Sore as heck...

Yesterday was a payback day for the loan of scaffolding that we used siding the new garage at the house. It was sided with 1” by 10” boards, some 16 feet long. Without the scaffolding it still wouldn’t be done. It made the project go pretty quick. So yesterday we helped the “loaner” put up a pegged barn, 24x40. It was a lot of work and there were probably 20 guys there but it still took 8 hours to erect the framing. There was a crane to help so we didn’t have to use pike pole and push up the sections. I didn’t have my camera there so unfortunately I don’t have a pic. Needless to say I’m a bit sore today hence the title of this post.

Things are going well in the paint booth. We needed to get the green paint out of the gun so the doors For BlownTC got the first 6 coats of paint. This week the body tub will get sanded and get the finish coats of paint then move back to its frame for good. This will free up more space to get the Beasts body tub ready for paint; the doors are ready now.

I’ll post pics by the end of the week. Time to stack wood. Later…

Going Green...

Yes there was green painted today! And the green looks nice. You can’t tell by the picture because the flash washed it out. I’ll take more tomorrow without the flash and see if I can get a more accurate picture of the green. BlownTC’s body tub had it’s first coats of paint it will sit until Monday then get a light sanding and then get several more coats.

BlownTC in Green

Nothing much more to say it’s all prepping, sanding, priming, sanding, painting, sanding, and painting…. But it is good to have painting weather, finally.

It's getting chilly!

Hey guys I’m still around. There hasn’t been much to write about with the restorations. A lot has been backing up at the paint booth. With all the rain last month painting came to a stand still with the high humidity. Now that the weather has changed the paint booth has been in gear again. There has been a lot of prep work getting done but how far can you go when everything is just piling up. We were working on 53TD’s fenders, running boards and aprons. Today the fenders got the last coats of paint. It will be a month or so before they can be rubbed out and installed but they are painted.

Tomorrow the body tub for BlownTC will get a few coats of green paint. It has been sitting in the Q at the front of the paint booth. Once it’s painted it will be put on the chassis to dry. I’ve been working on identifying the holes on the firewall to figure out which ones need to be eliminated before paint. There are quite a few holes that aren’t needed.

I worked on the Beast’s doors yesterday, sandblasting them and filling in a few dents. They are ready for primer. The body tub is almost there but it isn’t needed until the TC tub is out of the way.
That’s it for now I’ll have some paint pics by the weekend. Later…

More....

I didn’t have a pic of the back of the dash but here it is.
Also since I’m posting…the fenders for 53TD are ready for paint and may get painted tomorrow. The running boards will be ready tomorrow also.

And BlownTC’s steering column is ready for paint. The steering box looks ok as far as play in the shafts go. Once painted the Thompson kit will go in. The radiator is straightened out (the fan had hit it flush and put a nice circle in it by bending all the fins) so it is ready for paint also. The rear shocks are in. The distributor is on and timed and a new cap and wires have been fitted. We did a tail pipe fit with a TD down pipe and a TD muffler and it looks “doable.” A little more flow with the supercharger can’t hurt. Speaking of the supercharger the idler for the belts has a crack in it from top to bottom. The bearing was frozen and not turning, we opened it up, cleaned it and when the bearing was pressed back in the crack was opened. The machine shop said the crack was an old crack and filled with dirt and grime. It can’t be welded but they can make a new one without any problem. More to come………

The update!

An update on things at the shop. First we finally have a BRG (British Race Green) paint we are happy with. Both BlownTC and the 54TF are going to be BRG. There has been some repair work but it doesn’t seem like a lot of cars are getting out this year. I’ve been to Buffalo and back again since the May visit and I’ll probably be going again at the end of this month. There is a lot of work getting done on my carriage house and it’s killing me not to be there in the thick of it. Ok on to the updates.

53TD’s interior is pretty much finished. The last things are the steering wheel and hand brake and possible the seat back brackets. Dad has all of the last body panels in primer and ready for paint. The weather hasn’t been cooperating with all the rain and high humidity.

53TD

BlownTC’s body tub has been in primer for a while now. Now that we have the BRG it’s in the paint booth line up. The front end is finished. The engine has been cleaned, degreased, cleaned, paint stripped, cleaned…you get the picture. Well here is a picture,

BlownTC

We are correcting and fixing problems as we find them. That is the one thing that cleaning lets you do is see the problems beneath the grime. This week the brake system will be finished, the rear shocks will go in, as well as the rest of the engine parts will get back on.

54TF’s body tub is finished and ready for pre-primer body prep. The new fender wells are in and the body has been stripped and sanded. Now we will fix the small blemishes and prime it.

54TF bopdy tub

Well that is the quick summary; of course there has been a ton of small things that have been done too. And some of the jobs weren’t as easily completed as they were stated.

And then there is my car… I haven’t been getting one little thing done each day as I promised myself I would, but there has been progress. Mainly my dash panel is finished. Here is the front…and the back. Looks just as nice!

My dash panel

I'm over here!

Yes I’m still alive!!! I guess I kind of got burned out on the blog. Mainly because I’m not sure it’s being read and I may be wasting my time taking pictures and posting them. As well as the lousy writing. I do know there may be a few that read this blog but there have been only a handful of comments. Two that I know of and one that couldn’t be posted because of the full names used as well as locations etc. So as you see there’s not much impetus to continue. But I will from time to time update. And who knows if there is interest I may step it up a bit.

I will update the three main cars this weekend.

The best laid plans!

Friday’s birthday party didn’t go as planned! It was Dana’s birthday; she’s my next-door neighbor as well a bartender at Nietzsche’s. This was the party I had gone to. She worked her normal shifts on Friday so I walked down to the party to have a beer and wish her a happy birthday. After Thursday night I really just wanted to have one beer and get home because a real estate agent friend was coming to dinner. WELL, I sat down for a beer and the next thing I knew I was backed up 3 times. One obligatory birthday shot and one shot that was put in front of me (I’m not a shot person) later…I was on the phone calling Josh and postponing the dinner until today.

Saturday morning I had a meeting with an architect about the rehab of my carriage house. He seems to think it will be a fun project and is keen to do the drawings for 2,500. I’ve never dealt with an architect so have no guide on if this is pricey or not. I’m lining up another 2 to bid the job and see where it goes from there.

It seems with all the preservation board involvement and permits and such instead of having the building closed by winter it may not even get started until next spring. Which will be ok because I really want to be here for the whole rehab/rebuild, whichever I am allowed to do.



On a bright note a schooner sailed unto buffalo harbor at noon Saturday bringing kegs of a new brew released in the US. Alexander Keith’s Traditional Lager was taken off the boat and taken to local pubs; one was Colter bay; unfortunately I didn’t go to get my free taste. I headed over to the Irish round table at Nietzsche’s and Imperial pints of Guinness. The round table consists local Irish musicians that just come in and Jam on old Irish tunes. It’s a good time. After that jazz pianist opened for blues singer Joanna Conner and her band that just got in from Chicago. Fun night!

Today I have to get the lawn mowed and prep for the return to NH. Fun time is over. I have a meeting at city hall tomorrow then Tuesday I do the drive. I wonder how much more gas will be on the return trip!

Next post from NH with updates on the shop.

Ya gotta love it!

Another great day here in buffalo, even with a bit of rain. I just got in from an incredible time at Nietzsche’s. The University of Buffalo Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Combos had a recital there. The music was outstanding! After making dinner for a few friends of mine at the house we walked down for an after dinner drink and some music. WOW! Those kids were amazing, at one time they had 20 musicians on stage that were putting out the kind of big band sound that gives you goose bumps. Great time.

I have one more dinner, another birthday bash, one lunch and 2 more meeting friends for drinks to go before I head home Sunday. And that’s only what’s planned!!! As Humphrey said, ”Here’s looking at you kid.”

Cinco De Mayo....ugh

Well I’m in Buffalo for a week and yesterday was Cinco De Mayo. Which is celebrated here in Buffalo a long with every other holiday we can. It started out as a normal day, working around the house then about 3 I had had enough and went to visit a friend that bartends at a fav watering hole Nietzsche’s. It went down hill from there Val another friend was working across the street so of course I had to say hi there as well. I had a few drinks bought for me and ….oh well, you know how that goes. A mariachi band came through which was interesting. But I did call it an early night and went back to the house and made dinner and crashed.

Today I have a late lunch date to go to Colter Bay http://www.colterbaygrill.com/, which arguably has one of the best taps in Buffalo. They have 25 beers on tap, which includes Boddingtons and I have had a craving ever since I saw it (in a can) in Staples last night.

Well I just wanted to check in so there is a post to read. I’ll update probably Monday when I get into the shop.

Boy it's nice out!

The snow is pretty much gone! It has been a great 2 weeks of weather. No rain other than a few drops last night. It’s been sunny and mild everyday. So of course I didn’t want to work at all, but I did.

53TD’s dash is wired, as is most of the firewall. Dad has been prepping the fenders, gas tank and splash aprons for paint. The windscreen is on. With the windscreen on the front kick panels of the interior can go on (started today) and the carpets in. The seats have been ready for a while. So I can safely say the interior is almost done. Once the painting is done I can see this car leaving by mid-summer (yeah I know, there I go sticking my neck out again!) But it is that close.

That's not a roll of paper towels that's my pillow for UD wiring!

BeastTF’s inner wood is complete. Today I started to finish the metal work. This car was so nice to look at when it came in. I was heard saying, “Why would you restore this one!” I take it back. There was a lot of ugly under the skin. But it will all be put to right.

Wood completed

rear quarter rot after bondo removed

Braised patch, a few dents, you never know what you'll find!

BlownTC’s engine has been cleaned. There is a bit more to do to it before painting but it cleaned up pretty nice. Sorry no picture of that yet. The only neat find was a brass arrow on the supercharger that shows the direction of rotation. Couldn’t see it (that I noticed) under the grease. We are expecting some green paint soon. We have two cars going green, color that is, not hybrid. Dad talked to the paint mixer this week and he promises the nice British race green everyone likes so Dad is ready to order 5 gallons. Yikkes$$!!!

Still no word on the TA body tub, anticipated delivery date was late winter, early spring. I guess technically it still is early spring but it feels like summer.

We have an engine job back in the shop. An engine that we did last fall just wasn’t running right. Dad went and got it this past week and we got into it. There was a sticky residue in the intakes of the head, which made us think right off that it was hit with sugar in the gas tank. But the fuel pumps (1500) and carbs don’t seem to have any gumminess to them. We put a bar to the bottom of the gas tank and were able to scrape a goo from the bottom. Now we are thinking that the car wasn’t driven for a long while and there is varnish (dried up gas) on the bottom of the tank. With the newer gas mixes (ethanol, etc) we think that the gas put into the tank was able to loosen the sediment and allow it to get into the engine, gumming things up. (So take care not to let your car sit too long without driving it.) We also had a problem with the engine caused by the machine shop that caused a drop in oil pressure, which precipitated the car coming back to the shop. It’s getting repaired and we are hoping to have the engine block etc. back tomorrow.

I have been able to get a bit done on my TD; I have high hopes to have my dash in “soon.” Well in a relatively short time. Hopefully before the end of summer! In any event I’ll keep you posted. Later…

Pics

I had thought that I uploaded pics of BlownTC...but I didn't so here they are. I'll update the blog when there is a bit more news and something to look at.

BlownTC frame

We will be installing a new exhaust system and the drive shaft is painted and going on. It still has a way to go but it is looking better and better. We hope to have a new sample of green lacquer paint mixed and in the shop soon. I hope it matches the green that dad likes to use this time.

BlownTC body tub in primer

4-8-08

Dad is off to Florida for the Sun-and-Fun Airplane show. It’s a week long “airplane fest.” It’s good that he gets away for a bit with the guys and let loose. When he gets back he has a lot of painting to do.

He was working on getting 53TD’s rear fenders, gas tank and rear splash apron ready for paint. They have been primed and sanded with the exception of the apron. Soon the rear of the TD will be together. The wiring is underway. I’m hoping in about 2 months we will be looking a finished car.

BeastTF has the drive train complete. The radiator went on this week. The right side of the Body tub is almost finished with the exception of a few more nails. And once that is finished the new wheel well can be welded in. The left side metal has been removed and the woodwork is about to begin.

TF chassis update

Some metalwork

Today I sent out paint samples to try and get the racing green paint that dad loves to use color matched. I’m hoping that something good will come back.

That’s all for now…

As promised...

I finished the welding on BeastTF’s right side today and should have the right side back together tomorrow after treating the inside of the panels with rust preventative and painting… The engine is bolted in and the build up has begun… I took the windscreen apart today and began getting the chrome together to ship out in the near future to the chromer. The big question is to send out the radiator shell or go with it as is with a little polishing. We’ll clean it up and see what it looks like. The TF radiator shell is almost non-existent on the market.

It's getting there. (that's only a valve cover we use for painting!)

Dad was rubbing out the 53TD today. We took the windscreens to the glassier today to have windshields cut for the TF, my TF and 53TD. We have to put the windscreen on 53TD before we can finish the interior and I can get to wiring.

So far, so nice

I did get some work done on my TD over the weekend. I’m trying to finish the dash and get my gauges in. I can’t wait to see what they look like in the car. If I didn’t mention it I sent my gauges out and spent over a grand restoring them. They really look great.

Well that’s about it… Later

A Quickie!

A quick update…Pics to follow.

It was a good week at the shop. We did get the trans rebuilt for the BeastTF. It is now mated to the engine and sitting on the chassis. We got to work on the front and rear quarter panels from the right side of the body tub. We did the right side first because it didn’t have any support to the roll bar. The left side wood in the front was solid and was able to bolt to the roll bar for support. The right side if you remember was pretty much gone. I cut several pieces of sheet metal and welded them in place on the front quarter. It was a production: there was a lot of rotted metal and welding was rough. So far I only replaced the lower piece on the rear quarter. I can’t wait to replace the lip by the wheel wells! It is going to take a bit to replace the metal and finish it. I would like to change one sentence from last weeks post from it’s going to take a “good weeks work” to a lot of work.

On the 53TD the doors are fitted and the upholstery panels are on. We now have to get the windscreen on to be able to finish the front panels and carpeting. Dad will start painting the fenders etc. this week.

BlownTC is waiting to get out and up to the house to have the engine cleaned.

That’s the quick update!

Here I am!

I was away, yes in buffalo, for a couple weeks to make sure things are OK on the house. I repaired a few things and got back to NH this past weekend.

In the shop there has been a lot of progress on the Beast, which isn’t looking so much like a beast anymore so I’m hoping the car will get a name soon. We are close to having a rolling chassis; there are a few parts that need to come in for that mainly, links for the rear shocks. The engine is painted and the trans is in the process of getting rebuilt. I’m expecting by the end of next week to have the engine and trans back on the chassis.

Almost a rolling chassis

Engine

The body tub is another matter. While we have seen worse and repaired worse there is a lot of metal loss below the running boards. Some had been repaired in the past; we found aluminum patches with several screws holding them over rust holes with a good layer of bondo. All this will be removed and new sheet metal welded into place. It will be a good week of work to get the rotted wood replaced and the metal work done.

RS body tub

And here's a before and after set

Left front suspension before

And after

The 53TD’s rear upholstery is finished. Dad will begin to paint the fenders and running boards when he is finished with the TF trans rebuild.

We are waiting on a paint match from Ca to see if they can match the British Race Green paint Dad likes to use. It’s one of the last places to, possibly, get the green lacquer. Both BlownTC and the TF are going to be green.

I’ll try, lol, to have more frequent updates… later

Snow!!!

It seems that a lot of the work being done lately is the snow removal type. Every three days or so we are getting hit with a snowstorm. It's been snowing for the last 24 hours! My car has been parked at the bottom of the driveway more than it has been parked up at the house. Today I tried to get up to the house again and after I had stopped I tried to back down the hill. I started to slide and pick up speed; I must have slid 50 feet before I Hit the snow bank. I put it in reverse and spun the tires, which allowed the front of the car to slide around and head down the hill. I parked the car and walked! Here are a couple pics of the shop those that have been to the shop know the driveway and may be able to pick out the front door and the garage door in the one picture. (Doesn't this paragraph sound similar to the begining of my last post ?! It hasn't changed since the last post!)

Snow out of the window

Snow off the back of the building.

Can you see the doors?

But there has been progress on almost all of the cars in the shop. The TD that was in the accident is finished and ready to go home. We are waiting on the insurance adjuster to come and get his pictures then the car is off to it’s home.

“OUCH” has been fixed

On BlownTC, the rear half of the frame has been rust protected and painted. The front half will be done after the engine has been cleaned and painted. Also the body tub is in primer. So far it’s looking really good.

On the Beast all of the chassis parts have pretty much been cleaned and are beginning to get painted. Since we were waiting on the paint booth today I began to look at the center panel and decided to work on that a bit. It does look nice. I was able to polish up the original warning lights and am deciding weather to use the original knobs or not. I haven’t seen what is available on the market but I just have a hunch they won’t look as nice as the originals.

TF Center panel

I’m beat time for bed…

A Long Snowy Winter

It’s been a while…there aren’t any major pictures to post. The major news has been the snow, snow and snow. It seems as though every other day we get more. All our cars and the tractor have been stuck at the bottom of the driveway (mountain) for a week. Dad has slipped and fallen a few times, no major injuries but some aches and pains for sure. I slipped and pulled a muscle in my lower back, which has been letting me know about it for several days now. But we have been making it to the shop in spite of Mother Nature. Dad also bought a set of $400 chains for the tractor, which has allowed the hill to be cleaned up a lot better. And guess what, YUP, more snow tonight!

Dad "punching" out the driveway Friday

Snow depth on the picnic table on the deck

There’s just a lot of prep work going on, here’s the low down:

BlownTC, the frame is prepped for paint. The last piece of the body tub metal, rear top plate, is on and the “extra” holes that have been added over the years are welded up and finished off. The body tub is just about ready for primer. But don’t get too excited there’s still a ways to go!

53TD, the doors have been painted and hung. The interior is going in, the rear is done and now with the doors on it can continue to the front.

The Beast is progressing, most all of the chassis parts are cleaned, sandblasted and ready for paint. Pretty much the last part, the rear end, is getting completed this week. The painting of the parts will start this week and as soon as it dries the frame will become a rolling chassis.

The fender for the TD that was in the accident got 6 coats of green lacquer and is waiting for the final coats and a rub out then it can go on.

MYTD, unfortunately, sits in the back room. BUT this week I did draw a line around the edge of the glove box door to give me a guide on how much wood to take off to get a good fit when the vinyl and beading go on.

We haven’t heard anything about the TA body tub since the last update that it would be here in the late winter/early spring.

Work is getting scheduled to get going on the MGA again this spring.

I feel like crap

Yes I’m still in Buffalo. I’m trying to catch things up at the house. It’s rough letting your house go while you are in another area far away. I have gotten the yard work pretty much caught up. I’ve been moving things around the house as well. Trying to make room and get organized. It never ends.

On top of all this I have been sick with stuffiness and a sore throat for 5 days or so. Just after the New Year I came down with something. I guess being out until 6:30 has its price! I’ve partied, now I’m paying the proverbial piper.

My friend Ann-Marie is driving back with me to NH for some skiing on the 17th. She’ll stay for a few days the fly back to Buffalo. After that it’s back to work so the following week I’ll be back in the shop.

I did call the shop the other day…they’ve been getting a bit of snow and that keeps dad busy around the property. I found out that the TF engine is back together and ready for paint. The body of BlownTC is off (it will make it easier painting the frame and it’s only a few bolts.) I know dad has been working on the interior of the 53TD. So things are moving on. I have a more detailed update when I get home.

Later….

Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a Happy New year! It's been a fun year. I"m in Buffalo at the moment to recharge. I got in Thursday about 8:30 and began the "recharge" just after unloading the car.

I went to meet my Friend Val down at the end of my street at a pub where she works called the Bend (it's on a turn in the road.) After driving 8 1/2 hours I didn't stay out too long and was home in bed by 3.

Saturday I had a Christmas party to go to with a few friends which was a blast. I was able to catch the Patriots game there and was sure glad I didn't miss it. What a game!!!

Sunday was a shopping day for the New Years Eve dinner and party I did with my friend Ann-Marie. The dinner was at my house and the party was at her Appt., which over looks downtown Buffalo where the fireworks go off at midnight. After the party we went out to a couple of bars to dance and have a bit of fun. It all went off fairly well and I'm home safe and sound. It's 6:30, I haven't done this in a while. Well it's off to bed.

I'll update on the shop as soon as I call home.

Again, Happy New Year