Technical What are you working on?

Filtered air valve holder upper

 

Nice, changing springs ?

 

Yes. Was new. “Z28” springs. Changing to stock 80# springs. Finally read the cam recommendations.
One less thing to blame a failure on.
These “rv” springs were less than $2 from my engine parts supplier.

 

Playing with the plasma CNC with a alternator bracket 2.0

 

Finally getting my '39 Chev out for the first time since last October! Weather is starting to look more summer like, so I'm pulling it into the driveway today for a thorough cleanup from all the dust and dirt it seems to accumulate in my metal shop building. Guessing a full day or more to prepare it for the first event Saturday!

 

I tested out my contortionist act by putting the battery back in the Henry J.
First is pulling the passenger seat and setting the battery in the floor



Then you have to go over the side bar and then under the seat belt bar



Get the battery in the sealed box then put the lid on with the 4 tiny screws/nuts, getting the back nut on is a total pain in the ass because it's super close to the bulkhead. I managed to drop the nut once, so crawl back out and over, go get the little telescopic magnet, a light and a pick to fish it out. Go back over and under then fish the nut out to start all over again, get it together then take a minute before contorting one last time.



Whomever said a trunkless race car would be cool was stupid. Lol

 

Little more progress on the stroked 428 alternator bracket. Need to figure the turn bucket adjuster next and cut some spacers.

 

What's going on with Lumpy

 

He’s taking a break as I was told by Lloyd after Lumpy didn’t reply to a PM I sent him. Lumpy did get back to me thanks to Lloyd and he’s fine.

 

Wondered the same thing good that he is fine.

 

Johnny is correct, Lumpy and I talk 1-2 times a week and he is great.

 

Cleanup went easy yesterday, and didn't even need to pressure wash the undercarriage as it still looked beautiful. But noticed trouble with two exhaust hangers that are within 3 ft. of my collectors. One totally missing the nylock nut, and urethane isolator a bit melted. Guessing heat got to the nylock nut. I replaced it with a pair of nuts to lock them together. Other side was coming looser, so removed the nylock nut and double nutted it too. One heim end for my ladder bars had the jam nut loose too! Couldn't go anywhere, but surely could wear the threads if left loose, so backed it off and put blue Loctite on it before cranking it tight.
Short test drive revealed a strange knocking noise at the right side of my firewall? Pulled the fiberglass hood to check and found the passenger side radiator rod had snapped at the firewall! Surely it happened last October when some jerk turned right in front of me from the left lane and smacked my right front fender. Never noticed it when I did the repairs and paint as I didn't have the hood off. Pulled the rod and luckily there was enough thread length at the radiator to thread more on the firewall end and simply reinstall it. Just enough threads to get a full nut on both ends now. Quick, easy repair, and ready for summer driving again!

 

Today was replace the blade on my KAMA bandsaw. They recommend to make 5 cuts in 1 inch or thicker solid stock to set the blade. This saw just amazes in how accurate it can cut. Thinnest I cut was .015.

 

As basic, and as both literally and figuratively pedestrian as it might sound:

I am working on standing, and walking, for the first time in 2-1/2 months!

Oww.

 

Planning on getting back on the bike?

 

Baby steps you’ll be up and running on all cylinders soon!
Dan

 

That bike is in the evidence locker at the police station, and no longer resembles a bike.

 

Um I missed something
Dan

 

On February 20th, I was riding my bicycle home from my shop, much the same as any other night.

It's just under 3-miles, and there are bike lanes on all of the streets.

For reasons unknown to anyone, a diver driving Eastbound crossed over the double yellow line, across the left Westbound lane, across the right Westbound lane, and into the bike lane.

I was hit head-on, mid-block, and knocked out instantly.

The driver did not stop his vehicle when he hit me. He continued to drive the remainder of that block, made an illegal left onto a side road, and then drove half way up that block, all with me and my bicycle under the front bumper of the minivan.

He then stopped, backed up, ran me over, and left the scene.

He did this IN FRONT OF A COP, and multiple witnesses.

While he got away, the front license plate from the van was lying face-up on the ground, next to my inert body.

I woke up 2-hours and 45-minutes later, in the trauma center.

Being run over got me a broken big toe on my right foot, a completely shattered left foot, a dislocated left shoulder, a broken left collar bone, a crushed right hand, and a large contusion through my right eyebrow ridge, into my eyelid, where my shattered eyeglasses nearly removed my eye, and whole mess of road rash. Needless to say, also a severe concussion.

My helmet saved my life.

Two surgeries later, I now have 23-pieces of metal in my foot, and 7-pieces of metal in my hand, along with several bone grafts.

I still have a long way to go, but every thing seems to work. I have months of physical therapy to endure. Yesterday I tool my first new steps.

Bigtime lawyers are now fully involved.

Pending charges:
Felony fleeing the scene of an accident.
Felony property damage.
Felony attempted vehicular manslaughter.

FTR: California is a "three-strikes" state, so this is a potential 25-to-life sentence.

 

Glad you're on the mend. And next time you fly with your real ID you'll light up the TSA scanner like a Christmas tree with all the metal in your foot. Plus you'll be able to predict changes in the weather.

 

Very sorry to hear this happened to you. Damn that is horrible!

 

Already do. The other leg is 40% metal.

 

I don’t even know what to say. Hitting anyone on a bike or foot would be horrendous at best, but to drive away and worse yet dragging you makes me sick to my stomach. I have no use or sympathy for this person. I wish you the best. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Get well!
Dan

 

Prayers for a speedy and full recovery!

 

Thanks everyone.

Bless you all!

 

Prayers for you.

 

Get well soon Gimpy!! We are Praying for you!

 

Don't you wish that you could have a talk with the young engineer that designed and made this,

 

Had a interesting time putting the 29 Dodge back together this week. Trans in twice, bad needle bearing pilot bushing, i.d. too tight, now an old school one and all good. The usual little things that take longer than expected. Then chased a wiring issue that took a day to find. Apparently a squirrel deposited a walnut into the electric fan over the winter before the car came by me in mid March, too cold for the fan to kick on, during the short trip here. This is controlled by a sensor in the intake but has an over ride switch under the dash which got tripped to the on position in the last 7 weeks of working on the car. Went to spin the engine over and a noticeable drop in the interior lights and the sound of the circuit breaker tripping followed by burnt wire smell. The walnut jammed between the radiator and the electric fan causing the system to overload and melt a couple wires. They don't call me lucky for nothing. A 5 mile test run was made today, and was told the brakes are a little spongy, will bleed them in the a.m. and hopefully this project is done. It does sound quite nasty now. May make a video of it tomorrow .

 

"tight nut behind the fan "...as opposed to the std. 'loose nut behind the wheel'...