why). Unhooked trans brake and tried again - oh yeah, baby! 60 psi, in about 5 seconds. Crawled back under car to check trans brake wiring and it was okay - that's when i noticed the leak - that pesky leak at the back corner of the oil pan again - Aaaarrrggghhh!!!!! I hate leaks. And that's when i noticed it was an hour after quitting time. Now I'm late for bed. Got a big day at work tomorrow, then will get back on this Saturday - after meeting little bro VW Habit at a local car show and driving out to Dr. Lockjaws to bring home my '36 Ford PU that I dropped off there 5 years ago, when he said I could store it there for a year. The friendship is more important than firing the engine. And by the way, Doc says he'll probably miss the B-ville trip, due to a big nostalgia drag race he doesn't want to miss.
So that's today report. Sorry for the disappointment, but hey - I'm disappointed too...No sweat though - we still have 16 days to get ready...

 

And $21.50 more in the bank, too.

Jay

 

Come on, buddy....we`re all pullin for ya.....

 

Hey, thanks Jay! Everything helps...

 

And just what are you pulling on, House? Okay, thanks for the support. It's 2:30AM - just came in from the shop (been playing with wires, etc). Since I started this project back in October, the people involved have amazed me! So many have stepped up to the plate - a lot of whom I've never met! It's been a most incredible time in my life. Everyone on the HAMB has been so inspiring - if you guys only knew what House has been up against..........
So I'll continue to give this my best shot. Right now, it's time for me to get to work (for da man what's keepin' me down under his thumb, etc). Will be back asap.
Thanks again, everyone!
Scotty