Pic Problem Solved

With the help of dad. The accelerator he has on the internet connection was set on high which I guess changed the resolution of the picture as it uploaded. All the bad pics that were loaded since I've been here have been changed. Enjoy.

"Blown TC"

(I have no clue what's going on with the pictures other than this is the "new" blogger. Blogger is using the new program and has eliminated the beta version. I am using the same camera and settings as all the other pics in the Blog. As soon as this problem is solved I will upload new copies.)

I hadn't planned to make an entry today but I got my hands dirty a little ahead of schedule (I had planned to take a break until Jan 1st.) We had a set of shocks to send out so Blown TC got her shocks taken off and packaged for shipping. It wasn’t much of a problem but I had to use hand tools on most of the bolts, not much room for power tools to be used. As promised here are a few pics of “Blown TC.” It’s still my favorite at the shop next to my own of course.

That big supercharger (blower) stuck on the side of the engine gives Blown TC her name.

Almost looks like Christmas! So many packages.

Sans fenders and running boards (gives more room) sitting in front of my TD. Notice the shops paint? Slowly you’ll see the shop changing to a new paint scheme and more organization.

Note: Dad was beat up today by an Austin Healey Sprite’s electrical wiring harness! He got most of it solved but he's a bit sore. LOLOL

A New Chapter Begins

I’m up in NH now and starting at the shop. There are three main cars on the restoration schedule. One that has been in the shop for total ground up restoration which is a ‘52TD. A ’53TD “racer” that is going from racing days to a leisurely driver. And my favorite a ‘48 supercharged TC, which is all original and my dad says it’s one of the best cars he’s seen that hasn’t had restoration work done.

Right now work is being done on the body tub of the ’52 TD after sandblasting the rear wheel wells we found rust holes that need to be cut out and replaced with a new pieces of sheet metal (sorry no pic on that one.) The chassis has been done for a while so hopefully this TD will be back on the road in the near future.

Fender well rust on the '52, not far from an old patch done years ago.

The TD racer (at least we think it was) that came to the shop a few months ago, complete with a family of mice , had the wrong carbs (larger ones for racing) has gotten a rebuilt set of original carbs. There was low compression on two cylinders so we pulled the head and did some valve work which solved that problem. After fixing a few minor problems with the distributor etc and a new fuel line and pump she was purring like a kitten. The missing radiator brace (removed for bigger air cleaners) was replaced. Brakes are done. Gas tank will be back on soon after the inside is coated.

The "New" old carbs

Work is being planned on getting the “racer” dash out and an original one pulled together. The scavenger hunt has begun for the center panel guages, the horn button etc. And she’s going to get a new interior.

"racer" dash (wiper motor wires are interesting)

The supercharged TC, “Blown” TC (I’m trying to give each project car a name), is in the parts gathering stage. This week I will pull the shocks and get them sent out with another set to get rebuilt. And somewhere I’m hoping to do a little something to my car. I’d really like to have something to take out on the road this year.

My Last Week at Ford!!!

Just a Quick post to let people know I'm still around. I'll be heading up to NH Saturday to spend Christmas with my parents and begin working at the shop. Hopefully I'll have a bit of time to work on MY car too and have it ready for the road by summer. Wouldn't that be great! I'll have to see what GOF is near by and use it to set a goal for completion. As I work in the shop I hope customers will allow me to post pics of the cars I'm working on to show the work I'm doing. Maybe I can put a check off box on the bill. Just kidding! I should be at work starting on the 26th or there abouts. I'll post what I'm up to then.
Have a great Holiday Season.
Chuck

It"s been a while...

It's been a while since my last post. Yesterday at work the separation dates were posted, mine is 1/1/07. Which means with the Christmas holidays figured in, my last day of work will be the 22nd of December. Soon after I will head up to NH and spend the holidays with my parents and start working at the shop.

I was able to get up there a couple weeks ago and work a bit on the shop. Yes ON the shop. With my mom being ill and dad having to spend more time around the house taking care of things the shop hasn't been getting the attention it needs other than a sweep now and then. Dad has been waiting for one of us (6 sons) to take an interest in the shop. Up until now no one has had the desire or the flexibility to do so. With the buyout from Ford (mainly my early retirement) I have the opportunity and the medical benefits that I needed to move up there and work in the shop. Yeah I've been going up and working on my car during vacations and layoffs but to actually move and become a part of the shop is something else. I think dad has been wanting to slow down a bit and relax a bit (yeah right!) and enjoy life. There was a rumble or two about selling the shop but I don't think that would have been what my dad wanted. He's a tinkerer by heart and he loves to work on the old MG's so I didn't think he'd give up that easily.

So with a new start at the shop we decided to spruce things up a bit and began painting. Dad has been trying to do that for a couple years now. I was able to get him to slow down a bit to do some spackeling and painting. (Then he was off for a southern trip with mom and the camper.) Well when he was gone I got the "clean room" pretty much done and got started on the back wall, which I would like to make the engine area. Heck there are 3 sitting on that wall now that are rebuilt, I just went with the flow. Next we hope to paint the paint booth (is that redundant?) then move on to some more of the main shop.

I'll keep you posted. If anyone is actually reading this Blog!